Becoming Wildly Resilient: Recent Episodes
University of Kentucky HR Health and Wellness
In this series, we explore a variety of well-being topics to help you thrive at work, home, and beyond. Episodes feature conversations with University of Kentucky experts in physical, emotional, nutritional, and financial health.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, health coach with the University of Kentucky Health and Wellness Program, guides you through a "farm-to-table" meditation.
In this practice, we explore the deep connection between the land, the hands that grow our food, and the nourishment that sustains our bodies.
Whether you are looking to ground yourself at the start of your day or find a moment of peace before a meal, this guided journey invites you to visualize the cycle of nourishment that connects us all.
What’s Included in This Practice:
- A Grounding Start: A gentle guided arrival into the present moment, focusing on breath and releasing physical tension.
- Field Visualization: A journey into a quiet sunrise field to feel the calming support of the earth and the vitality of growing plants.
- The Gratitude Loop: Reflections on the journey food takes from farm to table—honoring the sun, soil, rain, and farmers.
- An Intention of Nourishment: A space to form a gentle promise to honor your body by choosing food that truly sustains you.
Reflection: What is one tiny step you could take to support a local farmer or choose fresh, seasonal food this week?
What if the secret to better health and a stronger community was as simple as a jar of local honey?
In this episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient, health coach Amy Rodquist-Kodet explores the "quiet resilience" found in our food systems.
Following a conversation with Kristi Durbin from the UK Organic Farming Unit, Amy dives into the research behind nutrient density, the economic impact of supporting local farmers, and the emotional connection we build when we know where our food comes from.
Whether you have a sprawling backyard or a single pot on a balcony, this episode offers three practical, low-pressure ways to bring your food a little closer to home.
Key Takeaways:
- The Freshness Factor: Research suggests some produce loses 15–70% of its nutrients within a week of harvest. Local food reaches your plate faster and more nutrient-dense.
- The 16-Cent Reality: Out of every dollar spent on industrial food, farmers typically receive only 16 cents. Buying local keeps more of those dollars in your immediate community.
- Equity in Access: Acknowledging that local food isn't always accessible to everyone, and highlighting programs like Double Dollars for SNAP and sliding-scale CSAs that aim to bridge the gap.
- Nature Connection: Environmental psychology shows that eating seasonally and gardening (even on a small scale) reduces stress and improves well-being.
3 simple ways to start today:
- The "One Local Swap" Rule: Pick one staple item (like honey, eggs, or bread) and commit to finding a local version.
- Follow the Seasons: Align your grocery list with what’s growing nearby—strawberries in early summer, squash in the fall.
- Grow Your Own (Even a Little): You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect garden. A container of cherry tomatoes or peas is enough to create a meaningful connection to your food—especially for kids!
This Week’s Invitation: What is one small way you could bring food a little closer to home this month?
In this episode, guest host Tammy Akin and Kristi Durbin from the UK Organic Farming Unit explore how eating local food boosts personal health, mindfulness and community well‑being.
They discuss what “local” truly means, why freshness matters for nutrition, how local food strengthens local economies, programs that improve affordability and simple ways to start—from farmers markets to CSAs to U‑pick farms.
Takeaway: Even one small choice to buy local can support your health and the community that feeds you.
Brought to you by UK HR Health & Wellness.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with University of Kentucky Health and Wellness invites listeners to explore how acts of volunteering can replenish our energy, reveal our purpose and strengthen our sense of belonging within our communities.
In this Becoming Wildly Resilient practice episode, Amy Rodquist-Kodet, health coach with UK Health and Wellness as she explores how volunteering strengthens well‑being through the themes of giving, growing and connecting.
She highlights that volunteering is not only an act of generosity but also a neurologically regulating practice that boosts purpose and resilience.
Backed by research, Amy explains how even small acts of service can lower stress, increase life satisfaction and deepen our sense of belonging.
Discover how volunteering does far more than support good causes—it strengthens your well‑being. In this inspiring episode, we explore the powerful ways that giving back helps us feel better, grow personally and connect more deeply with others.
Through practical insights and uplifting reflections, you’ll learn how small acts of service can:
- Boost emotional and mental health
- Build confidence, skills and a renewed sense of purpose
- Create meaningful social connections and a sense of belonging
- Reduce stress and burnout by shifting focus to purpose
- Fuel healthier, more connected communities
Whether you volunteer regularly or are just curious how helping others might help you, this episode shows how service is a simple, accessible pathway to feeling more grounded, motivated and connected.
If you’re looking for a meaningful spark in your daily routine—or a reminder that your actions matter—this conversation is for you.
Listen in, get inspired and take one small step to give, grow and connect.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with University of Kentucky HR Health and Wellness invites listeners to slow down and create a sense of calm around financial stress in this guided meditation.
The practice encourages compassion, clarity, and steadiness—supporting a more open, resilient approach to financial wellness.
In this Becoming Wildly Resilient practice episode, Amy Rodquist-Kodet explores how financial stress affects relationships and offers a simple tool—the Money Check-In—to help navigate tense money conversations with more understanding and less reactivity.
