Live Well and Thrive

We're continuing to dig into the show archives and highlighting past episodes that each embody why we launched this program in the first place. When we started this podcast three years ago, we wanted to acknowledge the shared experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and its deep impact on our Kaiser Permanente health care workers. We also set out to explore how to take better care of our community... and ourselves. The episode we are highlighting this week is Soul Snacks. If you're new to Live Well and Thrive, we hope you enjoy your first time listening to these three quintessential episodes. We hope you take the time to listen again -- as we have. Here's a bit of a spoiler, keep checking this feed, we're about to release a three part special that you won't want to miss. You'll hear more about it here and elsewhere at KP. Thank you and enjoy!

As we mentioned last week we're digging into the show archives and highlighting past episodes that each embody why we launched this program in the first place. When we started this podcast three years ago, we wanted to acknowledge the shared experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and its deep impact on our Kaiser Permanente health care workers. We also set out to explore how to take better care of our community... and ourselves. The episode we are highlighting this week is Frontline Workers in Their Own Words. If you're new to Live Well and Thrive, we hope you enjoy your first time listening to these three quintessential episodes. We hope you take the time to listen again -- as we have. Thank you and enjoy!

Over the next few weeks, we'll be digging into our show archives. We'll highlight three past episodes that each embody why we launched this program in the first place. When we started this podcast three years ago, we wanted to acknowledge the shared experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and its deep impact on our Kaiser Permanente health care workers. We also set out to explore how to take better care of our community... and ourselves. The first episode we are highlighting is Searching for Hope and features our incredible KP chaplains. If you're new to Live Well and Thrive, we hope you enjoy your first time listening to these three quintessential episodes. We hope you take the time to listen again -- as we have. Thank you and enjoy!

You don’t have to be a news junkie to know that we are a deeply divided nation when it comes to politics. We’ve become polarized and estranged from one another over issues large and small. As we approach another contentious election season as well as the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re going to explore productive ways to bridge the divides between us. Spoiler alert: it involves something called “courageous listening.” And it doesn’t necessarily involve changing anyone’s mind!Navigating polarization? We’ve got your back! Join the @Greater Good Science Center’s 7-Day Campaign for Connection Challenge, starting Monday, 10/28, to learn skills that promote understanding and connection across our differences. Reserve your spot today: tinyurl.com/7DayChallenge2024 

For Breast Cancer Awareness month we’re talking with two female leaders on the Kaiser Permanente Northern California team – both with unique perspectives on breast cancer prevention and early detection. Dr. Monica Kendrick, physician-in-chief, Kaiser Permanente San Francisco medical center and an OB-GYN. Dr. Kendrick is also an expert on women’s health and is passionate about supporting women’s life-long health. Debra Flores, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Greater Southern Alameda area. She is also a registered nurse and a breast cancer survivor.

We live in a hyperconnected world. So many of us use our phones or other digital devices to access news and information, to stay connected to one another, and to just do our jobs. But at this point, it goes without saying, there is a dark side to digital dependence. To help unravel this conundrum we turn to Dr. Michael Rich, who refers to himself as a Mediatrician. He is also a parent, a pediatrician, a child health researcher, and children's media specialist. Dr. Rich teaches pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. His recent book, The Mediatrician’s Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World, is a science-backed approach to give parents the confidence they need to raise a child well (and to raise a well child) in the digital age.

*This conversation will contain reference to substance abuse and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call the national suicide prevention hotline, 988.*Have you ever felt moved – or even healed – by coming across a particular poem, song lyrics, or story at a specific time in your life? Or maybe you’ve written some lines in a journal as a way to process difficult emotions or experiences? Today we are talking about the healing power of poetry. Some mental health providers even prescribe it to their patients. It’s a practice called poetry therapy. This episode's guests both work at the intersection of poetry and mental health.Organizations discussed in the episode:National Association for Poetry TherapyInternational Expressive Arts Therapy AssociationHawaii Girls CourtSonoma County Juvenile Hall

At KP we are continually innovating to create new tools and resources to support employee well-being, including programs addressing personal burnout. Today we’ll learn about the Thrive Series, a set of workshops and resources specially designed for our KP team to minimize burnout and to improve their physical health and mental well-being – both inside and outside of work. Check out the Thrive Series for you or your team.