Pride is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action, especially for queer families navigating today’s uncertain political landscape. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Darra Gordon, CEO of Family Equality, to talk about protecting LGBTQ+ families, raising resilient kids, and why visibility and community are more vital than ever. Darra is a longtime advocate and nonprofit leader who works every day to ensure all families, especially those with LGBTQ+ parents, have equal ri...
Jun 02, 2025•35 min
What does it take to make a bold career pivot after decades of doing the expected? This week, we’re resurfacing our conversation with the multi-talented Anna Kendrick, whose journey from acclaimed actor to first-time director offers invaluable insights for anyone thinking about making the leap into something new. Anna shares the story behind her directorial debut with Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, a true-crime drama. Far removed from the lighthearted films that Anna is known for, Woman of the Hou...
May 26, 2025•41 min
It’s easy to feel lost in your career, especially as the world around us keeps shifting. Whether you’re starting over, seeking purpose, or just unsure what your next move is, this episode is for you. This week, Jessi Hempel sits down with Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures and co-founder of Wanga Woman. Caroline is a dynamic leader and an unapologetic champion of authenticity. She joins Jessi to share her approach to building a career map – not just once, but continuously thro...
May 19, 2025•35 min
Debbie Millman and Roxane Gay know a thing or two about building creative lives. Debbie is a legendary designer, writer, and podcast host. Roxane is a bestselling author and cultural critic. Together, they’ve built a partnership rooted in discipline, love, and slow growth. On this week’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel welcomes the couple back to the studio to talk about their new book, and what it really takes to live a meaningful creative life. Their book, Love Letter to a Garden, is bot...
May 12, 2025•35 min
In this special Thursday bonus episode, we’re returning to Jessi Hempel’s conversation with Suzy Welch, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business, business advisor, and three-time NYT bestselling author. Suzy’s latest book, Becoming You, came out this week, in which she synthesizes her wildly popular NYU course of the same name. In conversation with Jessi, Suzy shares her insights on the importance of values, authenticity, and personal growth. She emphasizes the need to align our professional ...
May 08, 2025•37 min
How do you live well when life falls apart? Suleika Jaouad has a powerful answer. In this deeply moving episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Suleika Jaouad, bestselling author, speaker, and cancer survivor, to uncover what it truly means to live well in the face of uncertainty. From her fight with leukemia to her remarkable creative journey, Suleika has learned to turn adversity into art, and pain into purpose. Her latest work, The Book of Alchemy, is a soulful invitation to...
May 05, 2025•35 min
If you have found your way here right now, you are most likely at a turning point in your career, maybe in your life. Layoffs are a challenging and often unexpected part of our careers. In today's episode, Jessi Hempel dives deep into the emotional and practical aspects of navigating layoffs. Whether you're facing a layoff yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice. Tune in to gain valuable insights and support for navigating your career jo...
May 01, 2025•15 min
We’ve been taught to chase fancy job titles and large salaries, but what if we aimed for moral ambition instead? In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with historian and best-selling author Rutger Bregman to explore moral ambition: the idea that the core metric of a successful career should be the positive impact we have on the world. Rutger’s new book, Moral Ambition: How to Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference, calls on all of us to rethink what ...
Apr 28, 2025•35 min
Age bias is everywhere: online, at work, even in the stories we tell ourselves. Ashton Applewhite wants us to see age not as a limitation, but as a source of strength. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel sits down with the anti-ageism activist to unpack the hidden ways ageism shapes our workplaces, and how we can push back. Ashton is a leading voice in the age equity movement. She’s the author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism and founder of the Old School Hub, a resource center fille...
Apr 21, 2025•31 min
Have you ever been the only one at the table? Maybe the only woman, or the only person of color, or simply the only one with a different perspective in the room? It can feel isolating, but it doesn’t have to hold you back. In fact, it can actually be your superpower. In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Angela Chee to unpack how to embrace being an “only” and turn it into a powerful asset. Angela is media and communications coach and author of The Power of the Only...
