People spend most of their waking hours working. It's no wonder that we want to enjoy our work, but that can be complicated. The world is full of dangerous or difficult jobs with low pay. How does meaningful work fit ethically in such a world?

In this episode, we'll learn from Dr. Andrea Veltman, an expert in the philosophy of work. Together, we'll confront questions that are guaranteed to make you think differently about your job (and everyone else's too).

Dr. Andrea Veltman is a professor of philosophy at James Madison University, where she teaches courses in ethics and political philosophy. She specializes, among other things, in the philosophy of work and wrote the book Meaningful Work, one of my favorite reads of the past year.

Meaningful Work- examines the importance of work in human well-being, addressing several related philosophical questions about work and arguing on the whole that meaningful work is central in human flourishing. Work impacts flourishing not only in developing and exercising human capabilities but also in instilling and reflecting virtues such as honor, pride, dignity,

“Universal Basic Income and the Good of Work” in The Future of Work, Technology and a Basic Income, edited by Michael Cholbi and Michael Weber (Routledge, 2020), pp. 131-150.

 “What Makes Work Meaningful?” in The Philosophers’ Magazine 81:2 (2018): 78 – 83.  

"Is Meaningful Work Available to All People?" in Philosophy and Social Criticism, Volume 41: Number 7 (2015).

Autonomy, Oppression and Gender (New York: Oxford University Press, 2014).

How to Help podcast episode Finding your calling Jeff Thompson Do you feel like you have a calling in life? Is there something when you wake up each day that you feel you are meant to do? If you don’t feel like you do, this episode will help you find what you’re missing. 

If you want help developing the ethical skills of your organization and its people, learn how Merit Leadership can help at http://meritleadership.com.

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Sometimes it's hard to be the hero. According to research, this is one of the most common dilemmas that people face. Bill O'Rourke will guide us through what intervention looks like and how to stand up to those we work with and know. Notice the skills Bill uses, things like gathering the facts, seeking perspective from others, acting confidently, and setting the tone as a leader.

Bill O’Rourke spent the majority of his career at Alcoa, Inc. a global aluminum manufacturing company. After Bill retired from Alcoa he continued to serve on the Board of the Alcoa Foundation and teach values at Alcoa’s Executive Leadership Program. He joined Alcoa as a Patent Attorney in 1975 and held a number of leadership positions including Corporate Patent Counsel, Vice President of Global Business Services (Financial Services, HR Services, Aircraft Operations, etc.), Chief Information Officer, Vice President of Procurement, Corporate Auditor, and Assistant General Counsel. From 2005 to 2008 Bill was the President of Alcoa-Russia. Bill was the Vice President, Environment, Health & Safety, and Sustainability three times under three CEOs at Alcoa.

Bill lectures on Business Ethics, Corporate Compliance, and Safety at a number of companies and hospitals around the World, at Rotary Clubs, and at many universities including the University of Pittsburgh, Michigan, Nebraska, Arizona State, Florida, Illinois, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard Medical School, Northwestern, Chatham, San Jose, Viterbo, Benedictine, Marquette, Notre Dame, Gonzaga, Virginia Tech, the University of Dayton and Duquesne University.

Bill is a co-author of The Business Ethics Field Guide.

The Business Ethics Field Guide

Power of Ethics Ethics: Creating an ethical organization in a hostile environment- Russia- Bill O'Rourke's experiences

YouTube Seek True North: Stories on Leadership and Ethics-Bill O'Rourke

WSJ Story of the Alcoa Plant Manager

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You have a superpower, the ability to imagine completely different circumstances than what reality provides. Take a moment to look around; just about everything you see came from the fruits of someone's creativity. You have the same power, even if you don't think you do.

In this episode, you'll learn how to expand and explore your creativity and our guide will be Andrew Maxfield—composer, entrepreneur, and idea factory. He's the most deliberately creative person I know and an excellent teacher.

Andrew studied music at Brigham Young University, where he was valedictorian and where he occasionally teaches. He has pursued advanced studies in counterpoint and harmony at the EAMA–Nadia Boulanger Institute in Paris, France, graduate composition studies at Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and doctoral studies at the University of Bristol (UK). His primary teachers include Philip Lasser (Juilliard), John Pickard, Jonathan Bailey Holland, and Marti Epstein, and he has also studied with Aaron Jay Kernis and Steven Sametz through the ACDA Choral Composers Forum. He also holds an MBA in Arts Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Andrew lives with his wife Liz Davis Maxfield—a professional cellist, expert in Irish traditional music, and rock climber—and their two handsome, high-octane boys (plus a hyper puppy) just downhill from Sundance in Provo, Utah.

