Share

cover art for Wellness Washing: Why Your Company's Wellbeing Programme Is Making Burnout Worse

Productivi-Tree: The Human Side of Productivity

Wellness Washing: Why Your Company's Wellbeing Programme Is Making Burnout Worse

Season 2, Ep. 71
•

Your company has a meditation app, a mental health awareness poster, and maybe a yoga class at lunch. And yet people are burning out faster than ever. Jody Brooks calls this wellness washing: performing wellbeing without changing the structural conditions that actually cause burnout. In this episode, he shares the Nine Principles of Authentic Living, built from his own journey through severe anxiety, depression, and suicidal thinking, and explains what real wellbeing in the workplace actually requires.


🤫 How Productive are you Really? Take the Free Productivity Test - https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/Productivity-Assessment

🎁 More Free Productivity Tools and Templates - https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/free-productivity-resources

📩 Join my Productivity Newsletter - https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/Newsletter


💬 Guest Links:

Jody Brooks - https://authenticcoaching.me/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jody-brooks-coach/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_authenticcoach/


⏰ Time Stamps:

0:00 Intro -- Jody's story: successful on the outside, breaking on the inside

2:15 The moment it broke: crying in a toilet cubicle

3:30 The slow erosion: how burnout builds before you name it

5:15 What is wellness washing? The car wash analogy

7:00 Real examples: apps, yoga classes, mental health first aiders

9:00 Why yoga classes polarize instead of help

10:30 HR's impossible position: gatekeepers, not guardians

12:50 Are HR departments doomed by short-termism?

15:00 What it actually costs companies: sickness, turnover, hidden losses

19:10 UK burnout stats: 91% experience extreme stress every year

21:10 The Nine Principles of Authentic Living -- all 9 explained

31:35 Psychological safety: what companies get wrong

34:00 Ownership: personal agency when you can't fix the system

38:50 AI and burnout: why output models make it worse

42:15 Remote work and the return-to-office debate

46:50 What every person needs: to be seen, heard, listened to, and to belong

49:20 Quickfire round

51:05 How to connect with Jody Brooks

Want to know where you are losing time and energy?Take the free Productivity Assessment and get your personal results in minutes. https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/Productivity-Assessment

More episodes

View all episodes

  • 72. Podcasts as a Productivity Tool, and How to Become a Guest

    38:54||Season 2, Ep. 72
    Noémi Beres, founder of Podcast Connections, breaks down two sides of podcasting most professionals ignore. First: how to use podcast listening as a genuine productivity advantage -- learning faster, matching content to activity, and building better habits around audio. Second: how to become a podcast guest, write pitches that land, handle imposter syndrome, and turn a single interview into long-term business relationships. If you consume podcasts passively or have been sitting on the idea of getting on the other side of the mic, this episode is for you.Noémi on LinkedIn: search "Noémi Beres" (look for the microphone icon next to the name)https://www.podcastconnections.co

  • 70. The 8th Waste: Why Untapped Human Potential Is Your Biggest Productivity Problem

    46:02||Season 2, Ep. 70
    Hanna Bauer, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Baldrige Examiner, and founder of HEARTnomics, makes the case that your workday has the same waste problems as a factory floor, and the most expensive one is untapped human potential. Rigorous, practical, and unexpectedly human.Guest Links- Website: https://heartnomics.com- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bauerhanna/- HEART Leadership Profile: https://heartnomics.com/discover-your-heart-leadership-profile/

  • 69. The ROI of Kindness: How Being Human Became the Smartest Business Strategy

    51:22||Ep. 69
    Key TakeawaysPeople don't make decisions rationally -- they make them emotionally, then justify with logic. The best communicators, leaders, and salespeople know this and act accordingly."How you do anything is how you do everything." The way you set up a meeting, a room, or a conversation sends a signal before you say a single word.The ROI of kindness is not abstract -- Neal's car dealer case study shows how small acts of generosity (a free oil change, a windshield repair) compounded into a thriving service base of nearly 100 customers and a workforce that wore the company shirt to dinner.Short-termism is the enemy. Toyota planned 70 years ahead -- and their recall response left customers more satisfied than before the recall.There's a "cynical middle" in most organizations -- the people between the idealistic CEO and the enthusiastic new hires. Neal's mission is to remind them: you don't have to be an a-hole to get ahead.Human beings survived because of cooperation, not individual dominance. Teams that finish aren't always the fastest -- they're the most cohesive.Guest LinksNeal Foard -- nealfoard.com Storyfire (Neal's company) -- storyfire.net Email -- neal@storyfire.net TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram -- search "Neal Foard" TED Talk -- "The ROI of Kindness"Chapters00:00 The Emotional Architecture of Advertising05:33 Redefining Success in Business09:23 Teaching Creativity and Selling Ideas17:38 The ROI of Kindness in Business27:24 Short-Termism vs. Long-Term Values34:18 Countering Social Media Rage with Kindness41:16 The Power of Cooperation in Business

  • 68. Muscle Is Magic: The Executive Fitness System That Adds 10 Years to Your Life

