In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, we speak with Lesley-Ann Noel , Dean of Design at OCAD University and author of Design Social Change . They explore how design can be a radical, joyful act of agency that shapes the world we want to live in. From understanding your own positionality to deeply listening to others, Lesley-Ann shares how embracing both joy and anger can fuel social transformation. She also introduces the “abolitionist mindset,” a way of identifying when systems are too ha...
Aug 11, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Danish philosopher and entrepreneur Morten Albæk, founder of Voluntās and author of One Life: How We Forgot to Live Meaningful Lives . With a career spanning from senior executive roles in banking and wind energy to launching the first firm to measure meaningfulness, Morten brings a rare mix of philosophical depth and business acumen to the question of what it means to live, and work, meaningfully. Together, they explor...
Jul 28, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 50
How can caregiving, especially the kinds we rarely talk about, become a powerful form of leadership? In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Terrance L. (T. L.) Boyd, Ph.D. , Assistant Professor of Management and Leadership at Texas Christian University. T.L. brings both personal insight and academic rigor to a conversation about non-traditional caregiving. His research explores how responsibilities outside of work, often overlooked or undervalued, can shape the way people lead, connect, and g...
Jul 15, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 49
What does it mean to live, and work, a life worth living? In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Dr. Alan Waterman , Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The College of New Jersey and one of the earliest psychologists to empirically distinguish eudaimonia from hedonia. Al shares how a life grounded in self-realization, rather than external rewards or fleeting happiness, can guide our career choices, work orientations, and even our understanding of motivation. Drawing on decades of research and...
Jun 30, 2025•43 min•Season 1Ep. 48
What does it take to grow into a new professional identity—especially when the role doesn’t yet feel like your own? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Dr. Latika Nirula , Director of the Centre for Faculty Development at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Latika supports healthcare professionals as they step into the role of educator (often for the first time) and helps them navigate the inner conflict that can arise when their identity doe...
Jun 17, 2025•41 min•Season 1Ep. 47
What if a good life (or a good job) isn’t just about pleasure or purpose—but about complexity, depth, and surprise? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Shige Oishi , Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, to explore his research on psychological richness. Shige challenges the longstanding view that happiness and meaning are the primary ingredients of well-being, and makes the case for a third dimension that’s often overlooked. Together, they unpack what...
Jun 02, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Has work ever felt like dodging a storm of flying bricks? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Jordan Friesen , occupational therapist and President of Mindset Mental Health Strategy . Jordan draws on both lived experience and years of consulting with organizations across Canada to challenge a common assumption: that workplace mental health is something employees should manage alone. Together, they explore why many well-being efforts fall short, what it means to take a...
May 19, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 45
What is purpose, and how do we discover, develop, and sustain it—especially in a world full of distraction and complexity? In this episode, Andrew is joined by Kendall Cotton Bronk , Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University and a leading expert in positive youth development. For over two decades, Kendall has studied how purpose emerges across life stages, why it’s essential for well-being, and how character and virtue help ensure our purpose serves the greater good. Together, the...
May 06, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 44
What does it mean to live well—and does that definition change depending on where you’re from? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren is joined by Dr. Mohsen Joshanloo , a cross-cultural psychologist and social scientist based in South Korea. Mohsen’s research challenges dominant Western models of well-being and explores how culture shapes our experiences of happiness, autonomy, and purpose. Grounded in both theory and global data, Mohsen shares how our understanding of "meanin...
Apr 22, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 43
In this episode, Sara Wolkenfeld , Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, joins Andrew to explore how ancient Jewish wisdom can guide our relationship with emerging technologies like AI. Drawing from traditional texts and her experience making Jewish wisdom accessible through digital tools, Sara offers insights on maintaining our humanity while embracing technological progress. Key Takeaways: Jewish tradition distinguishes between assigned labor (Avodah, עֲבוֹדָה) and creative labor (Melechah, מְלָא...