Amy explains that financial strain often triggers the nervous system, making people feel threatened. For many, this leads to a sense of urgency and a desire to make quick decisions just to end the discomfort.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness, speaks with Jennifer Godbey, Assistant Professor and therapist in UK Psychiatry as they explore the powerful connection between financial wellness and healthy relationships. Learn why money conversations matter, how financial stress impacts emotional well-being, and practical strategies for building trust and shared goals around finances. This discussion offers tools to foster clarity, communication, and confidence in managing money together.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, guides listeners through a calming winter meditation designed to support emotional well‑being during the darker months. Through gentle reflection, you’ll explore what nourishes your energy when sunlight is scarce and how small joys can bring warmth into the season.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, Health Coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares simple, research-backed practices to help steady your mood during the dark Winter months. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) impacts millions each year, but small actions—light exposure, gentle movement and self-compassion—can make a meaningful difference. Amy says, “These practices aren’t about fixing everything at once; they’re about shifting your internal weather by a few degrees, building resilience over time.”Key Points:
• Light: Morning light exposure is a powerful cue for your circadian rhythm. Even a short burst of brightness—like turning toward a window or a bright lamp—can support a more positive circadian rhythm.• Movement: Just 10 minutes of low-intensity movement can increase BDNF, a brain chemical tied to emotional stability and resilience. Think of gentle movements like rolling your shoulders or shifting in your seat.• Self-Compassion: Brief moments of self-kindness reduce stress and regulate the nervous system. Pairing a small action with a compassionate phrase—such as “I deserve steadiness and kindness”—makes the practice more powerful and sustainable.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist with UKHR Health & Wellness, speaks with Lee Anne Walmsley, Assistant Dean ofWellness and Well-Being at the College of Nursing, about Seasonal AffectiveDisorder (SAD)—what it is, why reduced sunlight can impact mood and practicalstrategies to support yourself and others through the winter months—it's timeto become more Wildly Resilient!
Other SAD Episodes:
· "SAD" During Winter Months? 3Simple Tools for a Resilient Winter | BWR: Practice Ep. 114
· A Meditation for Seasonal AffectiveDisorder (SAD) | BWR: Meditation Ep. 115
Personal Resilience Resources:
Key Takeaways:
· SAD is more than “winter blues”—it’s arecurring, persistent pattern.
Seasonal Affective Disorder can show up as a consistent heaviness/sadness andlow mood that returns year after year, not just a temporary slump from coldweather or a bad week.
· SAD is biological, not a personal weakness—lightchanges brain chemistry and sleep cycles. Reduced daylight can influence circadianrhythms, lower serotonin (mood support) and increase melatonin (sleepiness),which helps explain why people can feel more fatigued, down and unmotivated inwinter.
· Small, consistent strategies can meaningfullyhelp—especially light, routine, movement and support. Practical tools includegetting outside when the sun is out, considering light therapy, prioritizing regularsleep, adding consistent activity and using social connection as a moodsupport. For persistent or debilitating symptoms, professional support like CBTand healthcare collaboration is important.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with UK HRHealth and Wellness, guides listeners through a calming resilience meditationdesigned to help you reconnect with your inner strength. As you settle intostillness, you’ll reflect on past challenges, uncover the qualities that helpedyou rise above them and embrace the wisdom and growth those experiences brought!
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, health coachwith UK HR Health and Wellness, shares “Hope Mapping,” a tool for cultivating resilienceand self-efficacy when life feels hard. Hope Mapping is grounded in Hope Theory,the idea that hope is not wishful thinking, but a mindset that cooperativelyuses agency and strategy!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist, speaks with Tony Lynn and Jamie Brown, both UK employees, about their personal resilience stories. In this episode, we discover how our understanding of personal resilience can change over time, and how oftentimes resilience is a daily choice—it's time to become more Wildly Resilient!
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with UK HRHealth and Wellness, guides you through a meditation aimed at emotionalwell-being and the arts. Jackie invites you to explore your emotions and awakenyour creative spirit in a space free of judgment, encouraging healing throughartistic expression. Thank you for listening, and as always, be well.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, health coachwith UK HR Health and Wellness, shares a joyful and science-backed approach toemotional regulation through music!
Learn how to create three intentional playlists—Soothe,Move and Lift—that help you navigate stress, reconnect withmeaning, and build resilience. Drawing on neuroscience and personal stories,Amy explains how music can regulate mood, reduce stress hormones and evokepowerful memories that restore a sense of self. Whether you're dancing in yourkitchen or pausing to ask what you need most, this practice invites you to usemusic as a tool for emotional renewal and self-awareness.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist, and Dr. Beth Arnold, Associate Dean and Professor of Music Performance and Voice, explore the deep relationship between our emotional well-being and the arts. Dr. Beth Arnold and her colleague, Dieter Yeomans, also perform Monteverdi's Laudate Dominum from Selva morale e spirituale (SV 287).
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist, and Dr. Beth Arnold, Associate Dean and Professor of Music Performance and Voice, explore the deep relationship between our emotional well-being and the arts. Dr. Beth Arnold and her colleague, Dieter Yeomans, also perform Monteverdi's Laudate Dominum from Selva morale e spirituale (SV 287).
Listen as Jackie Carroll, health coach with UK HRHealth and Wellness, guides you through a reflective journey centered on spiritual well-being. Building on Amy Rodquist-Kodet’s practice of Transcendent Reframing, Jackie invites you to explore what spiritual connection means to you—whether through mindfulness, prayer, sacred texts or simply a sense of belonging. Thank you for listening, and as always, be well!
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, health coachwith UK HR Health and Wellness, shares a powerful tool for navigating hardship with greater meaning and compassion.
In this episode, Amy introduces TranscendentReframing, a practice rooted in psychological research and personal experience that helps us shift how we carry suffering. Rather than bypassing pain, this approach invites us to name our stressors, reframe them with intention and anchor them in a larger story of connection.
In this episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient, Wellness Specialist Sebastian Calmes meets with Justin Sadle, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Kentucky, to explore spiritual well-being—one of UK HR Health and Wellness’s eight aspects of well-being. Justin shares insights on what spiritual well-being means, how it differs from religion and universal practices that can help deepen your connection to self and community. Whether you're religious, spiritual or simply curious, this conversation offers thoughtful ways to grow and thrive.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, a health coach withUK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a unique mediation powered by ArtificialIntelligence. This meditation showcases how we can use AI as a collaborativeresilience tool to deepen our well-being—as something that doesn’t replace intentionalwell-being practice, but as another tool to face life’s diverse resiliencechallenges. Each month, Jackie will deepen the ideas presented by AmyRodquist-Kodet's practice. Thank you for listening, and as always, be well!
