Episodes
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You’re showing up, doing the work, checking the boxes, but something feels…off. You’re not falling apart, but you’re not really okay either. And you’re certainly not alone. This week on Hello Monday, Dr. Judith Joseph joins Jessi Hempel to name and unpack this experience: high functioning depression.
Dr. Judith is a board-certified psychiatrist, researcher, and educator at Columbia and NYU. Her new book, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy, offers a roadmap for understanding and addressing a kind of mental health struggle that often goes unnoticed—and untreated.
Together, Dr. Judith and Jessi explore:
• What high functioning depression looks like—and how to recognize it in yourself and others
• The five Vs method for healing: Validation, Values, Venting, Vitals, and Vision
• The power of naming hard feelings like anhedonia
• Why we must treat mental health as proactively as physical health
• How small steps can help us reclaim joy
This episode is a starting point for anyone who feels stuck in the motions but wants more from their life. -
Twelve years ago, Shannon Watts was folding laundry when breaking news stopped her in her tracks: a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. The next morning, she woke up with a fire inside her, and turned her grief and rage into action.
That action became Moms Demand Action, now part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country. In today’s episode, Shannon joins Jessi Hempel to reflect on the grassroots journey that began in her kitchen and grew into a national movement.
Shannon’s new book, Fired Up, is a call to action for women everywhere who are ready to turn their spark into action, but aren’t sure where to start.
Jessi and Shannon discuss:
Shannon’s journey from corporate PR to grassroots activism
The power of starting before you feel ready
Why burnout can be a turning point
How women, especially mothers, are the hidden engine of societal change
Lessons from more than a decade of advocacy and organizing
Join the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours. Catch us Wednesday at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News Page. See you there. -
More dads are becoming lead parents. What does that mean for work? When we talk about parenting, the spotlight usually falls on mothers. In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, we’re shifting that focus, and talking about what it means to be a lead dad.
Our guest is Paul Sullivan, journalist, author, and founder of The Company of Dads, a media platform and community for fathers who are primary caregivers. Paul shares his personal journey, from columnist at The New York Times to lead parent and now advocate for redefining fatherhood at work and at home.
Paul and Jessi unpack: • What it means to be a lead dad and why more men are taking on caregiving roles • How gender roles and workplace expectations often clash • Why support systems for dads are essential, and still hard to find • The origin story of The Company of Dads • How to teach people how to treat you when you don’t fit traditional molds • What employers can do to better support working parents, regardless of gender
This conversation is thoughtful, timely, and packed with insight for anyone navigating work and family life. Whether you’re a dad, a partner, a manager, or someone rethinking how caregiving shows up at work, this episode is for you.
Join us for Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM ET to continue the conversation. -
The belief that a four-year degree is the only path to a good job is baked into our culture. But what if that narrative is outdated?
In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Kathleen deLaski, social entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Education Design Lab. Kathleen’s new book, Who Needs College Anymore?, challenges the assumption that a bachelor’s degree is the default route to economic mobility. Together, Jessi and Kathleen discuss how we can better support shorter, more flexible learning paths to success for the majority of Americans who don’t pursue or finish a four-year degree.
Jessi and Kathleen talk about:
Why the four-year college degree is no longer the only path to a “good job”
What happens to the 62% of Americans who don’t complete a four-year degree
The growing role of community colleges, bootcamps, and skills-based programs
How government and employers are starting to rethink credentialing and career readiness
The mindset shift parents and students need to make in 2025 and beyond
Whatever your age, this episode is a roadmap for how to navigate the changing landscape of education and work.
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours — Wednesdays at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News page. -
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 rights and protections. She’s also a working mom, navigating the same daily chaos as many of us: career, childcare, dinner plans, and existential anxiety about the future.
Jessi and Darra discuss: • How LGBTQ+ families can stay safe and visible in uncertain times • How to raise kids who are proud of their identity and inclusive of others • The joy and strength of queer families, and the role of community in liberation • Why allyship is more than a rainbow flag during June • How everyone, queer or not, can support family equality year-round
Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, love someone who is, or just want to build a more inclusive world — this episode is for you.
