Prof Michael F Steger on finding meaning in everyday life

This week on the Working on Wellbeing podcast, we’re joined by two inspiring changemakers motivating us to prioritise movement and embrace community for our physical and mental wellbeing, whatever our ability or preferred way of moving. Our first guest, Kayla Jeter, is former professional athlete turned wellness strategist, athlete mental health coach and digital creator. Kayla is a passionate advocate for both mental and physical wellbeing, and an influential voice for diversity and inclusion in sport. She’s the founder of ‘100 Miles of Summer’ - a grassroots movement, empowering communities of women to come together to walk, jog, run, or wheel 100 miles each summer. In her own words, the goal is movement for a lifetime - and that starts with just getting up and out. Alongside Kayla is Anne Wintroub, Head of Social Impact + Engagement at lululemon. As a technical athletic apparel, footwear, and accessories company, lululemon are obvious advocates for physical health, but their work goes much further than that. They embody an inclusive approach to health and wellbeing through their social impact focus. Anne leads important work in corporate philanthropy, supporting community-driven initiatives that expand access to the resources and opportunities that foster wellbeing, particularly for those navigating systemic barriers. From grassroots movement challenges like '100 Miles of Summer' that encourage participation across all abilities, to programs like the 'Girls Opportunity Alliance' that empower girls and women to access sports and education, and even pioneering research into women’s health and athletic endurance through initiatives like 'FURTHER' - learn how lululemon, its partners, and ambassadors are taking serious action to improve global mental health and wellbeing – one step at a time. Tune in now and learn how you can get moving with your community today! *** We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  ***    We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“The things that you like best, and value most in your life, already reflect - at a gut level - what makes your life meaningful.”  That is a key message from Prof Michael F Steger, a renowned expert in positive psychology and a global authority on the science of meaning, shared right at the start of this episode of the Working on Wellbeing podcast.  We may experience meaning differently from one another, and even differently from one day to the next in our own lives, yet each person’s unique experience of meaning  is, according to today’s expert, valid. And interestingly, despite this variation, research has revealed patterns and phenomena that can help us to better understand how people connect with a sense of meaning in life. In this episode, Prof Steger - Director and Founder of the Center for Meaning and Purpose at Colorado State University - joins our host, Sarah Cunningham, to explore how people come to understand, create, and sustain meaning in their lives and work. Drawing on insights from his impressive body of research, he explains that there are three key elements that underpin our sense of meaning: significance, coherence, and purpose.  Michael brings these ideas to life with relatable examples for each component and suggests important ways that businesses can help employees pursue truly purpose-driven and meaningful work.  If you're interested in what makes life feel worthwhile, and how this connects to our wellbeing both in and out of work, you won’t want to miss this conversation! ***  We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the launch day of their new book, ‘Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters’, Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve and Dr George Ward join host, Sarah Cunningham, to explore the key research behind the book, and discuss why wellbeing matters for every workplace. Going beyond the argument that looking after the wellbeing of employees is a moral imperative for any organisation, Jan and George reveal why an investment in improving employee wellbeing is also the savvy approach for business success. From improved productivity to increased talent attraction and retention, and even stronger financial and stock market performance, work wellbeing – their evidence shows – is no longer a nice-to-have, but rather a business imperative. In addition to being the co-founder of the World Wellbeing Movement, Prof De Neve is Director of the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, where Dr Ward is a Research Fellow. The two leading wellbeing science experts first met at University College London in 2011, where Jan supervised George’s Master's thesis exploring the relationship between economic growth and happiness. Since then, they have developed a strong research partnership, published multiple high-end academic papers, and now this ground-breaking book, which is a must-read for all business leaders. Explore the most compelling findings from nearly 15 years of research together and uncover why prioritising workplace wellbeing isn’t just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do. If you’re trying to convince your Chief Financial Officer that investing in employee wellbeing is a business imperative, then this episode is a must-listen, and Jan and George’s new book is a must-buy!   