In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner sits down with Nia Pommerenke, Founder of SeaBright Culture Solutions, to talk about what it really takes to build a workplace culture that champions health, wellbeing, and lasting success.

Nia shares how clear values, strong leadership, and an engaged environment drive not only retention and productivity but also health literacy and trust. The big takeaway? Defining and living your culture from the top down isn’t optional - it's the smartest investment you can make in your people and your company's future.

Nia has spent over 25 years immersed in the world of HR, always gravitating towards the elements that shape people’s experience at work: culture, engagement, and leadership. Nearly a decade ago, she launched her own consulting business, initially offering a broad range of HR services.

However, Nia soon discovered her passion for workplace culture and has since made it the core of her work. Today, she is dedicated to helping organizations strengthen culture as a key driver of both well-being and performance.

Seth and Nia also discuss:

☑️ The criticality of culture assessments before making changes.

☑️ Distinguishing between stated values and lived values in the workplace.

☑️ Why organizations often misdiagnose problems, overlooking culture as the root cause.

☑️ The implications of leaders seeing culture as a "leadership imperative."

☑️ The vital role of psychological safety for wellbeing and performance.

☑️ Strategies to stop the spread of disengagement.

☑️ Concrete actions senior leaders can take to model the desired culture.

Building a healthier workplace isn’t about surface-level programs or slogans - it’s about embedding core values, fostering psychological safety, and supporting leaders to sustain change.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com/solutions-for-employers

Links:

Website: www.seabrighthr.com

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/nia-pommerenke

Success, as traditionally defined through wealth, titles, accolades, and the perfect life, is often seen as the pinnacle. But what happens when you get there and feel suffocated instead of fulfilled?

For Joe Gagnon, CEO of RaYnmaker, entrepreneur, adventurer, and author, that moment came at age 39. Despite a career packed with highlights - partner at Ernst & Young, IPOs, acquisition by IBM, and leading a billion-dollar division, he found himself in what he called “the greatest rut of my life.”

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Joe shares that his shift wasn’t sparked by a single epiphany, but by a growing awareness that his path no longer aligned with his deeper purpose.

He pivoted from corporate leadership to the startup world - but more importantly, he began a personal transformation: embracing movement, reflection, nutrition, and above all, service to others as the foundation of a fulfilling life.

In this episode on the concept of 'life literacy', Seth and Joe also discuss:

☑️ Defining Your Why: Purpose fuels persistence. When you know why, the how gets easier.

☑️ Service as Motivation: Serving others can spark growth, but watch for burnout.

☑️Consistency vs. Spontaneity: Routines build progress, but spontaneity keeps it alive. Structure with room to breathe.

☑️The Five Pillars: Nutrition, exercise, mindset, community, sleep.

☑️ Agency and Control: Small wins rebuild a sense of control. Empowerment starts with choice and autonomy.

☑️ Overcoming the Comfort Zone: Discomfort is a growth signal. Lean in - confidence lives on the other side.

☑️ Life Literacy vs. Health Literacy: Life literacy = emotional agility, resilience, wise choices.

☑️ Making Time for Yourself: Start with 15 minutes a day. You deserve space to grow - no guilt required.

Listen to the full episode for actionable insights and motivational stories. Find your why. Forge your habits. Serve others by showing up as your best self.

Website: www.thehighperformancelife.net

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joegagnon

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy — the ability to understand and act on health information — is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs.

Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

To learn more, visit EdLogics at www.edlogics.com.

Many fully insured employers are seeing sharp increases in healthcare premiums - some reporting hikes of 15%, 20%, even 30%. A major driver behind these rising costs? Overpriced and specialty medications continue to strain benefit budgets and impact long-term sustainability.

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Doug Roehm, President and Lead Strategic Consultant at Strategic Services Group, shares strategies to address this challenge. He highlights innovative ways to engage employees, from gamification to virtual care, and offers fresh insights on managing cost inflation while improving health literacy.

Seth and Doug also discuss:

☑️ Strategies used to engage Native American tribes and unions in health and wellness programs, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and trust-building.

☑️ The current challenges employers face in managing rising healthcare costs, especially concerning pharmacy benefits and high-cost specialty medications.

