How do you support employees who are struggling with mental health while still holding them accountable for their work? And what if one of the most valuable resources available to your team is one they’re barely using? On this episode of OnTopic with Empathia, host Kelly Parbs continues her conversation with Arriann Tauer to discuss…
What does it really mean to support mental health in the workplace, without sacrificing performance, accountability, or workplace expectations? In this episode of OnTopic with Empathia, Kelly Parbs sits down with Arriann Tauer, a licensed professional counselor and Program Manager for Team Member Mental Health at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, to explore the increasingly important…
Having a crisis communication plan sitting in a binder isn’t enough. When the pressure hits, organizations need people who know exactly what to do, who has authority to speak, and how to communicate with both compassion and credibility. In Part 2 of their conversation, Michelle Colosimo, Chris McCloud, and TJ Winick dive into the practical…
When a crisis hits, you may have minutes—not days—to respond. What you say, how quickly you say it, and who says it can determine whether your organization earns trust or loses it. In this episode of OnTopic with Empathia, Michelle Colosimo sits down with crisis communication experts Chris McCloud and TJ Winick, two former journalists…
What happens when a life-altering medical crisis forces you to completely reinvent who you are? This episode features a deep drive with author John Alan Sebald into the emotional aftermath of trauma and the surprising burden of survival guilt. John shares how he shifted his mindset from being a victim to embracing a new identity…
Life can change in an instant. For John Alan Sebald, that instant came on Valentine’s Day in 2021 when he tragically choked and suffered a non-shockable form of cardiac arrest right on his kitchen floor. Minutes away from being gone for good, a series of extraordinary miracles and fast-acting first responders brought him back to…
Wellness is often treated as a destination we “arrive” at, but in reality, it is a practice built through small, consistent actions. In this episode, Robert Biggs, wellness expert and account manager at Wellworks For You, discusses how sustainable wellness is achieved by bridging the gap between physical health and emotional resilience. He covers such…
The word “wellness” is thrown around as a marketing tagline for everything from apps to spiritual retreats. It’s easy for the true meaning to get lost in the noise. In this episode, Robert Biggs, wellness expert and account manager at Wellworks For You, strips away jargon and uncovers what it actually takes to build a…
Everybody deserves a second chance… right? But sometimes events transpire that can often feel unforgivable. This week’s OnTopic with Empathia features return guest Dr. Buck Blodgett founder and executive director of The LOVE>hate Project. During Dr. Blodgett’s previous OnTopic appearance, he discussed the tragic events that led to him starting The LOVE>hate Project, an organization…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Milwaukee, WI — November 4, 2025 — In today’s complex global landscape, where public scrutiny from safety incidents, operational disruptions, and random attacks can escalate rapidly, Empathia, a leading provider of employee assistance and crisis management services, has launched a full-service Crisis Leadership Advisor Program. Fueled by crisis experts, the program offers…