A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks

A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks

Dr. Michelle Weise & Rev. Dana Allen Walsh - Personal Development & Resilience Specialists

Episodes 47
Avg. Duration 18m
Activity Highly Active
Since Apr 2025
Latest Episode May 2026

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Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
57%
Hosting
api.substack.com

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

A Life Worth Working — Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks is a podcast hosted by Dr. Michelle Weise and the Rev. Dana Allen Walsh, personal development & resilience specialists. Our guests illuminate the scraps, screw-ups, and detours of our work lives as living proof that nothing is ever wasted in these spaghetti pathways of our careers. The hardest moments we endure, from epic failures to employment gaps and crushing disappointments, all become fertile ground for new growth and endless possibilities. As we navigate the winding, messy pathways of life, perhaps the truest calling is simply this: to stay open to wonder, courageous in release, faithful in response—and to trust that, step by step, we are shaping a life worth working.

michelleweise.substack.com

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Recent Episodes

From Orphan to Berkeley Engineer

May 18, 2026 33m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Chris Atageka | Engineer, Entrepreneur, Author of Return to Human🎧 Watch a Brief ClipWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode* Why Chris slept with his US passport and…

She Quit Finance, Climbed Everest, and Picked Up Her Viola.

May 12, 2026 38m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Rebecca Long | Everest Summiteer, Violist & Career ReinventorWhat You’ll Learn in This EpisodeThe moment Rebecca realized eight years in banking wasn’t a…

He’s a Pastor. He Went on a Reality Show Called “The Snake.” It Was More Complicated than It Sounds.

May 05, 2026 33m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Jacob Buchholz | Pastor, Deaf Culture & Reality TVJacob Buchholz is a progressive pastor, a fluent signer in American, Romanian, and Russian sign language,…

She Won Olympic Gold. Then She Had to Figure out Who She Was without It.

Apr 28, 2026 23m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Shawn Johnson East | Olympic Champion, Entrepreneur & MotherShawn Johnson won the gold medal on the balance beam at the 2008 Olympics. She was 16. She had…

Older + Younger = Better

Apr 21, 2026 39m

Episode of A Life Worth Working | Guest: Marc Freedman | Co-Generation, Mentorship & the Multigenerational FutureWe talk about loneliness as if it’s a personal failing. We talk about polarization…

He Had a Film at Sundance. He Chose a Cookbook Instead.

Apr 14, 2026 28m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Pete Lee | Award-Winning Photographer, Director & Accidental Archivist of San Francisco Chinatown“I wasn’t taking photos with my eyes. It was more with my…

He Signed a Multi-Million Dollar NFL Contract — Then Got Cut after 3 Months

Apr 07, 2026 25m

A Life Worth Working | Guest: Andrew East | Former NFL Long Snapper, YouTube Creator & Family Media EntrepreneurWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode* How getting released from the Kansas City Chiefs…

She Had Never Seen a Pilot Who Looked Like Her — Then She Became One

Mar 31, 2026 33m

Episode: A Life Worth Working | Guest: Refilwe Ledwaba | Girls Fly Africa🎧 Watch/Listen NowWhat does it take to become the first?In this episode of A Life Worth Working, Refilwe Ledwaba shares her…

When the Doctor Becomes the Patient:

Mar 24, 2026 8m

A Life Worth Working — Sh*t Pile Series | Guest: Dr. Todd Kim | Orthopedic SurgeonAbout This EpisodeThis is part of our Sh*t Pile series, where we ask guests to share one raw, unfiltered moment of…

The "Wrong" Path that Made Him a Better Doctor

Mar 17, 2026 24m

What if the path you’re meant to follow isn’t the most efficient one?Why the Long Way around Matters…In this episode of A Life Worth Working, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Todd Kim shares a deeply personal…

The Leadership Mistakes that Nearly Broke Him

Mar 10, 2026 11m Bonus

Leadership, resilience, and career growth aren’t built in perfect conditions; they’re forged in failure. In this Sh*t Pile episode of A Life Worth Working, Jehron Petty shares what he learned about…

He Turned Down Google to Build a Movement

Mar 03, 2026 22m

Jehron Petty was on track for Google — until he realized too many talented Black and Latino students were being pushed out of computer science because they lacked community, confidence, and…

When Burnout Is the Beginning

Feb 24, 2026 7m

“So much of street psychiatry is about the longitudinal nature of people’s hopes and dreams — coming to understand them over time.”What if burnout and career overwhelm aren’t signs of failure—but the…

Why This Psychiatrist Treats Patients on the Sidewalk

Feb 17, 2026 19m

Most doctors practice medicine inside clinics and hospitals, but psychiatrist Dr. Katie Koh practices mental health care on sidewalks, park benches, and city streets. In this episode of A Life Worth…

He Lost the Future He Imagined—What Came Next Changed Everything

Feb 10, 2026 19m

Some losses don’t just break your heart; they break the future you thought you were building.In this Sh*t Pile episode of A Life Worth Working, philosopher and writer Matthew Clemente shares the most…

Matthew Clemente on Meaningful Work, Suffering, and Purpose

Feb 03, 2026 30m

What happens when grief interrupts your career trajectory?In this episode of A Life Worth Working, Dana Allen Walsh and I speak with Matthew Clemente, philosopher, writer, prison educator, and…

The Hidden Cost of Chasing Your Dream

Jan 27, 2026 6m

The Hard Truth about Following Your Passion, according to Usman RiazWork isn’t defined by shiny milestones or Instagram-worthy success. More often, real career growth begins in the mess—through…

Usman Riaz Didn’t Just Make a Movie

Jan 20, 2026 22m

In the latest episode of A Life Worth Working, Dana Allen Walsh and I sit down with TED Fellow Usman Riaz, an artist, composer, and filmmaker whose remarkable life journey is a masterclass in…

Overcoming Career Challenges with Paul Rucker

Dec 16, 2025 6m

Artist, musician, and archivist Paul Rucker shares one of the messiest moments that shaped his life and work. Paul opens up about the first time he experienced explicit racism as a young classical…

Self-taught Cellist Paul Rucker on Navigating Career Challenges through Art and Storytelling

Dec 09, 2025 21m

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…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks have?

A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks has published 47 episodes since April 2025, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks still active?

A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 18m.

How do I contact A Life Worth Working – Finding Purpose & Overcoming Setbacks for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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