Below are some of Andrew's recent commissions, accomplishments, and those playing his music.

The compositions of ANDREW MAXFIELD—hailed as “rhythmically vital … superbly judged … [and] tender” by Fanfare Magazine—have been performed throughout the U.S. and Europe. A recent winner of the King’s Singer’s New Music Prize (Jury Special Commendation), Andrew has been a Composer Fellow of the National Collegiate Choral Organization and Composer-in-Residence for Newburyport Choral Society. Recent commissions include choral works for the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, Hillsdale College, and Salem Hills High School; an orchestral adaptation of the Caldecott honor book, They All Saw A Cat, for the Center for Latter-day Saint Arts in New York City; and a concert-length score for SALT Contemporary Dance, showcased at Lincoln Center. His album, Celebrating Wendell Berry in Music, was released by Tantara Records and his “well-crafted, approachable” works (Dr. George Case, The Boston Cecilia) are published by Walton, Santa Barbara, and Yalecrest. Ensembles which have performed Andrew’s music recently include USC Thornton Chamber Singers, Emporia Symphony Orchestra, Carroll University Symphonic Band and Choir, Wingate University Singers, Utah Philharmonic, The Piedmont Singers, University of Pennsylvania Chamber Choir, and Choral Arts Initiative.

Andrew's website

The Door Virtually performed by Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. "The Door" is the final piece in trUSt: A Collaboration with Andrew Maxfield. April 19, 2021

The Singing Bowl Virtually performed by Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. “The Singing Bowl” is the third piece in trUSt: A Collaboration with Andrew Maxfield. April 16, 2021

The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

Old Masters and Young Geniuses by David Galenson

Wendell Berry He was born August 5, 1934, in Henry County, Kentucky where he now lives on a farm. The New York Times has called Berry the "prophet of rural America." 

Danny Myer Always be collecting dots.

Stephen Covey Sharpen the saw.

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"People who were not lacking in capability, but lacking an opportunity"

Artisans in the developing world have incredible, valuable skills, but limited access to global markets. From jewelry to baskets, and pottery to blankets, Melissa Sevy creates opportunities for artisans to flourish, providing jobs, fair pay work, and dignity. But it hasn't been easy. Along the way she faced difficulty, hardship, and brick walls. Yet, her resilient nature overcomes and helped her to be there to strengthen others.

Melissa Sevy specializes in helping artisans in the developing world gain access to global markets. She is the founder and Executive Director of Mabira Collective (formerly Musana), a nonprofit working with jewelry artisans in Uganda.

She also is the Co-founder of Fair Kind a for-profit social venture. Fair Kind is a social enterprise that sources handmade products from artisan groups around the world for corporate clients. 

Her newest company is Ethik Collective, platform that enables companies to source ethical handmade goods and materials from artisans around the world.

Melissa Sevy is on Twiter.

Fair Kind supports local artisans and creates a positive impact. You can buy their beautiful products directly.

Mabira Collective creates a sustainable solution based in love and breaking the cycle of dependency by helping women develop as jewelry artisans and entrepreneurs.

Ethik offers ethical sourcing of all things handmade

Grit shares that achievement is found through focused persistence called grit.

Resilience Research Center has collaborated with local, national, and international institutions for more than 15 years to carry out innovative research that explores pathways to resilience across cultures. 

Our Business Ethics classroom in a Box focuses on developing future leaders by developing ethical skills and tools in an easy-to-use course. Providing lesson plans, exercises, and assessments that help people succeed where good intentions fall short.

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What does a career look like when its very purpose is to embody character, service, and sacrifice? It looks exactly like the career of military chaplains. Chaplains play a critical role that touch every aspect of military service, from battlefield counseling to advising the highest levels of command. Being a good chaplain means being an influence for good, building relationships of trust, and continually focusing on others. These are abilities that all of us could use ourselves. Chaplain George Youstra will be our instructor.

