Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Latest Episodes:

Bonus Episode: Sharing #SunshineSongs with Laura Benanti Apr 16, 2020

Show notes

On today's bonus episode of Hello Monday, Jessi visits with Broadway and TV star Laura Benanti. This spring, as schools everywhere closed, school musicals got cut off. Lots of teens who’d been practicing for their big moment onstage suddenly lost the chance to perform. Benanti knew how hard they'd worked, and remembered how much her own school shows had meant to her. So she offered to become an audience of one via a Twitter video. She invited students to share videos of themselves singing. She expected a handful of people would take her up on it. Then word spread.

Showing Up with Glennon Doyle Apr 13, 2020

Show notes

On March 9, Jessi attended the launch for Glennon Doyle’s new book, Untamed. It was a magical night, full of promise and potential. It was also the last time in 2020 that Jessi would gather in a room of people. Two days later, Glennon canceled the tour. Now, she chats with Jessi about what that decision meant for her career and for her community, and kicks off our look at where art goes, when the current pandemic means it can't go out as planned.

Coming Together with filmmaker Lulu Wang Apr 09, 2020

Show notes

As writer and director of last year’s standout film The Farewell, Lulu Wang was set to have a banner year. Her film cleaned up at the awards, winning accolades at The Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards among others. Jessi was set to interview her for the show at SXSW in March. Then there was no SXSW. Now Lulu has thrown herself into collecting personal protection equipment for first responders. She talks with Jessi about what changes about her work—and what doesn’t—during quarantine.

Weathering the Storm with LeVar Burton Apr 06, 2020

Show notes

Like most people we know, actor LeVar Burton is quarantined at home right now. The former Reading Rainbow host is trying to make sense of it all. And for him, a huge part of that journey is figuring out how he can show up for others. He's determined to keep sharing his storytelling gifts and his wisdom with the world, even when he can't leave his house. In this episode, he and Jessi talk about what that's like, and they wrestle with being present in the moment during a time of crisis.

Bonus Episode: Talking About Feelings with Nancy Lublin Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

It's been a rough week. So Jessi got on a call with Nancy Lublin, the CEO of Crisis Text Line. Nancy shared how coronavirus is changing what people need to talk about - and who's reaching out. She also gave insights into how people are being helped through this very difficult time - and how they're helping one another - via text.

Need to reach a trained counselor? Text 741741.

Interested in becoming a trained Crisis Text Line volunteer? Click here.

#MeToo and the Workplace: Ally Coll and The Purple Campaign Mar 30, 2020

Show notes

Attorney and activist Ally Coll left her post at prominent law firm Boies Schiller after learning of the firm's partnership with Black Cube in its defense of now-convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein. She founded the Purple Campaign - an organization devoted to making workplaces more inclusive and harassment-free. Two years in, she'll share what's working and what's still to be done. We also check in with listener Jeff Berman, who's part of a coalition with World Central Kitchen, working at scale to feed front line medical workers in Los Angeles in their fight against COVID-19.

Bonus Episode: Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon Mar 27, 2020

Show notes

Actor, musician, and philanthropist Kevin Bacon talks to Jessi about leveraging the power of our interconnectedness to encourage each other to stay home during this critical time, using his SixDegrees.Org's new initiative, #IStayHomeFor.

Designing Your Work Life with Burnett and Evans Mar 23, 2020

Show notes

This week on Hello Monday, Jessi sits down with Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, Stanford professors and the authors of Designing Your Work Life. This lively conversation investigates the power each of us has to make small/work life changes with big impact - even when we can't necessarily change our circumstances. We also hear from listener Min Yang, who shares her story of living through the lengthy SARS lockdown in China 17 years ago.

Staying Connected in a Time of Coronavirus Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

This is a strange new reality. We're being encouraged to keep our physical distance from one another, as it's the only way we can help "flatten the curve." It's clear that we're all in this together, but as we're keeping our distance, how do we feel connected? A big part of the answer lies in sharing our stories. This week, we're checking in with four listeners around the world - including our friend Kate Burson, in Milan, Italy - to see how they're doing and how the response to COVID-19 is affecting their work and their lives.

goop's Elise Loehnen on Asking Bigger Questions and Knowing Your Value Mar 09, 2020

Show notes

Elise Loehnen, goop’s Chief Content Officer, is OK with you disagreeing with her. She's honed this veritable superpower through a career built on challenging the status quo - something that generates discussions both on- and off-line. Elise doesn't find likability to be a valuable metric in her determination of her own self worth - and she doesn't think you should, either. Join Jessi and Elise for a lively conversation on the value of asking bigger questions and cultivating a deeper sense of self.