Advertise on podcast: Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

When was the last time you felt truly bored? And when was the last time your life felt genuinely meaningful? For Harvard social scientist Arthur Brooks, those two questions are more connected than you might think. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Arthur Brooks — professor at Harvard Business School, bestselling author, and one of the most compelling thinkers on happiness and purpose — to dig into his new book, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.  In this episode, Jessi and Arthur discuss: Why so many high-achievers feel empty even when everything is going right How our devices are literally pushing us into the wrong hemisphere of the brain, and why eliminating boredom may have accidentally eliminated meaning The psychology of strivers: why so many driven, successful people are secretly running on a fear that idleness means they'll stop being loved The "arrival fallacy": why reaching your goals so often feels like a letdown, and what that tells you about whether you were chasing the right things The four types of career paths, and why "spiral" careers — built from a series of reinventions — may be the most fulfilling model for this moment How to retrofit a sense of calling into the job you already have Arthur's gut-check formula for evaluating any career opportunity: 80% excitement, 20% fear, 0% deadness Why suffering and meaning share the same part of the brain — and why trying to avoid all pain may be the very thing standing between you and a purposeful life This episode is for anyone who has achieved what they set out to achieve and still found themselves wondering, "Is this it?" — and for anyone still figuring out what they're actually working toward. This conversation was recorded live. If you’re a premium member, you can watch the extended version, featuring lots more audience questions, here. Follow Arthur Brooks and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

Finding your path to a meaningful career has never felt more complicated. The job market is entirely unpredictable, AI is reading your resume, and entire industries seem to be disappearing.  It’s a particularly uncertain moment to be entering the workforce for the first time. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Jodi Kantor about navigating the early years of a career.  Jodi is one of the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalists who broke the Harvey Weinstein story, igniting the Me Too movement. Last year, she delivered a commencement speech to Columbia’s class of 2025, offering practical and comforting advice for young people on the cusp of their professional lives. She’s expanded on that guidance in her new book, How to Start, which offers a roadmap to a meaningful career. In this episode, Jessi and Jodi discuss: Why the early stages of a career are inherently difficult, and how to embrace a “fruitful struggle” instead of giving up Jodi’s own winding path, from law school dropout to journalist How the job search itself has changed, including the rise of AI interviews and increasingly impersonal hiring processes Why the real measure of a career isn’t prestige or stability, but how connected you feel to the work in your day-to-day tasks The challenge of distinguishing your own voice and interests from expectations coming from parents, culture, or conventional career advice Why trying to game the job market or chase the “safe” profession rarely works How to hold onto the belief that work can be meaningful, satisfying, and sustainable, even in a difficult job market How cold calling doesn’t get easier, and why you should do it anyway This episode is for anyone starting out, starting over, or helping someone else navigate the messy early chapters of a career. Follow Jodi Kantor and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn

If you feel like your attention span has shrunk, you’re not imagining it. According to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, our phones and social platforms have fundamentally reshaped childhood, work, and our ability to focus. In his bestselling book The Anxious Generation, Jon argues that the rise of smartphones and social media triggered what he calls the “great rewiring of childhood.” But the consequences extend far beyond kids. In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi talks with Jon about what constant connectivity is doing to our minds,how we got here, and why reclaiming our attention may be one of the most important challenges of our time. Jon and Jess discuss: How smartphones reshaped adolescent development Why social media use is linked strongly to rising anxiety and depression among young people How tech platforms are intentionally designed to capture and fragment our attention Why today’s digital tools isolate people Practical steps families, workplaces, and individuals can take to reclaim focus and develop healthier tech habits Why restoring unstructured play, independence, and boredom is critical for healthy development At its core, this conversation asks a simple question: What happens when an entire society loses control of its attention, and how do we get it back? Find Jon’s new book for kids, The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World, here.  Follow Jonathan Haidt and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

Do you think of your beliefs as immutable facts? If so, you might be holding yourself back. In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Nir Eyal, bestselling author whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, technology, and human potential. His latest book, Beyond Belief, explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape our motivation, and how changing those stories can change our outcomes. In this conversation, Jessi and Nir explore how limiting beliefs take hold, why our brains default to helplessness, and how we can challenge the narratives that keep us stuck. Jessi and Nir discuss: Why beliefs should be treated as tools, not truths How limiting beliefs undermine motivation and progress The “motivation triangle” and why belief is essential to action Why we often quit too early, and what a famous rat experiment reveals about persistence A practical method for questioning assumptions and collecting new perspectives Why visualization can actually hurt motivation, and what to do instead The difference between pain and suffering, and why separating the two matters At the heart of Nir’s work is a simple idea: our minds default to safety and survival, not growth. But when we learn to question the beliefs that hold us back, we can unlock more motivation, agency, and possibility in our lives. Follow Nir Eyal and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn. Office Hours are back! Join Jessi live from her LinkedIn page on Wednesday 4/1 at 3pm EST. 

