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the mentl space
the mentl space is a podcast for open, honest conversations about mental health, wellbeing, leadership and the cultures that help people thrive.
Hosted by Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, the show brings together leaders, psychologists, doctors, authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, advocates and people with lived experience to explore what mental health means in real life, at work, at home and in the community.
From workplace wellbeing, burnout, psychological safety and inclusion, to parenting, men’s mental health, resilience, digital wellbeing, leadership and the human stories behind change, each episode asks what it really takes to move from awareness to action.
This is a space for practical insight, personal honesty and better conversations about how we live, lead and support one another.
Because when we talk more openly, we make it easier for everyone to thrive.
the mentl space
Burnout, Boundaries & Belonging in PR | Why There Is an ‘I’ in Team
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this special episode of the mentl space, host Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, sits down with Sinead O’Connor and LuAnne D’Souza from Current Global MENAT - joint winners of the mentl awards 2024 in the PR category and finalists again for 2025.
Fresh from a powerful team workshop led by Scott from mentl, and organizational psychologist Sarah Christensen, the trio unpack the realities of agency life - constant connectivity, blurred boundaries, burnout, and the drive to create belonging in a 24-hour news culture.
They explore the central theme: why there really is an ‘I’ in team - and how embracing individuality, vulnerability, and trust can transform wellbeing, creativity, and business performance.
🎥 Recorded at Current Global MENAT, Dubai, following a mentl × Christensen Consultancy joint workshop on resilience and team connection.
Chapters
0:00 – Welcome from Scott Armstrong: “There is an ‘I’ in Team”
1:29 – Sinead O’Connor on global pressures and lived experiences at work
2:36 – LuAnne D’Souza on being “always on” and struggling to switch off
3:18 – The WhatsApp culture and blurred client boundaries in PR
4:31 – Sarah Christensen on rapid change, burnout, and lost human connection
6:22 – PRCA data and worsening mental-health trends in the communications industry
7:09 – Inside the 24-hour news cycle: constant deadlines and client demands
9:08 – WhatsApp anxiety and learning to set boundaries
10:15 – Tone from the top: creating safety and respect in agency culture
12:00 – “PR not ER”: leadership philosophy and wellbeing at work
13:52 – The business case for wellbeing and performance
14:58 – Why individuality drives innovation: “There is an ‘I’ in Team”
17:10 – Celebrating differences and learning across disciplines
18:27 – Inclusion vs fitting in: vulnerability and authentic leadership
22:00 – Psychological safety and unleashing creativity
24:25 – Turning conflict into constructive challenge
26:25 – The power of reflection and team sharing exercises
27:46 – Seeing colleagues in a new light: human connection in action
28:36 – Why conversations and “water-cooler” moments fuel belonging
30:33 – Turning pressure into opportunity: culture change from within
31:39 – Reflection rituals and red-orange-green check-ins
33:45 – How to measure success: belonging you can feel
35:16 – Culture as reputation: when people want to work with you
36:10 – Sinead’s takeaway: kindness and role-modelling from the top
36:47 – Sarah’s takeaway: authenticity and heart in leadership
38:06 – LuAnne’s takeaway: individuality and accountability
38:39 – Scott’s close: individuality + collective = healthy team