Join us for Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM ET. It’s a welcoming space to keep the conversation going. -
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 Hour chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of a 1970s aspiring actor and a serial killer whose lives collide when they're cast on a dating game show.
Together, Jessi and Anna discuss:
The courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone
How to follow your intuition when making creative decisions
Dealing with imposter syndrome
Learning to lead
What good feedback truly looks like
This episode offers not just a behind-the-scenes look at Anna's latest project but also inspiration for anyone seeking to reinvent their own career. Watch Woman of the Hour on Netflix now, and tune in to hear how Anna Kendrick is embracing the next chapter of her career.
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! RSVP here to join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 throughout your life.
Before leading Essence, Caroline spent 15 years at Target, rising from intern to C-suite executive. Today, she’s focused on democratizing authenticity through her personal purpose, her leadership, and her new memoir, I’m Highly Percent Sure.
Jessi and Caroline dig deep into:
Why your “next right move” may not look like anyone else’s
Why playing with your career map, not perfecting it, leads to clarity
How, and when, Caroline has created her own career maps
The role of authenticity in leadership and life
What it really takes to live and work with personal purpose
Tools and mindsets for building a meaningful career in today’s world
Don’t miss Caroline’s practical wisdom on shaping a professional life that evolves with you.
This episode was filmed live in-studio. LinkedIn Premium subscribers can watch the full video version here.
Want to keep the conversation going? Join us at Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 both literal and metaphorical. It’s about vegetables, sure. But it’s also about how we learn, how we fail, and how we grow. Debbie shares stories of her journey from struggling gardener to seasoned grower, an arc that mirrors her creative life. Roxane contributes recipes she’s crafted using the produce Debbie grows.
Jessi, Debbie, and Roxane dig into the kind of growth that takes time, and the work required to nurture it.
They discuss:
• The invisible years behind every “overnight” success
• How to keep going when you fail again and again
• Why your hope must be slightly bigger than your shame
• What it means to save your best energy for what matters most
• The difference between meaningful work and making work your meaning
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 lives with our deepest values and aptitudes to achieve true satisfaction and happiness.
Suzy and Jessi discuss:
The importance of living an authentic life
How values shape our career decisions
The role of authenticity in finding career satisfaction
Navigating the tension between personal and professional values
This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to find fulfillment and live authentically at work and beyond. -
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 embrace creative practices that help build resilience, joy, and connection, even in our darkest moments. Jessi and Suleika dive into topics that challenge conventional ideas of success and encourage listeners to live more intentionally.
They discuss:
Why curiosity and play can be powerful daily rituals
How a 100-day journaling challenge sparked a creative breakthrough
What it means to redefine productivity through values like kindness and bravery
The healing power of deep friendships and chosen family
How creativity helps us process adversity and transform it
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 journey during challenging times. -
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 we’re really working for. If you’ve ever felt like there should be more to your job than climbing the ladder, this conversation is for you.
Jessi and Rutger dive into:
What moral ambition is—and why we need more of it
Why “follow your passion” is the wrong advice
How to shift from success-driven to service-driven work
Why young professionals are funneled into finance and consulting
The real-world heroes solving the world’s biggest problems
How to build coalitions and collaborate for impact
This episode is a call to action for anyone who wants to do good—and do it well.
Join the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours! We’ll be live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM EST. Bring your questions and your curiosity; we’d love to hear what moral ambition looks like for you. -
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 filled with free tools to combat age bias. In this conversation, she shares practical strategies for navigating ageism at work, whether you’re feeling “too old,” “too young,” or just underestimated.
Jessi and Ashton discuss:
• Why age has less to do with competence than we think
• How internalized ageism holds us back, and how to recognize it
• What managers can do to build age-diverse teams
• How to tell your story in a way that challenges bias
• Tips for job seekers facing age-based assumptions
• The power of language in shaping workplace perceptions
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM ET. -
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. She speaks from her many years of experience as a TV news anchor, where she was often the only Asian American and the only woman in the room.
