A Life Worth Working
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.
Latest episodes
Apr 15, 2025 • 17min
Nothing Wasted: Finding the Soul of Work
Delve into the transformational theme of 'nothing wasted,' highlighting how discarded elements can lead to growth and new beginnings. Explore the evolving nature of work and the quest for purpose amid AI advancements. Hear personal journeys of reevaluating career paths after major life events and the dynamic concept of calling in all forms of work. Discover the importance of self-reflection, community support, and embracing life’s non-linear journeys toward meaningful fulfillment.
Apr 5, 2025 • 2min
A Life Worth Working Trailer
“A Life Worth Working” is a podcast hosted by a disruptive innovation expert and a reverend, but it's not a religious podcast. We feature the gloriously messy stories about career paths that we like to call the spaghetti pathways of our work lives. 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 — all in quick, punchy 20-minute episodes.Once you subscribe to “A Life Worth Working” (wherever you get your podcasts), you'll get a special little episode delivered every Thursday: a precious, little gem we lovingly call a "Shit Pile Episode" (yep, we curse here—and it's totally OK!). Each guest shares the shittiest moment of their careers and how vital and life-giving those moments ended up being. And then the following Tuesday, you’ll get to hear a full episode with that particular guest. But heads up: we don’t repeat the Thursday stories in the Tuesday ones, so subscribe now! You definitely don't want to miss our stories about the muddy mess.
