Sustainable Ambition
Episodes
180. Why Creating Space Is So Hard (Even When You Know You Need It)
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us are pretty bad at creating space for ourselves. Yet we need space for rest, for metabolizing and connecting experiences and ideas, for maki...
179. Navigating Transitions and Inflection Points with Philip VanDusen (Ambition In-Between Series)
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We’re not always in control when or how inflection points happen, but we can learn to navigate transitions with more awareness and intention.Today I...
178. Rebecca Hinds: The Power of Intentional Work Design
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This month, I’m exploring sustainability through the lens of leadership and how we can focus our effort to make work better for ourselves and those ...
177. Margaret Andrews: Becoming the Leader Only You Can Be
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Leadership is hard right now.Maybe one of your intentions for this year is to grow as a leader. Maybe you’re questioning if you even want to be one....
176. The U-curve of Ambition: Finding Your Sustainable Zone
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Intentionally choosing where to put our time, energy, and attention is an essential part of Sustainable Ambition. Today, I’m introducing a concept a...
175. How to Move Forward: Lessons from Creativity (Ambition In-Between Series)
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Much as we often find ourselves asking “what now” at the culmination of an ambition, the start of a new year is also a time when many of us wonder...
174. How to Deal With Mixed Emotions (Ambition In-Between Series)
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I continue my Ambition In Between series by exploring something many of us experience but don’t always name: the mixed emotions that surface after c...
173. Laura Holson on Inviting Creativity Back Into Your Life
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to live a creative life? How can creative pursuits support us in being ambitious and living sustainably?Fostering creativity, innova...
172. Ambition In-Between: How to Deal With Unexpected Outcomes
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since the June release of my first book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work, a number of people have aske...
171. Natalie Nixon on Rethinking Productivity and Redesigning Work
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the future of work isn’t about technology but about being more human?That’s the question at the heart of my conversation with Dr. Natalie ...
170. Susan Barber: Be Visible, Be Valued
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hard work isn’t a bad thing, even when we’re seeking sustainability. The trick is to put hard work into what actually matters to make progress and...
169. Wes Adams and Tamara Myles: Creating Meaningful Work in Every Job, Every Day
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If we want work to work better for us, we need meaningful work. But that doesn’t mean we have to choose between what’s good for individuals and wh...
168: Dana Miranda: The Intertwined Realities of Work, Money, and Wellness
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our work and our finances are inextricably linked. Our financial wellness impacts how we view our work and shapes the choices and trade-offs we make, ...
167. Mark C. Crowley on Why the Way We Manage People Is Unsustainable
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A “popular” metric people like to look at is employee engagement. But I’ve always thought this data isn’t that useful and have wondered if thi...
166. Zach Mercurio: The Power of Mattering at Work and in Life
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing that our work matters is a fundamental human need. But so many organizations and leaders struggle to help people feel that their work is worth...
165: Bree Groff on Making Work Fun
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we ask ourselves, what is the role of work in our lives, there are often two camps: Work is just work or find your passion in your work. But mos...
164. Kathy Oneto and Neha Mandhani on Endurance, Exploration, and Evolving Goals
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’m flipping the mic again and being interviewed by my friend and past guest, Neha Mandhani, about the journey of writing and publishing my book, Su...
Right Ambition, Right Time, Right Effort: Three Conversations that Shaped the Sustainable Ambition Method
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I share conversations that informed the Sustainable Ambition method and appear in my book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize Wh...
162. Dawn Graham Interviews Kathy Oneto (Part 2): Inside the Journey to “Sustainable Ambition”
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As of this recording, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work has been out in the world for two weeks and I’...
161. Reclaim Personal Success and Ambition as Your Own
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Before we can step into Sustainable Ambition, we first have to challenge what we’ve been taught to believe about success and ambition.Today I’m sh...
160. Dawn Graham Interviews Kathy Oneto: Inside the Journey to “Sustainable Ambition” (Part 1)
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Sustainable Ambition, I’m doing something different. I’m stepping out of the host seat and into the hot seat!To celebra...
