Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Latest Episodes:

The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Living for Approval and Start Living for You Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

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, recently focusing on vertical video strategy. Together, they reflect on how ambition is often shaped by external expectations and how true fulfillment comes when we start living for ourselves.

In this episode, Jessi, Ahyiana, and Hayley discuss:

The tension between extrinsic and intrinsic ambition
Our gendered notions of ambition, and how society’s definition of ambition is often limiting for women
What happens when you quit a dream job to pursue something more aligned with personal growth
The relationship between fear and ambition
Practical tips for reconnecting with your own ambitions and self-worth

If you've ever questioned what success and ambition truly mean for you, this episode is for you. Whether you're navigating career transitions or redefining what ambition looks like in your life, we hope this conversation will inspire you to live and work authentically.

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

Dr. Marcus Collins on Navigating Polarization with Conviction, Empathy, and Purpose Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

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 behavior.

He and Jessi break discuss:

How cultural shocks create opportunities for connection, even in a polarized world
The power of empathy in bridging gaps between people with different worldviews
Why brands need to take a stand and risk alienating some to build trust with others
The complex tension between capitalism and democracy, and what it means for brands and consumers
How technology speeds up our cultural shifts and pushes us to define our place in the world

This conversation is packed with insights on how to move people, not just to buy, but to act and engage, while staying true to the values that matter most. Whether you’re a leader, marketer, or consumer, this episode will make you rethink how you navigate today’s culture and how we all can make a difference in a divided world.

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

Reid Hoffman on making AI work for you Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

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 enhance your job search
Supercharging creativity with AI
How to use AI to make better decisions
Why we should approach AI with curiosity rather than fear

This episode was filmed live in-studio. Check out the full video version on LinkedIn Premium.

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

Want to learn more about using AI at work and in life? Check out Jessi’s conversation with Ethan Mollick on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How rest boosts creativity and productivity: a guided practice with Octavia Raheem Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

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 creativity and connection
Rethinking productivity through rest
How to build micro-rest practices into your days
The power of rest for self-reflection, personal growth, and clarity

Then, Octavia leads us in a transformative guided rest practice that combines mindfulness, relaxation, and breathing techniques.

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.

Why Are We Here? Building a Better Culture at Work with Jennifer Moss Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

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 Everyone Wantswas released earlier this January.

Jen and Jessi discuss:

The three qualities at the foundation of a better work culture: hope, purpose, and community
How to deal with burnout
How to increase cognitive hope by celebrating small wins
DEI initiatives and how to foster a sense of belonging at work
The future of remote work
Return-to-office mandates and employee flexibility and autonomy

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Challenging the Stories That Divide Us: Irvin Weathersby Jr. on Confronting Systemic Injustice and Prioritizing Empathy Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

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 explores the myths about America and its people that are woven throughout our art, our monuments, and our public spaces. And how we can go about unravelling them.

Together, Irvin and Jessi discuss:

Centering curiosity and understanding to combat white supremacy
Building empathy through storytelling
The consequences of DEI rollbacks
Communication across difference

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.

How to build trust with TED’s “Fixable” co-hosts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

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 Harvard Business School and a leading authority on organizational behavior, leadership, and trust. The two are authors of three books together, including Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader's Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You, and are co-hosts of the TED podcast Fixable.

Together, they discuss:

The “trust triangle,” comprised of the three qualities that are foundational to trust: empathy, authenticity, and logic.
Finding your “wobble,” the quality that wavers, and your “anchor,” the quality that always holds strong.
How to build trust as individuals, how to build trust in a team, and how to build trust in a workplace.
The most common reasons organizations fail when it comes to trust.
How to transform your leadership for lasting change.
How to amplify your ambition for faster results.

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.

How to Say No: Dr. Sunita Sah on Defying Social Pressure and Building Confidence Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

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 feedback—and how it impacts our ability to speak up, even when something feels wrong. Dr. Sah also discusses how to navigate authority, cultivate confidence, and practice defiance in a way that aligns with your values. Whether you're facing pressure at work, in relationships, or within your own mind, this episode offers actionable strategies for setting boundaries, asserting your "no," and making decisions that truly serve your goals. Tune in for insights on how to build confidence, manage authority dynamics, and defy expectations when it matters most.

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.

Manifest Your Dream Job: The 2025 Vision Exercise with Jessi Hempel Dec 30, 2024

Show notes

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 focusing on New Year's resolutions, which often feel dictated by external pressures, Jessi encourages you to tap into the power of your own imagination. This exercise is designed to help you break free from self-doubt and the negative biases that limit your growth, and instead, to visualize and manifest your dream future. Jessi’s personal story of using this exercise to transform her career path from burnout to fulfillment will inspire you to take action and start shaping your ideal future today.

Start your year with a clear vision of the future you want to create. Grab a pencil, clear your mind, and get ready to dive into this transformative exercise with Jessi.

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The power of pausing: Poppy Harlow’s journey from CNN anchor to career clarity Dec 23, 2024

Show notes

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 personal and professional transformation.

Join Jessi Hempel and Poppy as they explore the power of slowing down during times of uncertainty. In a world obsessed with hustle, Poppy’s journey reminds us that the most important decisions often come when we step back, breathe, and listen to our intuition. From embracing the "messy middle" of career transitions to the importance of empathy in leadership, this episode offers powerful insights for anyone navigating a career shift or seeking greater clarity and purpose.

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