"Work in progress" podcast series

Description

Welcome to “Work in Progress” - a podcast series for people interested in mental health, particularly in the world of business - whether you’re a professional navigating stress or burnout, a manager trying to better support your team, or a student or researcher exploring these issues. 

The series aims to bridge the gap between evidence and real-life practice by bringing together two essential voices: leading experts who can share advice on how to improve mental health, translating research into actionable strategies, and individuals with lived experience whose stories help dismantle stigma and make these conversations feel human and relatable.  

Through thoughtful dialogue, the podcast seeks to demystify complex concepts like burnout, validate the realities many people quietly struggle with, and challenge outdated narratives about what it means to be “well” at work.  

Rooted in Dr Sanjay Popat’s own research at the intersection of mental health and business - including his PhD on burnout and work-related stress in junior doctors - the podcast acts as a bridge between academic insight and everyday experience, creating space for relevant, honest, and empowering conversations. 

About Dr Sanjay Popat 

Dr Sanjay Popat is a Chartered Organisational Psychologist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow specialising in occupational stress, well-being and mental health. His work focuses on how these phenomena occur over time and how time might influence whether we adapt to stressors or reach a breaking point. His research explores high-stress professions, such as doctors, and tracks their cognitions over time using diary methods. More broadly, he has a particular passion for developing evidence-based strategies to improve well-being while raising awareness of mental health and psychology more broadly. 

Dr Sanjay Popat holds a PhD in Organisational Psychology from the University of Leeds, where he was recognised for an outstanding doctoral contribution to the discipline. In 2024, he received the prestigious Grigor McClelland Award for the best PhD globally in the field and was also shortlisted for Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe in the Science & Healthcare category. His PhD research was conducted in partnership with the NHS and has achieved significant national and international impact. It has been widely covered across print, online, and broadcast media, including The Guardian, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and iNews, as well as outlets in Germany, India, Nigeria, and Switzerland. The work has been presented at international conferences and TEDx events, published by the UK Parliament, and currently features as Google’s highlighted search result for topics relating to junior doctors and occupational stress. 

Show notes 

Presented by: Dr Sanjay Popat 
Produced by: Hannah Preston and Dr Sanjay Popat 
Music by: James Preston 

The series is part of Leeds University Business School’s Research and Innovation podcast.