Searching for Meaning at Work with Bruce Feiler

Searching for Meaning at Work with Bruce Feiler

Author: Paul Ollinger May 31, 2023 Duration: 1:13:46
Bruce Feiler is a seven-time New York Times best-selling author of books such as Life is in the Transitions, Walking the Bible, and The Council of Dads, Bruce's 2008 account of his battle with bone cancer and the contemplation that his then three-year-old twin daughters would grow up without a father. The book birthed a documentary hosted by Sanjay Gupta, a drama series on NBC, and a wildly popular TED Talk. In his new book, The Search: Finding Meaningful Work in a Post Career World, Bruce argues that the truths about work with which so many of us Boomers / GenX’ers were raised no longer apply and that today’s economy is “meaning based” as opposed to “means based.” We discuss what implications this has for employers, workers, and those of us trying to understand just what is going on out there. We talk about why Bruce dedicated the book to Pat Conroy, why that means something to Paul, how our expectations of a linear world and career stress us out and why it is critically important to “stop chasing someone else’s dream (or, in Paul’s case the approval of Sheryl Sandberg). Special thanks to 2x Crazy Money guest and occasional listener, A.J. Jacobs for connecting me with Bruce.

🔥 Visit Bruce’s website here. 🔥 
👀 Read Bruce’s Substack, The Nonlinear Life here. 👀
🔥 Read Paul’s Substack here. 🔥
🎤 See Paul’s upcoming shows here. 🎤

About Crazy Money:
Unlike traditional personal finance or investing shows, Crazy Money is not about how to make a million bucks, how to beat the stock market, or how to save money by switching cable providers. It is about deciding what role we want money to play in our lives and how we can use it to achieve our best selves. Topics covered include: philosophy, happiness, contentment, meaning, dreams, purpose, success, mental health, Buddhism, Stoicism, the hedonic treadmill, morality, mid-Life Crisis, business, work, careers, authors, books, consumerism, values, capitalism, economics, investing, saving, spending, personal finance, charity, philanthropy, altruism, affluence, wealth, wealth management, culture, society, and status. Crazy Money is edited by Mike Carano. Are you really still reading?

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Paul Ollinger has worn a few different hats-stand-up comedian, tech executive, and now, the curious host of Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger. This isn't a lecture series or a dry self-help guide. Instead, it feels more like pulling up a chair for a series of genuinely engaging talks that wander into the places where our daily lives, careers, and inner worlds collide. The conversations, which feature authors, thinkers, and various creatives, are refreshingly candid. They dig into the practical and philosophical questions about what it actually means to build a life that feels both successful and satisfying. You'll find that each episode of this podcast approaches big themes-money, purpose, and the pursuit of contentment-with a blend of wit and thoughtful depth. The underlying idea isn't about finding a perfect, Instagram-ready version of happiness, but something more grounded and attainable. It's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's a smarter, more meaningful way to navigate the pressures of business and culture without losing sight of what matters. Tuning in, you get the sense that Paul is figuring it out alongside his guests, making the insights feel earned and relatable. The result is a consistently interesting exploration of how we can all aim for a life that feels reasonably, and authentically, well-lived.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 321

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger
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