Apr 07, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 42
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Petra Kipfelsberger , Associate Professor for Leadership and Organizational Behaviour at BI Norwegian Business School. Andrew and Petra explore how leaders can inspire meaningful work through authentic communication and visionary leadership while avoiding behaviors that diminish employees' sense of purpose. Key Takeaways: Leaders offer opportunities for meaning rather than creating it directly - employees must discover their own s...
Mar 24, 2025•56 min•Season 1Ep. 41
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Rob Baker, founder of Tailored Thinking and a leading voice on job crafting. They explore how individuals can shape their work to better align with their strengths and values, making small but meaningful changes that measurably boost performance, well-being, and job satisfaction. Key Takeaways: Job crafting involves personalizing your work in five key areas: tasks, skills, purpose, relationships, and well-being - creati...
Mar 10, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Collaboration and generosity are essential for meaningful work, but what happens when they become too much of a good thing? Could saying yes too often be holding you back? In part two of our conversation with Reb Rebele , we explore the hidden costs of collaboration and generosity in the workplace. Building on last week's discussion about personality dynamics, Reb shares why organizations face ‘collaborative overload’, how helpful employees often burn out first, and what individuals and teams ca...
Feb 24, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 39
What if your personality isn't as fixed as you think? In this Meaningful Work Matters two-part episode, psychological scientist and organizational behavior expert Reb Rebele joins Andrew to explore how understanding personality dynamics can help us navigate meaningful work more effectively. Drawing from research at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Melbourne, Reb challenges common assumptions about authenticity and explains how different aspects of personality can be intention...
Feb 17, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 38
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Dr. Adam Murry and Alvan Yuan from the University of Calgary to explore Indigenous perspectives on meaningful work within settler institutions, particularly in post-secondary settings across Western Canada. Key Takeaways: Indigenous employees derive meaning from work through three core elements: A sense of belonging and contribution to a generational community Holistic connectedness with both community and land Cultural...
Feb 03, 2025•40 min•Season 1Ep. 37
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew explores the complex relationship between perfectionism, meaningful work, and personal fulfillment with Sonya Looney , a world champion mountain biker, podcast host, and positive psychology researcher. Through her personal journey from achievement-focused athlete to purpose-driven leader, Sonya shares insights from her research on how perfectionists can find deeper satisfaction by focusing on social impact rather than just personal accomplishmen...
Jan 20, 2025•42 min•Season 1Ep. 36
This is a special crossover episode where we're sharing a recent conversation between Andrew Soren and Sonya Looney from her podcast, The Sonya Looney Show. In this episode, Andrew takes the guest seat as Sonya interviews him about the complex relationship between meaningful work and well-being, exploring why work that feels deeply important can sometimes lead to exploitation or burnout. Key topics discussed: Understanding eudaimonia and its relationship to meaningful work The "dark side" of mea...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 35
In part two of her conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Anne Brafford explores Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and its profound implications for creating meaningful work environments. [ Click here to listen to Part One , where Anne discusses identity and meaning in the legal profession] As both a former Big Law equity partner and organizational psychologist, Brafford offers unique insights into how understanding and supporting basic psychological needs can transform workplace cultures. T...
Dec 23, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Andrew explores the complex intersection of identity, ethics, and meaningful work with Anne Brafford , a former Big Law partner turned well-being consultant and researcher. Drawing from her two-decade career as an employment lawyer and subsequent academic work, Brafford shares her insights about how personal values, professional identity, and moral courage shape our experience of meaningful work. Brafford illuminates how lawyers find meaning ...
Dec 16, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Dr. Gitima Sharma to explore the intersection of purpose, well-being, and meaningful work through both Eastern and Western perspectives. From her early years in India grappling with family mental health challenges to her current role as leading purpose researcher and coach, Sharma shares how Buddhist philosophy and academic research have shaped her understanding of purpose as something that rises above the pursuit of happiness tow...
