Meaningful Work Matters
Episodes
Why Purpose Beats Passion at Work: Lessons from Rodney Schmaltz
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Dr. Rodney Schmaltz, a psychology professor at MacEwan University, to explore what the evidence actually says abo...
Well-Being in a Successful IP Practice: Lessons from the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC)
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew moderates a live panel hosted by the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC), a professional association representing...
When Unfulfilled Meaning Becomes Radicalization: Lessons from Dr. Joel Vos (Part Two)
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This is part two of our conversation with Dr. Joel Vos. If you haven't listened to part one yet, we recommend starting there first.In this episode, An...
The Meaning-Oriented Economy: Lessons from Dr. Joel Vos (Part One)
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Joel Vos, researcher, philosopher, and psychotherapist, to explore where our ideas about meaningful work actually...
What the Masks Leave Behind: A Conversation with Llewellyn E. van Zyl and Andrew Soren
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren finds himself in the hot seat. Dr. Llewellyn E. van Zyl, positive psychology pracademic ...
Designing Work with Dignity and High Standards: Lessons from Kathy Miller
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Kathy Miller, a former senior operations executive whose career spans large-scale manufacturing, unionized enviro...
How Art and Aesthetics Shape Meaningful Work: Lessons from Steve Taylor
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Steve Taylor, professor of leadership and creativity at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Business School...
From Well-Being to Well-Doing: Lessons from Sue der Kinderen
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew is joined by Sue der Kinderen, organizational health psychologist and researcher. Rather than focusing only on how people feel...
Designing Environments for Our Best Selves: Lessons from Jenna Mikus
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Work does not happen in a vacuum. It happens in spaces that shape how we feel, think, connect, and grow.In this episode, Andrew sits down with Jenna M...
Human Happiness is Not a Business Case: Lessons from Bree Groff
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Bree Groff about why our days at work deserve protection on their own terms and how leaders ...
Restoring Humanity in Healthcare: Lessons from Laura Holford and Anu Gorukanti
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare workers enter their roles with deep values and a desire to help others, yet many find themselves in systems that constrain their ability to...
Reclaiming Meaning in a Measured World: Lessons from Kevin Aho
03 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, philosopher Kevin Aho joins Andrew Soren to explore how modern life has turned meaning into measurement. Together, they examine how n...
Cultivating Virtue at Work: Lessons from Marcel Meyer
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What can Aristotle teach us about meaningful work today?In this episode, Andrew Soren sits down with Marcel Meyer, professor at the School of Economic...
Growth Beyond the Ladder: Lessons from Beverly Kaye
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes people feel they truly matter at work? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Beverly Kaye, a trailblazer in career development, employee engage...
Work as Polis: Reclaiming the Communal Soul of Eudaimonia
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we’re celebrating a milestone: the 50th episode of Meaningful Work Matters!Over the past two years, we’ve spoken with more than 50 rese...
What Work Ought to Be: Lessons from Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes work worth doing? In this episode, Andrew sits down with Jennifer Tosti-Kharas and Christopher Wong Michaelson, co-authors of Is Your Work ...
The Risks and Rewards of AI for Well-Being: Lessons from Llewellyn van Zyl
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it really take to understand well-being?In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Llewellyn van Zyl, a positive organizational psychologist ...
Design as a Radical Act of Agency: Lessons from Lesley-Ann Noel
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, we speak with Lesley-Ann Noel, Dean of Design at OCAD University and author of Design Social Change. They ...
Dismantling The Myth of Work-Life Balance: Lessons from Morten Albæk
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren sits down with Danish philosopher and entrepreneur Morten Albæk, founder of Voluntās a...
Why Caregiving Might Be The Most Meaningful Work: Lessons from T.L. Boyd
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can caregiving, especially the kinds we rarely talk about, become a powerful form of leadership?In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Terrance...
Realizing our Eudaimonic Potential: Lessons from Dr. Alan Waterman
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to live, and work, a life worth living?In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Dr. Alan Waterman, Professor Emeritus of Psychology...
How Storytelling Shapes Identity and Growth: Lessons from Latika Nirula
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 W...
How to Make Work Psychologically Rich: Lessons from Shige Oishi
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if a good life (or a good job) isn’t just about pleasure or purpose—but about complexity, depth, and surprise?In this ep...
Fix the System, Not the People: Lessons from Jordan Friesen
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Purpose Beyond the Self: Lessons from Kendall Cotton Bronk
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Rethinking Meaningfulness Through a Cultural Lens: Lessons from Mohsen Joshanloo
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 S...
Ancient Wisdom in the Age of AI: Lessons from Sara Wolkenfeld
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sara Wolkenfeld, Chief Learning Officer at Sefaria, joins Andrew to explore how ancient Jewish wisdom can guide our relationship with...
Offering and Killing Meaning at Work: Lessons from Petra Kipfelsberger
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Petra Kipfelsberger, Associate Professor for Leadership and Organizational Behaviour...
The Five Dimensions of Job Crafting: Lessons from Rob Baker
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 crafti...
Balancing Generosity and Boundaries: Lessons from Reb Rebele (Part Two) [Part 2]
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Understanding Our Multitudes: Lessons from Reb Rebele [Part 1]
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if your personality isn't as fixed as you think?In this Meaningful Work Matters two-part episode, psychological scientist and organizational beha...
Indigenous Perspectives on Meaningful Work: Lessons from Adam Murry and Alvan Yuan
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 I...
Beyond Perfect Performance: Lessons from Sonya Looney
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew explores the complex relationship between perfectionism, meaningful work, and personal fulfillment ...
