Flourishing Edge Podcast with Ashish Kothari

What if putting people first wasn’t just the right thing to do—but the smartest business strategy? In this episode of the Flourishing Edge Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with David Hughes of BCR Engineering to explore how trust, relationships, and human-centered leadership create thriving teams, resilient cultures, and long-term performance.Key Topics CoveredWhy people-first leadership drives sustainable profit and performanceHow true and honest relationships build trust with employees and clientsMoving from annual performance reviews to developmental check-insCreating psychological safety and distributed leadershipSupporting employee growth, well-being, and individual “genius”Navigating crises with strong culture and deep relationshipsPractical examples of human-centered workplace practices that workDavid Hughes is a leader at BCR Engineering, a company known for prioritizing employee well-being, trust, and long-term relationships as the foundation of success.🔗 Connect with David Hughes & BCR EngineeringWebsite: https://www.bcreng.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcr-engineering🎧 Subscribe to Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly conversations on leadership, culture, and unlocking human potential through flourishing.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquadLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

In this deeply human and science-backed conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Crystal Fernando to explore why today’s burnout, overwhelm, and underperformance signal a human capacity crisis—not a performance problem. Together, they unpack how leaders can reclaim stability, agency, and humanity to thrive in a fast-changing, AI-driven world.Key Topics Covered:The human capacity crisis vs. traditional performance challengesWhy stability must come before agility in leadership and organizationsThe neuroscience of safety, mindset, and intentional focusCrystal’s SIMPLE framework for sustainable leadership and flourishingMoving from busyness to intention and from reaction to clarityHow empathy fuels innovation, trust, and long-term performanceLetting go of control to unlock flow, creativity, and resiliencePractical micro-practices to restore agency and calm in daily workThis episode is a powerful invitation to slow down, reconnect with what makes us human, and redesign work so people—and performance—can truly flourish.Connect with Crystal:Founding Partner and CEO, Whatbox Innovation Partnershttps://www.linkedin.com/in/crys-fernando/__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquadLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if your company’s greatest competitive edge wasn’t technology or strategy — but culture?In this inspiring episode of The Flourishing Edge Podcast, Ashish Kothari sits down with Jeffrey Schmitz, CEO of Zebra Technologies, to explore how the global tech leader is redefining success through its brand philosophy: Better Every Day.From engineering to marketing to becoming Chief People Officer and now CEO, Jeff’s career journey embodies a human-centered approach to leadership — one that proves people and purpose are at the heart of innovation and performance. Together, they dive deep into how flourishing cultures, inclusive leadership, and continuous learning create long-term business success in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.Key Insights & Takeaways:🧭 The heart of leadership: Why people, not products or profits, define the true strength of a company.🌱 The power of purpose: How Zebra Technologies built its “Better Every Day” brand around continuous improvement and collective growth.🤝 Culture as a competitive edge:How Zebra successfully merged two massive companies (Zebra + Motorola Enterprise) through shared experiences, not slogans.Why culture must be defined, invested in, and lived — not left to chance.💬 Belonging as survival: How inclusion and belonging fuel creativity, innovation, and retention across 54 countries and 9,900+ employees.\🚀 Ownership and growth: Why the key to flourishing careers is never outsourcing your development — and how Zebra empowers employees to own their Individual Development Plans (IDPs).🧠 Happiness & resilience: Jeff’s personal “5-3-2” practice — five gratitudes, three acts of kindness, and two minutes to reset before reentering family life — and why positivity, hard work, and curiosity are his “three foundations for success.”🤖 Leading in the age of AI:How Zebra is creating safe AI sandboxes for experimentation and play.Why curiosity is now a hiring requirement and the key to thriving in a fast-changing tech landscape.