Apr 14, 2025•34 min
We’re taught that hard work, overachievement, and never needing a break are the keys to success. But what if this mindset only leads to burnout, rather than to fulfillment? In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel and Amanda Miller Littlejohn explore the ways in which rest can be revolutionary. Amanda, an executive coach and author of The Rest Revolution, shares her personal journey from burnout to healing, and explains how we can all reclaim our health, our productivity, and our joy. To...
Apr 07, 2025•35 min
Morgan DeBaun didn't let statistical probabilities or conventional expectations hold her back from achieving massive success. As the founder of Blavity and Afrotech, she's redefining what's possible for Black entrepreneurs. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel sits down with Morgan to discuss the lessons she’s learned on her entrepreneurial journey, and how you too can achieve success on your own terms. Morgan’s new book, Rewrite Your Rules, provides a roadmap for anyone looking to succeed faster, w...
Mar 31, 2025•34 min
In today’s bonus episode of Hello Monday, we’re resurfacing our conversation with branding and marketing experts Steven Wolfe Pereira and Marisa Thalberg. Together with Jessi, they explore what makes a brand memorable and why some brands feel like home while others are simply functional. Drawing from their years of leadership in branding and marketing, Steven and Marisa break down the essential elements of brand-building, revealing why it's critical not only for businesses but also for personal ...
Mar 27, 2025•36 min
The Menopause Secret No One Talks About at Work—And Why It Needs to Change Breaking the Silence: Menopause in the Workplace with Natalie Nixon and Anne Marie Squeo Why Aren’t We Talking About Menopause? Reimagining Work Culture for All The Workplace Secret No One’s Talking About: Breaking the Silence on Menopause Why don’t we talk about menopause at work, when it’s something roughly half the population experiences? Most people with ovaries hit menopause somewhere between the ages of 45 and 55, o...
Mar 24, 2025•34 min
Melinda French Gates has spent her life navigating pivotal career moments and using her influence to empower others. In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Melinda to dive into how we can summon and own our power, both professionally and personally. From her early days as high school valedictorian to her role as one of the world’s most impactful philanthropists, Melinda shares what she’s learned about leadership, career pivots, and using your power to make a difference. ...
Mar 17, 2025•35 min•Ep. 312
You’ve climbed to the top of the corporate ladder. But now what? The job is great, but maybe you’re feeling bored, stuck, or ready for something more flexible. What if the next step isn’t another corporate role, but building something entirely your own? Today, we dive into why consulting might just be the career move you’ve been waiting for, and how it offers the ideal balance of flexibility, excitement, and financial success. Jessi is joined in the studio by Eloiza Domingo, CEO and Founder of F...
Mar 10, 2025•35 min•Ep. 311
Have you ever felt like you lack agency at work, like your boss doesn’t hear you, or like you need to shift your relationships with the people in charge? Managing up might be the key to creating positive, lasting change. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel talks with Melody Wilding to give you the roadmap to managing your manager. Melody Wilding is an LMSW, executive coach, and author of the new book Managing Up: How to Get What You Want from The People in Charge. Melody and Jessi discuss: Five con...
Mar 03, 2025•35 min•Ep. 310
How do you balance your calling – the thing you are passionate about, with your career – the thing that pays your bills? In honor of the Oscars this weekend, we’re resurfacing our conversation with actor, writer, director, and producer Jesse Eisenberg. Jesse’s new film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in, has received two Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay. The film has already received wide acclaim this awards season, with Jesse taking home an ...
Feb 27, 2025•34 min
Ambition. Is it a dirty word? Do you love the term, or hate it? In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with two incredible colleagues at LinkedIn, Ahyiana Angel and Hayley Saltzman, to explore how our understanding of ambition evolves, and what it means to chase personal growth rather than external validation. Ahyiana Angel is the Podcast Ad Ops Producer at LinkedIn and the host of her own podcast called Switch, Pivot, or Quit. Hayley Saltzman is an Editor at Large at LinkedIn, ...
Feb 24, 2025•32 min•Ep. 309
In a world where opinions are divided and polarization runs deep, how can we change people's minds and move them to action? In this episode from the archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with Dr. Marcus Collins to explore how individuals, companies, and brands can navigate our fragmented world with conviction, empathy, and purpose. Marcus is an award-winning marketer, cultural translator, and the author of For the Culture, a book that explores the intersection of culture, identity, and consumer behav...