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a healthcoach with UK HR Health and Wellness, tells us how we can use artificial intelligence in mindful ways. Amy says, “AI [is] a tool for well-being, not as a replacement for human connection or a shortcut to avoid discomfort but as a powerful partner to help us stay present and focused and even more aligned with our values.” With this attitude,AI can be leveraged as a partner or collaborator! Thank you for listening; and as always, be well!
Key Points:
1. Intentional AI Use Supports Well-Being: AI can be a helpfulpartner in emotional and intellectual wellness when used with purpose. It helpsreduce stress and improve focus—not by replacing human connection, but bysupporting it.
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If-Then Planning Builds Resilience: Using “implementationintentions” like “If I feel overwhelmed, then I’ll use AI to clarify mynext step” helps shift from stress to action. These simple plans boostfollow-through and reduce mental clutter.
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Tech Should Enhance, Not Replace, Connection: AI canstreamline tasks and communication, but its role is to free up space formeaningful human moments. Clear boundaries and purpose ensures AI use supportsresilience.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, Wellness Specialist, and Trey Conatser, Assistant Provost for Teaching & Learning, discuss the essential topic of intellectual well-being. As work and education further integrate with artificial intelligence, what should we be mindful of when using AI, so we take care of our intellectual well-being? What’s the difference between large language models and AI? What is a balanced approach to using AI in a complementary way to our creative and learning endeavors, as opposed to replacing our capacity for creativity, critical thought and engaged learning. It’s time to become more wildly resilient! Key Takeaways: 1. Intellectual well-being is multi-dimensional It includes having a clear sense of purpose, feeling empowered to act (agency), believing in your ability to learn (self-efficacy), connecting with others and knowing your work matters. These elements help people stay engaged and resilient in a changing world. 2. Active learning and motivation awareness are essential Learning is most effective when it’s hands-on and reflective. Understanding what motivates you—and how to activate that motivation—helps you overcome challenges and grow intellectually. 3. AI should support, not replace, human learning Generative AI can enhance learning and creativity when used thoughtfully. Be mindful of what you choose to up-skill and de-skill. The key is to use AI as a tool to practice, reflect and build expertise—not just to get quick answers.
Listen as Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you threw an inspirational mediation that helps us reflect on how we can deepen our relationships and have the courage to start new ones! Each month, Jackie will deepen the ideas presented by Amy Rodquist-Kodet's practice. Thank you for listening, and as always, be well!
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares a researched-based, actionable framework for developing genuine trust in professional, family and intimate relationships. By developing trust in our relationships, we establish a space of mutual vulnerability and safety, helping everyone involved to thrive!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, wellness specialist, and UK HR Health and Wellness Mental Health Therapists, Rhonda Henry and Kim Releford discuss the essential topic of social well-being. They delve into defining its core elements, explore the benefits of strong social ties for overall health, and examine how diverse relationships contribute to our sense of connection. They also address the impact of digital connections, distinguish between loneliness and solitude, and share strategies for sustaining healthy relationships, navigating conflict and setting effective boundaries in both personal and professional contexts.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HRHealth and Wellness, guides you through gentle reflection, prompting you toconsider your unique gifts and how you can truly serve! This episode encourageslisteners to deepen their investigation of what values they hold closest to themand meditate on how those values can be used for the good of ourselves andothers!
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares the power of the personal mission statement. Discover how this reflection tool can act as your internal compass, clarifying your values and "why" to boost resilience, work satisfaction and overall well-being!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, wellness specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Jason Chadwell, senior organizational development specialist with UK Healthcare discuss Occupational Well-being. Jason shares his expert insights on what defines occupational wellbeing, its core elements, and the profound impact of factors like workplace safety and a sense of belonging. We will also explore how to identify when your work might be negatively affecting your well-being the power of a growth mindset and transforming your work experience and why psychological safety is a crucial driver for organizational performance and innovation.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HRHealth and Wellness, leads you through a meditation practice to push backagainst the stigma, shame, and isolation around mental health. Each month,Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening theresilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, as she guides listeners through a powerful exploration of mental health stigma. Drawing on research from experts like Kristen Neff and Chris Germer, Amy delves into how stigma impacts our inner thoughts, personal relationships and broader communities. This episode offers practical, research-based tools for cultivating self-compassion, providing supportive presence to others and speaking up to challenge societal narratives around mental health, ultimately aiming to build a world where vulnerability is embraced and healing is safe.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and UK HR Health and Wellness Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist, Ann Bassoni, tackle the crucial topic of mental health stigma. We define stigma, explore its public and internalized forms and share strategies to combat it. We also contrast societal views on mental versus physical health, define true mental wellbeing, and discuss common conditions like anxiety, depression and PTSD, covering symptoms, diagnostic considerations, and their widespread prevalence.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a meditation practice to deepen your connection with the natural environment. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, explores the science behind environmental wellness, showing how connecting with nature reduces stress, improves focus and boosts mood. Learn five simple, research-backed practices—from mindful walks and "green" micro-breaks to nature sounds and getting your hands dirty—that you can easily incorporate into your life to cultivate resilience and feel more grounded. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening and happy practicing!