🌍 The future of flourishing leadership: Practical advice for executives who want to build purpose-driven, adaptive, and joyful organizations — even under shareholder pressure🧘 Guest Spotlight: Jeffrey SchmitzCEO, Zebra Technologies🔗 Connect with Jeffrey on LinkedInJeffrey Schmitz is a visionary leader who believes culture is the ultimate driver of business success. His career spans engineering, marketing, and HR — culminating in his leadership of Zebra Technologies, a global powerhouse known for its people-first, innovation-driven approach.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquadLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if mastering your emotions was the key to unlocking your peak performance and inner peace?In this fascinating conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Dr. Ethan Kross, acclaimed psychologist and author of Chatter and Shift, to explore the science of emotional mastery — and how simple, research-backed tools can help you transform anxiety, anger, and stress into clarity, focus, and resilience.Dr. Kross unpacks the six core “emotional shifters” — from sensory awareness to perspective-taking — that anyone can use to quiet mental chatter, navigate life’s chaos, and thrive in both work and life.💡 What You’ll Learn:🧠 What emotions really are — and why they’re not the enemy.⚡ The purpose of “negative” emotions like anger and anxiety (and how they can fuel growth and innovation).🎧 The six emotional shifters you can use to regulate your emotions:1. Sensory Shifters: Use music, touch, or nature to calm the nervous system.2. Attention Shifters: Learn when to focus and when to take mental breaks.3. Perspective Shifters: Reframe your challenges by changing the lens you view them through.4. Relationship Shifters: Choose the right “emotional advisors” — people who listen and help you move forward.5. Environmental Shifters: Design physical spaces that restore focus, calm, and creativity.6. Cultural Shifters: Build and participate in cultures that support emotional well-being.🌬️ How to manage anxiety in real time using a “1-2-3” combination of tools.💬 The science behind why venting alone doesn’t help — and what actually does.🌱 How leaders can create emotionally intelligent, high-performing cultures at work.Guest Spotlight: Dr. Ethan Kross📚 Author of Chatter and Shift🎓 Professor of Psychology and Management, University of Michigan🔗 Connect on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekross/Ethan Kross is one of the world’s leading experts on controlling the conscious mind. His work bridges neuroscience and practical tools, helping people regulate their inner voice, harness emotions, and turn stress into strength.🪞 Key Insight:Mastering your emotions isn’t about eliminating them — it’s about learning to work with them.#FlourishingEdgePodcast #HappinessSquad #EthanKross #AshishKothari #EmotionalIntelligence #FlourishingAtWork #MentalFitness #NeuroscienceOfEmotions #MindfulLeadership #PositivePsychology #ChatterBook #ShiftBook #StressManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #shorts__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquadLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if you could make every job deeply meaningful — no matter the industry, title, or task?In this episode of The Flourishing Edge Podcast, host Ashish Kothari sits down with Tamara Myles, author, researcher, and founder of Keynote Speaker, to explore the science of meaningful work. Together, they reveal how leaders can turn workplaces into thriving communities where employees feel valued, challenged, and connected.From her groundbreaking research, Tamara shares the Three C’s of Meaning — Community, Contribution, and Challenge — and how these elements can unlock performance, loyalty, and fulfillment across organizations.💡 What You’ll Learn:🌱 What makes work meaningful: Why it’s not what you do but how you experience what you do.🧩 The 3 C’s Framework:Community — Creating belonging through care and authentic connection.Contribution — Recognizing impact and helping people see how their work matters.Challenge — Stretching potential with support to inspire growth and pride.💬 Leadership’s impact on meaning: Research shows leaders shape 48% of how meaningful work feels.🪞 The power of positive feedback: How one simple “thank you” per week can halve burnout and disengagement.🔁 Gratitude as culture: A story of how one leader’s “five Friday thank-you emails” transformed an entire team.🧠 The ROI of meaning: How fostering meaningful work drives productivity, retention, engagement — and even financial performance.🤖 Meaning in the age of AI: Why human connection, purpose, and mattering are more vital than ever in a technology-driven world.🧘 Guest Spotlight: Tamara MylesFounder, Keynote Speaker & Researcher on Meaningful Work🔗 Connect with Tamara on LinkedInTamara Myles is a leading expert in organizational psychology and meaningful work. Her research, consulting, and talks help companies cultivate workplaces where people don’t just perform — they flourish.🪞 Key Insight: “Meaningful work isn’t about what you do — it’s about how you experience what you do.”