159. Ashish Chatterjee on Defining Success on Your Own Terms
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we encounter a conflict or constraint that prompts us to question our current path, how do we determine our new way forward?After a long career w...
158. Erica Meade: Expanding the Definition of Work for a More Sustainable Life
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it look like to live your ambition sustainably, with joy, intention, and wholeness?In this episode, I’m joined by Erica Meade, a former te...
157. Moe Carrick: Designing Workplaces Where People Thrive
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this deeply resonant conversation, I sit down with Moe Carrick — author, consultant, and advocate for more human-centered workplaces — to explo...
156. Laura Vanderkam: How To Take Control of Your Time and Prioritize What Matters Most
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How we think about and plan our time matters, especially if we want to focus on the ambitions and goals in life and work that truly matter to us.My gu...
155. Dina Denham Smith on The Essential Role of Emotional Awareness in Leadership
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As leaders, we have to ask ourselves, how can we create more sustainability for ourselves and our teams?Among the challenges modern leaders face are t...
154. A Look Back: Reflections and Insights From The Last 50 Episodes
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As the Sustainable Ambition podcast reaches its 150th episode, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey and the invaluable insights shared ...
153. Cheri Magid on Feeding Sustainable Ambition in Her Creative Work
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can we pursue our ambitions without sacrificing our lives or ourselves in the process?It’s easy to get overextended while following our passions...
152. Dr. Richard Safeer: Keys to Fostering Collective Well-Being in the Workplace
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So far this year, my guests and I have been discussing how we can do things differently through experimentation, creativity, and innovation to optimiz...
151. Merideth Mehlberg on Simplification, Imperfect Action, and Evolution for a Sustainable Year
05 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
At the beginning of the year, it can feel like we have to go all-in right away toward our goals. But it’s important, maybe even essential, to pace o...
150. Amy Climer: Transforming Work and Life Through Deliberate Creativity
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If we want our experience of work and life to be different, we have to be willing to find new solutions and do things differently. We have to be able ...
149. Anne-Laure Le Cunff: Cultivating Curiosity and an Experimental Life
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Let's start this year by exploring how we can live and work differently for more personal success, satisfaction, and sustainability. This complements...
148. 2024 Year End Reflection Points
27 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
At this time of the year, many of us are taking time to reflect, consider what we’ve learned, and determine what to take with us into the new year. ...
147. Caroline Ouwerkerk: Saying Yes to Opportunities and Leading With Purpose
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us want to make a positive impact and gain fulfillment with the work we do. Caroline Ouwerkerk is a career and leadership coach who works wit...
146. Aybala Şimşek Galpin on Hard Work, Resilience, and Professional Growth
04 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can we sustain our engagement in our work and make our careers regenerative?Continuing the series of conversations about managing our work ambitio...
145. Pete Steinberg on Leadership Beyond Titles and Getting Better Everyday
27 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Learning to embrace leadership and think intentionally about the kind of leader we want to be is important, regardless of where we are in our careers....
144. Merideth Mehlberg and Your Finest Work: Career Clarity in a Complex World
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do we stay engaged with our careers and make them feel sustainable and regenerative for the long haul?Today, master coach Merideth Mehlberg introd...
143. Malissa Clark on Breaking Free from Workaholism
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you are a workaholic or have workaholic tendencies, you are not alone. Many of us struggle with overwork and assessing the right amount of effort t...
142: The "Good Enough Job" and Shaping Broader Identities with Simone Stolzoff
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is work? And what is the role of work in our lives?For many Americans, work is a primary source of meaning and identity. But what if you embraced...
141. Sustaining Ambition: Insights From France with Sandra Fillaudeau
18 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you live and work in the U.S., you might have daydreamed about finding better work-life balance by moving to another country with different norms a...
