Your Body Knows You Don't Belong | The Science of Belonging with Andrea D. Carter
Have you ever felt like you didn't belong somewhere but couldn't explain why? Organizational scientist, adjunct professor, and keynote speaker Andrea D. Carter has spent years studying exactly that feeling — and she has the data to prove it's not in your head. It's in your nervous system.
Her belonging research, validated across 8 industries and over 150,000 people, makes one thing undeniable: belonging isn't soft. It's science. It's infrastructure. It's how people perform.
In this episode, Dawn and Andrea explore why the human nervous system is constantly scanning for safety or threat, what psychological safety actually protects (hint: it's not comfort), why resilience is not a solo sport, and the difference between fitting in and truly belonging. This is the conversation workplaces aren't having but desperately need.
📚 Guest Info
Website: https://andreacarterconsulting.com | https://belongingfirst.com
Substack: https://andreadcarter.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belongingfirst/
Adler: https://www.adler.edu/faculty-engagement/faculty-directory/carter-andrea-d/
📚 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
Curious how strong your boundaries are? Take the free Workplace Boundary Audit to learn your boundary leadership style.
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