On this episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient: Conversations, host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Professor of Preventative Medicine and Environmental Health, Dr. Erin Haynes, explore the multifaceted concept of environmental wellbeing, emphasizing its direct impact on human health through factors like air and noise pollution, chemical exposure, and natural disasters. Dr. Erin Haynes highlighted the critical link between environmental stewardship and public health, advocating for personal and policy driven actions to mitigate hazards and promote sustainability.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads listeners through an exercise designed to slow down and appreciate food. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the effort and resources that go into producing and delivering food, and guides listeners through sensory exploration of a food item, including sight, smell and taste. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, introduces the Mindful Eating practice which focuses on the experience of eating, both internally by recognizing hunger and fullness cues and externally by engaging the senses, which can improve digestion, prevent overeating and reduce stress. Key strategies include eliminating distractions, eating slowly, chewing thoroughly and using a hunger-fullness scale (1-10) to regulate food intake. This practice takes time to develop, but with patience and consistency, it can help individuals build a healthier relationship with food and better honor their body's needs. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening and happy practicing!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness interviews Dr. Karen McNees, a registered dietitian with UK HR Health and Wellness. Dr. McNees explains the difference between intuitive and mindful eating. Intuitive eating is a more holistic approach to food that takes into account your body's natural wisdom and signals. Mindful eating, on the other hand, is more focused on the eating experience itself. She also discussed the dangers of diet culture and how it can lead to people losing touch with their natural hunger and fullness cues. She encourages people to find a balance between eating healthy foods and enjoying the foods they love.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, introduces a meditation practice focused on navigating change, using her own "Amazon fast" as an example. She encourages listeners to identify a desired change, break it down into small steps, and celebrate each success along the way, emphasizing self-compassion and support. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, introduces Dr. BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits method to create sustainable change. The method focuses on starting with small, easily achievable behaviors (tiny behaviors) and linking them to existing routines (anchors), then celebrating immediately after completing the tiny behavior to reinforce it in the brain. By focusing on small steps and positive reinforcement, the Tiny Habits method helps avoid the common pitfalls of large, unsustainable goals and builds momentum over time. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening and happy practicing!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness interviews Dr. Aaron Yelowitz, an Economics Professor at the Gatton College of Business and Economics. Dr. Yelowitz shares how he made sustainable changes to better his health and life satisfaction! Beginning with the use of Noom, a nutrition and dieting app, he was able to discover new aspects of his health and wellbeing he was passionate about, leading to new habits that helped him lose weight, stress less and even help those around him who needed support! UK employees, spouses and retirees have access to a similar program called Wondr Health. If you are a UK employee, spouse or retiree on a UK health plan, you have free access to Wondr Health.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on creating a vision for your financial well-being! Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares helpful, research-based practices and tools for gaining more peace through personal finance practice and mastery. Research from the American Psychological Association suggests financial stress is a leading cause of anxiety, depression and even physical health problems like high blood pressure and heart disease. Conversely, feeling like we're in control and have a grasp on our finances is linked to better sleep, improved relationships and greater life satisfaction! Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening!
Part 2 of 2
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness, and Dr. Bruce Ross, Department of Family Sciences Associate Professor and FFC Program Director, discuss personal finance basics, investing and financial myths and wisdom.
In this episode, Dr. Bruce Ross shares a wealth of personal finance information and wisdom ranging from personal finance basics, investing and money mentalities conducive to success and life satisfaction. We learn how we should prioritize creating an emergency fund that could replace three to six months of income. And investing 20% of our income and retirement accounts that can grow exponentially over time. We also learn that debt, if used with purpose and intentionality, can be called a good debt. And debt used without purpose or without a plan called bad. When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the second-best time? Right now. Dr. Ross reminds us that we're not powerless. No matter our income, age or life situation. Financial wellness is our responsibility. It's time to plant that tree.
Part 1 of 2
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness, and Dr. Bruce Ross, Department of Family Sciences Associate Professor and FFC Program Director, discuss personal finance basics, investing and financial myths and wisdom.
In this episode, Dr. Bruce Ross shares a wealth of personal finance information and wisdom ranging from personal finance basics, investing and money mentalities conducive to success and life satisfaction. We learn how we should prioritize creating an emergency fund that could replace three to six months of income. And investing 20% of our income and retirement accounts that can grow exponentially over time. We also learn that debt, if used with purpose and intentionality, can be called a good debt. And debt used without purpose or without a plan called bad. When is the best time to plant a tree? 20 years ago. When is the second-best time? Right now. Dr. Ross reminds us that we're not powerless. No matter our income, age or life situation. Financial wellness is our responsibility. It's time to plant that tree.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on building more appreciation around the gifts we receive. Jackie also encourages us to meditate on what we could do or give to others to make a loving, positive impact on them! Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares helpful, research-based practices and tools for giving and receiving with more intentionality and joy! According to research, when we are generous with our time, talents, money, or creativity, we foster a sense of generosity. Generosity and gift giving are linked to improved psychological health, happiness, well-being, greater vitality, social connections and improved physical health. Generosity even boosts the immune system and decreases stress! Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening!
In this episode, Dr. Michelle Martel helps us learn that giving unconditional gifts has the power to elevate our mood and strengthen our social connections. When we prioritize giving in a non-transactional way, we experience more joy and well-being. We also learn oftentimes the most memorable gifts are small, homemade or inexpensive. What counts in a meaningful gift is the love you wish to express to someone. Love that is given freely with no expectation for something in return. This holiday season, consider switching things up with the family. Instead of spending a lot on gifts, consider a family trip or experience. Michelle reminds us that shared experiences tend to have stronger, more lasting positive effects on our well-being, as opposed to giving and receiving material things.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on building more awareness around our common humanity. How can focusing on our common humanity help us to bridge differences? Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares helpful, research-based assessments and tools for cultivating our ability to bridge differences! Bridging differences recognizes a common humanity. In the process of Bridging Differences, we may not always find the ideal compromise, but the key is we don't dehumanize each other in the process. This practice consistently requires modesty and cultural humility by accepting the fact we don't all have the answers, or the monopoly on truth. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more; thanks for listening!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness, and Dr. Jess Dominguez, Assistant Professor of Communication, discuss the topic of Bridging Differences.
Bridging differences is all about how to have tough conversations, looking past bias, and focusing on what is common as opposed to what is different. Being able to bridge differences is important to well-being because as members of a community, we don't live in isolation. We are diverse in race, creed, genders, opinions, and beliefs. As we continue to develop and evolve as human beings, it’s important to remember that our ability to connect with others is a critical component of our well-being. And through remembering our common humanity, we are more likely to see ourselves in everyone, lending to the mutual respects we strive to cultivate for each other.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on building more resiliency in our lives. This meditation invites us to investigate where and how we can grow our resilience muscles. What need is not being met? Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares 5 helpful tools and research-based exercises for furthering our mental health resilience! Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness interviews Laura Williams, a UK Health Care Informatics Director. This special episode invites our guest to share their mental health and personal resilience journey to help end the stigma in getting the needed well-being support or help people need.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on cultivating humility in our lives. How could growing into a humbler person help you thrive more atwork, home and beyond? Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host AmyRodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares 5 helpful tools and research-based exercises that can help us strengthen our intellectual humility. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
It’s important to ask ourselves questions that test our assumptions, bias or information. We may find that we don’t have the whole picture. We may even learn something new!
