What happens when a tragedy changes lives forever—and what can we learn from the people who have spent decades helping families navigate the unimaginable? In this episode of OnTopic with Empathia, Jennifer Stansberry Miller continues a powerful conversation with Sharon Bryson and Kathryn Turman about 30 years of victim services, disaster response, and family assistance.…
When disaster strikes, the investigation is only part of the story. What happens to the families left behind? Who answers their questions, helps them navigate the unimaginable, and makes sure they aren’t forgotten in the aftermath? On this episode of OnTopic with Empathia, Jenn Stansberry Miller sits down with Sharon Bryson, former NTSB Managing Director…
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…
This week’s OnTopic with Empathia features a follow-up conversation with Jess and Paige, diving deeper into the logistical and emotional hurdles that define the surrogacy journey. While their story resulted in the birth of a healthy baby, the path was paved with high-stakes medical prep, ethical dilemmas and a literal blizzard. From “spicy” confrontations with…