Your Body Knows When You Don’t Belong | The Science of Belonging with Andrea D. Carter

Have you ever walked into a room and felt something was off, even when you couldn't name it? That feeling has a name. It has science behind it. And it has everything to do with whether your nervous system feels safe. In this episode, I sit down with organizational scientist Andrea D. Carter to talk about what's actually happening in our bodies when we don't belong, and why organizations are still blaming the employee when the data says otherwise. Andrea's groundbreaking belonging research has been validated across 8 industries and over 150,000 people, about why belonging isn't just a feeling, it's the infrastructure that determines how people perform. This conversation is a reminder that when we keep asking people to try harder, we're asking the wrong question entirely. The real question is: what is the environment doing to help them succeed? 📚 Guest Info • Website: https://andreacarterconsulting.com | https://belongingfirst.com • LinkedIn:   / andreadcarter   • Substack: https://andreadcarter.substack.com/ • Instagram:   / belongingfirst   • Adler: https://www.adler.edu/faculty-engagem... 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED • Canada's Largest Belonging in the Workplace Study — conducted in the mining industry, 2021–2022, 3,508 participants • "The Body Keeps the Score" — referenced in conversation (book by Bessel van der Kolk) • Neuroception — concept by Dr. Stephen Porges; the nervous system's unconscious scanning for safety or threat • Amy C. Edmondson — pioneer in Psychological Safety 📌 Episode Chapters 00:00 The Personal Journey to Belonging 07:26 Understanding Neurodiversity in the Workplace 14:09 The Crisis of Belonging and Workplace Toxicity 21:30 Defining Belonging and Its Infrastructure 28:00 The Five Indicators of Belonging 33:46 Understanding Psychological Safety 36:43 The Importance of Wellbeing 40:21 Personal Reflections on Belonging 49:07 Final Thoughts on Belonging 👉 Learn more: http://workisthird.com/ ✨ Visit my consulting work: http://dawnmhunter.com/ Follow the Soundtrack: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0LU... 🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@WorkIsThird?... 🔗 Stay Connected With Me. Facebook:   / workisthird   Instagram:   / the_dawn_hunter   TikTok:   / the_dawn_hunter   Website: https://www.dawnmhunter.com/ ✨ Subscribe to The Joyful Rebellion newsletter: https://thedawnlab.kit.com/ 📩 For business inquiries: [email protected] ============================= 🎬Suggested videos for you: ▶️    • We Don't All Have the Same 24 Hours | Rede...   ▶️    • You're Never Stuck | Choosing the Life You...   ▶️    • Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer  Pr...   ================================= ✅ About Work Is Third. I'm Dawn Hunter, JD, MPH, CWP — workplace culture strategist, keynote speaker, and recovering workaholic. 😄 The message is simple: work is third. After yourself and the people you love. This channel is your permission slip to stop hustling and start living — with tools to prevent burnout, build boundaries, and design a life centered on joy. We go there: workplace systems, leadership culture, and the joyful rebellion of putting yourself first. 🔔Want to build a better workplace culture? Subscribe for leadership insights, wellbeing strategies, & inspiring stories on fostering a supportive work environment. https://www.youtube.com/@WorkIsThird?... ================================= #workisthird, #workisthirdpodcast, #andreaDcarter, #belongingatwork, #psychologicalsafety, #burnoutprevention, #healing, #boundaries, #nervoussystemregulation, #workplaceculture, #joyatwork, #leadershipwellbeing, #organizationalscience, #fittinginvsbelonging Your Body Knows When You Don’t Belong The Science of Belonging with Andrea D. Carter