140. Reflections on a Summer of Sustainable Ambition
04 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sustainable Ambition is a practice and a journey that is ever-changing and each of our journeys is unique to us.In this episode, I reflect on the Summ...
139. From Autopilot to Astonishingly Alive with Jodi Wellman
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Part of pursuing Sustainable Ambition is examining how we can live our lives more fully, and with more purpose, without sacrificing ourselves.Today’...
138. The Keys to Ordinary Resilience with Luis Velasquez
07 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We hear a lot about resilience these days. We say people who overcome obstacles and challenges in life and work must be so resilient. But is that the ...
137. The Summer Book Series: What Do We Need and What Is Enough
24 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the months of June and July episodes, I’ve been sharing books that have delighted me. Some of them have been written by past guests, while othe...
136. The Summer Book Series: Looking For Inspiration For Your Next Step
10 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This summer and over the June and July episodes, I am sharing books that have really delighted me. Some of them have been written by past guests, whil...
135. The Summer Book Series: Ask The Big Questions
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Over the months of June and July, I will be sharing books that have really delighted me. Some of them have been written by past guests, while others a...
134. The Summer Book Series: On Slowing Down and Simplification
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This summer and over the four episodes in June and July, I will be sharing books that have really delighted me. Some of them have been written by past...
133. How Art and Creativity Transform Our Well-Being with Tasha Golden, PhD
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How can the arts support our ability to thrive and flourish in life and work?As part of my continuing conversations about creativity and how it inters...
132. Prioritizing Joy and Creativity in Our Lives with Emily Shaw
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If asked, most of us would likely say that we want to live with a sense of meaning and purpose. But how many of us truly put that intention front and ...
131. The Art of Visual Thinking with Doug Neill
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Can engaging in creative practices help us on our journey of Sustainable Ambition? Can we apply creative practices to live and work in more fulfilling...
130. Embracing How Our Ambitions Shift and Evolve
17 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a hard time allowing your ambitions to shift and change? Do you feel uncomfortable when at times you don’t feel as committed to your amb...
129. The Life Brief: The Creative Practice to Create the Life You Really Want with Bonnie Wan
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Are you afraid to ask yourself what you really, really want?Today’s guest presents a compelling example of what it looks like to live boldly, with i...
128. Creating Sustainable Support Structures with Arianna Taboada
20 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Having support structures in place is vital to sustaining our life and work ambitions particularly as we transition through different life stages.Entr...
127. From Academia, to Diplomacy, to Bourbon: Ashley Donahey’s Journey to Entrepreneurship
06 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all have ambitions for both our personal and professional lives. The question is how do we pursue them sustainably and with resilience so we can ge...
126. Building Resilience: Practical Strategies for Personal and Professional Well-Being with Marie-Helene Pelletier
21 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed or burned out, you’re not alone. But rather than push or grind through it as so many of us try to do, tod...
125. Strategies for Navigating Ambiguity and Finding Clarity in Life and Work
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As we leave January behind, many of us are still in the process of figuring out what we want out of this year. And it’s not uncommon to long for a c...
124. Navigating the Fluid Future of Work with Connie Steele
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The world of work is changing. And it’s not just about what industries are growing or shrinking. Attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and motivations arou...
123. 2024: Think Differently
10 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to 2024!As we look to a new year, I’m offering some ideas and reflections to set the tone as you craft the year ahead.I talk about what th...
122. 2023 Year-End Reflections
27 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we end 2023, I’d like to offer a few prompts and reflections to help you stay grounded as you navigate this challenging time and head into 2024.I...
121. The Practice of Sustainable Ambition: A Conversation with Sonya Thomas
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s special episode, my dear friend Sonya Thomas turns the tables and interviews me.We explore how the concept of Sustainable Ambition has ev...
120. Making Hard Decisions and Building Belonging with Amy Bonsall
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to find home? How do we develop a sense of belonging, whether to a place, a community, or even to our work?Today, I’ll dive into t...