Chaplain George Youstra (Col. ret.) led a distinguished 38-year military career. He most recently served as Command Chaplain for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM).  Prior to that, he served as the Joint Staff Chaplain and command chaplain to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also advised the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, one of the eight four-star generals he served. Chaplain Youstra, a former Green Beret, is also an ordained minister for the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World, BY: William McRaven

Sea Stories: My Life in Special Operations, By: William McRaven

It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, By: Colin Powell

Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, By: Eric Metaxas

The Servant as Leader, By: Robert Greenleaf

Special Forces Ethics Field Guide: KSL interviews authors Brad Agle and Aaron Miller about their experience consulting the US Special Forces. 

Retirement Ceremony for Chaplin George Youstra

At Merit Leadership, we teach ethics as a skill. With innovative training and consulting programs, we can help your organization turn Peril into Opportunity. To learn more, visit http://MeritLeadership.com.

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"The real trade secret was that there was no secret."

Elizebeth Holmes—Founder of Theranos—raised billions of dollars in startup capital. The entire company failed to produce a functioning technology, putting customer's lives in danger and defrauding investors.

Tyler Schultz recounts his harrowing experience as a young graduate working in one of the Theranos labs. Insisting on doing the right thing, he blew the whistle on one of the biggest corporate frauds of all time. Along the way, he teaches us key lessons about having an ethical career and living an ethical life.

Tyler Shultz is the CEO of Flux Biosciences, a biotech firm. He graduated from Stanford with a Biology degree and entered the national scene when he blew the whistle at Theranos. Tyler complained to the public health regulators in New York and was a source for a series of Wall Street Journal articles exposing Theranos’ dubious blood-testing practices. Owing to his role in exposing the fraud.

Thicker than Water is Tyler's Audible Original where he tells his story, first-hand. There's no better way to get his unique perspective on all that happened.

Bad Blood, this book features Tyler Schultz and the Theranos scandal. Penned by John Carreyrou, the original author of the Wall Street Journal articles,

“The Inventor” Alex Gibney’s HBO documentary

Flux Biosciences, Inc., Shultz is the CEO and Co-Founder of a bay-area start-up that aims to bring medical grade diagnostics into the homes of consumers.

Forbes name Tyler as “30 under 30” Health Care 2017 list.

CNN highlights tech ethics venture Ethics in Entrepreneurship

Wallstreet journal "Theranos Whistleblower Shook the Company - and His Family."

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If we look, we can see missing hope in all kinds of places. Some parents lack hope because their child struggles with chronic illness, some families don't even know if they can buy groceries next week, and some don't even have a home. Throughout his career, David Williams has become an expert in giving people hope, and he'll share what he's learned so that all of us can be better at building hope in others and ourselves.

David Williams has served as the Executive Director of the Houston Food Bank, COO of Habitat for Humanity, CEO of the national Make-A-Wish Foundation, and CEO of GenesisWorks. He currently works as CEO for Shelters to Shutters, a national organization addressing homelessness through the real estate industry.

A minute with David Williams: David Williams discusses what it takes to deliver inspiration to families with children faced with illness.

What Melts Your Butter is David Williams TEDx Talk about Hope.

GenesysWorks: GenesysWorks provides pathways to career success for high school students in underserved communities through skills training, meaningful work experiences, and impactful relationships. Our program consists of 8 weeks of technical and professional skills training, a paid year-long corporate internship, college and career coaching, and alumni support to and through college. 

Batkid Make-A-Wish: It all began with a new superhero who rallied the entire world as he confronted evildoers in San Francisco. Today Batkid is a symbol of everything that is right and good with the world.

Houston Food Bank: Founded in 1982, the Houston Food Bank is a certified member of Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network, with a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. We distribute fresh produce, meat and nonperishables and prepare nutritious hot meals for kids in our state-of-the-art Keegan Kitchen.

National Make-A-Wish: An Interview With Make-A-Wish President &CEO David Williams.

Shelters to Shutters: We seek to change the trajectory of those experiencing homelessness in our country by providing two critical components- housing and employment.

Charles Snyder developed a psychological framework for hope, using ideas like pathways-thinking and agency-thinking.

Learn more about Merit Leadership and its offerings at:

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What makes some people more generous than others? And when it comes to altruism, how do we get more of it? In this episode, we learn about how altruism works in the brain, and the clues are surprisingly found in how psychopaths experience fear. Neuroscientist and professor Abigail Marsh will tell us what she's learned about altruism and the human brain.