Women spend nearly a decade more of their lives in poor health than men. It’s a gap that doesn’t just affect individuals, it holds back entire organizations. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, and Regina E. Dugan, President and CEO of Wellcome Leap, to unpack the health disparities impacting women at work, and explore what it will take to close them. Melinda and Regina both operate at the intersection of capital, science, and equity. Together, they are rethinking how we invest in women’s health, examining why progress has been so slow, and identifying what leaders can do to drive meaningful change. Jessi, Melinda, and Regina discuss: Why women spend more years in poor health, and how that affects their careers The ways health inequities limit advancement and economic opportunity Why investing in women’s health isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a smart move financially The role senior leadership plays in reshaping outcomes for women at work How policy, science, and leadership all play a part in closing the health gap for women Follow Melinda French Gates, Regina E. Dugan, and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn This conversation was recorded live in Bellevue, Washington. If you’re a premium member, you can watch the extended version, featuring lots more audience questions, here. We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

AI is reshaping industries and jobs faster than most of us can keep up. But futurist Amy Webb argues we have more control over what lies ahead than we might think.  In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel sits down with Amy, founder and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group and one of the world’s leading experts on strategic foresight. For nearly two decades, Amy’s annual tech trends report has helped leaders understand what’s coming next, and what to do about it. Amy and Jessi explore the concept of creative destruction—the economic force that disrupts old systems to make room for new ones—and what today’s wave of AI-driven change means for workers, leaders, and organizations. Amy and Jessi discuss: What creative destruction really means, and why we should embrace it How AI and emerging technologies are transforming industries faster than many leaders expect How leaders can strategically prepare for trends and crises, rather than merely reacting to them Why organizations need to invest in foresight and long-term thinking How individuals can position themselves to adapt and thrive during rapid transformation Follow Amy Webb and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn Learn more about The Future Today Strategy Group Watch Amy’s 2026 SXSW talk  We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected]

What skill is most critical in a world defined by constant change? Leadership coach and author Liz Tran believes it’s AQ, or agility quotient. In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Liz to explore why traditional measures of intelligence like IQ and even EQ may matter less in today’s AI-powered, rapidly evolving workplace. Instead, Liz argues that what really predicts success is our ability to adapt, navigate uncertainty, and respond to change. Liz’s new book is AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing. Drawing from her work with executives, founders, and professionals across industries, she explains how AQ works—and why it’s a skill anyone can develop. Together, Jessi and Liz unpack how strengthening your agility quotient can help you navigate career transitions, unexpected challenges at work, and a future where skills evolve faster than ever. Liz and Jessi discuss: What AQ (agility quotient) is—and why it may matter more than IQ or EQ in the modern workplace Why AI and automation are leveling traditional intelligence advantages The four AQ archetypes—Astronaut, Novelist, Firefighter, and Neurosurgeon—and how each handles change How understanding your archetype can guide career decisions, leadership style, and personal growth How to build resilience and adaptability in a world where careers span multiple industries and roles Follow Liz Tran and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.  We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  

