A Life Worth Working
Michelle Weise & Dana Allen Walsh
A Life Worth Working is a podcast hosted by Michelle Weise and Dana Allen Walsh. Michelle is an education and workforce strategist and author of Long Life Learning: Preparing for Jobs that Don't Even Exist Yet, and Dana is a senior pastor at a progressive church. This isn't a religious podcast.
“A Life Worth Working” celebrates the scraps, screw-ups, and detours of our work lives because we believe that nothing is wasted. The hardest moments we endure, from epic failures to employment gaps and crushing disappointments, all become fertile ground for new growth and endless possibilities.
So you’ll hear about the wild journeys of our guests: a comedy writer turned ER doctor, a hedge fund manager turned death doula, a musician turned consultant, even a K-pop star turned lawyer—the list goes on! Each guest reveals pivotal moments of growth born from career zig-zags and dead-ends.
Forget linear paths! We’re all navigating spaghetti-shaped journeys. And even those who appear to have it all figured out are fumbling their way through. Our guests talk about the pitfalls, the whispers they couldn’t ignore, or the moments of release that enabled them to jump to something unexpected. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about the messiest, hardest, and most painful parts of their journeys that created the conditions for new life and growth.
If you’re interested in dwelling in that messy middle, you’ll love this podcast. And best of all, you’ll hear each of these guests in quick, punchy 20-minute episodes.
“A Life Worth Working” celebrates the scraps, screw-ups, and detours of our work lives because we believe that nothing is wasted. The hardest moments we endure, from epic failures to employment gaps and crushing disappointments, all become fertile ground for new growth and endless possibilities.
So you’ll hear about the wild journeys of our guests: a comedy writer turned ER doctor, a hedge fund manager turned death doula, a musician turned consultant, even a K-pop star turned lawyer—the list goes on! Each guest reveals pivotal moments of growth born from career zig-zags and dead-ends.
Forget linear paths! We’re all navigating spaghetti-shaped journeys. And even those who appear to have it all figured out are fumbling their way through. Our guests talk about the pitfalls, the whispers they couldn’t ignore, or the moments of release that enabled them to jump to something unexpected. And perhaps most importantly, they talk about the messiest, hardest, and most painful parts of their journeys that created the conditions for new life and growth.
If you’re interested in dwelling in that messy middle, you’ll love this podcast. And best of all, you’ll hear each of these guests in quick, punchy 20-minute episodes.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 9, 2025 • 21min
This Self-taught Cellist Walks Tightropes over Alligators
A self-taught cellist turned visual artist and archivist, Paul Rucker thrives by moving beyond the limitations of expectations. In this episode of A Life Worth Working, you’ll learn how Paul has woven storytelling, music, and history into a career defined by curiosity and creative defiance.
Dec 2, 2025 • 10min
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Vriti Saraf
In this episode, Vriti Saraf shares how tough feedback from a VC and repeated rejection led to the creation of a new nonprofit helping educators navigate emerging tech. Make sure you listen to this powerful story about reinvention.
Nov 18, 2025 • 25min
Off-Ramps and Ultimatums: Vriti's Secret to Success
In this episode of A Life Worth Working, hosts Michelle Weise and Dana Allen Walsh talk with Vriti Saraf, founder of a nonprofit upskilling educators for the age of AI. Vriti shares how she went from a discouraged learner to a bold innovator leading the world’s first avatar-based virtual conference for teachers. She explains why AI won’t just replace jobs—it will raise expectations—and how we can use it to think more critically, not less. A conversation about courage, curiosity, and crafting your own path in an AI-powered world.
Nov 11, 2025 • 10min
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Molly Baskette
In this raw and redemptive conversation, Rev. Molly Baskette, pastor and author, shares her own “shit pile” moment: guiding her church through a painful conflict over affordable housing after a devastating fire—while enduring profound personal loss. This episode is a powerful reminder that transformation often begins in the mess—that healing, humility, and meaning are cultivated not in our triumphs, but in our willingness to be undone.✨ For Molly’s full story of becoming a psychedelic chaplain, listen to her complete interview on A Life Worth Working.
Nov 4, 2025 • 20min
Why This Pastor Turned to Psychedelics to Heal the Soul
Dana and Michelle sit down with Rev. Molly Baskette, co-senior minister of the First Congregational Church of Berkeley and author of five books. After nearly 30 years in ministry, Molly found herself called into a surprising second act—as a psychedelic chaplain.She shares how she discovered “a new kind of medicine,” and now helps people heal and grow through guided psychedelic sessions. Molly walks us through the process of legal ketamine-assisted therapy—how it works, what it feels like, and why the real magic happens during integration, when people learn to harvest the insights and emotions from their experience and reconnect with their own inner healing intelligence.For anyone seeking healing, meaning, or a renewed sense of purpose, this episode offers a powerful look at how ancient practices and modern medicine are reshaping what it means to live—and work—with authenticity and liberation.💌 We’d love to hear from you! Email us at hello@alifeworthworking.com and don’t forget to subscribe to the show.
Jul 22, 2025 • 8min
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Soeun Lee
Former Korean pop star Soeun Lee shares how one of the greatest moments of despair led to her crafting a new voice for herself.
Jul 15, 2025 • 25min
How Can Discomfort Lead to Discovery? Soeun Lee's Path from K-Pop Star to Lawyer to Producer
In this episode of "A Life Worth Working," hosts Michelle Weise and Dana Allen Walsh chat with Soeun Lee, a former Korean pop star who navigated a demanding career starting at the age of 16. Soeun shares her fascinating journey from being a young pop sensation to becoming a practicing lawyer and now a studio producer.
Jul 8, 2025 • 11min
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Christopher Leech
Wallis Annenberg GenSpace Executive Director Christopher Leech shares how the hardest career experience of his life led to an understanding that although what he was doing was noble and important, it wasn't what he was supposed to do with his life.
Jul 1, 2025 • 22min
What If Aging Means Growing Bolder? Christopher Leech on Reimagining Later Life
This episode delves into the remarkable journey of Christopher Leech, whose deep curiosity about people led him to work in dementia care and later into bioethics. His passion brought him to GenSpace, a unique community center in Los Angeles designed for innovative aging. Christopher shares his experiences from his multifaceted career, emphasizing the importance of challenging aging stereotypes, fostering intergenerational relationships, and encouraging older adults to embrace new experiences. He highlights the powerful impact of creating meaningful, inclusive spaces for the elderly.
Jun 24, 2025 • 7min
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Kristin Olson
Yoga studio owner Kristin Olson shares how the fear and uncertainty of a marital separation and a pandemic-shuttered studio pushed her to re-imagine her business: launching 200- and 300-hour teacher trainings, international retreats, and an online platform that now gather 50+ students a class. What began as crisis evolved into a thriving practice where neighbors become friends and yoga mats feel like home.
