Connecting the Dots by The Collective

• Rethinking Stress: Getting 1% Better and the Business Case for Healthspan

  hronic stress is quietly eroding individual wellbeing and organizational performance.In this episode, we explore why it’s time to rethink stress, not just as a personal issue, but as a systemic business risk.Host Jennifer Halsall is joined by Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, founder of the 1% Better Academy, and Dr. Lou Atkinson, behavioral scientist and health psychologist. Together, they unpack the science behind chronic stress, its impact on healthspan, and what leaders can do to build more resilient teams and cultures.We cover:Why small, consistent habits outperform big, unsustainable changesThe link between stress, longevity, and productivityHow to design environments- like gyms, workplaces, and digital tools that people actually want to useWhy the 1% Better approach works for individuals and organizationsWhether you're a leader, operator, or innovator, this conversation will reframe how you think about wellbeing—and what it really takes to support lasting change.

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• From Tourism to Pharmacy to Mindful Nutrition: A Life of Content Creation Backed by Science

  Vivian Szterling’s story isn’t linear, it’s layered, intentional, and quietly radical.She started in tourism, moved through pharmacy and neuroscience, and landed in nutrition. But nothing truly clicked until she discovered mindfulness. That’s when the dots connected, and her purpose became clear.Today, she’s not just a registered dietitian or mindfulness instructor, she’s a global voice shaping health content at Elfie, a fast-growing health tech platform. Her mission? To bring calm, science, and cultural relevance into people’s everyday choices, from food to thought patterns.What makes Vivian different is her refusal to oversimplify complexity. She takes rigorous science, decodes it with compassion, and delivers it in a way that anyone, in Brazil, Vietnam, Egypt, or Ireland, can understand and use.This episode explores:Why your career doesn’t have to make sense until it suddenly doesHow to build global impact from a small town near RioWhat real nourishment means (hint: it’s more than what’s on your plate)The myth of the “magic pill” in health and behavior changeWhy simplicity is the highest form of masteryVivian doesn’t shout, she listens, reflects, and nudges change from the inside out. If you're feeling overwhelmed, misaligned, or unsure how your own dots connect, this episode is your pause and your permission.“Everything around us nourishes us. It's not only the food.” – Vivian SzterlingEpisode Shout OutsEmilie Cristini Chapters00:00 Introduction to Vivian Sterling and Her Journey06:42 Connecting the Dots: Career Evolution and Mindfulness12:53 Cultural Context: Working in a Global Health Tech Environment20:47 Balancing Professional and Personal Life28:44 The Importance of Nourishment Beyond Food35:42 Key Takeaways for Health Professionals39:54 Spotlighting Female Leaders in Health Tech

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• VO2 Max Made Easy: The Healthspan Metric That’s a Game Changer for Your Business

  Until recently, measuring your VO2Max required a lab setting, a mask, and a max-effort treadmill test. This made it inaccessible for most people. But VO2Max is one of the most powerful indicators of health we have. It measures how efficiently your body uses oxygen during exercise and is directly linked to heart strength, disease prevention, and even lifespan.In this episode, Jennifer talks with Mikkel Kristiansen, CEO of Ventriject, about how their breakthrough technology is making VO2Max testing fast, affordable, and accessible with no exercise required.They explore how small improvements in VO2Max can reduce your risk of cardiovascular events, certain cancers, and depression. Increasing your score can even add days to your life, with research showing up to 45 days gained per VO2Max point.🎯 For businesses, this is a unique opportunity to bring measurable, evidence-based health insights to your customers and expand the value you deliver through prevention-focused care.

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• Game on: Unpacking Bias, Necessary Role Models and Male Feminists

  Want to truly level the playing field in leadership and sport? Host Grace McNamara talks with system-thinkers Eran and Carolyn about the hidden forces shaping our world: bias, diverse role models, and crucial male allies.Eran shares how his Value Sports initiative uses sport to tackle prejudice and empower youth, revealing how early biases can push girls out of the game. Carolyn uncovers challenges in health tech's "tech bro" culture, advocating for women's health innovation and honest talks about menopause.They confront unconscious bias head-on, showing why diverse boards aren't just better, but more successful. Eran offers a powerful male perspective: increased female leadership doesn't shrink the pie; it makes it bigger and more valuable for everyone.This episode is about systemic change: embedding equality into organisations' core DNA, not just through workshops. The next generation, with their broad thinking and embrace of feminism, offers immense hope.Tune in to rethink assumptions and join the movement where we're all playing for the win!A big shout-out to the incredible female leaders mentioned in this episode:Poppy McDonald (CEO, USAFacts) – for fighting for non-partisan knowledge.Connie Henry (Creator, Sport Gives Back Awards) – for transforming lives through sport.Emily Robinson (CEO, London Sport) – for leading sport as a role model.

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• Immersive Healing, Inclusive Leadership: The Future of Health Tech

  🤝 Meet Our Guests:Rosanna Tucker – Co-Founder, CoverMeIsabel van de Keere – Founder, Immersive RehabRosanna was dismissed in a business meeting as “just a little girl from Brighton.” Isabel was told her company must be a side project.Neither of them listened.This episode is a conversation about what happens when you build something because no one else will. It’s about how sport and injury can both be starting points for change. It’s about immersive tech being used not to escape reality, but to rebuild it.Rosanna started her journey on a running track at age seven. She ended up co-founding a company that's redefining how we manage gig economy talent across fitness, sport, and now health. Isabel survived a traumatic brain injury, recovered, and then built a company to change how stroke and spinal patients experience rehab, because she lived through a system that didn’t work.We spoke about bias, and about how it feels to pitch for funding in a room full of people who don’t believe you belong there. We spoke about confidence, leadership, invisible labour, and what real innovation looks like when it's grounded in lived experience.This conversation moved me. And I think it might change how you think about leadership, tech, and the future of care.– Grace🔗 Spotify: Connecting the Dots by The Collective 🔗 Apple Podcasts: Connecting the Dots by The Collective🔗 YouTube: We Are The Collective_world Episode Shout outs:📣 Episode Shoutouts:Emma BarryJohn TreharneBeverlee BrinkworthDebra BabalolaShefali BohraKatherine Church 💼 Key Takeaways:The hidden infrastructure powering the gig economy – and what happens when it fails.How immersive environments are helping stroke survivors and spinal injury patients regain independence.Why innovation often starts with trying to fix your own broken day.What the fitness sector can learn from clinical rehab—and vice versa.The realities of being underestimated as a female founder, and why that might be your unfair advantage.

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