Feb 17, 2025•34 min•Ep. 308
Curious, excited, or even concerned about AI’s impact on your career and the future of work? Whether you're eager to embrace AI or cautious about its effects, this episode with Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn co-founder and author of the new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right With Our AI Future, is packed with insights that will help you navigate the AI revolution, no matter your perspective. Jessi and Reid discuss: Practical strategies for using AI to boost career growth Leveraging AI to enh...
Feb 10, 2025•34 min•Ep. 307
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 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 creati...
Feb 03, 2025•26 min•Ep. 306
Quit rates are up, burnout is rampant, and your boss wants you in the office five days a week. But Jennifer Moss says work doesn’t have to be this way. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel and Jen unpack how we can create a better work culture. Jen is an award-winning journalist, speaker, and workplace culture strategist. She is the author of six books on work and work culture. Her previous book, The Burnout Epidemic, came out in 2022 and her latest title Why Are We Here?: Creating a Work Culture Ev...
Jan 27, 2025•33 min•Ep. 305
What stories do we tell ourselves about the past? How do they inform our present, and our future? Where did we learn them and what if they’re wrong? In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Irvin Weathersby Jr. to explore how we challenge existing systems, and the beliefs and ideas that prop them up. Irvin is a Brooklyn-based writer and professor, originally from New Orleans. His new book is In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space. In it, he e...
Jan 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 304
There’s a myth about trust: that once you lose it, it’s gone. In reality, most of us walk around losing and rebuilding trust every day. In today’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Anne Morriss and Frances Frei to get to the bottom of trust and uncover how we build, and rebuild it. Anne is the co-founder of The Leadership Consortium, a management consultancy that helps organizations unlock leadership potential and drive positive change. Frances is a beloved professor at Harvar...
Jan 13, 2025•37 min•Ep. 302
When was the last time you said “no”? In this episode of Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel, Dr. Sunita Sah, author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes, reveals the psychology behind decision-making, compliance, asserting your boundaries without guilt. Dr. Sah’s groundbreaking research on human behavior explores the psychological forces that lead us to follow bad advice and conform to social expectations. She introduces the concept of insinuation anxiety—the fear of giving negative ...
Jan 06, 2025•38 min•Ep. 302
As 2024 comes to a close, Jessi Hempel invites you to kick off the new year by crafting a vision for your future. In this special episode of Hello Monday, Jessi shares a powerful exercise–writing a “dream job description” for your life five years from now. Inspired by her own transformative experience, Jessi walks you through the process of envisioning your ideal job, the role that aligns with your values, passions, and dreams, without limiting yourself by what's “realistic.” Rather than focusin...
Dec 30, 2024•25 min•Ep. 301
Feeling stuck in your career? Wondering if you’re moving too fast to make the right decisions? In today’s episode of Hello Monday, award-winning journalist Poppy Harlow reveals why taking a pause might be the key to unlocking your next big career move. After 16 years at CNN, Poppy faced an unexpected crossroads when her morning show was canceled. Instead of rushing to the next opportunity, she is taking the time to reflect and listen to the stillness, a choice that is leading her to profound per...
Dec 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 300
In this special feed drop from The Anxious Achiever, Morra Aarons-Mele sits down with Yowei Shaw, former host of NPR's Invisibilia, to explore the personal and professional challenges that followed her unexpected layoff. In this candid conversation, Yowei opens up about how losing her job caused a profound shift in her identity and sense of self—and how she found the courage to rebuild. Yowei shares the emotional and psychological journey she went through after the layoff, including how she navi...
Dec 19, 2024•39 min
What does it take for an idea to reach a tipping point today, and how has that changed over 20 years? In this episode of Hello Monday, best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell joins Jessi Hempel to explore how the power of influence has evolved in the digital age. In his new book, Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering, Malcolm reflects on the transformation of how ideas spread, from when his debutThe Tipping Point was first published in 2000 to...
Dec 16, 2024•37 min•Ep. 299