    43:29||Season 2, Ep. 68
    Timothy Ward grew up surviving chaos through sport. Now at 61, he is a longevity coach and author of The GOAT Within, working with executives aged 45 to 80. In this episode he walks through the Fitness Quadrant (resistance, nutrition, cardio, rest/recovery), explains why muscle is the most important tissue on your body after 50, and introduces biomarker blood panel testing that targets real deficiencies rather than wasted supplements. His M.I.T. system delivers strength and cardio results in two and a half to three hours per week. The message: aging into weakness is not inevitable if you have the right knowledge and strategy.Guest LinksWebsite / hub: www.lifestrong.netBiomarker testing: www.lifestrong.net (US only, $349 for 120 markers)Book: The GOAT Within - available on Amazon globally (bestseller, 60+ countries)Instagram: @fitnessquadrantLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coach-timothy-ward/Fitness Quadrant site: https://fitnessquadrant.net/Chapters00:00 From Chaos to Clarity: Timothy's Journey05:07 The Power of Personal Storytelling in Wellness08:28 Understanding Aging: Signs and Signals12:29 The Fitness Quadrant: A Holistic Approach to Health26:18 Overcoming Barriers: Knowledge, Prioritization, and Adaptation32:32 The Importance of Biomarkers in Personal Health37:10 Quickfire Insights: Timothy's Top Tips42:26 Outro

  • 67. You Have More Time Than You Think - Here's the Math

    40:58||Season 2, Ep. 67
    Laura Vanderkam has tracked every hour of her life for 11 years. In this episode she reveals what she found -- including that she was wrong about her own work hours by 10 hours a week -- and shares the exact system she uses to feel in control of her time: the 168-hours framework, the weekly planning ritual, and the practice of building open space into your schedule so the important things actually happen. She also introduces two concepts from her new book Big Time: effortful vs. effortless leisure, and the golden hours of weekday evenings.Guest LinksLaura Vanderkam website: https://lauravanderkam.comBig Time book: https://lauravanderkam.com/books/big-time/Before Breakfast podcast: search on any podcast platformToggl (free time tracking tool): https://toggl.comChapters(00:00) Understanding Time Management and Priorities(05:09) The Importance of Planning and Time Tracking(08:02) Balancing Work, Family, and Personal Time(11:12) The Concept of 168 Hours in a Week(14:10) Intentional Living and Weekly Planning Rituals(17:04) The Role of Open Space in Time Management(20:01) Overcoming Time Scarcity Mindset(22:50) Effortful vs. Effortless Fun(25:46) Final Thoughts on Time Abundance

  • 66. Your Productivity Problem Is Actually an Alignment Problem | Florian Kemmerich

    57:55||Season 2, Ep. 66
    Florian Kemmerich is an impact investor who mobilised nearly $1 billion in impact capital and built a seven-step vocating framework used at Oxford and IMD. In this episode he explains why most productivity problems are actually alignment problems, how to discover your imprint (the childhood event that shapes your life's direction), why purpose is built not found, and what AI disruption means for people who have built their identity on knowledge-based skills.Key Takeaways- Your imprint is formed between ages 2 and 6. It stays for life. Discovering it changes everything.- We are educated to make a living, not to live our lives.- In the AI era, only neurodivergent people and people with purpose will thrive.- Purpose is not found. It is built from your imprint, through a theory of change, into a professional plan.- You do not need to quit your job. Vocation can be expressed within your current field once you understand your imprint.Guest Links- Florian Kemmerich: https://on-vocation.com- Vocating App (free beta): https://vocating.ai- Book — On Vocation (Routledge, 2025): https://on-vocation.comChapters00:00 The Journey of Self-Discovery05:51 The Absence of Self in Education10:58 Awakening to Purpose in a Changing World16:45 Navigating the AI Revolution24:58 Building Purpose Through Vocation28:34 The Importance of Purpose and Vocation34:13 Navigating Career Choices in a Changing World39:56 The Shift from Profit Maximization to Purpose46:45 Generational Perspectives on Purpose and Meaning51:02 Rapid Fire Insights on Personal Development

  • 65. The Nootropics Expert Reveals His Daily Brain Stack

    45:36||Season 2, Ep. 65
    Send us Fan MailIn this episode, David Thunman explores the science of nootropics, their history, natural sources, and how they can enhance cognitive function, focus, and mood. He shares personal stories, debunks myths, and offers practical advice for optimizing brain health.Guest Linkshttps://nootropicsexpert.com/https://www.youtube.com/nootropicsexperthttps://geni.us/K1BvSupport the showThanks for listening to ProductiviTree! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share.🔴 YouTube🟢 Spotify🟣 Apple Podcasts🟡 Amazon MusicTake the New Productivity Test: https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/Productivity-AssessmentConnect with me:Website: santiagotacoronte.comLinkedIn: Santiago TacoronteHave questions or suggestions? Email us at info@santiagotacoronte.comConnect with the host:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-tacoronte/• https://santiagotacoronte.com/❤️ Support the Show: If this podcast has brought value to your life, consider supporting us! Your contribution helps keep the episodes coming and the quality high. Every bit is deeply appreciated: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2388611/support

  • 64. When 'Success' Is Slowly Killing Your Career ft. Paul Comfort

    45:34||Season 2, Ep. 64
    Send us Fan MailIn this insightful interview, Paul Comfort shares his journey of discovering his X factor, where his interests and abilities intersect, and how this has transformed his career. He offers practical advice on finding your purpose, overcoming misalignment, and leveraging your unique strengths to achieve fulfillment and success.Guest Linkshttps://findyourxfactor.ai/Support the showThanks for listening to ProductiviTree! If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share.🔴 YouTube🟢 Spotify🟣 Apple Podcasts🟡 Amazon MusicTake the New Productivity Test: https://links.santiagotacoronte.com/Productivity-AssessmentConnect with me:Website: santiagotacoronte.comLinkedIn: Santiago TacoronteHave questions or suggestions? Email us at info@santiagotacoronte.comConnect with the host:• https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiago-tacoronte/• https://santiagotacoronte.com/❤️ Support the Show: If this podcast has brought value to your life, consider supporting us! Your contribution helps keep the episodes coming and the quality high. Every bit is deeply appreciated: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2388611/support