Hot flashes. Brain fog. Sleepless nights. For too long, we’ve mislabeled midlife women’s health as burnout, anxiety, or a loss of ambition. But what if the real issue isn’t performance — it’s hormones? In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel talks with Joanna Strober, founder and CEO of Midi Health, about menopause, perimenopause, hormone therapy, and power at work. Together, they unpack how gaps in women’s healthcare during midlife are quietly pushing talented leaders out of the workforce at the exact moment they should be accelerating. After struggling to get proper treatment for her own perimenopause symptoms, Joanna built Midi Health to deliver insurance-covered, expert virtual care focused on women in midlife. This conversation goes beyond hot flashes — it’s about workplace equity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), ageism, health misdiagnoses, and why normalizing menopause could unlock a generation of leadership. Because menopause isn’t a road bump, with the right care, it can be a power surge. Jessi and Joanna discuss: The difference between perimenopause and menopause, and why the distinction matters for women’s health at work Why 1 in 5 women in their 40s are prescribed SSRIs — and how hormonal shifts are often overlooked Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and non-hormonal menopause treatments The workplace impact of untreated menopause symptoms, including research showing women may lose authority during visible symptoms like hot flashes How employers can support midlife women through better insurance coverage  Ageism in the workplace — and why women in their 50s may be primed for peak performance How normalizing menopause conversations can help women reclaim power Follow Joanna Strober and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn. We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!  Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube  Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠ Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Be yourself. That’s the advice we give graduates, job seekers, and leaders. But what if it’s wrong? In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with organizational psychologist and author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic to interrogate one of the most popular ideas in modern career advice: authenticity at work. Tomas is the Chief Talent Scientist at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology, and the author of Don't Be Yourself. His research explores personality, leadership, workplace performance, and the science of success. In this conversation, he challenges the notion that “just be yourself” is the key to career growth—especially in a rapidly changing job market shaped by AI, shifting power dynamics, and rising inequality. Together, Jessi and Tomas unpack how authenticity functions as both a personal value and a professional strategy—and why it can be a privilege reserved for those already in the “in-group.” They also examine what young professionals, underemployed graduates, and leaders navigating AI disruption need to understand about perception, communication skills, and the future of work. Jessi and Tomas discuss: • Why authenticity at work is often misunderstood—and how perception matters more than self-expression • The hidden privilege behind “bring your whole self to work” • In-group vs. out-group dynamics in workplace culture • AI and the future of work: entry-level jobs, automation, and the changing career ladder • Why curiosity—not authenticity—may be a critical skill for 2026 • Balancing personal values with organizational expectations • The psychology of influence, impression management, and professional success If you’ve ever felt frustrated by workplace politics, confused about how much of yourself to reveal at work, or anxious about how AI is reshaping career paths, this episode is for you. We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!   Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube  Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify⁠ Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Rest is essential. It’s like food or water; without it, we die. As today’s guest points out though, it’s also a sacred practice. In today’s rerun conversation, originally held live on Hello Monday’s Office Hours, Octavia Raheem joins Jessi Hempel to talk about, and to practice, rest. Octavia Raheem is a rest coach, yoga and meditation teacher, and author. Her latest book is called Rest is Sacred: Reclaiming Our Brilliance Through the Practice of Stillness. She and Jessi discuss: How rest sparks creativity and connection Rethinking productivity through rest How to build micro-rest practices into your days The power of rest for self-reflection, personal growth, and clarity Then, Octavia leads us in a transformative guided rest practice that combines mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing techniques. Follow Octavia Raheem and Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn.

AI didn’t decide to reshape work. People did. And that distinction matters more than we like to admit. Dr. Rumman Chowdhury says the real story isn’t about machines replacing humans. It’s about the choices people in power are making—and the agency the rest of us still have. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel and Rumman unpack what responsible AI really means, why fear is the wrong default reaction, and how workers, leaders, and everyday users can shape a better technological future. Rumman Chowdhury is a leading expert in responsible artificial intelligence and algorithmic accountability. She previously led responsible AI efforts at Accenture, served on Twitter’s product team before it became X, and advised governments in the U.S. and U.K. She is the co-founder of Humane Intelligence, an organization focused on independent AI auditing and public participation in technology oversight. Rumman and Jessi discuss: Why AI isn’t “happening to us”—and how leadership decisions shape its impact What responsible AI looks like inside real companies and products The rise and fall of trust in Big Tech and Silicon Valley Algorithmic bias, content moderation, and the limits of internal oversight The root of why we fear AI The difference between techno-optimism and techno-solutionism How individuals can reclaim agency by understanding and engaging with AI If you want to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury listen to her recent Ted Talk here.  Follow Dr. Rumman Chowdhury on LinkedIn Follow Jessi Hempel on LinkedIn Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-youtube  Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-spotify Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/hellomonday-LI-video-apple⁠ 