Abigail Marsh is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Georgetown University. She received her BA in Psychology from Dartmouth College in 1999 and her PhD in Social Psychology at Harvard University in 2004. Before Georgetown, she conducted post-doctoral work at the NIMH from 2004-2008. Her areas of expertise include social and affective neuroscience, particularly understanding emotional processes like empathy and how they relate to altruism, aggression, and psychopathy. 

Her book: The Fear Factor: How One Emotion Connects Psychopaths, Altruists, and Everyone In-Between

Published by Dr. Marsh in 2017 "What is responsible for the extremes of generosity and cruelty humans are capable of? By putting psychopathic children and extreme altruists in an fMRI, acclaimed psychologist Abigail Marsh found that the answer lies in how our brain responds to others' fear. While the brain's amygdala makes most of us hardwired for good, its variations can explain heroic and psychopathic behavior."

TED Talk: Abigail Marsh asks an essential question in her TED talk: If humans are evil, Why do we sometimes go to extraordinary lengths to help others even at a cost to ourselves?

Google Scholar: Has over 8500 citations from Abigail Marsh.

Twitter: Follow Dr. Marsh @aa_Marsh

Matthieu Ricard: Points out that empathy on its own can lead to fatigue and burnout.

Michael Krauss: Research shows that increased wealth can actually reduce empathy and altruism.

David DeSteno: People who've experienced significant trauma or natural disasters themselves benefit from self-efficacy, which gives them the confidence to know what to do in a situation they are familiar with.

Business Ethics Field Guide: The ability to clarify individual and organizational values and to find a way forward when these values conflict. This book will help you develop those skills and apply them in your organization to become a better leader.

Classroom In Box: Do you teach ethics? Whether it's in a university, school, company, or agency you know how difficult it can be. Merit Leadership has compiled decades of award-winning experience teaching ethics and created lesson plans, videos, exercises, and assignments all in an online resource that's easy to use.

Join the Pleasant Pictures Music Club to get unlimited access to high-quality, royalty-free music for all of your projects. Use the discount code HOWTOHELP15 for 15% off your first year.

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Do you feel like you have a calling in life? Is there something when you wake up each day that you feel you are meant to do? If you don't feel like you do, this episode will help you find what you're missing. We'll learn from Prof. Jeff Thompson, a professor of management and expert in calling.

Jeff Thompson is a professor at the BYU Marriott School of business and the George Romney Institute of Public Service and Ethics. Jeff Thompson is someone who thrives in the study of finding your calling, and he loves to ask questions like what makes a job a calling? And how do we find our calling?

Dr. Thompson's book The Zookeeper's Secret: Finding Your Calling is a great read.

Jeff Thompson also has a Google Scholar full of resources that will create a more meaningful work experience.

Dr. Hull company Neuroworx came from tragedy and is inspiring people every day.

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Season 1 of How to Help launches on May 10th! Be sure to subscribe to get episodes automatically.

Here's the list of topics and guests coming this season:

• Finding Your Calling - Prof. Jeff Thompson (world expert on calling and author of The Zookeeper's Secret)
• Neuroscience of Altruism - Prof. Abigail Marsh (neuroscientist, TED Speaker, and author of The Fear Factor)
• Hope - David Williams (CEO, GenesysWorks; former CEO national Make-A-Wish Foundation)
• Blowing the Whistle - Tyler Shultz (Theranos whistleblower and CEO, Flux Biosciences)
• Character, Service, and Sacrifice - Col. George Youstra, ret. (former Joint Staff Chaplain and former Command Chaplain, US Special Operations Command)
• Resilience - Melissa Sevy (social entrepreneur and CEO, Ethik)
• Creativity - Andrew Maxfield (composer and entrepreneur)
• Intervention - Bill O'Rourke (former executive, Alcoa; co-author of The Business Ethics Field Guide)
• Meaningful Work - Prof. Andrea Veltman (philosopher and author of Meaningful Work)
• Impact Investing - Geoff Woolley (pioneering impact investor and partner, Patamar)
• History of Innovation - Dr. Anton Howes (historian in residence, The RSA; author of Arts and Minds)
• Humility - Prof. Brad Owens (world expert on leadership humility)