119. Self-Defined Career Success with Doug Milliken
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we sustain a successful career over time? When we define ambition and success on our own terms, based on what’s important to us internally vs...
118. Navigating Identity Shifts and Embracing New Beginnings with Karyn Flynn
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Crafting a fulfilling life and career is the work of a lifetime.My guest today is Karyn Flynn. Karyn has built a varied resume, stepped back from her ...
117. An Imaginative and Expansive View of Ambition with Rainesford Stauffer
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, I’m joined by author and journalist Rainesford Stauffer.We discuss her new book, All the Gold Stars: Reimagining Ambition and the W...
116. Sustaining Ourselves and Our Ambitions Through Busy Times
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Overwhelm can happen to anyone, even me.We can set goals and priorities, and they can be the right ambitions, but managing a packed schedule takes int...
115. Values and Reducing Goal Conflict to Enhance Well-Being with Valerie Tiberius
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can we craft our goals in ways that actually support our well-being? How can we reduce frustration and, in turn, increase fulfillment as we pursue...
114. The Power of Designing Your Motivation and Ambition with Ayelet Fishbach
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I’m in conversation with Ayelet Fishbach, an award-winning psychologist and prolific researcher on the science of motivation.We discuss how m...
113. Navigating the Intersection of Ambitions and Expectations with Wade Brill
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What lies at the intersection of ambition and expectation? On today’s episode, I’m welcoming back Wade Brill to discuss just that. We start first...
112. Helping the Next Generation Redefine Success on their Terms with Irena Smith
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we help the next generation define success on their own terms?My guest, Irena Smith, offers wisdom and advice from her years of experience work...
111. “It’s a Good Day to Change the World” with Lauren Schiller and Hadley Dynak
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What can we learn about Sustainable Ambition from amazing women who are changing the world?Today I’m talking with Lauren Schiller and Hadley Dynak a...
110. Living A More Sustainable, Intentional, Happy Life with Sabrina Moyle
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s easy to get caught in the loop of looking to external markers of success and constantly striving toward ever-moving goalposts of what it means ...
109. Performing and Performance: A Call To Be Our Best Self
05 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is performance and what does it mean to perform?For many, performance implies being inauthentic. But what if we defined performance as being whol...
108. Nurturing and Sustaining Creative Ambition with Charles Gilbert
28 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we sustain our ambition and creativity over time? Over a lifetime, even?I had the pleasure of sitting down with Charles (Charlie) Gilbert, a li...
107. Be Brave, Use Your Voice, and Step Into The Light with D'Arcy Webb
14 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I’m in conversation with D’Arcy Webb.D’Arcy is an award-winning speech and vocal coach with decades of experience and decades of sustaine...
106. What Do You Get When You Combine Sustainable With Ambition?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is sustainable? What is ambition?What happens when you put these two seemingly incongruous words together?Some people think they are mutually exc...
105. Designing for Thriving: Making Your Space Work for You with Olga Trusova
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I’m in conversation with Olga Trusova, author of the new design book, Calm Living.In this episode, Olga introduces us to design thinking prin...
104. The Benefits of a Portfolio Life: Fulfillment Beyond Work with Christina Wallace
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm in conversation with Christina Wallace, author of the new book, The Portfolio Life: How to Futureproof Your Career, Avoid Burnout, and Build...
103. New Models for Playing Big Without Sacrifice with Jessica Marati Radparvar
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I’m joined by Jessica Marati Radparvar.Jessica serves as inspiration as someone who is practicing Sustainable Ambition, crafting a life with ...
102. Money Mindset: Understanding Your Relationship with Money, Work, and Ambition with Dana Miranda
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, I'm joined by Dana Miranda. Dana is the author of the forthcoming book, You Don't Need A Budget, and her work brings visibility an...
101. Dialing In Right Effort: Breaking Free from Distractions with Nir Eyal
22 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Almost all of us know what it’s like to struggle to stay focused and get work done. And so many of us are plagued by feeling too busy. It’s hard t...