Try journaling or self-reflecting from a 3rd person view. By creating ‘self-distance,’ one may be able to gain a new perspective on one’s life, beliefs and challenges.
Practice admitting when you’ve made a mistake. Research suggests that admitting mistakes can often be seen as a strength as opposed to a weakness!
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a WellnessSpecialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Dr. David Weisenhorn, a Family and Consumer Sciences Senior Extension Specialist, discuss the topics of technology,social media and their impact on well-being.
In this conversation, we explore the topic of digital wellbeing and how it impacts other dimensions of wellness. We learned that technology is like a tool. Something to be used with a specific purpose. With any tool it can be used for good or for ill. This conversation reminds us to be mindful and intentional with technology. Without mindfulness and discipline, technology and social media can quickly become a hindrance to wellbeing. Educate yourself on what technology and social media are. Social media is designed to be addictive. With this information, we are better equipped to create positive technology and social media habits.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through self-reflection meditation to discover what is underneath the urge to check our phones impulsively. What need is not being metthat leads us to scroll for hours? Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff, Director of the College of Social Work DSW program and Clinical Assistant Professor, discuss the topic of social connection. In this episode we learn that feeling socially connected is a two-way street. Meaning that social connection is our responsibility. Something that requires intentionality in order to create and maintain meaningful social connections. We also learned having a core group of connections provides us with a space to be our authentic selves. A place where we can share not only our wins, but our losses too. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares 5 research-backed ways to restore balance in your relationship with technology. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
Key Takeaway: Understandand be honest with your phone usage habits; what apps are you spending the mosttime on, and does that align with your values?
Key Takeaway:Understand that social media apps are designed to be a bottomless pit ofcontent. You can scroll for hours, and it’s always going to try and show yousomething new.
Key Takeaway: Out ofsight, out of mind. Research suggests that just by removing your phone fromyour sight, productivity can be increased. When the phone is visible the urgeto check it is greatly increased.
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a meditation that helps you deeply reflect on our natural, human desire to make meaningful social connections! Each month, Jackiewill guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares an insightful practice that can help you create more meaningful connections in your life! Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Dr. George Wright, UK History Professor and Senior Advisor to Dr. Capilouto, discuss the topic of personal purpose and how one might uncover the purpose driving their lives. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a meditation designed to help reconnect you with your personal purpose! Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares a powerful question we can ask ourselves to stay in alignment with our lifepurpose. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and UK HR Health and Wellness Health Coaches, Jackie Carroll and Amy Rodquist-Kodet, discuss the topic of forgiveness. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a forgiveness meditation that can help relax the mind, body, and mood! Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares 9 steps we can take to practice forgiveness to reap its healing benefits. This method was researched and pioneered by Dr. Fred Luskin of Standford University. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and Professor of Philosophy,Dr. David Bradshaw, discuss the topic of Awe and Beauty. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a meditation for recognizing the everyday, awe-inspiring things around us! Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares the concept of the Awe Walk, a unique practice that helps us cultivate a recognition and appreciation of the awe-inspiring things around us. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and UK Mental Health Therapist, Eric Wilkinson, discuss the topic of Mindful Self-Compassion. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation for offering yourself and others compassion. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, shares a three-step method for being self-compassionate in difficult times. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and UK Professor of Musicology and Ethnomusicology, Dr. Lance Brunner, discuss the topic of kindness for the sake of kindness. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation for cultivating kindness for yourself and others. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-wildly-resilient/message
Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, talks about being loving and kind to yourself and others. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Sebastian Calmes, a Wellness Specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness and UK Associate Professor of Psychology and Clinical Psychology, Dr. Shannon Sauer-Zavala, discuss the topic of habits. Each month, Sebastian Calmes will interview an expert guest with the conversation aimed at deepening the resilience practice and meditation offered by co-hosts, Amy Rodquist-Kodet and Jackie Carroll.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation focused on cultivating awareness around habits, and how you can add new habits to ones that already exist. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
Have feedback or suggestions for future topics? Email us at healthandwellness@uky.edu.
You can listen and follow all episodes of "Becoming Wildly Resilient" wherever you find your podcasts. Spotify listeners can also interact with questions and polls or send a voice memo within the app.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness introduces us to a new, research-backed approach to forming new habits. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
- Free 5-day Tiny Habits program: https://tinyhabits.com/join/
- Learn more about Tiny Habits: https://tinyhabits.com/
- UK Human Resources Health and Wellness: https://hr.uky.edu/work-life-and-well-being
Have feedback or suggestions for future topics? Email us at healthandwellness@uky.edu.
You can listen and follow all episodes of "Becoming Wildly Resilient" wherever you find your podcasts. Spotify listeners can also interact with questions and polls or send a voice memo within the app.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-wildly-resilient/message
Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation centered around the breath aimed at staying present during stressful times. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host, Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, highlights seven research-based strategies for working through stress. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation for things in and out of your control. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by
co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
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Listen as host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, certified health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a process to identify things in and out of your control. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as new host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation for dealing with difficult feelings. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-wildly-resilient/message
Listen as new host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, certified health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a process for identifying and naming difficult feelings. You can download the worksheet below to practice identifying and naming your feelings. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Listen as new host Jackie Carroll, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a short meditation for reflecting on your values. Each month, Jackie will guide you through a new meditation aimed at deepening the resilience practice offered by co-host Amy Rodquist-Kodet.
You can find the episode transcript here.