☑️ Medicare reference-based pricing as a cost-control strategy, and how employers can apply it to negotiate better healthcare rates.

☑️ Techniques for increasing employee engagement in health literacy efforts, including simplified communication, relatable content, and incentives.

☑️The role of gamification - using tools like Edlogics - to make health education interactive and appealing, boosting participation and knowledge retention.

☑️ Integrating EAP (Employee Assistance Program) with behavioral health services to create a more cohesive, accessible support system for employees.

☑️ The use of health care navigation services to relieve HR teams and empower employees with clearer benefit guidance and smarter healthcare decisions.

☑️ And much more.

Tune in to discover how engagement can transform your organization's health outcomes and make informed choices.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner is joined by Michael Perlmutter, Senior Director at WTW, for an insightful discussion on the evolution of workforce health literacy and the challenges employers face in integrating emerging health solutions.

Michael shares how virtual and digital healthcare solutions are reshaping patient navigation, integrating care experiences, and leveraging AI and predictive analytics to manage costs.

Seth and Michael also discuss:

☑️ Point solution Fatigue: The fragmentation of healthcare into multiple vendor-driven solutions - are they truly benefiting employers?

☑️ Diabetes Management Challenges: A surplus of solutions, but are they driving real cost savings?

☑️ Virtual Medicine’s Role: The shift toward integrated virtual primary & specialty care.

☑️ Health Literacy Matters: With only 1 in 10 Americans possessing strong health literacy skills, education is critical for better health outcomes.

☑️ Future of Healthcare: A vision for clinician-led, integrated health solutions that simplify patient journeys.

☑️ And much more.

Tune in to explore how AI, predictive analytics, and advanced care models are shaping the future of high-quality, cost-effective healthcare.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner is joined by Paul Fronstin, Director of Health Benefits Research at the Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), to discuss how employers can enhance health benefit strategies and workforce health literacy.

Health literacy is essential for enabling employees to navigate their health plans with confidence and ease. Clear communication and accessible resources from employers are crucial in simplifying health benefits, as a lack of understanding can result in underutilized services. To address this, many organizations are enhancing health literacy by promoting knowledge-sharing and offering educational opportunities. By focusing on strategies that boost consumer engagement and satisfaction, the evolution of health benefits can drive a healthier and more informed workforce.

Paul highlights employers' pivotal role in fostering health literacy by offering essential resources to help employees understand their health plans.

In an insightful conversation with Seth Serxner, they examine how insufficient communication contributes to low enrollment in health savings accounts and explore how improved numeracy and clearer messaging can increase the utilization of vital services, such as cancer screenings.

Seth and Paul also discuss:

☑️ Strategies for employers to effectively communicate Health Savings Account (HSA) benefits for better enrollment and understanding.

☑️ How employer collaboration can enhance health benefit strategies and workforce health literacy.

☑️ The impact of data advancements in studying links between financial wellness programs and healthcare usage.

☑️ Insights on how social determinants, especially financial factors, influence health outcomes and what wage-based data reveals.

☑️ Implications of Paul Fronstin’s research on medication adherence for employer-sponsored health plans.

☑️ Identifying improvement opportunities in health benefits despite high satisfaction survey scores.

☑️ Adapting to pandemic-era constraints on conference participation through alternative information-sharing methods.

☑️ Effective incentives for driving engagement in wellness and preventive health programs.

☑️ And much more!

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner is joined by Laura Putnam, CEO and founder of Motion Infusion, talk about how mental health can be championed within the workplace through strategic leadership and innovative well-being programs.

Laura Putnam, MA, is a global well-being leader, author of the bestselling book “Workplace Wellness That Works”, and the CEO and founder of Motion Infusion, a prominent well-being consultancy. Renowned for her dynamic keynote presentations, Laura has collaborated with a diverse array of organizations—from Fortune 500 companies to government agencies, universities, and nonprofits. Her work centers on empowering over 40,000 managers and leaders to embed well-being into workplace culture, helping them champion wellness from both an individual and organizational perspective.