__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquadLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if the secret to flourishing wasn’t about doing more—but about realizing you already are enough?In this inspiring episode of the Flourishing Edge Podcast, host Ashish Kothari is joined by Jennifer Cohen, Founder and Director of Seven Stones Leadership Group, to explore how shifting from scarcity to sustainable abundance can transform your leadership, your relationships, and your life.Together, they uncover the seven timeless laws that help us move beyond fear, scarcity, and separation—toward joy, connection, and sufficiency.💡 In This Episode: Key Takeaways🌎 The root of scarcity: Why our modern systems of economics and culture condition us to feel “not enough.”💫 The 7 Laws of Enough:Stories Matter – Recognize that the context you live in shapes your reality.I Am Enough – Shift from striving to sufficiency.I Belong – Remember your inherent connection to everything.No One Is Exempt – Accept both life’s joys and sorrows as part of being human.Resting Is Required – True peace begins when we stop resisting what is.Joy Is Available – Learn to access the inner joy that isn’t dependent on outcomes.Love Is the Answer – The universal truth that heals and unites us all.🌱 The origin of the Seven Stones philosophy: How Jennifer’s own healing from trauma and systems thinking shaped her life’s work.💬 From scarcity to sufficiency: How to live and lead from the truth that there is enough for all, for all time.🔁 Daily practices for flourishing: Create intentional connections, reflect on “What is happening now?” and “How is that enough?”, and anchor your day in gratitude.❤️ Love as leadership: Why authentic care and connection are the most powerful forces in business and beyond.🧘 Featured GuestJennifer CohenFounder & Director, Seven Stones Leadership GroupCo-author of The Seven Laws of EnoughJennifer helps individuals, teams, and organizations redefine success through sufficiency, sustainable abundance, and conscious leadership.🔗 Connect with Jennifer CohenLinkedIn🧭 Connect with the HostAshish KothariFounder of Happiness SquadHost of Flourishing Edge PodcastHelping leaders unlock breakthrough performance through science-based practices of flourishing.🪞 Quote-Worthy Insight“Enough isn’t an amount — it’s a place to come from. It’s a stand.”__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

In a world of constant noise, speed, and digital overwhelm, how do we reclaim our inner stability and thrive?This week on The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari welcomes Emma Seppala, Yale School of Management faculty member, bestselling author of Sovereign and The Happiness Track, and pioneering researcher in well-being science.Together they explore what it truly means to be sovereign—to live with awareness, agency, and mastery over one’s mind and emotions—even amid the chaos of technology, AI, and nonstop change. Emma shares groundbreaking research on breathing, intuition, and emotional regulation, revealing how ancient contemplative wisdom meets modern neuroscience to help us flourish in work and life.💫 Key Topics & InsightsWhat “Sovereign” Really Means:Reclaiming inner mastery in an age of distraction, self-criticism, and external noise.Why self-awareness—not self-judgment—is the foundation for resilience and performance.The Science of Self-Compassion:How harsh self-talk lowers creativity, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence—and how awareness and kindness to self reverse it.Technology, AI & the Age of Uncertainty:Why constant stimulation erodes intuition, and how stillness, silence, and mindful discernment safeguard our humanity.→ “AI can inform us, but only intuition can guide us.”The Power of Intuition & Alpha States:Neuroscience behind gut wisdom and creativity: relaxed minds in alpha-wave mode generate breakthrough ideas.How to train intuition through rest, presence, and trust in your inner knowing.Sovereign Relationships:Why the most loyal teams and cultures are built on care, not control.The two simple leadership moves:1️⃣ Make people feel seen, heard, valued, appreciated.2️⃣ Model calm self-awareness through your own meditation or reflective practice.Sovereign Emotions & Healing Trauma:Adults suppress; children feel and release. Emma explains how emotional endurance and courage transform leadership presence.