In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Brian Oss, Head of Solutioning at Calm, for a deep dive into the evolving landscape of workforce health literacy, behavioral health, and digital mental health solutions.

Calm is a leading mental health company on a mission to support everyone on every step of their mental health journey. Our flagship consumer app - ranked #1 in its category with over 180 million downloads and available in seven languages across nearly 190 countries - helps people sleep better, stress less, and live more mindfully through content and tools from experts and beloved celebrity voices.

Since their launch, they’ve expanded their offerings with Calm Sleep, an app providing deeper, personalized sleep support, and Calm Health, an evidence-based digital solution offered through employers, health plans, and providers to expand access, boost benefits engagement, and drive positive health outcomes.

Today, Calm supports more than 3,500 organizations and reaches over 26 million covered lives through Calm Health.

Brian leads solutioning to address some of the toughest challenges in behavioral health.

Brian and Seth discuss:

• Career Paths Are Not Linear: Both Brian and Seth highlight the importance - and inevitability - of nontraditional career journeys in health and wellness leadership.
• Cost and Access as Top Challenges: Controlling costs while increasing access to mental and behavioral health care remains a leading concern for employers and health plans.
• Digital Content as a Scalable Solution: For roughly 75% of a given population, high-quality digital content can be a first line of support, offering tools for episodic needs and keeping people out of higher-acuity care.
• Data-Driven Personalization: Calm Health leverages PHQ and GAD scores to curate programs tailored to each user’s unique needs, including specialized tracks for those with chronic conditions like diabetes.
• Clinical Expertise Meets Engaging Delivery: Calm collaborates with top psychologists to create evidence-based programs, then crafts them into highly engaging audio-visual experiences featuring trusted voices.
• Proof of Outcomes: A recent payer-led study of 70,000 users showed significant reductions in anxiety and depression scores - demonstrating that digital tools can make a real impact.
• Health Literacy = Access + Navigation: True health literacy goes beyond reading level - it includes providing clear pathways and referrals to the right care, tailored to each user’s situation and acuity.
• Supporting the Full Continuum: Calm Health’s offerings help users at every point in the journey, from “green” users needing only light support to those who require referral to therapy or crisis services.
• Cautious Approach to AI: While Calm Health utilizes AI to help users articulate their goals, they are conservative about using AI for actual clinical care - mindful of both ethical concerns and payer requirements.

Brian closes with a reminder of the human side of mental health - urging listeners to check in, offer a smile, and truly see one another, as small moments of connection can be transformative.

Discover how digital innovation and compassionate leadership are reshaping mental health support in the workplace - one small step, and one smile, at a time.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

Get Seth's Book

Check out The Wellbeing Effect by Seth Serxner.

In this episode of the Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Michael Susi, the leader behind LinkedIn’s long-running employee wellness program, for a fascinating conversation about what workplace wellness looks like when it’s built around real human behavior rather than generic corporate initiatives.

Michael shares his unconventional career journey from football coaching and personal training to leading wellness strategy at one of the world’s most recognized companies. Along the way, he discovered something many organizations still overlook: employees often know what they “should” do for their health - but stress, sleep, overwhelm, and everyday life get in the way.

The discussion explores how LinkedIn evolved its wellness philosophy into a practical, accessible, and compassionate program centered around six core tenets:

1. Thoughts
2. Breathing
3. Hydration
4. Nutrition
5. Movement
6. Rest

Rather than focusing narrowly on exercise or weight loss, the program reframes wellness in more approachable ways that encourage participation from everyone - not just already health-conscious employees.

Seth and Michael also discuss:

• Why “movement” works better than “exercise” for employee engagement
• How language and inclusivity shape wellness participation
• The role of gamification, rewards, and social proof in driving engagement
• Why wellness ROI is often best measured through participation and behavior change
• How LinkedIn creates global wellness experiences across very different office cultures
• The hidden impact of stress and sleep deprivation on employee wellbeing
• Why wellness programs should avoid guilt, shame, and perfectionism
• The balance between wearable technology and listening to your own body
• How health literacy empowers employees to make better healthcare decisions

Michael also shares creative examples from LinkedIn’s wellness initiatives, including wellness swag, point systems, hydration campaigns, and engagement strategies designed to create genuine curiosity and peer-driven momentum.

One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is that sustainable wellness is not about intensity or perfection - it’s about helping employees build healthier habits in realistic, compassionate ways.

As Michael explains: “Wellness is not a moment in time - it’s the moments of your life.”

This episode is packed with practical insights for HR leaders, benefits professionals, wellness leaders, healthcare innovators, and anyone interested in creating healthier, more human-centered workplaces.

Listen now to hear how LinkedIn approaches employee wellness, engagement, and health literacy at scale.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

Get Seth's Book

Check out The Wellbeing Effect by Seth Serxner.

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Dr. Linda Anegawa, Chief Medical Officer at Calibrate and recognized leader in obesity medicine, to unpack the evolving landscape of obesity care, GLP-1 medications, and the crucial role of comprehensive, behavior-centered support.

Dr. Linda Anegawa brings more than a decade of expertise in internal and obesity medicine, combining her clinical background with leadership roles in digital health. Linda has dedicated her career to bridging the gap in metabolic care, especially for high-risk populations, and to breaking down barriers to access through innovative, personalized programs. Based in Las Vegas, she’s witnessed firsthand how the right support can help patients reclaim metabolic health and transform lives.

Seth and Linda also discuss:

☑️ The Dynamic Obesity Space: Rapid innovation - especially around GLP-1s - requires adaptable care models and forward-thinking programs.

☑️ Calibrate’s Approach: Purpose-built for employer populations, Calibrate integrates real-time coaching and clinical support, tailoring interventions for each member’s journey.

☑️ More Than Just Medication: Obesity care cannot be fully protocolized - effective programs must provide flexibility, wraparound coaching, and individualized support.

☑️ GLP-1s as Long-Term Therapy: For many high-risk individuals, ongoing GLP-1 use is necessary to maintain metabolic improvements - medicine alone isn’t a short-term fix.

☑️ The Role of Behavior Change: Medications set the biological stage, but sustainable outcomes require focus on nutrition, activity, stress management, and sleep.

☑️ Shifting Perspectives & Health Literacy: Patients increasingly recognize the need to change their relationship with food, routines, and wellbeing - effective programs empower them to seek relevant, personalized information.

☑️ Individualized Coaching: Success comes from understanding each person’s unique motivations and giving them choice - whether tracking sleep, energy, or weight - to foster engagement and self-motivation.

☑️ Tackling Complex Causes: Obesity is influenced by genetics, social determinants, medical therapies, and environment - a comprehensive, non-blaming, holistic approach is essential.

☑️ New Research Frontiers: Four-year data from Calibrate reveals insights on different subpopulations - like those with prior GLP-1 use and various industry profiles - helping refine best practices for diverse groups.

As more tools and support emerge, Dr. Linda Anegawa champions the message that comprehensive, sustained support - not just medication - will ultimately drive lasting health outcomes in the fight against obesity.

Calibrate's 2026 Results Report. For benefits leaders, total rewards teams, brokers, consultants, and health-plan partners need, this report delivers the evidence base to ensure your GLP-1 coverage is driving the outcomes you're paying for.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com.

Get Seth's Book

Check out The Wellbeing Effect by Seth Serxner.