Angela and Jessi discuss:
• How to identify external and internal barriers, and how to break through the internal ones
• The importance of personal development in owning your voice
• Why some environments aren’t worth your time, and when to walk away
• How to thrive when you’re the only one at the table
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join Jessi and Senior Producer Sarah Storm live on the LinkedIn News Page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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. Together, Jessi and Amanda dive into practical strategies for finding rest in our busy lives, even when it feels like there’s no time for it.
They discuss:
The toll of burnout on our mental and physical health
How the pandemic helped Amanda confront her own dangerous work habits
The importance of redefining success beyond productivity
Simple ways to build rest into your daily rhythm
Why true rest is essential to creating and sustaining new ideas
How to reset your relationship with work and reclaim your health
This episode is an essential listen for anyone ready to reimagine how to work, live, and rest.
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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, with more freedom. She shares her story of building Blavity and Afrotech, how she raised venture capital, and why she believes we all have the potential to achieve the outcomes we want.
Morgan and Jessi discuss:
Why failure is an essential part of success and how to start practicing it
The importance of embracing periods of stagnation to make room for growth
Re-evaluating your goals, checking in on your personal growth, and making pivots
How to overcome fear and self-doubt to create something meaningful at scale
The moment Morgan almost sold Blavity
How DEI professionals can adapt to the current landscape
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, every Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 career growth.
Steven and Marisa discuss:
The importance of defining a brand’s purpose and promise for lasting impact
Actionable strategies for crafting a standout brand, whether personal or professional
The “four P’s” of branding—Product, Pricing, Place, and Promotion—and how each contributes to a powerful brand identity
How a strong brand can shape your business and career journey
Whether you're an entrepreneur or an individual navigating the job market, this episode offers valuable insights on using branding to make a lasting impression. -
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, often at the height of their careers. But for years, they’re left to push through this period silently. Peers and mentors don’t discuss it. Businesses do little to recognize it, let alone accommodate it.
No one is served by this silence. So on today’s episode of Hello Monday, we’re talking about menopause. Jessi Hempel sits down with Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist and president of Figure 8 Thinking, and Anne Marie Squeo, CEO and Founder of Proof Point Communications.
Together, they discuss:
Natalie’s experience of going through menopause early and unprepared, following a myomectomy.
Anne Marie’s experience of juggling menopause, a global pandemic, and her C-suite position at Xerox.
The unexpected advantages at the intersection of menopause and career
Managing the symptoms of menopause at work, from irritability, to hot flashes, to sleeping less than five hours a week.
How we can reimagine a work culture that destigmatizes menopause and better supports the people experiencing it.
Want to keep talking about menopause with us? Join us for Office Hours, Wednesday at 3pm on the LinkedIn News Page
Learn more about menopause through the following resources:
Mayo Clinic: Menopause
The Menopause Society
Let’s Talk Menopause -
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.
Melinda and Jessi discuss:
The role of trusted advisors to guide you throughout your career
The difference between a mentor and a sponsor, and why having a sponsor is crucial to your success
How to ask questions and admit when you don’t have all the answers
Strategies for tackling gender inequity in the workplace
Re-entering the workforce after parental leave
Making intentional career pivots and surviving despite fear of a career transition
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. -
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 FourTen, a consulting firm focused on inclusive strategies for brands. Most recently, she served as the Chief Diversity Officer at Allstate, but when the company eliminated her position, she decided to make the leap to consulting after a successful career in high-level corporate positions. Just eight months in, she’s already crushing it. Eloiza shares her journey and offers key insights for anyone considering making the leap into consulting.
Eloiza and Jessi discuss:
Why consulting isn’t a last resort, but the future of flexible, high-impact careers
How to define your own voice and expertise after leaving a corporate role
How you don’t need to be a salesperson or entrepreneur to succeed
How to build a team that supports you and helps your consulting business thrive
The key to finding fulfillment and financial independence
If you're thinking about consulting, or already pursuing it, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiration to help you take your career to the next level.
Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST. - Show more