→ “Feeling is not weakness—it’s wisdom.”The SKY Breath Meditation Breakthrough:Emma’s landmark research at Yale and Stanford showing that the SKY (Sudarshan Kriya Yoga) breathing practice:Rapidly reduces PTSD symptoms in veteransNormalizes anxiety responses for up to a yearOutperforms standard therapy for emotion regulationPrevents burnout in college studentsProven pathways to emotional sovereignty and nervous-system healing.Daily Practices for Sovereignty:🌞 Morning: Yoga + SKY Breath + Meditation (≈ 1 hr)🌅 Evening: 30 min silent meditation🌳 Nature immersion & walking daily🙏 Gratitude for life’s simple privileges💻 Strict boundaries with technology & news💞 Service mindset—leave everyone feeling better than before they met you💬 Memorable Quotes:“Self-awareness, not self-criticism, is the key to unlocking your potential.” — Emma Seppala“We can’t stop the waves of change, but we can learn to master the inner ocean.” — Ashish Kothari“Feeling is not weakness—it’s wisdom. Sovereignty begins when you allow yourself to feel.” — Emma Seppala🪷 About the Guest:Emma Seppala is a psychologist, researcher, and faculty member at Yale School of Management. She is the author of Sovereign and The Happiness Track, and Science Director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research. Her work has been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, and TIME. Emma’s research bridges neuroscience, psychology, and ancient contemplative practices to help individuals and organizations thrive.🔗 Connect with Emma on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaseppala/🌻 About the Host:Ashish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad, author of Hardwired for Happiness, and creator of the Flourishing Edge Podcast, where science-based practices meet soulful leadership to help people live, work, and lead with joy, health, love, and meaning.If this conversation sparked your curiosity about reclaiming your own sovereignty, share the episode with a friend or teammate who’s ready to flourish too.Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast and leave a review to keep spreading science-backed tools for living and leading with purpose.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

Founders are praised for their grit — but what about their grace?In this powerful episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with Lisa Mikkelsen, Partner at Flourish Ventures, to explore the hidden mental and emotional costs of entrepreneurship — and how founders can thrive without sacrificing their well-being.Lisa shares hard-won insights from 25 years in startups and venture capital, where she’s seen firsthand how “image management,” stigma, and burnout quietly derail brilliant founders. Together, they unpack how the VC world can evolve from “get rich or die trying” to “grow well and thrive together.”This is a must-listen for founders, funders, and anyone passionate about building sustainable success — from the inside out.💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:1️⃣ The Hidden Barriers to Founder Well-beingImage management: Founders feel pressured to project confidence even when struggling.Fear and stigma: Many hide their stress to avoid losing investor trust.Reality check: Nearly 70–90% of founders experience mental health challenges — they’re not alone.2️⃣ The Survival Trap of StartupsHow founders slip into “I’ll rest when…” thinking.Reframing survival mode with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — recognizing safety and rest as non-negotiable for creativity and performance.Why postponing self-care leads to operating at 30–50% capacity when founders need 100%.3️⃣ Lisa’s Journey: From Startups to Mental Health Advocacy25 years across startups and VC revealed one truth: behind every business problem lies a human one.Personal inspiration: raising a neurodiverse child changed how Lisa views inclusion, empathy, and awareness in leadership.How Flourish Ventures shifted its mission to center founder mental health.4️⃣ The Flourish Ventures Model: Investing in Human FlourishingBeyond capital: providing coaching, therapy access, and community circles for founders.Hosting monthly CEO and CXO gatherings designed for real conversations, not “chest-pounding.”Funded and validated the first 7-question mental health diagnostic tool designed specifically for entrepreneurs.Taking the movement global — reshaping the VC–founder relationship through empathy, trust, and transparency.5️⃣ Rethinking the VC–Founder RelationshipOnly 10% of founders tell investors when something’s going wrong.Flourish Ventures combats that by training investors in:6️⃣ The Organizational Ripple EffectFounder well-being sets the tone for company culture.Flourish Ventures runs CXO retreats and leadership coaching to spread healthy habits beyond the C-suite.Spotlight on the “frozen middle” — how empowering middle managers transforms entire organizations.7️⃣ Flourishing at Work and in LifeAshish and Lisa reflect on the Happiness Squad model and McKinsey research:97% of burnout factors come from job, team, and organizational systems — not individuals.To flourish at work = to flourish in life. You can’t “survive work” and hope to thrive elsewhere.“Work is where we spend most of our waking hours — it should be a source of joy, not depletion.”8️⃣ Lisa’s Daily Practices for Flourishing🌿 Time in nature — even 5 minutes daily📝 Journaling to process emotions and build self-awareness💤 Sleep as a non-negotiable🧘‍♀️ Quarterly rest breaks to reset energy and clarity💨 Breathwork & mindfulness to stay anchored in the present9️⃣ Advice for Founders“Find a way to disconnect from work every single day — even for five minutes. Build that muscle.”And for investors:“The next time you talk to your founder, ask how they are doing — not how the business is doing. Then ask again: how are you really?”