Paul Millerd is author of the Pathless Path, which is about his personal journey of leaving the traditional realm of work and finding something holistic and sustainable.

In this conversation we discuss what Paul calls “the default path” — a cultural script we grow up with that tells us what to do in order to be a successful adult, like getting a “forever job”, versus what Paul calls the “pathless path”, a new, more flexible way of defining our relationship with work.

The discussion centers around topics like how the pandemic has fractured the default path for many people, the so-called “great resignation” and how real the “anti-work” movement really is, why people are re-examining the centrality of work in their lives, why Paul recommends that most people should take one month away from work to reflect on their goals and aspirations, and the importance of shifting from “getting ahead” to “coming alive”.

Paul’s perspective on this topic is unique, nuanced, and well-informed in a way that really stands out from most commentators on this issue. He balances a strong vision for how the future will be different with a pragmatic understanding rooted in the history of work. For anyone looking to understand how their working lives are likely to change over the coming years and decades, it’s a must listen.

Hosted by Marshall Kosloff and produced by Jackson Steger

12. The Wolf of Via Vesuvio