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Listen as new host Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a health coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, leads you through a process for identifying, narrowing and integrating your values. You can download the worksheet and follow along with the transcript in the episode show notes [INSERT HR LINK]. Each month, Amy will explain a new practice you can try to build your resilience and thrive more.
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Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr., an academic advisor with UK Gatton College of Business and Economics, joined the “Becoming Wildly Resilient” podcast in July 2023 to talk about putting values into action.
Listen as Willie shares his story and what he’s learned about resilience along the way. He talks about his experiences as a gay Appalachian, the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year and connecting with folks near and far as an advocate. Willie also shares tips for being a better ally and reads a poem from his new book “Gay Poems for Red States,” published in June 2023 by The University Press of Kentucky.
Host Jakob Hester also shares a big announcement and previews what is to come for the show.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/becoming-wildly-resilient/message
Dr. Connie Jennings, medical director of UKHC Integrative Medicine and Health, joined the “Becoming Wildly Resilient” podcast in April 2023 for a nurturing conversation about nature.
Listen as Dr. Jennings shares an abundance of joy and passion for, and knowledge of, our world outside. Throughout the episode, you’ll learn how nature can dramatically improve our physical and mental health. Dr. Jennings explains why we should seek moments of awe in nature. You’ll also hear ways nature can teach us about resilience and some of Dr. Jennings’ and host Jakob Hester’s favorite nature spaces on the UK campus. Dr. Jennings also leads us through a short guided imagery nature meditation toward the end.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Dr. Dan Stone, a Professor of Accountancy in the UK Gatton College of Business and Economics, joined “Becoming Wildly Resilient” in April 2023 to talk about mindfulness, money and the intersection of the two.
Listen as Dan shares his “wealth” of knowledge from his personal life and professional work as a professor, researcher and mindfulness teacher. You’ll hear Dan explain what mindfulness is and how it gets us back in touch with what it meant to be human 250,000 years ago. He provides ways you can incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily life and how they can benefit your financial wellness. Toward the end, Dan also shares advice as someone nearing the end of their career and leads us through a 2-minute loving-kindness meditation.
You can view the episode show notes here.
Dr. Alex Elswick, an Assistant Extension Professor with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, joined “Becoming Wildly Resilient” in March 2023 to talk about addiction, recovery and our shared humanity. Alex is also a co-founder of Voices of Hope, a Lexington-based non-profit supporting people who use or have used drugs or alcohol and are seeking better health.
Listen as Alex shares a wealth of knowledge from his lived experience and professional work. Some of what you’ll learn includes: what substance use disorder and recovery look like; what people commonly misunderstand about addiction and recovery, and how we can contribute to the shifting narrative; a holistic approach to recovery, including the power of social connection; and ways we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for those affected by addiction and recovery. You’ll also hear about Alex’s story from addiction to recovery and what he’s learned about resilience along the way.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Rhonda Henry and Eric Wilkinson, mental health therapists with University of Kentucky Human Resources, returned to “Becoming Wildly Resilient” in February to chat about creativity. Listen as they explain: the four types of creativity; how creativity benefits our personal and professional lives; why we sometimes lose sight of our creative capacity; and how we can cultivate more creativity throughout our days. You’ll also hear them discuss creative writing and receive two starter prompts for exploring writing as a creative practice.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Jason Brooks, Executive Director for Institutional Engagement with the UK Office of Institutional Diversity, and Dr. DeShana Collett, PA-C, a professor with UK College of Health Sciences and University Senate Chair, joined “Becoming Wildly Resilient” this month. Listen as they discuss the vital topic of diversity, equity and inclusion, particularly how they drive belonging and connect to well-being in the workplace. Some of what you’ll learn includes: what diversity, equity, and inclusion are, and why they are essential to workplace cultures; what barriers stand in the way of DEI work; and how we can use both top-down and bottom-up approaches to create more diverse, equitable and inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. You’ll also hear everyone enter a brave space as they get a little vulnerable, sharing lessons learned from times when they became mindful of biases, privileges or honest mistakes.
You can view the show notes here.
The holidays and new year bring joy and celebration but can also be a little hectic, stressful or bittersweet. During this time, it’s common to forget to take care of ourselves. So, this month’s episode is a little different. Listen as some of the work-life and well-being experts with University of Kentucky HR Health and Wellness share how they have been practicing self-care lately. You’ll also be guided through a short 5-minute self-compassion meditation by health coach Jackie Carroll at the end of the episode.
You can find the show notes here.
Lindsey Mullis and Morgan Turner, program director and program education assistant for the Kentucky Inclusive Health Collaborative at the UK Human Development Institute, joined host Jakob Hester this month to talk about the intersection of well-being and disability. In addition to the knowledge they bring from their professional roles, Lindsey is a parent of a child experiencing disability, and Morgan experiences both cognitive and physical disabilities. You’ll hear their stories and learn: what disability is and how to talk about it; what people often get wrong about disability and why those assumptions can be problematic; and how we can help create more inclusive environments and become better allies for disability.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Alissa C. Briggs, PhD, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and licensed psychologist with UK HealthCare Adolescent Medicine, joined host Jakob Hester this month to talk about resilience and mental health in children and teens. You'll learn about: what it means for children to be resilient; the protective factors and skills that enhance children’s resilience; current mental health trends in school-age children; and how to support resilience and mental health as a parent or caregiver. Alissa also shares tips for coping as a parent or caregiver and touches on topics like growth mindset, the effects of social media use and proper self-care for adolescents.
You can view the episode show notes here.
Alissa C. Briggs, PhD, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and licensed psychologist with UK HealthCare Adolescent Medicine, joined host Jakob Hester this month to talk about resilience and mental health in children and teens. You'll learn about: what it means for children to be resilient; the protective factors and skills that enhance children’s resilience; current mental health trends in school-age children; and how to support resilience and mental health as a parent or caregiver. Alissa also shares tips for coping as a parent or caregiver and touches on topics like growth mindset, the effects of social media use and proper self-care for adolescents.
