Emotion Well

Johanna Dunlevy - Wellness Manager
  • 4.7 (9)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

EFR's Podcast about all things related to emotional wellness. Listen to learn about the different experiences people face and how to enhance emotional well-being!

  1. FEB 2

    Beyond the EAP: How EFR’s Community Programs Create Lasting Impact

    In this episode, our host Johanna Dunlevy is joined by EFR colleagues Tammy Hoyman, CEO and Haley Pederson Hundley, Substance Abuse Programs Director, for a deeper look at the heart of EFR’s mission-driven work. While many people are familiar with EFR through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP), this conversation shines a light on the wide range of community outreach and prevention programs that extend far beyond the workplace. Tammy and Haley discuss how grant-funded initiatives allow EFR to meet critical community needs, with a special focus on the Restorative Justice Program. They explore how restorative practices support accountability, healing, and connection, and offer an alternative to punitive justice. You’ll get an inside look at how EFR’s prevention and community-based programs (including our Student Assistance Program) work, why grant funding is essential, and how EFR’s mission-based approach helps create lasting, positive impact in the community. If you are in the Fifth Judicial District and/or in the Iowa counties of Polk, Warren, Jasper, or Marion, or willing to travel to the Polk County, Iowa area, you can reach EFR Diversion team, by phone at 515-471-2323 or by email at diversion@efr.org. For more information about our Student Assistance Program (SAP), visit our SAP webpage. You can call 800-327-4692 or 515-244-6090 to see if your school is one of our SAP partners. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    43 min

  2. JAN 5

    Finding the Funny: Comedy, Connection, and Mental Health

    In this episode of Emotion Well, host Johanna Dunlevy sits down with fellow EFR employee—and 2025’s Funniest Person in Iowa—Mel Mackey. Mel shares how she got started with comedy and improv, what inspired her to take the stage, and how humor can be a powerful tool for connection and communication. Together, they explore how comedy can create an atmosphere of psychological safety and break down barriers. Mel also opens up about the challenges of being a woman in the comedy world and reflects on how writing and performing comedy has supported her own mental health and personal growth. This episode offers both laughs and insights into the role humor can play in resilience, well-being, and belonging. You can follow Mel on Instagram. She also recommends following Underground Comedy Des Moines and comedian Matthew Jacobsen. You can also find Damon Tucker at The Station in Des Moines, IA for weekly comedy. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    32 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    Finding Balance Through Emotional Intelligence

    In this episode of EFR’s Emotion Well Podcast, our host Johanna Dunlevy welcomes Ernest Phillips, founder of Relationship Wealth Enterprises, to explore how understanding our values and emotions can strengthen every part of our lives. Ernest, an emotional intelligence coach, author, and speaker, shares his insights on self-awareness, ownership of our choices, and how we can give and receive “universal currency”. You can connect with Ernest here: LinkedIn – Ernest Phillips Click here to learn more about or purchase his book Tug Tips. Click here to visit Ernest's YouTube channel, The System Works. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    49 min

  4. 11/04/2025

    Strengthening Businesses, Teams, and Communities

    In this episode of Emotion Well, we talk with Nick Krehbiel from Agri-Prime Consulting. Bringing over a decade of experience in facilitation, education, and organizational development, he is a certified DiSC partner, helping teams strengthen communication and performance. In this conversation, Nick shares real-world examples from his consulting work and explains what DiSC assessments are and how they go beyond labels to help individuals and teams work better together. We also discuss the bigger picture: how strong local businesses play a vital role in supporting rural communities. You can connect with Nick here: Nicholas Krehbiel - LinkedIn Agri-Prime Consulting Learn more about our DiSC training: Understanding Yourself and Others: A DiSC-Based Approach to Communication EFR offers our clients a variety of services, including Counseling, Life Coaching, and Child and Eldercare Resources. If your company would like to partner with us to offer these services to your employees, visit efr.org/employers to learn more. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    46 min

