OCD and the Art of Noticing Everything

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder isn’t just a cluster of symptoms to manage. Like other mental health challenges, it can come with hidden advantages like the ability to be more creative and empathetic. The key is understanding - whether you have OCD or you work with someone who does. Michael Alcee, author of the book The Upside of OCD: Flip the Script to Reclaim Your Life, explains the misconceptions we have about OCD, what spiraling thoughts really feel like, and how this relates to the ability to achieve. Read Michael’s book: https://www.amazon.com/Upside-OCD-Flip-Script-Reclaim/dp/1538191105

Hypervigilance is a state of being where you constantly are on the lookout for perceived threats. It’s often the result of trauma - but it shows itself in the work world as well. Ironically, many high achievers are rewarded for hypervigilant behavior, but it comes at a cost. Tanvi Gautam,  executive coach and managing director of Leadershift Inc., explains how she’s seen hypervigilance show up in her clients, and how she helps them work through it and push forward in their careers.  Read more about hypervigilance: https://hbr.org/2024/11/3-ways-to-temper-your-hypervigilance-at-work

Practice makes perfect - except perhaps when it comes to meditation and mindfulness. In this episode we revisit a conversation with mindfulness expert Sharon Salzberg on what led her to the path of meditation, what mindfulness does for anxiety, how she deals with the ups and downs of life, and how mental health is or isn’t present in our work lives today. Plus, she guides us through a short practice - even if it doesn’t turn out perfect.

It’s absolutely crucial in today’s work for leaders and the organizations they run to understand the unique strengths and challenges of neurodivergent workers. In this episode, host Morra Aarons-Mele dives into the complexities around the word “superpower” and the ways workplaces can improve with Ludmila Praslova, a professor at Vanguard University of Southern California and author of the book The Canary Code: A Guide to Neurodiversity, Dignity, and Intersectional Belonging at Work. They speak about the kinds of accommodations companies can be taking, the latest data around neurodiversity and work, and personal stories about being neurodivergent leaders.

Among the most important links between our physical and mental health might just lie in our digestive tract. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a gastroenterologist, gut health expert, and the founder of 38TERA. In this episode, he explains his own journey to eating better, how that impacted him mentally, and the most cutting edge research about how anxiety and IBS are linked, why it is especially important for anxious achievers, and more. Learn more about Dr. B: https://theplantfedgut.com/

Dr. James Kustow is a London-based expert in adult ADHD. He shares the latest research around the disorder - which he hesitates to even call a disorder - including how ADHD is linked to emotions and our physical body. Kustow has a truly whole-body understanding of ADHD. We’ll hear some of the science behind ADHD-related behaviors and how they can impact our careers and leadership abilities.

Want to learn more about neurodivergence and navigating career success? Check out Morra’s recent appearance on the We Too Are One podcast, where host Martin Gale aims to celebrate the power of individuals with ADHD and autism - and what it looks like in their work and lives.  Check out more about the show here: https://www.wetooareonepodcast.com/about

Author and former Fortune 500 CHRO Susan Schmitt Winchester returns to the show, this time to talk about past toxic bosses, perfectionism, and coming to terms with why we do what we do at work. She talks about uncovering the reasons we are drawn to perfectionism, what it looks like, and actionable ways we can change our behavior to improve our mental health and our careers.

Leadership comes in many forms, and good leadership can be found at all kinds of organizations, from startups to faith communities. In this episode, Morra searches to learn more about how leaders perform and manage their own anxieties, as well as the anxieties of others. We also explore how leaders can most effectively communicate during anxious times. She speaks with Steve Cuss, an author and pastor, as well as Present Voices founder Lee Bonvissuto.  Learn more about Steve: https://www.stevecusswords.com/about Learn more about Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahbonvissuto/

Vlad Gheorghiu is on a mission to make workers happier, healthier, and at the same time, more productive. The ex-McKinsey consultant took his own experience of panic attacks to change his work to something more meaningful. After leading the global mental health and well-being program at the storied consulting firm, he went on to found Kyan Heath, which focuses on a preventive approach to mental health in organizations. He explains why he thinks it can help not just workers, but also the bottom line.  Learn more about Kyan Health here: https://www.kyanhealth.com/