Wired to Connect | Improving Relationships With Mental Health + Tech, One Episode at a Time

Lisa R. Birnbaum + Marisa M. Birnbaum

*2025 Update: We’re currently exploring whether the pace, scale, adoption of AI — along with the race toward AGI — is actually inevitable; or, whether we’re simply, not looking for alternatives. What possibilities emerge when we allow ourselves to consider that yes, changing course is likely to be very difficult; AND, what if the inevitability of it all wasn’t already a foregone conclusion? We’re also looking to highlight examples of AI that facilitate — not destroy — human connection. If you have thoughts on either of these topics — or know someone we should connect with — please get in touch! You can email us at: podcast@strengthssquared.com As humans, most — if not all — of us are biologically hardwired for connection. Yet, despite living in a world where technology makes connecting with others easier than ever, so many of us are feeling a sense of loneliness and experiencing disconnection, instead. This can wreak havoc on our mental health, especially at fast-moving, ever-changing startups. So, if you're tired of all the burnout, stress, and whiplash, that gets normalized in the tech startup world — or, the misconception that founders must sacrifice their own mental health for success — then, this show is for you! At the intersection of mental health + tech, 'Wired to Connect' will empower you to redefine success in the startup ecosystem. Wired to Connect. Improving relationships with mental health + tech, one episode at a time. 𖨆𖨆Co-hosted by: startup mental health therapist, Lisa Birnbaum + startup leadership coach, Marisa Birnbaum ♫Theme song by: Andrew Fisher 🎨Cover artwork by: Lou Brown, aka @Goodstrangevibes / goodstrangevibes.com

  1. Does Your Startup Understand Psychological Safety & How to Foster it?

    11/15/2022

    Does Your Startup Understand Psychological Safety & How to Foster it?

    How do you know whether your startup has an accurate understanding of what exactly psychological safety is; why it’s so important; & then, how to foster it, effectively? In her book, Teaming, Harvard Business School professor & researcher, Amy Edmondson describes psychological safety as the shared belief among team members that the team is safe for interpersonal risk taking. Noting that this involves, but goes beyond, interpersonal trust, Edmondson explains that it is characterized by a team climate of interpersonal trust & mutual respect, where people are comfortable being themselves. Edmondson describes psychological safety as a felt-sense of whether an environment is safe (e.g., not experiencing micro-aggressions or unconscious bias, having access to opportunities & advancements, feeling welcomed in the hybrid mix of socio-professional gatherings, believing work & contributions are valued). She indicates that when psychological safety is present the wellbeing & well-doing climate is enhanced: people feel comfortable taking risks, making mistakes, asking for help, & speaking up to challenge the status quo or improve processes. It includes a necessarily strong core of trust; & also requires compassion (compassion = empathy + action).  Startup therapist, Lisa Birnbaum; & startup coach, Marisa Birnbaum, have seen the understanding of psychological safety & the fostering of it, vary significantly between startups. During this episode, Lisa & Marisa, talk through exactly what psychological safety looks like & sounds like in the context of your startup; why psychological safety is so important for the success of your startup; as well as, how to effectively create, build, & cultivate psychological safety, in an ongoing way, within your startup. Tune-in & look forward to appreciating that we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’. Click or tap that ‘play’ button! Access Episode Links & Resources Mentioned: Read a full Transcript of this Episode Take our "What Type of Startup Founder Are You?" quiz Visit Strengths Squared Email us for Feedback, Questions, & Topic Suggestions: podcast@strengthssquared.com  Connect with us: Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn Connect with us on Twitter Support Wired to Connect: Listen & Follow/Subscribe to our Show on Google Podcasts or your Favorite Podcast Player Rate our Show on Goodpods Rate our Show on Spotify Rate & Write a Review of our Show on Apple Podcasts Share our Show with Someone Take good care, & remember, we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’! Send us a text

    24 min
  2. Reconnecting the Disconnect: One Startup’s Journey Toward a Mentally Healthy Culture

    10/05/2022

    Reconnecting the Disconnect: One Startup’s Journey Toward a Mentally Healthy Culture

