Your Wellness Program Has an Engagement Problem. Here's a Solution Nobody's Talking About

If your wellness program communications are languishing in a sea of unopened emails and unwatched webinars, you're not alone. The frustrating truth is that even the most thoughtfully designed initiatives often struggle to get attention and buy-in from the people they are intended to benefit.

But here's the crazy thing: While employees might ignore another newsletter about stress management, they'll happily spend their commute listening to a podcast about exactly the same topic. And that's not just anecdotal—research consistently shows that audio content drives deeper engagement and retention than text-based communications.

The (untapped) power of audio in workplace wellness

Think about the last time you tried to get employees excited about a new wellness initiative through email. How'd that go? Now imagine if instead of reading about how Sarah from Accounting transformed her health habits, they could actually hear Sarah share her story, complete with all the emotion, authenticity, and nuance that only voice can convey.

This is where podcasting enters the picture—not as yet another technological burden, but as a surprisingly elegant solution to several common wellness program challenges:

• It meets employees where they are (literally). Whether they're commuting, working out, or doing household chores, employees can engage with wellness content without adding another task to their to-do list.
• It creates genuine connection. There's something uniquely intimate about voice that helps bridge the gap between wellness initiatives and real human experience. When employees hear their colleagues or leadership talking openly about health challenges and victories, it normalizes these conversations in a way that written communications rarely achieve.
• It scales effortlessly. Once you've created a podcast episode, it becomes a permanent resource that can reach unlimited employees across time zones and departments—without requiring additional effort or resources.

OK, but what's this going to cost?

Here's what might surprise you: Starting a wellness podcast is remarkably cost-effective compared to many traditional communication strategies. The basic requirements are minimal:

• A decent microphone
• Basic editing software (many free options exist)
• A hosting platform
• A few hours per month for planning and production

But the potential returns are significant:

• Increased engagement with wellness initiatives
• More authentic internal communications
• A growing library of evergreen wellness content
• Detailed analytics on employee engagement
• A powerful tool for onboarding and culture-building

Here are just three of the many ways you might use a podcast to amplify your wellness communications.

Leadership Conversations

Create a monthly podcast where executives share their personal wellness journeys and discuss the organization's commitment to employee wellbeing. This top-down approach helps normalize wellness conversations and demonstrates authentic leadership investment in employee health.

Wellness Champions

Develop a story-driven series where employees share their wellness victories and challenges. These peer-to-peer conversations can be powerful catalysts for cultural change and program engagement.

Topic Spotlights

Feature internal or external wellness experts discussing specific health topics, from stress management to financial wellness. The podcast format allows for deeper dives into complex topics while keeping the content accessible and engaging.

How to get started

Ready to give your wellness program a voice? Here's your roadmap:

1. Listen First: Survey employees about their content preferences and wellness challenges. Use these insights to shape your podcast strategy.
2. Start Small: Launch with a simple, consistent format that you can maintain. You can always expand and evolve based on feedback.
3. Leverage Existing Resources: Your organization likely already has interesting stories and expertise to share. Start there.
4. Monitor and Modify: Use podcast analytics to understand what content resonates most with your employees and adjust accordingly.

In an environment where everyone is competing for your employees' attention, podcasting can not only can help you cut through the noise, it also offers a unique opportunity to make your wellness initiatives more human, more accessible, and ultimately more effective.

If you'd like some help assessing how podcasting could work for your organization, feel free to reach out. I'd be happy to share my experience. This is also a topic I love to present on! To find out about having me speak at your next live or virtual event, please visit WellnessWorksHere.com.