The Human Side of Work
The Work, Wisdom, & Why podcast explores the human side of work and vocation through honest conversations about values, growth, and the pursuit of a life well lived.
Themes We Explore
- Purpose and leadership
- Professional identity and growth
- Meaning and motivation
- Core values in action
- Failure, resilience, and reflection
- Balance, boundaries, and sustainability
Tone & Style
- Authentic and down to earth
- Grounded in lived experience
- Structured but unscripted
- Curious and conversational
- Mindful, honest, and reflective
The show does not advocate any particular religious or political stance. Guests are welcome to reflect on the role of faith or spirituality in their own lives, with the emphasis on personal experience rather than persuasion.
Who's Listening
Our listeners are thoughtful professionals who care about the dignity and humanity of work, leadership with integrity, intentional career growth, and aligning values with vocation. They are actively cultivating a life of meaning and purpose.
How Each Episode Unfolds
Each episode is an interview approximately 30–40 minutes in length, divided into three distinct segments.
The Work & The Why
10–15 minWe explore your professional journey, core values, and what motivates the work you do.
The Wisdom
15–20 minWe dig deeper into a topic of your choosing — the subject you know best or care about most.
The Lightning Round
~5 minRapid-fire reflection via brief responses to 5–10 questions. You can always say "pass."
What to Expect
There is no standard script, but guests can expect questions in the spirit of the following. These are starting points — the conversation will follow its own natural path.
- What does your work involve? How do you spend your time?
- How did you end up in your current role?
- Would your younger self have imagined you'd be doing this kind of work?
- What motivated you to pursue this role, position, or career?
- What's the most rewarding part of your job? What's the biggest challenge?
- What's your approach to time and task management?
- Can you share a time that you failed at something important to you? What did you learn?
- What experiences have best prepared you for the work you currently do?
- Has there ever been a time when you've felt in over your head, or encountered a significant gap in your experience or skillset? How did you handle it?
Rapid-Fire Reflection
The lightning round is a quick, fun segment — 15 seconds or less per answer. You can say "pass" to any question and we'll edit it out. Questions are drawn from the categories below.
- Do you think you work more, less, or about the same as others in your role?
- What's your best productivity hack?
- What's one thing you do to take care of yourself?
- How much sleep do you get on a typical night?
- What do you typically eat for breakfast?
- What's something you worry about or that stresses you out?
- What's a small change that's made a big difference in your life?
- Is there a book, website, or podcast you'd recommend to our listeners?
- What advice would you give your younger self?
- What's a common piece of advice that you disagree with?
- What do you think is the most important quality in a leader?
- When you think of a leader you admire or would want to emulate, who comes to mind?
- What's the biggest mistake that leaders make?
- What's one thing you wish more leaders would do?
- What's one thing listeners might be surprised to learn about you?
- If you could have a conversation with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
- If you could experience any time and place — past, present, or future — what would you pick?
- What's something that's surprised you in your professional journey?
- What's something you hope you can say 10 years from now?
- What's something you're conflicted about, or been thinking a lot about lately?
- Is there anything our conversation today made you curious about?
- What's something you're grateful for today?
- What's something you've learned or taken away from our conversation today?
- What's the one thing you want listeners to take away from this episode?
Before We Record
You will receive a unique web link for our recording session. Please record in a quiet place free from noise and distractions. If you have an external microphone and headphones or earbuds, this is best for sound quality.
Please complete the guest information form at least 24 hours in advance of our session. You'll be asked to provide the following information:
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1
Personal Information
- Your name (including pronunciation if needed) and preferred pronouns
- Your current professional role
- Three facts you'd like mentioned in your introduction — a defining accomplishment, a previous position, a personal detail, or anything you'd like listeners to know
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2
Your Chosen Topic
What topic would you like to explore during the episode? Please include 1–2 sentences on why this topic matters to you and how it relates to your professional journey.
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3
Three Questions You'd Like to Be Asked
These can be from the standard questions above, or more specific questions related to your topic or professional journey.
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4
Topics or Questions to Avoid
Let us know if there are any subjects you'd prefer not to discuss. We respect your bounds completely.
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5
Work You'd Like Promoted
Feel free to include links to books, blogs, websites, podcasts, or other work you'd like listeners to know about.