Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Latest Episodes:

Ageism Exposed: Ashton Applewhite’s Guide to Age Equity at Work Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

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.

The Power of Being "The Only": Angela Chee on Owning Your Voice Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

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.

The Rest Revolution: Amanda Miller Littlejohn on Fighting Burnout and Reclaiming Joy Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

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.

Feeling Stuck? Try these 3 Steps to Success from Blavity's CEO Morgan DeBaun Mar 31, 2025

Show notes

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.

Building a Memorable Brand: Insights from Steven Wolfe Pereira & Marisa Thalberg Mar 27, 2025

Show notes

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 Workplace Secret No One’s Talking About: Breaking the Silence on Menopause Mar 24, 2025

Show notes

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 on Owning Your Power and Leading with Purpose Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

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.

From Corporate to Consultant: Eloiza Domingo’s Bold Career Pivot Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

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.

Managing Up 101: How to Get More from Your Boss with Melody Wilding Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Have you ever felt like you lack agency at work, like your boss doesn’t hear you, or like you need to shift your relationships with the people in charge? Managing up might be the key to creating positive, lasting change. In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel talks with Melody Wilding to give you the roadmap to managing your manager. Melody Wilding is an LMSW, executive coach, and author of the new book Managing Up: How to Get What You Want from The People in Charge.

Melody and Jessi discuss:

Five conversations you can have with your boss to improve your working relationship
How managing up is a skill that anyone can learn
Aligning yourself with your manager to ensure you are working on the right work
Understanding both your boss’s and your own work style and preferences
How to give your boss the right feedback in the right way
How and when to set boundaries at work

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

Jesse Eisenberg on Balancing Creative Calling and Career Success Feb 27, 2025

Show notes

How do you balance your calling – the thing you are passionate about, with your career – the thing that pays your bills? In honor of the Oscars this weekend, we’re resurfacing our conversation with actor, writer, director, and producer Jesse Eisenberg. Jesse’s new film, A Real Pain, which he wrote, directed, produced, and co-starred in, has received two Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay. The film has already received wide acclaim this awards season, with Jesse taking home an Independent Spirit Award and a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

In this candid conversation, Jesse Eisenberg sits down with Jessi Hempel to discuss the delicate balance between his calling, writing, and his career, which also encompasses acting, directing, and producing. From personal experiences to valuable lessons on handling criticism, Jesse offers practical insights that will resonate with anyone striving to stay true to their creative vision.

Jesse and Jessi discuss: