We spend so much of our lives chasing goals: big ones, small ones, some we barely remember choosing. But what if the goals we’re working toward aren’t really ours? This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with neuroscientist and author Anne-Laure Le Cunff to talk about how we really achieve the lives we want to live.

Anne-Laure is the founder of Ness Labs, a popular online school focused on mindful productivity for knowledge workers. Her new book, Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World, offers an alternative to rigid goal-setting: a flexible, curiosity-driven approach to figuring out what matters most—through trial, reflection, and self-compassion.

In today’s episode, Jessi and Anne-Laure discuss:

• Why we put too much pressure on “capital P” Purpose

• How to design tiny experiments to better understand yourself

• The role of curiosity in redefining ambition

• The “Head, Heart, Hand” framework for navigating uncertainty • How to make peace with evolving priorities

• The dangers of hustle culture, and how to opt out

This conversation is a gentle invitation to slow down, reflect, and explore new ways of working that are more aligned with who you are rather than who you think you’re supposed to be.

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours—live on the LinkedIn News page, every Wednesday at 3 PM ET.

Most of us spend the majority of our lives at work — but how often do we pause to ask whether our days are actually fun?

In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Bree Groff, a senior advisor at SYPartners and author of Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously), to talk about how fun, mischief, and human connection can radically improve our work lives.

Bree’s work centers around workplace transformation and employee experience. She’s advised companies like Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, and Calvin Klein on how to build work cultures where people thrive. And her approach is surprisingly joyful.

Jessi and Bree unpack:

Why fun belongs at the center of great workplace culture

How professionalism can strip us of our humanity — and how to get it back

The emotional toll of over-identifying with our jobs

How “Do Nothing Days” unlock creativity and innovation

The radical power of micro-mischief and music in the workplace

Friendship at work and why it matters more than we think

This episode is for anyone feeling worn down by workplace norms or wondering if work has to feel so serious. Bree offers fresh, practical strategies to build a work life that’s more joyful, more connected, and yes, more productive.

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us this Wednesday at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News page.

You shouldn’t have to choose between showing up for your job and showing up for your family and loved ones. Caregiving is a growing part of modern work life — and it’s largely invisible. In today’s episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel talks with Jennifer Levin, author of Generation Care, about what it means to care for others while juggling a career, and how we can better support caregivers at work and beyond.

Jennifer began caregiving for her chronically ill father in her early thirties, long before her peers were navigating similar responsibilities. Struck by how few people were talking about it, she created Caregiver Collective, a Facebook group for Millennial and Gen X caregivers. Her new book, gives voice to a generation of caretakers, and confronts the increasingly urgent crisis of caretaking in the U.S.

Jessi and Jennifer discuss:

• The emotional toll of caregiving and why so many of us feel alone in it

• Why caregiving should be treated as real, valuable work

• How to support colleagues who are quietly balancing care responsibilities

• Why policy change must recognize caregiving as core to the future of work

• How managers and leaders can create cultures that acknowledge and support caregiving

• The power of talking about caregiving — with friends, with employers, and in public

This episode is for anyone who’s ever whispered, I’m sandwiching today. Whether you're deep in it now or likely to take on a caregiving role in the future, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and community.

Continue the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours. Join Jessi and Senior Producer Sarah Storm this Wednesday at 3PM ET on the LinkedIn News page to talk about caregiving, trade-offs, and what support really looks like in today’s workplace.

More professionals than ever are rethinking what’s next. For many mid-career and senior-level workers, consulting is the best path forward. But how do you actually make the leap?

In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Erin Halper, founder and CEO of The Upside, a vibrant community for consultants. Erin shares what she’s learned from years of working independent consulting and coaching others through the same transition. From pricing and positioning to finding your first clients and building support systems, Erin and Jessi walk through what it really takes to thrive as a consultant.

They also tackle the big questions:

How do you know if consulting is right for you?

What’s the best way to price your work?

How do you talk about what you do in 10 words or less?

What role does community play in solo success?

How do you shift between full-time work and consulting as your career evolves?

Whether you're just starting out or thinking about a pivot, this episode offers practical advice, clarity, and confidence for building your independent career—especially in an uncertain job market.

🔗 Join us for Office Hours. We’re continuing the conversation on Wednesday at 3PM ET on the LinkedIn News page. RSVP here!

Millions of professionals are balancing side hustles alongside their full-time jobs. But what does it take to turn that extra project into something bigger? In this episode from the Hello Monday archives, Jessi Hempel sits down with Side Hustle Pro creator and host Nicaila Matthews Okome to explore how side work can lead to a meaningful, lasting career.

Nicaila didn’t always see herself as an entrepreneur. She built her résumé with big-name employers, earned her MBA, and followed a traditional career path. But she kept testing new ideas on the side — and eventually turned her podcast into a full-time business. Now, she helps others navigate the same transition.

If you’ve ever dreamed about turning your passion project into something more, this conversation is for you.

Jessi and Nicaila discuss:

Why side hustles can be a smart career safety net

How to know when a side project is ready to grow

The difference between hobbies and businesses

Building a brand while holding a day job

How to manage your time for real progress without burnout

What stability looks like when you’re your own boss

Nicaila also shares her journey from NPR and Google to building Side Hustle Pro, a thriving platform for Black women entrepreneurs.

Keep the conversation going at Hello Monday Office Hours. Join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM ET.

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.