Work Life by Design

About Work Life by Design

Welcome to Work Life by Design a podcast for People & Culture leaders, C-Suite Execs, Entrepreneurs, Designers and anyone who is interested in elevating their experience of work! I'm your host, Mel Marsden, the Founder, and Director of COMUNiTI a Workplace Strategy and Design Studio focused on collaboratively, re-imagining and designing high-performance workplaces for our clients across Australia. Over the last decade I have refined my workplace toolkit to create our signature strategy offering, the Workplace Dynamics Blueprint, exploring the 5 pillars that underpin every high performing workplace. 1. Reimagining the Future 2. Brand &Culture 3. Values & Behaviours 4. Wellbeing 5. Employee Experience This process has seen my clients' employees achieve results of;  84% employees feeling more productive  91% with increased job satisfaction  100% of employees feeling more collaborative I believe that our environments have the power to positively influence our behaviour and our performance at work. So much so, that I've written a book about! "The Next Workplace; Designing Dynamic Environments that Inspire Human Potential" connects the concepts of modern day management theory to the structural design of our physical workplace environments, aligning, enabling and inspiring the human potential of every organisation. If the last few years have taught us anything it's that change is inevitable, and we no longer need to "go to work" to "work! Through this podcast we explore what it takes to make work, work! I draw back the curtains on my own business, the clients, and projects that we deliver, along with tapping into the knowledge and insights from academics, business leaders and champions of change. Together, let's elevate our experience of work.

Publisher

Melissa Marsden

Category

business · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Jun 2020

Latest episode

1 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

165 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Oct 2025

   Learning to Listen to the Wisdom of Your Body with Keri Krieger

   When was the last time you really listened to your body? So often, we’ve been conditioned to push through — to ignore the subtle whispers of discomfort, fatigue, or restlessness. We convince ourselves we’ll slow down after the next deadline, once the project’s done, or when things feel less busy. But our bodies are wise. And when we ignore the whispers for too long, they eventually start to shout. That was my reality for a long time. I thought I was doing all the “right” things — balancing work, life, and everything in between — until my body started telling me otherwise. It wasn’t until my body forced me to listen that I realised just how disconnected I’d become from myself. Amongst all this, Keri Krieger, a beautiful soul and gifted Acupuncturist and Chinese Medicine Practitioner, began weaving her way through my life. Keri teaches us to tune back in — to understand the signals our bodies are sending , and to see that they aren't breaking down, they are simply trying to communicate. In this week’s podcast episode, I sit down with Keri for a heartfelt conversation about how we can learn to reconnect with our bodies, honour their innate wisdom, and navigate life’s transitions with more grace and ease. Keri shares her philosophy around health and wellbeing through the lens of Chinese Medicine — offering such a refreshing and grounded approach to what it means to truly be well. She brings calm, compassion, and deep insight into how we can create balance not just in our bodies, but in our lives. And I’m beyond thrilled that Keri will also be joining us at Exhale the Retreat in just over three weeks, 23rd-26th October. During the retreat, she’ll be guiding us through deep conversations and beautiful experiences that help us tune into our own inner knowing, reconnect with our energy, and move through transitions with clarity and confidence. In our chat, we also explore the belief that taking time for ourselves is indulgent — a luxury reserved for “when we have time.” But as Keri so gently reminds us, it’s in these moments of rest and reflection that we fill our own cup. Because if we don’t, our capacity to show up for others becomes depleted, and resentment can quietly creep in. If you’ve been feeling stretched thin, stuck in survival mode, or simply craving more connection with yourself — this episode is your invitation to pause. To breathe. To listen. In this conversation, we explore: ✨ The importance of tuning into your body’s innate wisdom ✨ What Chinese Medicine can teach us about balance and self-awareness ✨ How to move through change and transition with grace ✨ Why rest and reflection are not indulgent, but essential ✨ What to expect from Keri’s sessions at Exhale the Retreat It’s time to listen — because your body has been speaking all along. ✨ Learn more and secure your place to Exhale HERE. I can't wait to see you there!

2. 

   16 Sept 2025

   The Secret to Unlocking Your Authenticity with Courtney Tyssen

   So often we’re chasing goals, ticking off to-do lists, and striving for that next milestone without stopping to ask—are these dreams really mine? The truth is, without a deep connection to our bodies and our hearts, it’s hard to know if the life we’re building is truly aligned with who we are, our own authenticity. In my latest podcast episode, I sit down with Courtney Tyssen, one half of @heart.resonance, who will be joining us at Exhale The Retreat this October to guide a personalised sound healing journey. Courtney shares how sound isn’t just music—it’s a medicine for the mind, body, and soul. By quietening the mental chatter and soothing the nervous system, sound creates the spaciousness we need to reconnect with ourselves. It’s in this rest-and-digest state that real healing, clarity, and alignment can begin. In our conversation, Courtney also shares: ✨ how the various instruments invoke different responses within the body and connect us to the elements ✨ the journey that we’ll be guided on at Exhale and how it will be personalised to the women in the room ✨ how the deep healing that comes from the vibration of sound moving through our bodies, impacts our nervous systems and unlocks hidden capacity ✨ the clarity that comes enabling you to connect to your own authenticity and for you to live the life, and create the business, you dream of This isn’t just theory — it’s a glimpse into the powerful experience awaiting the women who’ll be joining us at Exhale. Imagine lying back, allowing the vibration of sound to move through your body, feeling tension melt away as your nervous system drops into deep rest. The result?A calm mind, a grounded body, and a renewed sense of connection with yourself. (Not to mention, the most incredible sleep afterwards 🥰). Exhale is more than a retreat—it’s an invitation to step away from the noise of everyday life and rediscover what’s truly yours. Through movement, reflection, connection, and experiences like sound healing, you’ll leave feeling lighter, clearer, and more aligned with the life you’re here to create. I cannot wait to share this with the beautiful women who’ll be joining us. ✨ Learn more and secure your place to Exhale HERE. (https://www.melissamarsden.com.au/exhale-2025) I can't wait to see you there!

3. 

   8 Sept 2025

   The Cost of Burnout - What I Wish I Knew with Shae Giles

   Creating a retreat doesn’t happen without the incredible support of so many people behind the scenes. One of those people is the talented Shae Giles. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve no doubt seen Shae’s stunning photography scattered across my socials. She’s not only been my creative eye behind the lens for years, but also a loyal cheerleader and friend. But there’s another side to Shae’s story. Like so many women, she’s walked the heavy path of burnout — a reality that too often goes unseen until it’s too late. The emotional toll of pushing through, of constantly showing up without pause, is something she knows all too well. That’s why Shae will be joining us at Exhale the Retreat — both as a guest experiencing the healing journey for herself, and as a sponsor capturing the powerful moments we’ll create together. In this episode we talk about burnout, healing, and the transformation that retreats like Exhale can unlock. We explore: the often hidden emotional toll of burnout and why so many women are unknowingly on a path to it what you can expect from your retreat experience the impact that the holistic healing practices you’ll experience will have on you, your life and your business This is more than just a chat — it’s a reminder that the way we’ve been taught to live, work, and push through isn’t sustainable. Retreats like Exhale are designed to give you tools, practices, and awareness that we wish we had known earlier. Tools that can quite literally change the trajectory of your life and business. I can't wait to see you there! Save you spot at Exhale the Retreat.

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

84

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

0