Is stress really the enemy at work, or is it the strength training your team needs to grow?
In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour, psychologist, bestselling author, and co-host of the Ask Lisa podcast, explains why stress is natural, why recovery matters more than trying to remove stress, and how leaders can spot problems early and respond well.
She talks with host Sam Clyde Schroeder about simple ways to tell when work is merely uncomfortable versus truly unmanageable, how to design wellness efforts that actually help, what Gen Z needs to thrive, and how to better support working parents.
Timestamps & Topics:
- 00:00 Welcome and why mental health shows up in performance, retention, and leadership
- 01:00 Meet Dr. Lisa Damour and her focus on turning emotion into action
- 03:00 What science says about stress and anxiety, and why that matters for managers
- 05:00 A clear definition of mental health, feelings that fit the moment and healthy coping
- 07:00 Generational differences, setting expectations without dismissing concerns
- 10:00 What good wellness programs look like, real tools that aid recovery
- 11:30 The strength training idea, growth requires stress and planned recovery
- 14:30 Gen Z at work, culture, mentorship, and why in-person time still matters
- 17:00 Helpful stress versus harmful stress, preventing chronic overload and burnout
- 27:00 Working parents, the role of sleep, technology’s upsides and downsides, peer groups
If this conversation helps you build a healthier workplace, please follow or subscribe to What’s Up at Work? Your feedback helps other leaders find the show.
Links
- Dr. Lisa Damour: https://drlisadamour.com
- Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4hJvUycncNhMDulxn3Y0Et?si=4033bbbc51834df5
- Listen on Apple Music: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lisa-damour-phd-psychologist-author-defining-mental/id1791193745?i=1000725807556
