The Mental Health Advantage

From Crisis to Culture: Reimagining Mental Health in the Workplace with Randy Martin, Ph.D.

In this episode of The Mental Health Advantage, Stephen Sokoler sits down with Randy Martin, Ph.D., Clinical Director of the CopeNYP Employee Assistance Program at Weill Cornell Medicine, to explore how mental health has shifted from reactive crisis care to an essential part of organizational culture.
A contributor to The Mental Health Advantage book and a pioneer in both corporate and community mental health, Martin shares how the pandemic lifted stigma, why family systems matter, and how proactive EAP models can drive real organizational ROI.
If you're an HR or benefits leader rethinking your approach to workplace mental health — this episode is packed with strategy, empathy, and insight.
Key Audience Takeaways:✔ How the pandemic accelerated mental health openness — and what’s next✔ Why inclusive care must support employees and their families✔ The value of community-based mental health models in workplace settings✔ How proactive care leads to measurable outcomes and ROI✔ How to support culturally diverse and multigenerational workforces
Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe, rate, and review The Mental Health Advantage to help more leaders discover how proactive mental health can transform today’s workforce.
📘 Grab your copy of The Mental Health Advantage💻 Request a demo of Journey Proactive EAP

Real Mental Health Strategy for High-Growth Teams

In this episode of The Mental Health Advantage, Journey's founder Stephen Sokoler sits down with Amy Reichanadter, Chief People Officer at Databricks, to explore what it takes to embed meaningful mental health strategies inside one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the world.
With a background in clinical psychology and over 25 years of HR leadership experience, Amy shares how Databricks supports 8,000+ employees across dozens of global offices through intentional culture-building, psychological safety, and founder-driven leadership.
If you’ve ever wondered how to sustain wellbeing while scaling fast — this one’s for you.
Key Takeaways:
// How psychological safety strengthens culture in high-growth companies// Why executive leadership sets the tone for mental health success// What proactive mental health strategy looks like at scale// How Databricks ties mental health to employee retention and ROI// The ripple effects of intentional leadership on engagement
Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe, rate, and review The Mental Health Advantage to help more leaders discover the power of proactive mental health at work.
📘 Grab your copy of The Mental Health Advantage💻 Request a demo of Journey Proactive EAP

The Global Evolution of Total Rewards & Employee Mental Health

In this episode, Journey founder Stephen Sokoler sits down with Dominic Cole-Morgan, Group Reward Director at WPP, to explore how mental health and total rewards intersect on a global scale—and what companies can do to support employees across diverse cultures, systems, and needs.
With a background in psychology and a career spanning multinationals like Goldman Sachs, Prudential, and Scotiabank, Dominic shares a compelling perspective on the evolution of workplace mental health, why line managers matter more than meditation apps, and how global organizations can drive meaningful, measurable change.
Key Takeaways:
// How mental health benefits vary across regions—and why one-size-fits-all doesn’t work// The role of line managers in creating psychologically safe, high-performing teams// Why mental health should be seen as a business imperative, not just a benefit// Common barriers to engagement—and what actually works in driving adoption// What the future of total rewards looks like at WPP and beyond// Journey’s take on proactive mental health—and how it drives 10x more engagement
Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe, rate, and review The Mental Health Advantage to help more leaders discover the power of proactive mental health at work.

Leading by Example: How HR Leaders Can Prioritize Mental Health & Drive Change

In this episode, Journey founder Stephen Sokoler sits down with Elisha Engelen, VP of Aon’s U.S. Health Transformation Team, to unpack how HR leaders can drive lasting change by prioritizing mental health — from the top down.
With a unique blend of clinical mental health expertise and corporate well-being strategy, Elisha offers a thoughtful perspective on how leadership behavior shapes culture, why systemic support matters, and what it takes to truly engage employees in mental health initiatives that stick.
Key Takeaways:
// Why leadership behavior is the #1 driver of workplace mental health adoption// How to go beyond offering benefits to create systemic, culture-level change// Common barriers to mental health engagement—and how to overcome them// What it looks like when leaders promote and use digital tools themselves// Journey’s take on proactive support—and why it drives 10x more engagement// Elisha’s advice for any HR leader working to lead by example
Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe, rate, and review The Mental Health Advantage to help more leaders discover the power of proactive mental health at work.

The Future of EAPs and Wellbeing Programs

In this episode, Journey founder Stephen Sokoler sits down with Erin Young, Director of Health, Equity & Wellbeing at WTW, to explore what the future of workplace mental health looks like — and how companies can start building toward it today.
With a background in clinical social work and years of experience guiding large employers on behavioral health strategy, Erin shares powerful insights on where current programs fall short and what’s needed to create inclusive, proactive mental health support that truly works.
Key Takeaways:// The current state of mental health at work — and what’s changing// Why psychological safety is the foundation of any effective well-being strategy// One big misconception employers have about their existing programs// What proactive support looks like in real life// How to design benefits that blend digital tools with high-quality human care// Erin’s vision for a well-balanced, accessible mental health strategy
Enjoyed this episode?Subscribe, rate, and review The Mental Health Advantage to help more leaders discover the power of proactive mental health at work.
Follow Journey on LinkedIn
Learn more about our Proactive EAP

Shaping the Future of Workplace Mental Health: Insights from Mercer's Mental Health Leader

This episode of "The Mental Health Advantage" explores how organizations can take a data-driven, proactive approach to mental health, embedding well-being into workplace culture beyond traditional reactive measures. Stephen Sokoler, founder and CEO of Journey, is joined by Dr. Wolfgang Seidi, Partner and Workplace Health Consulting Leader at Mercer.
Wolfgang has been a global thought leader in mental health, shaping strategies that integrate well-being into business performance. With experience across clinical psychology, insurance, and HR consulting, he has a unique perspective on how organizations can move beyond awareness to measurable impact.

Beyond the Employee: How US Foods Supports Mental Health for Families and Loved Ones

This episode highlights how US Foods has extended mental health support beyond employees to include their families and loved ones, creating a more inclusive and proactive mental health culture. Stephen Sokoler is joined by Joe Toniolo, Senior Director of Health and Welfare Plans at US Foods, to discuss their innovative approach, the impact on employees, and lessons for other organizations.

Leading with Heart: How Claude Silver is Redefining Workplace Mental Health at VaynerMedia

In this episode of The Mental Health Advantage, Stephen Sokoler, Founder & CEO of Journey, sits down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia. As the first-ever Chief Heart Officer in the advertising industry, Claude has redefined what it means to build a people-first culture, focusing on empathy, inclusivity, and personal development.
Together, they discuss how organizations can create safe and inclusive workplaces, particularly for LGBTQ+ employees, different generations in the workforce, and high-pressure industries like advertising.

Mindfulness at Scale: How Google’s gPause Program Supports Mental Health and Sustainable Success

This episode explores Google’s innovative gPause program, how it scales mindfulness to support mental health and resilience across a global workforce, and its lessons for organizations seeking sustainable success.