Laura challenges the common view that poor health outcomes are purely a matter of personal responsibility, highlighting evidence that our environments and culture play a substantial role. She advocates for creating supportive spaces that enable everyone to thrive, much like fish depend on clean water to flourish.

Her expertise has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, and on FOX, ABC, and MSNBC. Laura has been honored with the American Heart Association's “Impact” award and the National Wellness Institute’s “Circle of Leadership” award. Laura is a graduate of Brown University and Stanford University.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Seth and Laura discuss:

☑️ Encouraging leaders to assess their influence on team morale and workplace culture.

☑️ Addressing underlying workplace factors that impact employees' mental health and performance.

☑️ Facilitating team-based activities to foster psychological safety and collective well-being.

☑️ Equipping leaders to handle essential mental health conversations confidently with team members.

☑️ Promoting policies that address mental health needs and support a positive work environment.

☑️ Training managers to leverage their roles in positively influencing team mental well-being.

☑️ Establishing team norms that encourage open communication and a shared commitment to mental health.

☑️ And much more!

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives? Visit EdLogics.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner is joined by Brian Hughes to talk about integrating spiritual care within healthcare settings, particularly for clinicians facing burnout and moral distress.

Brian Hughes is a board-certified chaplain with 22 years of experience in acute care across various states.

Brian initially worked on a pilot program to screen Medicaid recipients for spiritual distress, leading to the development of a telephonic chaplaincy service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he expanded his role to support healthcare staff, focusing on clinician support, living wills, and end-of-life discussions.

His professional journey is influenced by personal insights from his wife, a breast cancer surgeon. Brian is dedicated to redefining chaplaincy beyond religious contexts, emphasizing spiritual care including values, meaning, purpose, community, and belonging. His work also focuses on addressing burnout and moral distress among healthcare staff.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Brian and Seth discuss:

☑️ Chaplains are pivotal in supporting healthcare providers, particularly those grappling with burnout and moral distress.

☑️ Research indicates that systemic issues, rather than individual resilience, account for 80-90% of clinician burnout.

☑️Even non-religious individuals benefit from spiritual care, as it addresses fundamental human needs like purpose, connection, and meaning.

☑️ Healthcare organizations should align systemic changes with business objectives.

☑️ Including values like compassion in performance reviews and organizational strategies promotes a supportive and humane work environment.

☑️ Expanding chaplaincy services across healthcare systems can enhance clinician well-being.

☑️ High health literacy is essential for patients and families to make informed decisions.

☑️ And much more.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives? Visit EdLogics.

The interplay between our genetics, environment, and lifestyle is increasingly recognized as a crucial factor in shaping our health outcomes. Understanding how these elements interact can pave the way for a transformative shift in healthcare practices.

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner and Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, PhD, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California School of Medicine (UCSF) in San Francisco, talk about how our environment and lifestyle choices significantly influence our genetic makeup and overall health.

Dr. Kenneth Pelletier also holds positions in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of California School of Medicine in San Francisco. He serves as the Director of the Corporate Health Improvement Program (CHIP), a collaborative research initiative that partners with fifteen Fortune 500 companies, including Ford, Oracle, Prudential, Dow, Lockheed Martin, NASA, PepsiCo, IBM, Cummins, Steelcase, and the Mayo Clinic.

Seth and Dr. Pelletier discuss:

☑️ Epigenetics, which reveals that our genes don’t solely determine our health; environmental and lifestyle factors significantly influence health outcomes.

☑️ How the fee-for-service model creates inefficiencies in healthcare by incentivizing unnecessary treatments.

☑️ Insights from “blue zones”, demonstrating that longevity and quality of life are largely shaped by lifestyle choices and strong social connections.

☑️ The greater impact of environmental factors and lifestyle choices on health outcomes compared to genetics.

☑️ The various challenges facing the U.S. healthcare system, including entrenched financial incentives and resistance from medical lobbies.

☑️ The importance of increasing healthcare literacy to improve health outcomes.

☑️ The necessity of incorporating integrative and lifestyle medicine into traditional medical education to enhance overall healthcare results.

☑️ The need for innovative strategies to promote the adoption of integrative healthcare approaches.

☑️ And much more.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives? Visit EdLogics.