You can view the episode show notes here.
Kim Releford, LCSW, a mental health therapist with HR Health and Wellness, joins host Jakob Hester to discuss two of the most common mental health conditions: anxiety and depression. In this episode, you'll learn about: the relationship between anxiety and depression; the signs and symptoms of each and how we can recognize them in ourselves; how the stigma is lessening but still persists; and when to seek professional help and what you can expect when you do. Kim also shares tips for managing anxiety or depression, plus how we can support mental health in the workplace, regardless of whether or not you are experiencing a mental health condition.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Vanessa Oliver, a registered dietitian nutritionist with UK HR Health and Wellness, returns to the podcast to talk about diet culture. As a certified Intuitive Eating counselor, Vanessa shares this framework contributes to our resilience. Listen as she and host Jakob Hester discuss: what diet culture is and why it is problematic for our overall well-being; how diet culture has disguised itself as wellness culture; what it means to have an anti-diet mindset; and ways we can overcome and dismantle diet culture when we're on an anti-diet path.
You can view the episode show notes here.
Dr. John Nash, an associate professor of Educational Leadership Studies in the UK College of Education and director of the Laboratory on Design Thinking (dLab), joins host Jakob Hester to talk about taking a human-centered approach to fostering belonging and de-risking innovation in the workplace. You'll learn about: our need to experience belongingness; what human-centered design is and how it can help bolster belonging; and how we can ask better questions to discover and meet others' unmet needs. They also touch on related topics and terms, including drive theory, recognition, strengths, authenticity, curiosity, listening, and motivational interviewing.
You can view the show notes here.
In this episode, host Jakob Hester is joined by Dr. Erin Hester, an assistant professor in the College of Communication and Information who also happens to be his wife. They close out the second year of the podcast with a conversation on empathy and compassion. Listen as they discuss: the definitions and differences between the two; benefits of each, both in and out of the workplace; and ways we can get better at experiencing empathy and expressing compassion. You can view the show notes here.
Amy Rodquist-Kodet returns to chat about flow for the final conversation in a three-part series on (re)discovering our spark and seeking more true fun. In this episode, she and host Jakob Hester discuss the benefits and subjective nature of flow, what inhibits flow, and some tools and tips for finding your flow at work, at home or with others. They also wrap up the conversation on true fun with ideas for how you can start feeling more alive again.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Drs. Anthony Limperos and Scott Soltis join host Jakob Hester to chat about connection for the second conversation in a three-part series on (re)discovering our spark by seeking more true fun. In this episode, you’ll learn: what it means to feel and be connected; why connections matter; how modes of connection have changed in recent years; and how we can cultivate more connections in and out of the workplace. They also share some personal examples of true fun and connection, plus discover multiple similarities in their personal and research interests.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Ann Bassoni, a mental health therapist with HR Work-Life, returns to kick off the first of a three-part series on (re)discovering our spark by seeking more true fun. In this episode, Ann and host Jakob Hester chat about playfulness, one of the three core elements of true fun. You’ll learn: what true fun is and is not; why focusing on true fun is a way forward for us; how playfulness and laughter are good for our minds, bodies and relationships; and how humor helps make the workplace feel more human. They also share some personal examples of true fun and playfulness, as well as ways you can begin incorporating more true fun and playfulness into your days.
You can find the episode show notes here.
On this episode, Audrey Bachman, a Training Specialist Senior with HR Training and Development, chats with host Jakob Hester about emotional intelligence (EQ). You’ll learn about the fundamental skills and benefits of EQ, how EQ shows up in our personal and professional lives, and how we can develop our EQs individually and collectively. Audrey and Jakob also share personal examples of lessons they’ve learned through their EQ journeys.
You can view the show notes for this episode here.
Dr. Natalie Jones, an Extension Specialist for Family Health, joins host Jakob Hester on this episode to share what she has learned about physical, mental and emotional resilience through her experiences as an endurance athlete. Among her long list of athletic accomplishments are the completion of three Ironman races and a recent coast-to-coast cycling trip. Listen as Natalie shares how she got started, what keeps her going, and how she’s adapted to the challenges she has faced over the years. You’ll also hear advice for finding joy and success in whatever goals you’re pursuing in 2022 and beyond.
You can view the episode show notes here.
Dr. Kate Leger, Assistant Professor of Psychology from UK College of Arts and Sciences, joins host Jakob Hester to close out 2021. In this episode, you’ll hear them discuss how we experience and respond to daily stress, why we’re hardwired to cling to negative events, and ways we can cope with both by using principles of positive psychology. They also dive into the specific benefits of practicing gratitude and how you can cultivate more of it.
You can find the episode show notes here.
Health coach Jackie Carroll recently joined host Jakob Hester on the show to talk about slowing down—what it is and how we can get better at it. To complement their interview, Jackie recorded this meditation to help you slow down.
Be sure to go back and listen to the full episode, titled "Episode 16: Slowing Down," to learn more about the importance of slowing down, plus hear other ways you can incorporate it into your everyday life.
In this episode, health coach Jackie Carroll returns to the podcast to talk about slowing down. Listen as she and host Jakob Hester discuss what it really means to “slow down” and why it is an essential practice for your well-being. You’ll also hear why it is challenging to practice slowing down, as well as some examples of ways to slow down or support others who may need to slow down themselves.
You can find episode show notes and more here.
In this episode, Dean Jay Miller, PhD, from the College of Social Work joins host Jakob Hester to chat about self-care and cultivating workplace cultures of support. Listen as they discuss some common struggles of self-care and the importance of intentionality and personalization in self-care planning. You’ll also hear Dean Miller offer advice for approaching self-care at the administrative and employee levels, including examples from the College of Social Work’s self-care initiative.
Episode show notes can be found here.
This month, Tommy Leach, a training specialist senior with HR Training and Development joins host Jakob Hester to chat about growth mindset. Listen as they discuss what growth mindset is and how it can make us more resilient. You’ll also hear Tommy explain how we can foster a growth mindset within ourselves and among others.