Order your copy of ‘Why Workplace Wellbeing Matters’ here: https://wellbeing.hmc.ox.ac.uk/workplace/   ***    We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beyond being academic institutions, schools should be places for optimism and holistic growth. By fostering wellbeing in schools, we can support young people not only academically, but also with social and mental health outcomes beyond their school years. In this episode, host Sarah Cunningham sits down with child and adolescent wellbeing experts Lucy Bailey and Leoni Boyle. Lucy is CEO and founder of Bounce Forward, a charity dedicated to fostering psychological fitness in schools. Leoni, who joins us from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, has recently contributed to the first-ever chapter on childhood and adolescence in the 2024 World Happiness Report, and co-authored the Wellbeing for Schoolteachers report, produced in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate Organisation. Today’s conversation covers the predictive power of childhood wellbeing for later life outcomes, the profound impact of teacher wellbeing on student wellbeing and academic performance, and the challenges of introducing wellbeing-focused lessons into already jam-packed school schedules. Tune in now and join this insightful discussion that reimagines education, highlighting the important role schools can play in nurturing the whole child, and not just their academic outcomes. Beyond being academic institutions, schools should be places for optimism and holistic growth. By fostering wellbeing in schools, we can support young people not only academically, but also with social and mental health outcomes beyond their school years. In this episode, host Sarah Cunningham sits down with child and adolescent wellbeing experts Lucy Bailey and Leoni Boyle. Lucy is CEO and founder of Bounce Forward, a charity dedicated to fostering psychological fitness in schools. Leoni, who joins us from the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, has recently contributed to the first-ever chapter on childhood and adolescence in the 2024 World Happiness Report, and co-authored the Wellbeing for Schoolteachers report, produced in collaboration with the International Baccalaureate Organisation. Today’s conversation covers the predictive power of childhood wellbeing for later life outcomes, the profound impact of teacher wellbeing on student wellbeing and academic performance, and the challenges of introducing wellbeing-focused lessons into already jam-packed school schedules. Tune in now and join this insightful discussion that reimagines education, highlighting the important role schools can play in nurturing the whole child, and not just their academic outcomes. *** We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all recognise the countless hours of intense physical training that elite athletes dedicate to their craft. But how often do we stop to consider the consistent and careful mental training that is just as crucial for Olympic success?  In this episode, Jess Thom, Lead Psychologist for Team GB, takes us behind the scenes of Olympic mental preparation, sharing exclusive insights into how she helps British Olympians build focus, confidence, and resilience to perform at their best. She explains the proven psychological techniques that help world-class athletes to perform at their best.  Beyond her work with Team GB, Jess also leads MindForPerformance, an organisation that helps individuals and business leaders apply lessons from sports psychology to improve their own wellbeing and support others. She and her team advise on evidence-based techniques from elite sports psychology to enhance mental health and performance. She shares many of these practical strategies with host Sarah Cunningham in this episode!  ***    We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Sarah Cunningham is joined by Prof Amanda Kirby, a leading expert in the field of neurodiversity and workplace inclusion. With a unique background as a medical doctor, researcher, and entrepreneur, Amanda has dedicated her career to transforming how organisations, educators, and healthcare professionals understand and support neurodivergent individuals. She’s the founder of Do-IT Solutions, an emeritus professor at the University of South Wales, and an honorary professor at Cardiff University. She is the co-author of ‘Neurodiversity at Work’, and has authored or co-authored several other books, along with over 100 research papers on neurodiversity and related topics.  Amanda shares her personal and professional journey, including how her experiences as a parent and medical doctor motivated her focus on neurodiversity research and advocacy. Together, we explore why creating neuroinclusive workplaces is crucial - not just for supporting neurodivergent individuals, but for driving innovation, performance, and long-term organisational success.  This episode takes a practical look at fostering neuroinclusive practices, confronting the many barriers neurodivergent employees face, and guiding organisations on how and where to begin breaking down these barriers. The discussion also highlights the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent women at different life stages, offering valuable insights for leaders aiming to create lasting cultural change that can benefit all employees.  Tune in to discover how we can all contribute to building workplaces that unlock the full potential of every individual!  ***    We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, host Sarah Cunningham sits down with two inspiring leaders in the world of workplace wellbeing: Jen Fisher and KeyAnna Schmiedl. They share their personal and professional journeys, offering a refreshing perspective on what it means to create workplaces which truly put people first.  Jen Fisher is a best-selling author, award-winning podcaster and influential speaker. Formerly Deloitte US's first Chief Wellbeing Officer, she is a preeminent expert on work wellbeing, and we are thrilled that she has recently joined the World Wellbeing Movement as our US Brand Ambassador.   KeyAnna is Workhuman’s Chief Human Experience Officer, and a leading voice on bringing human connection, belonging, and recognition to work wellbeing.  She brings years of experience advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in both educational and corporate settings, and has received the Diversity Leader Award from Diversity Journal for her exceptional work in fostering an inclusive workplace. She has also featured on Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list and was named a DEI Trailblazer by Business Insider.  This episode tackles a pressing question: how can organisations prevent employee burnout and instead promote human sustainability and wellbeing?  Together, we unpack the organisational barriers that stand in the way of progress, uncovering some of the root causes of poor workplace wellbeing, and urging leaders to stop over relying on individual level interventions that add more to an employees’ (already very long) to-do lists.  We discuss the essential ‘wellbeing leadership skillset’ - skills that can be taught to leaders so that they are properly equipped to foster wellbeing and build happy and productive teams. Whether you’re leading a team or advocating for change within your organisation, this conversation offers actionable insights to help workplaces move toward healthier, happier, and more sustainable futures.  ***  We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this exciting episode, our host Sarah Cunningham is joined by Dan Buettner, renowned wellbeing expert and creator of the Blue Zones, whose Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones captivated audiences worldwide. Dan’s research, and subsequent documentary, explores the unique communities where people live exceptionally long and vibrant lives, offering an exclusive glimpse into the habits that may promote longevity.  Dan shares a wealth of valuable insights on how to live a longer, healthier, and happier life, including simple yet powerful habits each of us can adopt. From eating more legumes, to living in walkable communities, Dan reveals valuable lessons for each of us who seek to live better lives.   We also explore the crucial role of government in fostering wellbeing at scale, and reducing wellbeing inequalities, highlighting the need for world leaders to move 'beyond GDP’ Gross Domestic Product, i.e. the economic output of a country) as the sole measure of success. Dan shares the policies governments should introduce to prioritise social connection, time in nature, and healthy environments - putting the wellbeing of their populations first!  ***    We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENT WARNING:  Before you listen to this episode, please be aware that parts of this conversation cover the topics of grief and bereavement. If you would prefer not to listen to a conversation of this nature, please turn off this episode and look after yourself. Help and support is available from the links below. BBC Action Line | Mind | Samaritans   *** In this special bonus episode, recorded during the excitement of this year’s World Happiness Summit in London, host Sarah Cunningham is joined by CEO of WOHASU, Founder of the World Happiness Summit, and newly published author, Karen Guggenheim. After the sudden death of her husband in 2013, Karen made the inspiring decision to choose happiness, and began her journey to overcome trauma and positively transform her life. She studied happiness science from the world-leading experts, and decided her personal path to a state of happiness and wellbeing would be through meaning and purpose. Then she went one step further and decided to help others positively transform their lives... And that is how the World Happiness Summit was created, with the first Summit taking place in Miami in 2017. The annual Summit brings together world-leading wellbeing experts to share their insights with the audience, spreading the science of happiness globally. Now, listen to Karen share a behind the scenes peek from the World Happiness Summit in London, and share her personal story. Karen also reflects on the launch of her recent book: Cultivating Happiness – a practical and accessible guide to overcoming trauma and positively transforming your life.   *** We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the final episode of our second podcast series, for which we are thrilled to welcome Dimitra Manis, the Chief Purpose Officer of S&P Global. Dimitra’s work advances workplace wellbeing both internally at S&P Global, and across the globe. In this episode, Dimitra shares how S&P’s people and purpose first culture drives their business success, and how her uniquely titled job role guides this approach.  As the Chief Purpose Officer at S&P Global, Dimitra’s responsibilities span diverse domains, from steering marketing strategies and corporate responsibility, to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  Listen as host Sarah Cunningham delves into the relationship between purpose-driven leadership and organisational success with Dimitra, and gain firsthand knowledge of the power that prioritising purpose can have for your business. You will also gain insight into how Dimitra maintains her own wellbeing in a demanding, multifaceted role – as she reminds us that sometimes the best thing for our wellbeing is to simply relax on the couch!   ***  We are all Working on our Wellbeing daily, but not everyone has access to the latest cutting-edge research into the science of wellbeing … until now. From our home at the World Wellbeing Movement, within the University of Oxford, we have created the Working on Wellbeing podcast so that you can be a fly on the wall during our conversations with the world’s leading wellbeing experts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.