🎙️ Road2Wellbeing. Helping HR Leaders Guide Their Workforce to Wellness

72% of employees are currently dealing with moderate to very high stress at work, a six-year high, and more than half reported active burnout in the last year alone.An overviewBurnout, as defined by the WHO, is a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed, presenting across three clinical dimensions: energy depletion and exhaustion, increased psychological distance from one's work or cynicism, and reduced professional efficacy. For years, organizational responses defaulted to individual-level interventions, asking employees to manage their stress, practice more self-care, or attend a yoga class, while leaving untouched the structural conditions generating the crisis. Work overload, cited by 47% of workers as a primary stressor, is compounded by understaffing, poor leadership communication, lack of recognition, and external pressures bleeding in from personal finance and global events. What makes this particularly costly is the silence it produces: 62% of employees who felt uncomfortable disclosing mental health struggles at work reported being actively burned out, and 46% said they feared losing their job if they raised the issue, meaning the populations most at risk are the least likely to signal it.What we discussWhy the World Health Organization officially classifies burnout as an occupational phenomenon, not a personal weakness, and what that reclassification demands of employersWhat the three clinical dimensions of burnout are, and how to use them to distinguish burnout from disengagement before misreading the signal costs you the employeeHow burned-out employees and disengaged employees can look similar behaviorally, and why the response to each needs to be differentWhy work overload and staffing gaps account for the majority of top burnout stressors, and how leaders often fail to see accumulation in real timeWhat psychological safety actually requires beyond stated policy, and why consistent behavior over time is the only mechanism that builds itWhy employees who experience a genuine sense of belonging at work are 23% less likely to burn out, and how belonging is built through small, repeated acts of inclusion rather than programs or mandatesHow fear of professional consequences keeps 46% of employees from disclosing mental health struggles even when support is theoretically availableWhat the gap between manager training and manager readiness looks like when an employee is clearly not okayWhat immediate actions HR leaders can take this week, including anonymous pulse checks, calendar audits for overload, and modeling vulnerability in one-on-ones

This isn't an anti-GLP-1 episode. It's a pro-support one.Zikea McCurdie and Samantha Levin break down the GLP-1 boom and why HR leaders are completely unprepared for it.One in eight American adults has now used a GLP-1. Most got there through a telehealth form with no clinical guardrails and no lifestyle support attached. The drug suppresses appetite. It doesn't build habits. And without employer-side infrastructure, you're looking at muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies, and a yo-yo cycle that shows up in your claims data.In our in-depth conversation, we discuss:Why GLP-1s have reached mainstream scale and what the public conversation is missingThe clinical risks nobody is talking about — muscle loss, nutrient deficiencies, no guardrailsWhat these drugs actually do to the body beyond the number on the scaleWhy lifestyle habits have to be built alongside medication, not afterWhat lasting support actually looks like — movement, nutrition, behavior changeWhy HR leaders should care and where to startThe business case: today's deficiencies become tomorrow's health claimsHow to actually begin a GLP-1 journey the right wayRoad2Wellbeing is a podcast for HR leaders providing real conversations, clinical depth, evidence-based insightsSponsored by Wellness360

🌍 Wellness Without Borders: What Global Cultures Can Teach UsEmployee wellbeing isn’t one-size-fits-all. In this episode of Road2Wellbeing, host Zikea McCurdie sits down with Alessa Caridi [Woodrey], international wellness expert and Founder of JoBuFit, to explore how different cultures approach health, balance, and movement—and what U.S. organizations can learn from them.🔎 You’ll discover:How global perspectives can make wellness programs more inclusivePractical habits from around the world that actually stickLessons U.S. workplaces can adopt to boost engagement and wellbeingIf you’re an HR leader, wellness professional, or simply passionate about healthier workplaces, this episode is packed with insights you can put into action.

How do you turn wellness from a perk into part of your company’s DNA? In this episode of Road2Wellbeing, Wendy Sellers – “The HR Lady” joins host Zikea McCurdie to share honest, practical strategies for building a sustainable culture of well-being. From leadership behaviors and psychological safety to ROI and employee engagement, discover what really works in creating healthier workplaces.

What if your greatest leadership strength isn’t what you do, but how you show up? In this episode, Zikea McCurdie sits down with Lena Thompson to explore how emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and presence shape powerful, authentic leadership. Learn why integration matters more than information—and how your triggers might just be your greatest teachers.#Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Road2Wellbeing

✨ Episode #7 – Road2Wellbeing Podcast | "From Corporate to Wellness" ✨What happens when you walk away from corporate hustle to pursue purpose, balance, and holistic healing?In this powerful episode, we sit down with Sinead Urwin, a Functional Nutritionist, who shares her deeply personal journey of leaving a high-pressure corporate career to heal from chronic stress—and help others do the same.🎙 Hosted by Zikea McCurdie, Director of Wellness Programs at Wellness360🎧 Don’t forget to follow us on Spotify to get notified as soon as the episode drops!

