Sustainable Ambition

I continue my Ambition In Between series by exploring something many of us experience but don’t always name: the mixed emotions that surface after completing a big ambition. I look at why conflicting feelings show up, what they might be pointing to, and how we can work with them instead of against them.Toward the end of the episode, I offer several sets of reflection questions to help you review your year, make sense of the emotional complexity that may have surfaced over the past twelve months, and consider what you want to carry into 2026. Whether you’re at the end of a big project, navigating a transition, or simply noticing conflicting feelings about where you are right now, this episode invites you to expand your lens, honor the “both/and,” and move forward with more clarity and self-trust.Thanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

What does it mean to live a creative life? How can creative pursuits support us in being ambitious and living sustainably?Fostering creativity, innovation, and visual thinking can boost our ability to see and enact new or different ways of working and living. Laura Holson offers insights on integrating creativity into our lives, why so many of us come back to creative pursuits in midlife and beyond, and how creative practices sustain us for the long term.Learn more about Laura Holson:WebsiteInstagram: @lauramholsonThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

Since the June release of my first book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work, a number of people have asked me how it feels to have achieved this big ambition. Have I checked that box and moved on to something different? Or am I percolating another book idea?Over the last few months, I’ve been mulling over and researching those questions. Today’s episode kicks off a new series exploring how we navigate the ups and downs of our ambitions, and what happens if we don’t end up quite where we thought we would. Pursuing our ambitions is ultimately a process of learning more about who we are and what we want. And even when things don’t turn out as expected, it still moves our stories forward.Thanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

What if the future of work isn’t about technology but about being more human?That’s the question at the heart of my conversation with Dr. Natalie Nixon, creativity strategist and author of Move, Think, Rest: Redefining Productivity & Our Relationship with Time.Natalie believes we’re not in a technology revolution. We’re in a human revolution. In this new era, imagination, curiosity, and creativity aren’t luxuries or “nice to have.” They’re strategic advantages. But to access them, we have to rethink how we work and how we rest.Learn more about Natalie Nixon:Figure 8 ThinkingInstagram: @natwnixonConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

Hard work isn’t a bad thing, even when we’re seeking sustainability. The trick is to put hard work into what actually matters to make progress and meet our goals.If you want to advance in your career, focusing on performance metrics alone won’t lead to success. In today’s conversation, leading visibility coach Susan Barber shares how visibility is an essential piece of making the impact you want to make and offers practical steps for shaping how you show up at work.Learn more about Susan Barber:WebsiteThe Visibility Factor PodcastConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

If we want work to work better for us, we need meaningful work. But that doesn’t mean we have to choose between what’s good for individuals and what’s good for our organizations.In this episode, Wes Adams and Tamara Myles dig into why meaningful work matters, why we need to shift away from downstream metrics like engagement, and three essential focus areas for fostering meaningful work. And as they share, becoming meaning-driven leaders doesn’t have to be overwhelming, rather it invites us to be intentional about creating moments of meaning for those around us.Learn more about Wes Adams:Instagram: @wesadams1Connect on LinkedInLearn more about Tamara Myles:Instagram: @tamaramylesConnect in LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

Our work and our finances are inextricably linked. Our financial wellness impacts how we view our work and shapes the choices and trade-offs we make, whether we’re aware of it or not.Return guest Dana Miranda joins me to discuss how embracing the link between financial wellness and our work can actually help us find more flexibility and peace in our choices as we navigate the inevitable ebb and flow of energy and ambition in our lives.Learn more about Dana Miranda:Healthy RichSubstack: @justdanamirandaConnect with Dana on LinkedInYou Don’t Need a Budget: Stop Worrying about Debt, Spend without Shame, and Manage Money with EaseThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

A “popular” metric people like to look at is employee engagement. But I’ve always thought this data isn’t that useful and have wondered if this is the best data point to focus on to understand how people really feel about their work. But if not this metric, where do we focus instead? My guest today, Mark C. Crowley, argues that we need to “lead with both mind and heart” to create environments where employees feel supported and like they belong. And why the way we manage people today is unsustainable — and what leaders must do differently. Learn more about Mark C. Crowley:WebsiteLead from the Heart PodcastX: @markccrowleyConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

Knowing that our work matters is a fundamental human need. But so many organizations and leaders struggle to help people feel that their work is worthy of the effort they put in.My guest today, Zach Mercurio, invites us to explore the fundamental role of work in our lives.  In this crisis moment when more and more people feel negatively about work, mattering is an essential antidote to apathy and disconnection.Learn more about Zach Mercurio:WebsiteConnect On LinkedInInstagram: @zachmercurioX: @zachmercurioThe Power of Mattering: How Leaders Can Create a Culture of SignificanceMattering ResourcesThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

When we ask ourselves, what is the role of work in our lives, there are often two camps: Work is just work or find your passion in your work. But most of us want to find the middle ground between those extremes. Today, I’m revisiting the question of the role work plays in our lives, and how we can make work work better for us. Workplace culture expert Bree Groff joins me to talk about how we can bring more humanity and fun to our work. After all, we spend so many hours of our lives working, why shouldn’t we be enjoying it?Learn more about Bree Groff:Today Was Fun: A Book About Work (Seriously)http://www.breegroff.comInstagram: @bree_groffSubstack: https://breegroff.substack.com/Connect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

