The Rest Revolution: Amanda Miller Littlejohn on Fighting Burnout and Reclaiming Joy

We’ve been taught to chase fancy job titles and large salaries, but what if we aimed for moral ambition instead? In this week’s episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with historian and best-selling author Rutger Bregman to explore moral ambition: the idea that the core metric of a successful career should be the positive impact we have on the world. Rutger’s new book, Moral Ambition: How to Stop Wasting Your Talent and Start Making a Difference, calls on all of us to rethink what we’re really working for. If you’ve ever felt like there should be more to your job than climbing the ladder, this conversation is for you. Jessi and Rutger dive into: What moral ambition is—and why we need more of it Why “follow your passion” is the wrong advice How to shift from success-driven to service-driven work Why young professionals are funneled into finance and consulting The real-world heroes solving the world’s biggest problems How to build coalitions and collaborate for impact This episode is a call to action for anyone who wants to do good—and do it well. Join the conversation at Hello Monday Office Hours! We’ll be live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM EST. Bring your questions and your curiosity; we’d love to hear what moral ambition looks like for you.

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. 

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.

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.

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.