👩‍💼 About the GuestLisa Mikkelsen is a Partner at Flourish Ventures, a global venture firm redefining what responsible investing looks like. She leads initiatives that support founder mental health and organizational well-being, integrating empathy, psychology, and business performance.🔗 Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisamikkelsen1/🧘‍♂️ About the HostAshish Kothari is the founder of Happiness Squad, author of Hardwired for Happiness, and host of The Flourishing Edge Podcast.He helps leaders unlock joy, resilience, and performance through science-based habits of flourishing.If this episode resonated with you, share it with a founder or leader who needs permission to rest and reconnect.Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on living, leading, and working with greater joy, health, love, and meaning.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if working less could help us live more — with greater energy, purpose, and joy?In this eye-opening conversation, Ashish Kothari sits down with Karen Lowe, South Africa’s lead advocate for the 4-Day Workweek movement and founder of 4 Day Week South Africa, to explore how shorter work weeks are transforming productivity, culture, and well-being across the globe.Karen shares how a passion project in Cape Town became the world’s fourth major pilot of the 4-Day Workweek — and the results are nothing short of revolutionary: higher revenue, lower burnout, better sleep, deeper engagement, and teams that flourish together.This episode challenges the modern obsession with “more” and makes a powerful case for the 4-day week as both a science-backed productivity strategy and a human sustainability movement.💡 Key Takeaways & Topics Covered:Karen’s Origin Story:How a curiosity about human well-being and burnout in South Africa led to running a national pilot for the 4-Day Workweek — now one of the most successful global case studies.The 180-100 Model Explained:100% pay, 80% time, 100% productivity — a simple but transformative framework for redesigning work around efficiency, not excess.Flourishing Defined:Flourishing isn’t just about happiness — it’s a felt sense of capacity, energy, connection, and purpose.Time is our new currency, and how we spend it determines how much we truly thrive.Workplaces Are Broken — Here’s How to Fix Them:With only 20% of people thriving at work, Ashish and Karen discuss why most workplaces are “fundamentally broken” and how human-centered redesign can heal them.Trust, Autonomy, and Agency:Successful 4-day week cultures are built on permission — trusting employees to co-create boundaries, prioritize deep work, and use time wisely.The South African Case Study:Over 82% of organizations kept the 4-day workweek two years after the pilot.Science Meets Flourishing:German trials even measured lower cortisol in hair samples, proving physiological stress reduction.From Burnout to Breakthrough:A powerful story from Stellenbosch University shows how cutting hours from 5 days to 4 dropped absenteeism from 51 days to 4 — while improving service delivery and saving millions in costs.Leadership Lessons for the Future of Work:→ Productivity starts with permission→ Recovery is doing→ Trust and meaning drive output→ Rest fuels creativity and innovationAshish’s Personal Reflection:From his own experience at McKinsey working 70% time while increasing client impact, Ashish reflects on how less can truly be more — when done with purpose and trust.🧭 Notable Quotes:“Flourishing is a felt state — a sense of capacity, connection, and purpose that comes from using time deliberately.” – Karen Lowe“We don’t need to fix work; we need to redesign it for humans.” – Ashish Kothari“The 4-day week isn’t about working less — it’s about working better.” – Karen Lowe🪴 About the Guest:Karen Lowe is the Founder and Director of 4 Day Week South Africa, a nonprofit initiative driving the movement toward shorter, smarter, and more humane work weeks across the African continent. Her work bridges neuroscience, productivity research, and organizational psychology to help businesses thrive through human flourishing.🔗 Connect:Host: Ashish Kothari | Founder of Happiness Squad and author of Hardwired for HappinessIf today’s conversation inspired you to rethink how you work, share this episode with your team or leader.Subscribe to the Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on how to lead, live, and flourish at the edge of what’s possible.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad

