The Human Side of Work with Carylynn Larson

In this episode of the Bountifull Podcast, I’m joined by Carylynn Larson, an organizational psychologist, executive coach, and mental health advocate, for a deeply important conversation about mental health in the workplace, stigma, leadership, and what it really means to create environments where people can thrive.Carylynn shares her own personal journey with an eating disorder and reflects on how that experience shaped both her life and her work. We talk about the reality that mental health is not binary — it exists on a spectrum from thriving to despair — and how many people are quietly struggling while trying to appear “fine.” We also explore why work can so often become a place where people feel pressure to perform rather than a place that supports people, not just performance.A big part of this conversation centres on the idea of healing communities — not in a fluffy or abstract sense, but in the practical, everyday ways we can show up for each other with care, listening, vulnerability, and courage. We also unpack burnout, emotional detachment, shame, and the kinds of environments that can either support us or slowly wear us down. We also explore how to navigate difficult conversations with candour and care, particularly when there are power dynamics at play, and how to raise concerns without being dismissed or labelled as “difficult.”In This Episode, You’ll Discover:Why mental health is not binary — and how most of us move between thriving, coping, and quietly strugglingWhat burnout and emotional detachment can really look like at work — especially in people who appear “fine” on the surfaceHow workplace culture shapes wellbeing — and why some environments support us while others slowly wear us downWhy stigma and shame keep so many people silent — even when help is availableWhat “healing community” actually means — and why care and accountability need to go hand in handHow to notice when someone might be struggling — and what genuine support can look like in practiceHow to have difficult conversations with candour and care — without avoiding the hard stuffWhat to consider when there are power imbalances at work — and how to raise concerns thoughtfullyWhy listening, vulnerability, and small moments of care matter more than we thinkHow the way we show up affects the people around us — for better or worseChapters00:00 – Why mental health at work matters more than we think02:14 – Carylynn’s background in organizational psychology and leadership07:39 – Her personal mental health journey and lived experience with an eating disorder14:42 – The current state of mental health in the workplace16:12 – Why mental health exists on a spectrum, not as a binary20:23 – What workplace care actually looks like in practice27:30 – How to raise concerns without being labelled “difficult”31:07 – Dynamic leadership and supporting people differently at different times33:42 – Stigma, shame, and why people often don’t ask for help44:11 – What Carylynn means by “healing communities”53:09 – Small ways leaders can create more human workplaces56:08 – How to be a bridge for someone who might be struggling57:59 – A powerful story about noticing, support, and what can change when people care1:06:17 – Quickfire questions1:08:51 – Final reflections on the impact we have on each otherGuest BioCarylynn Larson is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, speaker, and mental health advocate focused on leadership, workplace culture, and wellbeing. She is also the founder of Rock Recovery, a nonprofit supporting people recovering from eating disorders and body image struggles. Her work is shaped by both professional expertise and lived experience.www.carylynn-kemp-larson.info/About Bountifull Podcast Bountifull is a personal growth and wellbeing podcast exploring joyful, meaningful living through conversations on psychology, resilience, science, and practical wisdom.www.bountifullworld.com/