Every day is filled with negotiations. Here’s how to start winning them. Any conversation that has a want or a need is a negotiation. It's critical to approach even the low stakes negotiations with the same tools that will win high stakes conversations. But what if the key to better outcomes isn’t pushing harder, but listening better? In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Jonathan Smith, negotiation instructor and co-author of Fight Less, Win More, to break down why negotiation is really about empathy, trust, and disciplined listening. Drawing on The Black Swan Group’s negotiation framework—made famous by Never Split the Difference—Jonathan shares practical tools for navigating conflict, building influence, and getting what you need without damaging relationships. Jonathan is a business strategist and negotiation expert who has spent years teaching leaders, managers, and teams how to communicate in moments that matter most. His work focuses on tactical empathy, emotional intelligence, and the everyday negotiations that shape our careers and lives. Jonathan and Jessi discuss: Why every difficult conversation is a negotiation Tactical empathy and how to help people feel truly heard The “core four” negotiation skills: labels, mirrors, dynamic silence, and summaries How low-stakes practice builds confidence for high-stakes conversations Managing tone, emotion, and self-regulation  Why listening is a discipline—and how it improves trust and influence Using AI as a preparation tool without losing human connection If you want to go deeper on these tools listen to our episode from September, 2025 with The Black Swan Group's founder and CEO, Chris Voss.  Watch on YouTube: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-youtube  Listen on Apple: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-apple  Watch/Listen on Spotify: https://bit.ly/chrisvoss-hm-spotify We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Want an easy framework for winning any pitch? We’re pitching all the time—at work, at home, and everywhere in between. But most of us are doing it wrong. We lead with logic, credentials, and data, when what people actually need first is connection. In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Danny Fontaine to unpack what makes a truly great pitch—and how to persuade with emotion, not just information. Drawing on decades of experience in experiential sales and storytelling, Danny shares a framework for captivating any audience by helping them feel seen, understood, and invested before you ever make your case. Danny Fontaine leads an experiential selling team at IBM and has closed millions of dollars in deals across industries. He is the author of Pitch: How to Captivate and Convince Any Audience on the Planet and hosts a UK-based podcast called “Pitch Masters” on modern selling, persuasion, and communication at work. Danny and Jessi discuss: Why pitching is really about connection, not performance How emotional storytelling builds trust and influence The “backfire effect” and why logic alone doesn’t persuade How to determine which opportunities are worth pitching—and which aren’t Why the audience, not the seller, should be the hero of every pitch Introverts, ambiverts, and why confidence isn’t what makes a great salesperson How AI can help you prepare without losing authenticity We will be launching the Hello Monday Book Club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!

Ambition. Is it a dirty word? Do you love the term, or hate it? In this Hello Monday episode from the archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with two incredible colleagues at LinkedIn, Hayley Saltzman and Ahyiana Angel, to explore how our understanding of ambition evolves, and what it means to chase personal growth rather than external validation. Hayley Saltzman is an Editor at Large at LinkedIn, focusing on vertical video strategy. Ahyiana Angel was the Podcast Ad Ops Producer at LinkedIn and the host of her own podcast called Switch, Pivot, or Quit. Together, they reflect on how ambition is often shaped by external expectations and how true fulfillment comes when we start living for ourselves. In this episode, Jessi, Ahyiana, and Hayley discuss: The tension between extrinsic and intrinsic ambition Our gendered notions of ambition, and how society’s definition of ambition is often limiting for women What happens when you quit a dream job to pursue something more aligned with personal growth The relationship between fear and ambition Practical tips for reconnecting with your own ambitions and self-worth If you've ever questioned what success and ambition truly mean for you, this episode is for you. Whether you're navigating career transitions or redefining what ambition looks like in your life, we hope this conversation will inspire you to live and work authentically.

What if the very habits that made you successful are now the ones holding you back? In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel is joined by executive coach and leadership expert Muriel Wilkins to explore the hidden beliefs that quietly shape how we lead and make decisions. These “blocking beliefs”—like I need it done now, if I can do it, so can you—often begin as strengths. But over time, they can fuel burnout, micromanagement, and disengaged teams. Drawing from her new book, Leadership Unblocked, Muriel offers a practical framework for identifying the beliefs that no longer serve us and replacing them with more flexible, sustainable ways of leading—without losing ambition, standards, or control. Together, Jessi and Muriel unpack how leaders can expand their range, lead with greater ease, and grow their organizations by first growing themselves. In this conversation, you’ll learn: What “blocking beliefs” are and how they develop over the course of a career A three-step process for uncovering, unpacking, and unblocking limiting beliefs Why urgency and perfectionism often undermine leadership effectiveness How the belief “I need it done now” contributes to burnout and unclear priorities How the truth of our external environment can be reframed in the narrative we tell ourselves How to stop micromanaging without sacrificing accountability We are no longer hosting weekly Office Hours but are thrilled to launch the Hello Monday Book Club. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at [email protected] and let us know!