In an era of constant change, uncertainty, and pressure, mental health is no longer a workplace perk—it’s a necessity.In this timely episode, Sharell Thomas, SHRM-SCP, MBA (Total Rewards Director & Leadership Coach) joins Zikea McCurdie, MSHS, NBC-HWC, CYT (Director of Wellness Programs, Wellness360) to discuss:✅ The unique mental health challenges employees face in uncertain times✅ How leaders can create psychological safety and emotional support✅ Practical strategies for building a more resilient and supported workforceWhether you're in HR, a manager, or an advocate for employee wellbeing, this episode offers the insights every modern workplace needs.🎙 Tune in and join the movement to create healthier, more human-centered organizations.#Road2Wellbeing #MentalHealthAtWork #WorkplaceWellbeing #EmployeeExperience #HRLeadership #PsychologicalSafety #PeopleFirst #LeadershipDevelopment #FutureOfWork #Wellness360

In this powerful episode, we’re shining a light on the mental health and wellbeing of those who care for others—our caregivers and healthcare professionals.Join Cecelia Cruz, Physician and Founder of MARPE, LLC, in a heartfelt conversation with Zikea McCurdie, MSHS, NBC-HWC, CYT as they explore:✅ The emotional toll of caregiving and frontline stress✅ Systemic gaps in caregiver support✅ What compassionate, sustainable environments truly look like✅ How leaders and organizations can better care for their care teamsIf you lead healthcare teams, design wellness programs, or are passionate about mental health, this episode is for you.🎙 Tune in to help shift the narrative — from burnout to balance, and from exhaustion to empowerment.#CaregiverSupport #HealthcareHeroes #MentalHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #CorporateWellness #Wellness360 #Road2Wellbeing #PodcastSeries

In this episode, we’re exploring the evolving expectations and mental health needs of the next generation of the workforce—Gen Z.Join Jessica Morris, MBA, ATC and Zikea McCurdie, MSHS, NBC-HWC, CYT as they discuss:✅ How to attract, engage, and retain Gen Z talent✅ The business case for prioritizing mental health✅ Evidence-based strategies to support wellbeing at work✅ What Gen Z really wants from their leaders and workplace cultureWhether you’re in HR, a team lead, or a Gen Z employee yourself—this conversation offers practical insights to build a more resilient, inclusive, and mentally healthy workplace.🎙 Tune in now and be part of the journey toward a more future-ready, wellness-driven work culture.#GenZWorkforce #MentalHealthAtWork #WorkplaceWellness #EmployeeWellbeing #CorporateWellness #HRLeadership #Road2Wellbeing #Wellness360 #PodcastSeries

Road2Wellbeing | Episode 3What if your next team breakthrough wasn’t a strategy—but a sentence?In this episode, we unpack how Nonviolent Communication (NVC) is changing the way teams connect, lead, and grow.🧠 Bill Belanger (CEO, Healbright) and 💬 Zikea McCurdie (Director of Wellness Programs, Wellness360) break down how empathy-driven communication boosts trust, slashes stress, and creates workplaces people actually want to be in.✨ Real talk. No fluff. Just tools you can use to:Diffuse tension like a proBuild unshakable team vibesMake wellness more than just a buzzwordIf you're tired of the same HR scripts and “toxic positivity,” this one’s for you.Hit play — and learn how to talk it out the right way.#WellnessAtWork #RealTalkLeadership #NVCinAction #Road2Wellbeing #WorkCultureReboot #Wellness360

🎙️ Episode 2: Navigating Workplace Challenges for Better Well-BeingIn this insightful episode of the #Road2Wellbeing podcast, Dawn Omalza—HR Consultant, Author, and Speaker—joins Zikea McCurdie, Director of Wellness Programs at Wellness360, for a deep dive into Workplace Wellness Through Problem-Solving.Together, they unpack real-world challenges like communication breakdowns, burnout, toxic environments, and poor work-life balance—and how these issues, if addressed intentionally, can become catalysts for healthier, more engaged workplaces.Tune in to learn:How to turn workplace challenges into opportunities for growthStrategies to resolve conflicts and reduce burnoutPractical tools to build a thriving, resilient company cultureWhether you're in HR, leadership, or on the front lines—this conversation offers actionable guidance to transform workplace stress into workplace strength.Let’s create environments where people and performance thrive.#WorkplaceWellness #EmployeeEngagement #HRLeadership #WorkplaceResilience #Wellness360 #NavigatingWorkplaceChallenges #PodcastEpisode2

🎙️ Episode 1: Building Resilient Workplaces Through Trauma-Informed Care & SDOHIn this powerful debut episode of the #Road2Wellbeing podcast, Diana Bishop, Design and Delivery Consultant IV – Health Education (Southern California Permanente Medical Group), joins Zikea McCurdie, Director of Wellness Programs at Wellness360, to explore how trauma-informed care and social determinants of health (SDOH) are reshaping corporate wellness.Together, they unpack the deep impact of collective trauma in the workplace and share practical strategies to foster healing, resilience, and holistic employee well-being.Whether you're a wellness leader, HR professional, or simply passionate about creating compassionate work environments—this episode is your guide to building a healthier future of work.🎧 Listen now to:Understand trauma-informed approaches in corporate settingsLearn how SDOH affect employee health outcomesDiscover tools to promote workplace resilience and wellnessLet’s redefine what it means to thrive at work—starting today.#CorporateWellness #EmployeeWellbeing #TraumaInformedCare #WorkplaceResilience #SDOH #Wellness360 #Road2Wellbeing #PodcastLaunch