  5. 10/01/2025

    Happy at Home: Occupational Therapy for Everyday Life

    Sydney Marshman, OTD, OTR/L is an occupational therapist and the founder of Happy at Home Consulting, where she helps individuals and families thrive in their own homes through practical, person-centered solutions—from simple adaptive tools to full remodel planning. A graduate of Drake University’s OT program with a background in kinesiology and public health, Sydney partners with clients, caregivers, and community organizations to support independence, accessibility, and aging in place. In this episode you’ll learn about what OT really is, how it relates to mental health, and how proactive planning can help people stay home and live well. Sydney's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-marshman/ Call for more information about Happy at Home Consulting: 515-635-4050   Explore your Eldercare benefit with EFR: https://efr.org/employee-assistance-program/child-elder-care/

    34 min

  6. 09/02/2025

    Breaking the Silence: A Conversation about Suicide Prevention

    This episode discusses suicide and suicide prevention. If you or someone you know is struggling, please call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In this episode of EFR’s Emotion Well Podcast, Hayl Bergeland, Suicide Prevention Grant Coordinator at EFR, joins us for an important conversation on suicide prevention, awareness, and support. Hayl discusses why suicide remains such a difficult topic for people to talk about, the stigma that still surrounds it, and how we can break down barriers by talking openly and compassionately. She also highlights the latest data on suicide in Iowa, the unique risk factors among youth and older adults, and what communities can do to foster prevention and support. She also shares practical steps that can be taken if an individual is worried about someone they love and how to create a safe space for open conversations. Click to see resources for Youth Suicide Prevention Read more on our blog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace: What Employers Need to Know Asking Hard Questions: Suicide Prevention You may be interested in our other podcasts: What Zac Knew What Andy Taught Us EFR offers our clients a variety of services, including Counseling, Life Coaching, and Child and Eldercare Resources. If your company would like to partner with us to offer these services to your employees, visit efr.org/employers to learn more. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    35 min

  7. 08/04/2025

    Navigating the Caregiver Journey

    Are you a caregiver struggling with attending to your own self-care needs? In this episode of EFR’s Emotion Well Podcast, Melody Vachal, Amazon best-selling author, speaker, and caregiving advocate, shares her experiences on both sides of the caregiving journey—having spent many years as a primary caregiver to her son with special needs and then having to be the recipient of care after a serious car accident. She gives practical advice on how to carve out the mental, emotional, and physical spaces needed so caregivers can show up as the best versions of themselves to the people who rely on them.  You can connect with Melody through her website, or on her LinkedIn or Facebook pages. Click here to learn more about or purchase her book, Still, I Rise. EFR offers our clients a variety of services, including Counseling, Life Coaching, and Child and Eldercare Resources. If your company would like to partner with us to offer these services to your employees, visit efr.org/employers to learn more. Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    48 min

  8. 07/01/2025

    Effort Over Outcome: How Physical Activity Develops Mental Strength, Resilience, and Confidence in Kids

    Do you want the children in your life to develop not only physical strength, but mental strength, resilience, and confidence? Laura Arneson, owner of The Little Gym, joins us to discuss how encouraging physical activity and participation in sports helps children develop these important life skills. Laura talks about her early experiences in sports and shares how the support of her parents and other mentors influenced her growth and development. She believes one of the most important lessons is learning that the effort is just as important as the outcome. In this conversation, Laura shares how promoting physical activity for kids, coupled with family and community support, allows them to build trust, develop friendships, and shows them the importance of teamwork. The Little Gym in Johnston, IA is a fitness and recreation center for families with kids from 4 months to 12 years. Through the use of gymnastics and music, kids learn gross motor control, skill development, cognitive problem solving, and language skills as well as social and emotional development tools such as sharing and taking turns. Follow The Little Gym’s Facebook and Instagram pages and visit their website here for more information.  Donate to EFR. 1 in 3 Iowans needing mental health care cannot afford it. Your gift enables us to offer counseling to anyone in need regardless of their ability to pay. Thank you for helping us keep our promise to the community: that everyone who needs help, gets help.

    29 min
See All (70)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

EFR's Podcast about all things related to emotional wellness. Listen to learn about the different experiences people face and how to enhance emotional well-being!

Information

  • Creator
    Johanna Dunlevy - Wellness Manager
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Emotion Well
  • Show Website
    Emotion Well