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Most companies don't think about employee mental health until something goes wrong and by then, it's already too late. In this episode, Brandon Laws sits down with Stephen Sokoler, founder and CEO of Journey and author of The Mental Health Advantage, to make the case for flipping that script entirely. Stephen shares his own transformative personal journey from a decade of rollercoaster habits to discovering meditation through a book he bought at a mall and connects those lessons to what he's building at the organizational level. The conversation covers why traditional EAPs are fundamentally broken, what a 30%+ engagement rate looks like compared to the industry-standard 3%, how AI and tools like Journey Signal are enabling real-time proactive mental health support, and why culture change has to start at the top. Whether you're an HR leader, executive, or someone simply trying to build better habits, this episode is packed with insights you can't afford to miss!
⏱️ Key Timestamps00:02 — Welcome & introductions: Stephen's book, The Mental Health Advantage, and the focus on proactive mental health at work
00:48 — Stephen's personal story: from gym rat to sloth — and how discovering a book called Buddhism for Busy People at a mall changed everything
02:22 — Demystifying meditation: why it's simple but not easy, and what consistent practice actually does for your day
05:05 — The reactive vs. proactive gap: why society — and employers — default to treating mental illness rather than building mental wellness
08:14 — The EAP problem: why only 3% of employees use their benefits, why EAPs are designed to stay in the background, and what a better model looks like
10:30 — Journey's approach: flipping the EAP model on its head to achieve 30–40%+ employee engagement and treating mental health as "the operating system of the company"
11:32 — Mental health is not a peak state: why the goal isn't to "achieve" mental wellness and check a box — it's an ongoing practice, like going to the gym
14:04 — Bridging the gap: supporting employees with diagnosed mental health conditions while simultaneously building a proactive culture for everyone else
16:13 — Constant engagement in practice: how Journey meets employees where they are — from Slack and Teams apps to break room tablets to daily check-in emojis
18:22 — Introducing Journey Signal: the real-time AI intelligence engine that detects patterns and reaches employees before burnout or turnover happens
20:06 — Wearables and the future of data: the promise and current limits of integrating biometric data into workplace mental health programs
22:00 — Leadership buy-in: why culture change starts at the top, and how a CEO's behavior — even indirectly — sets the mental health tone for 25,000 employees
24:36 — Industry-specific mental health: why a law firm and a hospital system have very different needs, and what Journey is quietly rolling out to address that
26:24 — Metrics that matter: from awareness and engagement to clinical outcomes, daily emoji check-ins, healthcare cost trends, and absenteeism
29:25 — AI and the future of mental health: personalized care recommendations, smarter benefit navigation, and why Stephen isn't excited about replacing therapists with AI
35:07 — Parting wisdom: the compounding effect of simple, consistent mental health practices — and how to connect with Stephen and Journey
🔗 Connect with Stephen Sokoler & Journey- Stephen on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stephensokoler
- Journey: linkedin.com/company/journeymeditation
- Book: The Mental Health Advantage by Stephen Sokoler
Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, sponsored by Xenium HR Host: Brandon Laws In Brandon's own words: "The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders."
About Xenium HRXenium HR is on a mission to transform workplaces by providing expert outsourced HR and payroll services for small and medium-sized businesses. With a people-first approach, Xenium helps organizations create thriving work environments where employees feel valued and supported. From navigating compliance to enhancing workplace culture, Xenium offers tailored solutions that empower growth and simplify HR. Whether managing employee relations, payroll processing, or implementing impactful training programs, Xenium is the trusted partner businesses rely on to elevate their workplace experience. Discover how Xenium can transform your workplace: Learn more
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