Meaningful Work Matters

What does it take to grow into a new professional identity—especially when the role doesn’t yet feel like your own? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Dr. Latika Nirula , Director of the Centre for Faculty Development at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Latika supports healthcare professionals as they step into the role of educator (often f...

What if a good life (or a good job) isn’t just about pleasure or purpose—but about complexity, depth, and surprise? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by  Shige Oishi , Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, to explore his research on psychological richness. Shige challenges the longstanding view that happiness and meaning are the primary ingredients of wel...

Has work ever felt like dodging a storm of flying bricks? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Jordan Friesen , occupational therapist and President of Mindset Mental Health Strategy . Jordan draws on both lived experience and years of consulting with organizations across Canada to challenge a common assumption: that workplace mental health is something employees should...

What is purpose, and how do we discover, develop, and sustain it—especially in a world full of distraction and complexity? In this episode, Andrew is joined by Kendall Cotton Bronk , Professor of Psychology at Claremont Graduate University and a leading expert in positive youth development. For over two decades, Kendall has studied how purpose emerges across life stages, why it’s essential for wel...

What does it mean to live well—and does that definition change depending on where you’re from? In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren is joined by Dr. Mohsen Joshanloo , a cross-cultural psychologist and social scientist based in South Korea. Mohsen’s research challenges dominant Western models of well-being and explores how culture shapes our experiences of happiness, autonomy,...

In this episode, Sara Wolkenfeld , Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, joins Andrew to explore how ancient Jewish wisdom can guide our relationship with emerging technologies like AI. Drawing from traditional texts and her experience making Jewish wisdom accessible through digital tools, Sara offers insights on maintaining our humanity while embracing technological progress. Key Takeaways: Jewish t...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Petra Kipfelsberger , Associate Professor for Leadership and Organizational Behaviour at BI Norwegian Business School. Andrew and Petra explore how leaders can inspire meaningful work through authentic communication and visionary leadership while avoiding behaviors that diminish employees' sense of purpose. Key Takeaways: Leaders of...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Rob Baker, founder of Tailored Thinking and a leading voice on job crafting. They explore how individuals can shape their work to better align with their strengths and values, making small but meaningful changes that measurably boost performance, well-being, and job satisfaction. Key Takeaways: Job crafting involves perso...

Collaboration and generosity are essential for meaningful work, but what happens when they become too much of a good thing? Could saying yes too often be holding you back? In part two of our conversation with Reb Rebele , we explore the hidden costs of collaboration and generosity in the workplace. Building on last week's discussion about personality dynamics, Reb shares why organizations face ‘co...

What if your personality isn't as fixed as you think? In this Meaningful Work Matters two-part episode, psychological scientist and organizational behavior expert Reb Rebele joins Andrew to explore how understanding personality dynamics can help us navigate meaningful work more effectively. Drawing from research at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Melbourne, Reb challenges comm...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Dr. Adam Murry and Alvan Yuan from the University of Calgary to explore Indigenous perspectives on meaningful work within settler institutions, particularly in post-secondary settings across Western Canada. Key Takeaways: Indigenous employees derive meaning from work through three core elements: A sense of belonging and c...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew explores the complex relationship between perfectionism, meaningful work, and personal fulfillment with Sonya Looney , a world champion mountain biker, podcast host, and positive psychology researcher. Through her personal journey from achievement-focused athlete to purpose-driven leader, Sonya shares insights from her research on how perfectionis...

This is a special crossover episode where we're sharing a recent conversation between Andrew Soren and Sonya Looney from her podcast, The Sonya Looney Show. In this episode, Andrew takes the guest seat as Sonya interviews him about the complex relationship between meaningful work and well-being, exploring why work that feels deeply important can sometimes lead to exploitation or burnout. Key topic...

In part two of her conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Anne Brafford explores Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and its profound implications for creating meaningful work environments. [ Click here to listen to Part One , where Anne discusses identity and meaning in the legal profession] As both a former Big Law equity partner and organizational psychologist, Brafford offers unique insights...

In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Andrew explores the complex intersection of identity, ethics, and meaningful work with Anne Brafford , a former Big Law partner turned well-being consultant and researcher. Drawing from her two-decade career as an employment lawyer and subsequent academic work, Brafford shares her insights about how personal values, professional identity, and m...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Dr. Gitima Sharma to explore the intersection of purpose, well-being, and meaningful work through both Eastern and Western perspectives. From her early years in India grappling with family mental health challenges to her current role as leading purpose researcher and coach, Sharma shares how Buddhist philosophy and academic research...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Zach Mercurio to explore the fundamental human need to matter. As both a researcher and practitioner in organizational psychology, Mercurio shares profound insights into how the experience of mattering shapes workplace behavior, engagement, and well-being. Through compelling stories and research-backed observations, he explains how...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Carrie Oelberger on Meaningful Work Matters, we explore the "myth of agency" in mission-driven work and discover how rethinking our approach to helping professions can lead to more sustainable and effective outcomes for both workers and those they serve. Dr. Oelberger shares her research about frontline workers in caring professions, introducing a revolutiona...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Carrie Oelberger explores the complexities and potential dark sides of deeply meaningful work, particularly in mission-driven organizations. She introduces groundbreaking research on how different individuals experience meaning at work and challenges common assumptions about value alignment in nonprofit and social impact secto...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, we discuss the concept of purpose with Dr. Patrick Hill , a professor at Washington University in St. Louis whose research focuses on understanding how dispositional traits predict and shape trajectories of healthy aging. Dr. Hill challenges conventional notions of purpose, advocating for a more accessible and actionable approach that focuses on everyday...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren sits down with William Damon , a pioneering developmental psychologist and one of the world's most senior purpose scholars. Damon shares insights from his decades of research on purpose, positive youth development, and the "triple helix" of good work. Key Topics Explored: The "triple helix" of good work: excellence, engagement, and ethics De...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren explores the complex relationship between stress and meaningful work with Jess Annison , positive psychology practitioner and author of the upcoming book "Career: How to Conquer Your Mid-Career Crisis and Create Your Most Meaningful Work Life." Jess shares her research findings and practical insights on navigating the interplay between...

In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren unpacks the concept of "unlearning silence" with Elaine Lin Hering , author of "Unlearning Silence: How to Speak Your Mind, Unleash Talent, and Live More Fully." Elaine shares her insights on creating more authentic and inclusive work environments by addressing the complex dynamics of silence in the workplace. Key topics discussed: The...

This episode of Meaningful Work Matters features Frank Martela, PhD Assistant Professor at Aalto University, and explores the nuanced landscape of meaningful work. While the pursuit of meaningful work is often celebrated, Frank sheds light on both its benefits and potential pitfalls. Drawing from his extensive research, he offers a comprehensive view of what constitutes meaningful work. He introdu...

Ever wonder how constructive dissent could transform your workplace? In this episode, we explore the concept of principled rebellion with Dr. Todd Kashdan , a renowned psychologist and professor at George Mason University. With over two decades of research in positive psychology and well-being, Dr. Kashdan offers valuable insights into fostering meaningful dissent in the workplace. Listeners will...