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.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 13 minutes
- Episodes
- 23
- Years Active
- 2025
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.
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 sh…
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…
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,…
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 …
How Do You Find Courage to Follow an 'Impractical' Calling? Kristin Olson's Yoga Journey
In this episode, Kristin Olson shares her path from discovering yoga as a teenager to becoming a renowned yoga teacher and ultimately opening her own studio in Massachusetts. She discusses the call t…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Damon Davis
In this Sh*t Pile episode of "A Life Worth Working," postdisciplinary artist Damon Davis discusses the concept of enough-ness and how sometimes the most challenging experiences come from the relation…
How Can We See beyond Labels? Damon Davis's Guide to Wonder-filled Living
In this episode of "A Life Worth Working," hosts Dana Allen Walsh and Michelle Weise chat with award-winning post-disciplinary artist Damon Davis. Exploring a vast array of mediums—illustration, pain…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Kwaku Aning
Michelle & Dana dive into musician-turned-consultant Kwaku Aning’s story of heartbreak, evolution, and redirection. From the residue of his pain and experience, he’s built a new path—proof that nothi…
Unleashing Curiosity: Kwaku Aning's Journey from Classroom to Consulting
In this episode of 'A Life Worth Working,' hosts Dana Alan Walsh and Michelle Weise delve into the fascinating journey of Kwaku Aning of Retro-Futurism consulting. Kwaku shares his story of how the t…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Scarlett Lewis
In this Shit Pile Episode of "A Life Worth Working," Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, shares how she transformed unimaginable pain into purpose after losing her son at…
Can Our Deepest Pain Reveal Our Professional Purpose? Scarlett Lewis's Calling after Sandy Hook
In this deeply moving episode, Scarlett Lewis shares her remarkable journey of transforming personal tragedy into a global movement. After losing her son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tra…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Jeffrey Rosen
In this special sh*t pile episode of A Life Worth Working with Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center, reflects candidly on a painful public critique early in his career that fo…
Finding Virtue in a Distracted World: Jeffrey Rosen on the Pursuit of Happiness
What does it take to live a life of purpose and principle? In this compelling episode, hosts Dana Walsh and Michelle Weise engage in a rich conversation with Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National …
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Meredith Parfet
In this bonus episode, Meredith talks about how she "found the courage out of the ashes of [her] life." You're not going to want to miss this extra episode of A Life Worth Working.
Searching for Work that Matters? Meredith Parfet on Trading Hedge Funds for Hospice Work
In this episode of 'A Life Worth Working,' hosts Michelle Weise and Dana Walsh explore the profound impact of mortality with guest Meredith Wilson Parfet, CEO of Raven Yard. Meredith's journey began …
Is It Ever Too Late to Start Over? Comedy Writer Jacob Lentz Becomes Dr. Lentz
Welcome to 'A Life Worth Working' hosted by Michelle Weise and Dana Walsh. In this episode, they interview Jacob Lentz, a former comedy writer turned ER doctor. Jake shares his remarkable career pivo…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Dr. Jacob Lentz
In this Sh*t Pile episode of “A Life Worth Working,” hosts Michelle Weise and Dana Walsh chat with Jacob Lentz, a former comedy writer turned emergency room doctor. Jake shares a story about how Holl…
Is Your Job Taking over Your Life? Simone Stolzoff on Finding Fulfillment beyond Work
In this episode of A Life Worth Working, hosts Michelle Weise and Dana Allen Walsh sit down with Simone Stolzoff, author of The Good Enough Job: Reclaiming Life from Work. Simone shares his journey f…
The Sh*t Pile Episode with Simone Stolzoff
Author Simone Stolzoff shares his way of thinking about the manure-like experiences in our lives and the tradeoffs we have to consider making.