    Join startup therapist, coach, & consultant, Lisa Birnbaum, for the tenth episode of Lisa & Marisa Birnbaum’s weekly, startup mental health podcast featuring easily digestible lessons, skills, & stories, about what it takes to develop, build, & sustain a mentally healthy startup culture. Today’s episode is an inside look at a recent consulting project with an EdTech Startup to assess the culture the co-founders built & to talk through the perks that were added, in effort to support their employees’ wellbeing. After meeting with the co-founders, and all of their employees, it was clear there was a big disconnect between the co-founders’ & the exec. teams’ view of their company’s culture & everyone else’s. Listen-in on exactly where the disconnect was & hear what recommendations were given, so that – regardless of whether you are a startup founder yourself, or are on the exec. team, or are a startup employee – you can start applying these recommendations to your own situation. Tune-in & look forward to appreciating that we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’. Click or tap that ‘play’ button! Access Episode Links & Resources Mentioned: Read a full Transcript of this Episode Take our "What Type of Startup Founder Are You?" quiz Visit Strengths Squared Email us for Feedback, Questions, & Topic Suggestions: podcast@strengthssquared.com  Connect with us: Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn Connect with us on Twitter Support Wired to Connect: Listen & Follow/Subscribe to our Show on Google Podcasts or your Favorite Podcast Player Rate our Show on Goodpods Rate our Show on Spotify Rate & Write a Review of our Show on Apple Podcasts Share our Show with Someone Take good care, & remember, we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’! Send us a text

    20 min
  3. The “B” in DEIB & Cultivating a Mentally Healthy Startup Culture of Belonging

    08/02/2022

    The “B” in DEIB & Cultivating a Mentally Healthy Startup Culture of Belonging

    Join startup therapist, coach, & consultant, Lisa Birnbaum, for the seventh episode of Lisa & Marisa Birnbaum’s weekly, startup mental health podcast featuring easily digestible lessons, skills, & stories, about what it takes to develop, build, & sustain a mentally healthy startup culture. In this episode, learn about the intersection of belonging, leadership, & having a mentally healthy startup culture; learn why “belonging” is a critical component of diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEI) work, & why anything less is not enough; learn how to ‘walk your talk’ to ensure your diversity, equity, inclusion, & belonging (DEIB) practices are implemented effectively; & learn why it’s never too early – or too late – to start. Tune-in & look forward to appreciating that we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’. Click or tap that ‘play’ button! Access Episode Links & Resources Mentioned: Read a full Transcript of this Episode Take our "What Type of Startup Founder Are You?" quiz Visit Strengths Squared Email us for Feedback, Questions, & Topic Suggestions: podcast@strengthssquared.com  Connect with us: Connect with us on Instagram Connect with us on LinkedIn Connect with Lisa on LinkedIn Connect with Marisa on LinkedIn Connect with us on Twitter Support Wired to Connect: Share our Show with Someone Listen & Follow/Subscribe to our Show Write a Review on Apple Podcasts Write a Review on Google Podcasts Write a Review on Spotify Take good care, & remember, we are all, ‘Wired to Connect’! Send us a text

    30 min
5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

*2025 Update: We’re currently exploring whether the pace, scale, adoption of AI — along with the race toward AGI — is actually inevitable; or, whether we’re simply, not looking for alternatives. What possibilities emerge when we allow ourselves to consider that yes, changing course is likely to be very difficult; AND, what if the inevitability of it all wasn’t already a foregone conclusion? We’re also looking to highlight examples of AI that facilitate — not destroy — human connection. If you have thoughts on either of these topics — or know someone we should connect with — please get in touch! You can email us at: podcast@strengthssquared.com As humans, most — if not all — of us are biologically hardwired for connection. Yet, despite living in a world where technology makes connecting with others easier than ever, so many of us are feeling a sense of loneliness and experiencing disconnection, instead. This can wreak havoc on our mental health, especially at fast-moving, ever-changing startups. So, if you're tired of all the burnout, stress, and whiplash, that gets normalized in the tech startup world — or, the misconception that founders must sacrifice their own mental health for success — then, this show is for you! At the intersection of mental health + tech, 'Wired to Connect' will empower you to redefine success in the startup ecosystem. Wired to Connect. Improving relationships with mental health + tech, one episode at a time. 𖨆𖨆Co-hosted by: startup mental health therapist, Lisa Birnbaum + startup leadership coach, Marisa Birnbaum ♫Theme song by: Andrew Fisher 🎨Cover artwork by: Lou Brown, aka @Goodstrangevibes / goodstrangevibes.com