This is a conversation about the invisible emotional weight people carry into work every single day and what happens when someone finally makes space for it.
I sat down with Courtney O’Brien (HR leader and community builder) to explore the hidden emotional world inside modern workplaces. We unpack psychological safety, anxiety, spirituality at work, powerful questions, collective healing, and why humanity may be the most overlooked leadership skill of our time.
From fear of flying and nervous system regulation to AI companionship and emotional intelligence in corporate culture, this episode challenges the idea that professionalism requires disconnection from ourselves.
Courtney shares why she believes work can become a spiritual teacher, how shame silently shapes human behavior, and the simple practices that help people reconnect to themselves—and each other.
Show Partners:
Connect with Marc: https://konect.to/marcchampagne
Timestamps:
00:00 — “Who are you?”
01:18 — Growing up highly sensitive and learning to articulate emotions
02:43 — Loss, spirituality, and feeling connected to those who came before
03:22 — Why HR became Courtney’s “spiritual practice”
05:02 — Bridging humanity and corporate systems
06:34 — Leading with vulnerability at work
07:23 — Why most people secretly want deeper conversations at work
08:55 — Small experiments that change team culture
10:12 — Using psychological safety exercises in meetings
11:32 — The surprising reaction people have when given permission to share
13:09 — Relief, humor, and connection in the workplace
14:33 — The power of better questions
15:52 — Why powerful questions changed Courtney’s life
16:30 — “What do we owe each other?”
18:23 — Grace, challenge, and collective tension
19:53 — Why mentally fit teams operate differently
20:24 — Shame, judgment, and emotional healing
20:59 — Courtney’s nervous system reset practices
22:21 — Learning to care for yourself without disconnecting from the world
23:18 — Why healing practices became simpler over time
24:28 — The grounding practice Courtney uses daily
26:36 — The wisdom of the body and collective consciousness
27:08 — Overcoming a fear of flying through physical regulation
28:51 — How posture changes emotional states
29:34 — AI, consciousness, and intuitive leadership
31:53 — Translating “woo-woo” for corporate culture
33:16 — Why spiritual thinkers and tech founders sound increasingly similar
34:33 — Using AI for self-reflection and deeper questioning
35:08 — The rise of AI companionship and emotional projection
36:53 — The danger of judging conversations too quickly
37:52 — What gives Courtney hope for the future
39:19 — “What It Takes to Heal” and collective belonging
40:10 — Why anxiety points toward what matters most
41:20 — Final reflections on humanity, healing, and meaningful work
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Special props 👇
Music: Clouds - Joakim Karud
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