Sustainable Ambition

Hosted by Kathy Oneto

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181

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Mar 2026

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About the show

How do you navigate the inevitable conflicts between work and life? Not just the daily schedules or mounting responsibilities, but the tensions between your ambition for your career and your ambition for life? How do you decide what to prioritize and what to let go of? How do you decide when to speed ahead and when to ease up? These aren’t questions of work-life balance or self-care. They’re questions we can answer when we get serious about intentionally designing a life with work that works for you. Join Kathy Oneto, executive and life-work coach and founder of Sustainable Ambition, for conversations with experts, authors, and friends to explore sticky questions around navigating ambitious careers while integrating life with work, practicing sustainable work practices, and building resilience. Most people assume that ambition and sustainability are mutually exclusive. Not so! Keep listening, and Kathy will make you a believer in Sustainable Ambition, too. — Follow or subscribe now. It’s absolutely free and that way you don’t miss an episode! For links to the ideas, resources, or people on the show, go to: sustainableambition.com/podcast Get more with Sustainable Ambition Forum, an exchange of ideas on you+life+work: SustainableAmbition.com/subscribe Get FREE Sustainable Ambition resources at: SustainableAmbition.com/resources

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60 recent

March 18, 2026Episode 18030 min

180. Why Creating Space Is So Hard (Even When You Know You Need It)

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******Most of us are pretty bad at creating space for ourselves. Yet we need space for rest, for metabolizing and connecting experiences and ideas, for making sense of things.Today, I talk about the gap between knowing we need space and actually creating it. And I’m sharing my own failures and stumbles in this area, what I’ve learned from them, and the new strategies I’m putting into place. As part of creating space for myself to process and look ahead, I’m putting the podcast on pause for a bit. But I do want to talk about why I’m doing that now, and what I’m already envisioning when I return in a couple of months.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

March 4, 2026Episode 17953 min

179. Navigating Transitions and Inflection Points with Philip VanDusen (Ambition In-Between Series)

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******We’re not always in control when or how inflection points happen, but we can learn to navigate transitions with more awareness and intention.Today I’m joined by my dear friend and repeat guest, Philip VanDusen, as part of my Ambition In-Between Series. We get real about listening for signals that we need change, allowing for completion and subtraction, the importance of recognizing that transitions often take longer than we think they will, and why you shouldn’t go through transitions alone.Learn more about Philip VanDusen:WebsiteBrand•Muse Newsletter BONFIRE: Mastermind Community for Creative ProsCreative Professional CoachingBrand Design Masters Podcast Threads: @philipvandusenFacebook: @philipvandusen.agencyYouTube: @philipvandusenConnect 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

February 18, 2026Episode 17853 min

178. Rebecca Hinds: The Power of Intentional Work Design

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******This month, I’m exploring sustainability through the lens of leadership and how we can focus our effort to make work better for ourselves and those around us.My guest today, Rebecca Hinds, is an expert on transforming the way we work to be more intentional, efficient, and effective. She urges us to resist functioning on autopilot and consider if our systems and environments are actually working for us and our teams.From how we run meetings, to how we collaborate, and even how we use AI, this episode invites you to invest in the design of how we work.Learn more about Rebecca Hinds:Website: https://www.rebeccahinds.comConnect with Rebecca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-hinds/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

February 4, 2026Episode 17750 min

177. Margaret Andrews: Becoming the Leader Only You Can Be

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******Leadership is hard right now.Maybe one of your intentions for this year is to grow as a leader. Maybe you’re questioning if you even want to be one.For those who choose to be leaders, it’s important to set our intentions so that we can focus our efforts on making work better for ourselves and those around us. In this conversation, Harvard Instructor and leadership expert Margaret Andrews and I discuss why self-leadership is vital to then leading others, how to intentionally and sustainably cultivate new practices and behaviors, and why good leadership doesn't come from following a formula or fitting yourself into a box. It’s about becoming the kind of leader only you can be.Learn more about Margaret Andrews: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

January 21, 2026Episode 17622 min

176. The U-curve of Ambition: Finding Your Sustainable Zone

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******Intentionally choosing where to put our time, energy, and attention is an essential part of Sustainable Ambition. Today, I’m introducing a concept and tool, the U-curve of ambition, that helps us get clear on our current stage and state when it comes to our ambitions. I find this reflection from my book, Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work, really useful at the start of the year. I invite you to join me in assessing where on the U-curve you are as we prioritize how we spend our time and energy in 2026.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

January 7, 2026Episode 17532 min

175. How to Move Forward: Lessons from Creativity (Ambition In-Between Series)

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******Much as we often find ourselves asking “what now” at the culmination of an ambition, the start of a new year is also a time when many of us wonder how best to move forward.For the third episode of our Ambition In-Between series, I want to build on what I’ve shared about the unexpected outcomes and mixed emotions that show up at the completion of a big ambition, and talk about how to move forward when we’re not totally certain what’s next. Over the last year, I’ve been thinking about ambition and growth in terms of the creative process, and I’ve come to believe that if we embrace growth as cyclical and nonlinear, we can unlock a more sustainable, joyful way to build our lives and grow over time.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

December 24, 2025Episode 17432 min

174. How to Deal With Mixed Emotions (Ambition In-Between Series)

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******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

December 10, 2025Episode 17347 min

173. Laura Holson on Inviting Creativity Back Into Your Life

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******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

November 26, 2025Episode 17223 min

172. How to Deal With Unexpected Outcomes (Ambition In-Between series)

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******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

November 12, 2025Episode 17151 min

171. Natalie Nixon on Rethinking Productivity and Redesigning Work

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz******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