You can find the episode show notes here.
In this episode, host Jakob Hester is joined by Dr. Lauren Whitehurst, an assistant professor of psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences. Listen as they discuss how you can discover and achieve better sleep. You’ll also hear Dr. Whitehurst explain how sleep is tied to our emotions and can help us be more resilient during our waking hours.
You can find the show notes for this episode here.
This month, host Jakob Hester looks back at the first year of conversations by recapping all 12 episodes so far. Whether you’re new to the show or have been listening for the past year, this special episode offers an opportunity to catch up or reflect on what you’ve learned so far.
You can find the episode show notes and survey link here.
Ryan Mason, an exercise specialist with HR Health and Wellness, joins host Jakob Hester this month to chat about recent physical activity research. Listen as they discuss how the data show we’ve been moving and what we can do with that information to improve or maintain our physical activity and exercise. You’ll also hear them break down SMART goals and how you can apply this process to plan a clear roadmap to where you want to be.
Episode show notes can be found here.
In this episode, host Jakob Hester chats with HR Work-Life mental health therapists Ann Bassoni and Rhonda Henry. Listen as they reflect on what we’ve learned over the past year and what we need more of moving forward, both individually and collectively. You’ll also hear how mindfulness can help keep us grounded when thinking about the past or the future, plus simple strategies for discovering self-care routines that work for you.
Episode show notes can be found here.
Listen as host Jakob Hester previews the 2021 employee well-being week "Moving Forward with Our Well-Being," presented by UK HR Health and Wellness and Work-Life. Jackie Carroll, a certified health and wellness coach with HR Health and Wellness, will also guide you through a mindfulness exercise to help you discover what is possible for you and your well-being.
To learn more about "Moving Forward with Our Well-Being" and register for any events, visit the link here.
In this episode, Dr. Nichole Huff, an Assistant Professor of Family Finance and Resource Management, joins host Jakob Hester to talk about financial well-being. Listen as they discuss financial literacy and the foundation skills that make it up, as well as some common financial setbacks and traps we face in life. You’ll also hear how our financial habits can develop a reciprocal relationship with other dimensions of our well-being.
Episode show notes can be found here.
In this episode, Eric Wilkinson, a mental health clinician with UK HR Work-Life, joins host Jakob Hester to talk about some of the benefits music can have on our well-being. Listen as they discuss links between music and our emotions and how we can use it to increase our resilience. You’ll also hear how music can elicit empathy and foster connection, as well as ways music can produce unintended consequences.
Want to contribute to the playlist shared by Jakob and Eric in the episode? Email us at healthandwellness@uky.edu to let us know what songs you’d add. We may just add your songs to the playlist.
You can find the show notes to this episode here.
In this episode, host Jakob Hester speaks with Vanessa Oliver, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with UK HR Health and Wellness. Listen as they discuss how nutrition and resilience are linked plus tips for including more produce in your diet. You’ll also learn about community supported agriculture and its impacts on nutrition, the local economy, and the environment.
Episode show notes can be found here.
In this episode, Amy Rodquist-Kodet, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach with UK HR Health and Wellness, joins host Jakob Hester. Listen as they discuss how you can identify and address your needs by naming and acknowledging feelings. You will learn how feelings are distinguished from emotions, how to label your feelings better, and how you can discover short- and long-term strategies for meeting your needs.
Find episode show notes here.
Cindy Bowling, an LCSW and mental health therapist with UK HR Work+Life Connections Counseling, joins host Jakob Hester in this episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient. Listen as they discuss burnout: what it is and what we can do to prevent or reverse it. You will also hear them address current mental and emotional health trends, concerns throughout the holidays and the differences between stress and burnout.
You can find the show notes here.
In this episode, Dr. Karen Bryla McNees, a registered dietitian with UK HR Health and Wellness, joins host Jakob Hester. Listen as they discuss self-compassion and how we can practice it more. You’ll also hear them touch on topics such as the common nutritional challenges during the holidays, how to identify emotional eating or self-indulgent behavior, and how we can better cope with routine-disrupting stressors.
Episode show notes can be found here.
In this special episode, host Jakob Hester speaks with five employees (and one spouse) from across the University of Kentucky. They address some of the challenges they've faced, how they persevered, and what they have learned along the way. While their stories are unique, their challenges are not, and they have some great advice to share with those who may find themselves in similar situations. Listen as they share their stories of resilience.
In this bonus episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient, listen as host Jakob Hester shares the story behind new tools and upcoming events from Human Resources and Staff Senate to strengthen well-being, individually and collectively.
You can learn more about community quickstarts and register for the events happening from October 5-9 at www.uky.edu/hr/community-quickstarts.
In this episode, host Jakob Hester is joined by Azetta Beatty, HR Work-Life Manager, and Terri Weber, an eldercare specialist with HR Work-Life. Listen as they discuss how self-care is essential to balancing the demands of work and caring for others, whether that be children or older loved ones. They’ll cover topics such as mental load and mindset, as well as what those not actively providing care can do to prepare or to help colleagues and friends who are.
Host Jakob Hester speaks with Carrie Davidson, MoveWell Fitness Manager with UK HR Health and Wellness, in this episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient. Listen as they discuss how it is common to start an exercise routine only to quit a short time later; why mindset is important in approaching movement and exercise; how physical activity connects to resilience; the concept of training for life; ways you can build more movement into your day and give exercise habit(s) the best chance of sticking; and how you can get the most "bang for your buck" in your strength training routine.
In the first episode of Becoming Wildly Resilient, host Jakob Hester speaks with Jackie Hanson, a certified health coach, KORU mindfulness teacher, yoga instructor, and tobacco cessation specialist with UK HR Health and Wellness. They discuss the common wish for a return to "normal;" the tendency to glamorize the past and when that can be problematic; and what you can do when you find yourself in one of these situations.
To learn more about University of Kentucky HR Health and Wellness, visit www.uky.edu/hr/wellness.