Dec 02, 2024•50 min•Season 1Ep. 32
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Zach Mercurio to explore the fundamental human need to matter. As both a researcher and practitioner in organizational psychology, Mercurio shares profound insights into how the experience of mattering shapes workplace behavior, engagement, and well-being. Through compelling stories and research-backed observations, he explains how mattering isn't just about feeling valued, but about the essential human instinct to be significant ...
Nov 18, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Carrie Oelberger on Meaningful Work Matters, we explore the "myth of agency" in mission-driven work and discover how rethinking our approach to helping professions can lead to more sustainable and effective outcomes for both workers and those they serve. Dr. Oelberger shares her research about frontline workers in caring professions, introducing a revolutionary approach called "human accompaniment" that challenges traditional assumptions about meaningful wo...
Nov 04, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 30
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Carrie Oelberger explores the complexities and potential dark sides of deeply meaningful work, particularly in mission-driven organizations. She introduces groundbreaking research on how different individuals experience meaning at work and challenges common assumptions about value alignment in nonprofit and social impact sectors. Dr. Oelberger's insights reveal how meaningful work can both enhance and complicate our lives, e...
Oct 28, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 29
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, we discuss the concept of purpose with Dr. Patrick Hill , a professor at Washington University in St. Louis whose research focuses on understanding how dispositional traits predict and shape trajectories of healthy aging. Dr. Hill challenges conventional notions of purpose, advocating for a more accessible and actionable approach that focuses on everyday direction rather than grand, overwhelming goals. Key Takeaways: Purpose should be viewed as adaptab...
Oct 15, 2024•51 min•Season 1Ep. 28
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren sits down with William Damon , a pioneering developmental psychologist and one of the world's most senior purpose scholars. Damon shares insights from his decades of research on purpose, positive youth development, and the "triple helix" of good work. Key Topics Explored: The "triple helix" of good work: excellence, engagement, and ethics Defining purpose as an active commitment with personal meaning and societal impact How purpose evolves...
Sep 30, 2024•57 min•Season 1Ep. 27
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren explores the complex relationship between stress and meaningful work with Jess Annison , positive psychology practitioner and author of the upcoming book "Career: How to Conquer Your Mid-Career Crisis and Create Your Most Meaningful Work Life." Jess shares her research findings and practical insights on navigating the interplay between stress and purpose in our professional lives, challenging common assumptions about meaningful work. ...
Sep 16, 2024•42 min•Season 1Ep. 26
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren unpacks the concept of "unlearning silence" with Elaine Lin Hering , author of "Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully." Elaine shares her insights on creating more authentic and inclusive work environments by addressing the complex dynamics of silence in the workplace. Key topics discussed: The concept of "unlearning silence" and its importance in workplace communication (2:57) Cultural and so...
Sep 03, 2024•49 min•Season 1Ep. 25
This episode of Meaningful Work Matters features Frank Martela, PhD Assistant Professor at Aalto University, and explores the nuanced landscape of meaningful work. While the pursuit of meaningful work is often celebrated, Frank sheds light on both its benefits and potential pitfalls. Drawing from his extensive research, he offers a comprehensive view of what constitutes meaningful work. He introduces a innovative model of well-being that bridges individual needs with broader societal and environ...
Aug 19, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Ever wonder how constructive dissent could transform your workplace? In this episode, we explore the concept of principled rebellion with Dr. Todd Kashdan , a renowned psychologist and professor at George Mason University. With over two decades of research in positive psychology and well-being, Dr. Kashdan offers valuable insights into fostering meaningful dissent in the workplace. Listeners will discover strategies for navigating organizational dynamics, championing new ideas, and creating envi...
Aug 05, 2024•54 min•Season 1Ep. 23
In this episode of the Meaningful Work Matters podcast, Andrew sits down with Antoinette Weibel , a professor of Human Resource Management at the University of St. Gallen. Antoinette is a leading expert in organizational psychology and has been at the forefront of research and initiatives aimed at fostering good leadership in organizations and societies. In this wide-ranging conversation, Antoinette and Andrew dive into the complexities of meaningful work, the critiques of positive psychology in...
Jul 22, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 22
