In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica is joined by Valerie (Val) Jensen, the Founder of the Prospector Theater, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater. Val sets out the wide array of roles that employees - called prospects - perform at both the Prospector Theater and Val's Gemstone Farm. She also describes how she and her team tap into prospects' strengths and passions - which they call "sparkle" - empowering them to shine. Val also discusses the Prospector Theater's educational initiatives, including their service learning programs, which are custom-designed programs for businesses, schools, and other groups that educate participants about people with disabilities and showcase the vast talent that exists within this population. Jessica also has conversations with four prospects - Ali Wood, Joe Gillotti, Sam Furniss, and Rachel Wise - who describe the impact of meaningful employment on their lives.

In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica is joined by Rudhir Krishtel, founder of Krishtel. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Rudhir and his team ignite transformational change in our workplaces by opening the door to collective dialogues about issues that arise at the intersection of leadership, well-being, and diversity, equity and inclusion. A former practicing attorney who wore stress as a badge of honor, Rudhir shares the wake-up call that changed his perspective, the meaningful conversation that gave him permission to take a pause from his busy life, and how spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, inform his work. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly navigate difficult conversations, Rudhir shares several stories that illustrate how he creates the safe spaces that are the cornerstone of transformational work.

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Gary Hirsch, Co-founder of On Your Feet, which uses storytelling and improvisation to help companies pursue their business objectives. Gary is also the founder of Botjoy, a global art movement designed to spread joy throughout the world using tiny robots painted on the backs of dominos. Whether creating robots through his Botjoy initiative, or delivering innovative training programs through On Your Feet, Gary is passionate about bringing people together and creating experiences that are playful, interactive, and engaging, and that ultimately lead to better results. Gary shares the heartwarming personal story that was the catalyst for his drawing and ultimately his Botjoy initiative, and sets out how he uses the tenets of improv to design and facilitate training programs that teach valuable skills, while igniting joy.

In this episode, Jessica is joined by Richard Martin, CEO of the Mindful Business Charter, which is a framework for reducing unnecessary stress at work by establishing healthier and more effective ways of working. A former senior partner in an employment law firm, Richard describes the day his world fell apart due to a massive breakdown following a period of prolonged stress, and how he picked up the pieces, ultimately embarking on a fulfilling new career helping businesses nurture their employees' mental health. Applying the four pillars of the Charter, Richard highlights straightforward ways we can alter our day-to-day behaviors to reduce stress and create kinder, fairer, and more productive workplaces.