Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel Podcast

The belief that a four-year degree is the only path to a good job is baked into our culture. But what if that narrative is outdated?

In this weeks episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Kathleen deLaski, social entrepreneur, author, and founder of the Education Design Lab. Kathleens new book, Who Needs College Anymore?, challenges the assumption that a bachelors degree is the default route to economic mobility. Together, Jessi and Kathleen discuss how we can better support shorter, more flexible learning paths to success for the majority of Americans who dont pursue or finish a four-year degree.

Jessi and Kathleen talk about:

Why the four-year college degree is no longer the only path to a good job



What happens to the 62% of Americans who dont complete a four-year degree



The growing role of community colleges, bootcamps, and skills-based programs



How government and employers are starting to rethink credentialing and career readiness



The mindset shift parents and students need to make in 2025 and beyond



Whatever your age, this episode is a roadmap for how to navigate the changing landscape of education and work.

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours Wednesdays at 3 PM ET on the LinkedIn News page.

Pride is more than a celebration, it’s a call to action, especially for queer families navigating today’s uncertain political landscape. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Darra Gordon, CEO of Family Equality, to talk about protecting LGBTQ+ families, raising resilient kids, and why visibility and community are more vital than ever.

Darra is a longtime advocate and nonprofit leader who works every day to ensure all families, especially those with LGBTQ+ parents, have equal rights and protections. She’s also a working mom, navigating the same daily chaos as many of us: career, childcare, dinner plans, and existential anxiety about the future.

Jessi and Darra discuss: • How LGBTQ+ families can stay safe and visible in uncertain times • How to raise kids who are proud of their identity and inclusive of others • The joy and strength of queer families, and the role of community in liberation • Why allyship is more than a rainbow flag during June • How everyone, queer or not, can support family equality year-round

Whether you're part of the LGBTQ+ community, love someone who is, or just want to build a more inclusive world — this episode is for you.

Join us for Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3PM ET. It’s a welcoming space to keep the conversation going.

What does it take to make a bold career pivot after decades of doing the expected? This week, we’re resurfacing our conversation with the multi-talented Anna Kendrick, whose journey from acclaimed actor to first-time director offers invaluable insights for anyone thinking about making the leap into something new. 

Anna shares the story behind her directorial debut with Netflix’s Woman of the Hour, a true-crime drama. Far removed from the lighthearted films that Anna is known for, Woman of the Hour chronicles the stranger-than-fiction story of a 1970s aspiring actor and a serial killer whose lives collide when they're cast on a dating game show.

Together, Jessi and Anna discuss:

The courage it takes to step out of your comfort zone



How to follow your intuition when making creative decisions



Dealing with imposter syndrome



Learning to lead



What good feedback truly looks like



This episode offers not just a behind-the-scenes look at Anna's latest project but also inspiration for anyone seeking to reinvent their own career. Watch Woman of the Hour on Netflix now, and tune in to hear how Anna Kendrick is embracing the next chapter of her career.

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! RSVP here to join us on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

It’s easy to feel lost in your career, especially as the world around us keeps shifting. Whether you’re starting over, seeking purpose, or just unsure what your next move is, this episode is for you.

This week, Jessi Hempel sits down with Caroline Wanga, president and CEO of Essence Ventures and co-founder of Wanga Woman. Caroline is a dynamic leader and an unapologetic champion of authenticity. She joins Jessi to share her approach to building a career map – not just once, but continuously throughout your life.

Before leading Essence, Caroline spent 15 years at Target, rising from intern to C-suite executive. Today, she’s focused on democratizing authenticity through her personal purpose, her leadership, and her new memoir, I’m Highly Percent Sure.

Jessi and Caroline dig deep into:

Why your “next right move” may not look like anyone else’s



Why playing with your career map, not perfecting it, leads to clarity



How, and when, Caroline has created her own career maps



The role of authenticity in leadership and life



What it really takes to live and work with personal purpose



Tools and mindsets for building a meaningful career in today’s world



Don’t miss Caroline’s practical wisdom on shaping a professional life that evolves with you.

This episode was filmed live in-studio. LinkedIn Premium subscribers can watch the full video version here.

Want to keep the conversation going? Join us at Hello Monday Office Hours, live on the LinkedIn News page this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.

Debbie Millman and Roxane Gay know a thing or two about building creative lives. Debbie is a legendary designer, writer, and podcast host. Roxane is a bestselling author and cultural critic. Together, they’ve built a partnership rooted in discipline, love, and slow growth. On this week’s episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel welcomes the couple back to the studio to talk about their new book, and what it really takes to live a meaningful creative life.

Their book, Love Letter to a Garden, is both literal and metaphorical. It’s about vegetables, sure. But it’s also about how we learn, how we fail, and how we grow. Debbie shares stories of her journey from struggling gardener to seasoned grower, an arc that mirrors her creative life. Roxane contributes recipes she’s crafted using the produce Debbie grows. 

Jessi, Debbie, and Roxane dig into the kind of growth that takes time, and the work required to nurture it.

They discuss:

• The invisible years behind every “overnight” success

• How to keep going when you fail again and again

• Why your hope must be slightly bigger than your shame

• What it means to save your best energy for what matters most

• The difference between meaningful work and making work your meaning

Continue the conversation with us at Hello Monday Office Hours! Join us here, on the LinkedIn News page, this Wednesday at 3 PM EST.