Episode 82

Written By zoe amar
A photo of Brian Dow wearing a white shirt sitting in a kitchen with Mental Health UK and Rethink Mental Illness mugs in front of him.

Navigating Burnout and Building Trust

We chat to Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK and the Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness.


In this episode, we speak with Brian Dow, Chief Executive of Mental Health UK and Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink Mental Illness. Brian shares insights from Mental Health UK’s 2025 Burnout Report highlighting the concerning rise of stress and burnout, particularly among young professionals, and the growing trust deficit between employers and employees.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Burnout Reality: We explore the alarming statistics on stress and burnout in the UK workplace and the generational differences in how these issues are perceived and managed.

  • Building Trust: Brian discusses the critical role of trust in fostering a healthy workplace culture and offers practical advice on how leaders can build and maintain that trust, especially with younger employees.

  • Co-designing the Workplace: We examine the importance of involving employees in shaping workplace policies and practices to create a supportive and inclusive environment.

  • Leadership and Vulnerability: Brian shares his leadership journey and emphasises the importance of authenticity, empathy, and modelling positive behaviour.

  • The Power of Fun: We discuss the often-overlooked role of fun in building a positive workplace culture and mitigating the risks of toxic environments.

  • Managing Wellbeing: Brian offers practical tips for managing well-being during challenging times, emphasising the importance of facing challenges head-on.

  • The effects of technology: The episode also touches on the effects of technology and social media on the well-being of younger generations, and how this impacts the workplace.

Inspired by this conversation, Zoe and Paul discuss mental health and the impact of social media and smartphones on children.

Mental Health UK’s Burnout Report

Edelman’s Trust Barometer

Please leave us a review if you enjoy what you hear!

Editing and production - Syren Studios with Paul Thomas

Music by Joseph McDade https://josephmcdade.com/music

Full transcript of this episode (srt file)

Full transcript of this episode (.txt file)

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Episode 81