I’m flipping the mic again and being interviewed by my friend and past guest, Neha Mandhani, about the journey of writing and publishing my book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. In this conversation, I reflect on the vulnerable, imperfect process of writing and releasing the book because Sustainable Ambition isn’t a magic wand that will give any of us all the answers, it’s a journey of ups and downs that I am on right alongside all of you.Learn more about Neha Mandhani:Connect on LinkedInSubscribe to A New Leadership Manifesto Thanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

In this episode, I share conversations that informed the Sustainable Ambition method and appear in my book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. I wanted to revisit these segments with Heather Ainsworth, Dr. Sahar Yousef, and Jack Hsueh because they are wonderful examples of the pillars of Right Ambition, Right Time, and Right Effort and how they align to create Sustainable Ambition.Thanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

As of this recording, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work has been out in the world for two weeks and I’ve been so gratified to hear from readers and reviewers that the book and its principles are resonating and that they’re already putting it to use.This episode is a continuation of my conversation with Dr. Dawn Graham about Sustainable Ambition. Here we dive deeper into the practical aspects of the method and how you can apply them in your own life. Learn more about Dawn Graham:The Executive PsychologistConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

Before we can step into Sustainable Ambition, we first have to challenge what we’ve been taught to believe about success and ambition.Today I’m sharing an excerpt of the audiobook for Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. Chapter Two, “ Reclaim Personal Success and Ambition as Your Own,” breaks down why you need to define success on your own terms and offers a broader, more freeing way to think about ambition.Thanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

In this special episode of Sustainable Ambition, I’m doing something different. I’m stepping out of the host seat and into the hot seat!To celebrate the launch of my new book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work, Dr. Dawn Graham — corporate psychologist and career coach — joins me as guest host to flip the mic and interview me about the ideas behind the book, my personal journey, and what it really means to pursue ambition sustainably.This conversation is a personal and heartfelt look into why I do this work, and how I hope it supports you on your journey.Learn more about Dawn Graham:The Executive PsychologistConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

When we encounter a conflict or constraint that prompts us to question our current path, how do we determine our new way forward?After a long career with Procter & Gamble, including a senior leadership role in R&D, Ashish Chatterjee hit a surprising and painful inflection point — one that challenged everything he thought he knew about success.Ashish’s story is a masterclass in leading through challenges, finding your center again, and building a second act (whether inside or outside a company) with purpose. Whether you’re facing a transition, rethinking your metrics for a meaningful life, or just need a reminder that growth doesn’t end when the ladder does, this one’s for you.Learn more about Ashish Chatterjee:InnovategrnConnect with Ashish on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

What does it look like to live your ambition sustainably, with joy, intention, and wholeness?In this episode, I’m joined by Erica Meade, a former tech leader who made an unexpected and inspiring pivot — from product design work to making miniatures, co-founding a startup, and redefining what “work” means on her own terms.Whether you’re at a crossroads, recovering from burnout, or just seeking inspiration to reconnect with your own joy, this episode offers a refreshing, honest look at ambition done differently.Learn more about Erica Meade:PracticeInstagram: @minihouseonthelineConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

In this deeply resonant conversation, I sit down with Moe Carrick — author, consultant, and advocate for more human-centered workplaces — to explore the role of work in our lives and what it really takes for people to thrive.Moe brings both research and lived experience to the table, sharing the seven human needs we bring to work, how they shift over time, and why we must move beyond the “ideal worker” and “perfect mother” myths. She challenges conventional narratives about ambition, wellbeing, and gender roles, and calls for a new kind of partnership between employers and employees. Moe outlines a more hopeful vision of work, where we can navigate the integration of life and work with a sense of agency and shape our lives to work better for us.Learn more about Moe Carrick:MoementumConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

How we think about and plan our time matters, especially if we want to focus on the ambitions and goals in life and work that truly matter to us.My guest, Laura Vanderkam, has been studying time management for over fifteen years. In our conversation, she offers a fresh perspective on common narratives about how much time we have and how we use it. Her approach is both optimistic and practical, with concrete tools and insights to put into your own practice of managing your time.Learn more about Laura Vanderkam:WebsiteInstagram: @lvanderkamBest of Both Worlds PodcastBefore Breakfast PodcastThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

As leaders, we have to ask ourselves, how can we create more sustainability for ourselves and our teams?Among the challenges modern leaders face are the emotional demands of their roles, whether we want to acknowledge emotions in the workplace or not.Dina Denham Smith joins me to dig into the myths and misperceptions around how emotions impact workplaces, why we can’t keep ignoring emotions at work, and how leaders can better navigate being there for their team members in a meaningful way.Learn more about Dina Denham Smith:WebsiteConnect on LinkedInThanks for Listening!If you liked this episode, please rate, review, and share the episode. Thank you so much!Get show notes for this episode at https://sustainableambition.com/podcastLearn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at: https://sustainableambition.com/books  You can also get order links and pre-order bonuses!Pre-order my book on Amazon at: https://amzn.to/4hESYMp Send me ideas for what you’d like to hear on the podcast, or a question that might be read and answered here on the show! Email me at podcast@SustainableAmbition.comSign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe