Move over, burnout! ‘Friends with Mental Health Benefits’ is all about combatting poor mental health in the workplace
We spend around 1/3 of our lives at work, and “Friends with Mental Health Benefits” is talking about caring for your mental health in the workplace.
Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi co-founded the mental wellness app Shine and co-host this podcast. They’re joined by company founders and senior leaders to share candid mental health stories, how they manage their wellbeing in the workplace, and supporting their teams’ mental health – especially anyone who’s marginalized.
Start the series in any order, with the average episode running less than 45 minutes each. It’s enlightening to hear how these business leaders are mindful of their mental health and share their journeys.
Bonobos cofounder Andy Dunn joined an episode to discuss what was happening while he was developing a startup that Walmart acquired for $310 million in 2017. Dunn was struggling with bipolar 1 disorder and told the hosts about his mental health journey and how he feels about sharing his personal story in his new book, Burn Rate: Launching a Startup and Losing My Mind.
Dunn shared his history with bipolar disorder and explained some tools that help him cope, like tracking his sleeping patterns and updating loved ones with his daily status. He also talked about the importance of genuinely knowing at least one person in the workplace.
On another episode, weight care startup CEO of Found and former Bumble COO Sarah Jones Simmer discussed her stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis in May 2020. Simmer is now cancer-free and shares how this experience shifted her approach to life. She reprioritizes joy, gratitude, and told the hosts about creating workplaces that allow people to authentically show up. Simmer believes that vulnerability can help everyone combat mental health stigmas.
Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code and the Marshall Plan for Moms. When Saujani joined the podcast, they examined how workplaces can cater to working women and moms. Saujani talked about hitting rock bottom as a working mom, burning out, and how marginalized people can stand their ground when protecting themselves and their mental health in the workplace.
Shine also presents “The Daily Shine,” a weekday podcast and meditation space to help listeners cope with anxiety and stress, offering tools to help.
This series can be an insightful addition to your podcast queue this Mental Health Awareness Month. Tune in for new, bimonthly episodes wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
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