What if your next “competitive edge” as a company wasn’t innovation or efficiency—but compassion?In this eye-opening episode of The Flourishing Edge, Ashish Kothari sits down with David Shapiro to unpack how recovery-friendly workplaces are redefining what it means to truly support employees.From mental health to substance use recovery, David reveals why inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety aren’t “nice-to-haves”—they’re the foundation of human flourishing at work. Together, they explore how stigma, stress, and hidden workplace norms silently fuel substance misuse—and how small cultural shifts can create massive change.💡 Key Topics & Takeaways:1️⃣ The Human Side of Workplace Health:David’s journey from anthropology and family-friendly policies to leading the Colorado Recovery Friendly Workplace Initiative.How his personal story of recovery informs his mission to make work environments more empathetic, inclusive, and safe.“My work matches my life”—the power of aligning personal purpose with professional service.2️⃣ Understanding Substance Use & Recovery:What substance use disorder really means—and why it’s a medical condition, not a moral failing.The spectrum from low-risk social use to addiction, and how 30 million Americans live with diagnosed substance use disorders.The ripple effect: for every person impacted, two to three others are affected at home or at work.Why workplace culture and chronic stress can drive coping behaviors—and what employers can do differently.3️⃣ Redefining “Recovery”:SAMHSA’s inclusive definition: “a self-directed process of change.”→ Recovery can mean abstinence, harm reduction, or simply the courage to seek help.Why judgment—not lack of resources—is the biggest barrier to recovery.“We rally around cancer, but we isolate addiction.” How empathy transforms stigma into connection.4️⃣ Culture Shift: From Judgment to Curiosity:Don’t label—listen. Describe what you see objectively before assuming impairment.Replace words like “addict” with “a person experiencing substance use disorder.”“Connection is the opposite of addiction.” – Johan HariLanguage matters: empathy and curiosity are the foundation for healing cultures.5️⃣ Building a Recovery-Friendly Workplace:David outlines the three pillars (the 3 P’s) of Total Worker Health®:Policies: Shift from “zero tolerance” to “we care about you and want to help.”Practices: Encourage leaders to model openness, empathy, and awareness.Programs: Offer real support—Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), mental health resources, Narcan/Naloxone training, and flexible benefits.💡 “If your policy doesn’t reflect how you actually care for people—it’s time to rewrite it.”6️⃣ The “Frozen Middle” Problem:Leaders may support recovery, but real culture change happens in the middle—among supervisors and managers.Middle managers often feel overworked, under-supported, and hesitant to engage in sensitive issues.Why equipping the “frozen middle” with empathy and training unlocks lasting change.7️⃣ Practical, Low-Cost Shifts That Make a Big Difference:Offer mocktails and non-alcoholic options at company events.Avoid centering celebrations around alcohol—make inclusion visible.Provide healthy alternatives in breakrooms (fruit alongside candy).Reconsider payday timing (e.g., Tuesday instead of Friday) to support budgeting and reduce relapse triggers.Equip first-aid kits with Narcan/Naloxone for overdose preparedness.Encourage leaders to test their own EAP before recommending it—know what the employee experience is like.8️⃣ Stories of Impact:ODB’s Sandwich Shop (Denver): 60–70% of staff are in recovery. Alcohol still served—but the culture is care-first, not cocktail-first.JHL Contractors: Supported an employee through opioid treatment and welcomed him back; he’s now a top performer.Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing: Frequent conversations about recovery helped normalize help-seeking behavior.State of Colorado: Now exploring recovery-friendly policies across public agencies.9️⃣ The Bigger Picture: Flourishing Through CompassionFrom fear to curiosity, from stigma to support—these are the building blocks of a flourishing workplace.When businesses choose empathy over judgment, they not only retain talent—they redefine leadership.If this conversation inspired you, share it with your HR team or leadership circle—because every workplace can become a recovery-friendly one.Visit recoveryfriendlyworkplace.com to take the pledge, or explore how Happiness Squad can help your team build a culture of flourishing.Subscribe to The Flourishing Edge Podcast for weekly insights on leading and living with more joy, health, love, and meaning.__________________________________________________Happiness Squad Website: https://happinesssquad.com/Ashish Kothari: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashishkothari1/YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@MyHappinessSquad LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/happiness-squadFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/myhappinesssquad/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myhappinesssquad