A Special Crossover Episode with Sonya Looney
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
When Needs Meet Meaning: Lessons from Anne Brafford [Part Two]
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In part two of her conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Anne Brafford explores Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and its profound implications f...
Beyond the Billable Hour: Lessons from Anne Brafford [Part One]
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this first installment of a two-part conversation, Andrew explores the complex intersection of identity, ethics, and meaningful work with Anne Braf...
Harmonizing Culture and Purpose: Lessons from Gitima Sharma
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Dr. Gitima Sharma to explore the intersection of purpose, well-being, and meaningful...
Tiny Moments Matter: Lessons from Zach Mercurio
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
The Myth of Agency: Lessons from Carrie Oelberger [Part 2]
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 discove...
Work Devotion and Identity Armor: Lessons from Carrie Oelberger [Part 1]
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In Part 1 of this two-part conversation on Meaningful Work Matters, Dr. Carrie Oelberger explores the complexities and potential dark sides of deeply ...
Redefining Purpose as Everyday Direction: Lessons from Patrick Hill
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Purpose as an Active Commitment: Lessons from William Damon
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren sits down with William Damon, a pioneering developmental psychologist and one of the world's ...
The Stress-Meaning Paradox: Lessons from Jess Annison
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren explores the complex relationship between stress and meaningful work with Jess Annison, ...
Unlearning Silence: Lessons from Elaine Lin Hering
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew Soren unpacks the concept of "unlearning silence" with Elaine Lin Hering, author of "Unlearnin...
Balancing Passion and Boundaries: Lessons from Frank Martella
19 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Meaningful Work Matters features Frank Martela, PhD Assistant Professor at Aalto University, and explores the nuanced landscape of mea...
Principled Insubordination: Lessons From Dr. Todd Kashdan
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how constructive dissent could transform your workplace?In this episode, we explore the concept of principled rebellion with Dr. Todd Kash...
Rethinking Performance Management for Workplace Flourishing: Lessons from Antoinette Weibel
22 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Meaningful Work Matters podcast, Andrew sits down with Antoinette Weibel, a professor of Human Resource Management at the Unive...
When Work Becomes a Moral Imperative: Lessons from Mijeong Kwon
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Professor Mijeong Kwon, Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Color...
Work, Well-Being, and Community in Māori Tradition: Lessons from Ella Henry
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this heartwarming and enlightening conversation, Professor Ella Henry shares her insights on meaningful work and well-being from a Māori worldview...
Designing Meaningful Experiences at Work: Lessons with Mat Duerden
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew Soren speaks with Mat Duerden, a professor of experience design and management at Brigham Young University in Utah.Mat reveals...
Why Character is Contagious: Lessons from Gerard Seijts & Kimberley Young Milani
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, host Andrew is joined by Gerard Seijts and Kimberley Young Milani from the Institute for Leadership at Wes...
Mapping Meaningful Work: Lessons from Marjo Lips-Wiersma
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of Meaningful Work Matters is a rich conversation with researcher Marjo Lips-Wiersma on navigating meaningful work. Marjo Lips-Wiersma, P...
Discovering Your Calling: Lessons from Jeffery Thompson
29 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew interviewed Jeff Thompson, Director of the Sorensen Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership and lon...
Building a "We Culture": Lessons from Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky, Mautner Endowed Chair in Community Well-Being and Professor of Educational and Psychologica...
Unlocking Gifts, Strengths, and Potential: Lessons from Dr. Evgenia Lysova
01 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sat down with Dr. Evgenia Lysova, Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Dr. Lysova is on...
The Many Paths to Meaningful Work: Lessons from Michael Pratt
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew sits down with Michael Pratt from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management. With over tw...
Work-Family Interface: Lessons from Joe Grzywacz
04 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Joe Grzywacz about the work-life interface and its profound impact on health and well-being. Joe is currently the ...
Humans First, Workers Second: Lessons from Sara Steffens
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Sara Steffens about the humanity of work, employee activism, and the ethical duty of worker well-being. Sara...
People Over Perfection: Lessons from Steve Leventhal
05 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Steve Leventhal about the role of meaningful work within a global, social-impact organization and how leaders shou...
Transcendent Values and Peak Experiences at Work: Lessons from Scott Barry Kaufman
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Scott Barry Kaufman about transcendence, humanism, and what Abraham Maslow would have thought about meaningful wor...
Leading Meaningful Work: Lessons from Wes Adams and Tamara Myles
08 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Andrew speaks with Tamara Myles and Wes Adams. Both Tamara and Wes are accomplished consultants, trainers and speakers who have exten...
Time, Meaning and Existential Labour: Lessons from Katie Bailey
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Dr. Katie Bailey, Professor of Work and Employment in the Department of Human Resource Management and Employmen...
The Virtuous Organization: Lessons from Kim Cameron
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Kim Cameron, a renowned expert in the field of positive organizational scholarsh...
Decency, Dignity, and Meaningful Work: Lessons from David Blustein
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features David Blustein, distinguished professor and Golden Eagle Faculty Fellow at Bosto...
The Meaning of Meaningful Work: Lessons from Michael Steger
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Michael Steger, a prominent expert in the field of meaning and purpose in life w...
Building a Good Job Strategy: Lessons from Zeynep Ton
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Zeynep Ton, a professor of the practice in the operations management group at MI...
Balancing Meaning and Boundaries: Lessons from Healthcare Professionals with Donna Gaffney
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast! This episode features Donna Gaffney, psychotherapist, advanced practice psychiatric mental health...
The Double-Edged Sword of Meaningful Work: Lessons from Andrew Soren
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the Meaningful Work Matters podcast, hosted by Andrew Soren. In this inaugural episode, Andrew sets the stage for a deep dive into the worl...