100. Looking Back, Looking Forward: Sustainable Ambition Turns 100
08 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During the pandemic, the cultural tides around work ambition turned. People were over their ambitions.Consider these stats: In 2022, Gartner found tha...
Can Ambition Be Sustainable?
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing The Sustainable Ambition Podcast. Host Kathy Oneto talks with experts, authors, and friends with insight on her philosophy to life and wo...
99. On A Call To Lead an Ampersand Life with Jessica Wan
22 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are you called to honor more than one side of yourself in your life and work? Then this episode is for you! You, too, might be an ampersand. Or perhap...
98. On Embracing the Power of You with Tricia Montalvo Timm
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tricia Montalvo Timm is a board director, venture investor, speaker, and author. She is also a first-generation Latina and one of the few to have atta...
97. On Feeling More Alive Choosing Ambition on Your Terms with Neha Mandhani
08 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“I feel very ambitious even though on the outside my ambition may look very different, but it feels like ambition on my terms.” Yes! That sounds l...
96. On the Power of Pause ⏸️ with Kathy Oneto
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When we pause, more is happening than we think. Host Kathy Oneto shares three examples to inspire you to practice your own pauses. When and where will...
95. On What It Is Time for Now ️ with Kathy Oneto
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today host Kathy Oneto jumps back into time and how the concept of time factors into Sustainable Ambition. We can’t do it all at once across life an...
94. On Be a Skateboarder with Kathy Oneto
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Or simply send an email here: [email protected] Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sust...
93. On Dialing in Your Ambitions with Kathy Oneto
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Inspired by the ambition of astronauts, host Kathy Oneto invites you to consider what it might look like to dial in your ambitions. Do you have big am...
92. On Blast off! or Push Off with Kathy Oneto
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode of 2023, host Kathy Oneto talks about how you might want to start your year. Are you someone who wants to blast off or would you...
91. On A More Sustainable+Ambitious Year: 12-Month Review with Kathy Oneto
19 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kathy Oneto, founder of Sustainable Ambition, closes out the yearlong series on planning and living a more sustainable+ambitious year...
90. On Ambition, Optimism, and Holiday Cheer with my Bestie Carol Best
14 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m happy to be in conversation with one of my besties, Carol Best! Carol and I have known each other for almost 15 years, and I wanted to hav...
89. On Closing Out the Year & Welcoming 2023 with Kathy Oneto
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this solo episode, host Kathy Oneto asks you to give yourself permission to pause and reflect to honor the past year. Join her for 11 questions to ...
88. On the Agency to Define Your Own Ambitions & Success with Al Dea
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined again by Al Dea, the founder of Betterwork Labs, an organization focused on helping companies create cultures where their people ca...
87. On Finding Purpose Where You Are with Kathy Oneto
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this Sustainable Ambition (SA) Quick Tip, host Kathy Oneto talks about finding purpose in your work and in your life where you are, rather than loo...
86. An Invitation to Examine Life & Find What Works for You with Tara McMullin
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined by Tara McMullin, a writer, podcaster, and producer, to discuss her new book, “What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change th...
85. On Ditching Hustle Culture & Thriving Again with Jennie Blumenthal
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined by Jennie Blumenthal, author of the new book, “Corporate Rehab: ditch the hustle culture and thrive again.” After 20 years as a...
84. On Visual Leadership in Life and at Work with Todd Cherches
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined by Todd Cherches, CEO of BigBlueGumball, a NYC-based management consulting firm specializing in leadership development and executiv...
83. On Hybrid or Remote Worker? Double-Down on Work Relationships with Kathy Oneto
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a hybrid or remote worker? And, did you know that in today’s remote and hybrid work environments that many of us are feeling disconnected fr...
82. On Living and Working with Ordinary Resilience with Luis Velasquez
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m joined by Luis Velasquez, an expert in resilience. Luis is an Executive Coach, Stanford University facilitator, and an HBR Ascent contribu...