Sustainable Ambition

Hosted by Kathy Oneto

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189

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Oct 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

October 14, 2026Episode 18850 min

188. Scott Curran on Why You Don’t Need More to Make a Difference

Learn more my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books ************ For many of us, success and personal satisfaction are tied to feeling a sense of purpose and our ability to make meaningful contributions in our lives and work. But these days, finding a sense of purpose and meaning can feel impossible. Some of us might even feel like we don’t have what it takes to contribute and make a difference. My guest today, Scott Curan, has spent his career helping others recognize that we are all capable of doing “better good” from wherever we stand right now. Scott shares his Better Good framework, how small actions can have profound impacts, and how doing Better Good supports sustainability. Learn more about Scott Curran: Website: https://www.scottmcurran.com Beyond Advisers: https://www.beyondadvisers.com Better Good Podcast: https://pod.link/1867499936 Instagram: @scottmcurran Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottmcurran/ Thanks for Listening! I partner with organizations and leaders through consulting, workshops, and speaking to help teams align the right goals with the right focus and the right effort. Let's explore: https://sustainableambition.com/contact 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/podcast 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

September 30, 2026Episode 18742 min

187. Eli Susman: Micropractices That Weave Wellbeing Into Your Life

Discover your state of ambition. Take the quiz at: https://sustainableambition.com/quiz ****** A lot of us are looking for ways to support our wellbeing in everyday life, but find it hard to make time for building consistent habits, especially with so many things pulling on our time and attention. But my guest, Eli Susman, PhD, found that we don’t need to set aside large chunks of time to devote to wellness. Eli coined the term micropractice to describe the tiny shifts that everyone can access to support our wellbeing in real life. In our conversation, Eli explains the science behind the effectiveness of micropractices and talks about his step-by-step guide for consistently integrating them into your life so that wellbeing becomes a way of being. Learn more about Eli Susman, PhD: Newsletter: https://micropractice.substack.com Connect on LinkedIn Bluesky: @micropractice.bsky.social Threads: @eli.susman Instagram: @eli.susman TikTok: @eli.susman X: @elisusman Thanks for Listening! I work one-on-one with people who are ready to define what's next, lead with more impact or build a life with work that's sustainable. If you're in that place, I'd love to explore that with you. https://sustainableambition.com/coaching 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/podcast Learn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

September 16, 2026Episode 18651 min

186. Jen Fisher on Why Hope Is a Strategy

Learn more my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books ************ What if hope isn’t just something we feel but something we can practice? In this conversation, I talk with Jen Fisher, CEO of The Wellbeing Team, about why hope belongs in the workplace, and why it may be one of the most important leadership skills we need right now. We also talk about the workplace norms we’ve simply accepted as “the way things are,” the human side of AI and organizational transformation, and why sustainable performance shouldn’t be confused with slacking or disengagement. And Jen shares from her own experience of burnout and success and how this changed the way she thinks about work and the life we’re building alongside our careers. Learn more about Jen Fisher: Website: http://www.jen-fisher.com Hope Is the Strategy: The Underrated Skill That Transforms Work, Leadership, and Wellbeing: https://bookshop.org/p/books/hope-is-the-strategy-the-underrated-skill-that-transforms-work-leadership-and-wellbeing-jen-fisher/45851d41477ccb5f The WorkWell Podcast: https://www.jen-fisher.com/podcast Instagram: @jenfish23 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-fisher-7403868/ Thanks for Listening! I partner with organizations and leaders through consulting, workshops, and speaking to help teams align the right goals with the right focus and the right effort. Let's explore: https://sustainableambition.com/contact 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/podcast 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

September 2, 2026Episode 18546 min

185. Todd Brock on Building Sustainability in Our Careers and Organizations

What if Sustainable Ambition is about designing work and careers in a way that allows us to keep doing what matters? In this episode, I’m joined by my longtime friend and former colleague Todd Brock. Our conversation gets into how leaders can create the conditions for people to do meaningful, ambitious work, sustainably. Todd makes a compelling case that team sustainability is designed, never accidental. That means being clear about strategy and priorities, designing jobs and systems so the work can actually get done within a reasonable amount of time, and paying attention when people are consistently overwhelmed. 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/podcast Learn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books Get 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

August 19, 2026Episode 18426 min

184. Why Choosing Your Work Feels So Hard

We’re often given simple models for navigating work: follow your passion, find your purpose, do what you love. But the truth is, the world of work was never that simple to begin with. In this episode, I take a closer look at why navigating work can feel so hard, and importantly, why feeling that way doesn’t mean we’re doing it wrong. Drawing on recent conversations and my ongoing research about the history of work and economics, I explore the complexity of the systems we work within, the many things work means in our lives, and the trade-offs we inevitably have to make. The world of work will keep changing. We may not control the systems we operate within, but we do have agency in how we engage with them. 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/podcast Learn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books Get 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

August 5, 2026Episode 18349 min

183. Adam Russell on Building Better Humans in the Age of AI

In the midst of rapid technological change and uncertainty about the future, how can we foster a position of agency and optimism about what comes next? My guest today, anthropologist and AI leader, Adam Russell, offers a key mindset shift that embraces exploration and invites us to actively shape the systems we work within. Rather than focusing on fear or replacement, Adam offers a thoughtful and hopeful perspective on how AI can help us rethink work, leadership, and the future. I left this conversation feeling more optimistic about the future. The path ahead of us may not be clear, but we have an opportunity to shape it together. Learn more about Adam Russell: Website: https://www.isi.edu/directory/adam-russell/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ai-nthropologist/ 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/podcast Learn more about my book Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work at : https://sustainableambition.com/books Get 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

July 22, 2026Episode 18252 min

182. DJ DiDonna: How Sabbaticals Help Us Build Sustainable Lives

I'm a believer in sabbaticals. But as glorious as they can be, they're also a lot like life: they rarely go exactly as planned. I have found that having a plan going into one can make all the difference: thinking about how you want to use the time, how you'll make choices, and how you'll move with whatever unfolds along the way. Which is why I’m excited to be in conversation today with DJ DiDonna about his experiences with and research on sabbaticals. We talk about why sabbaticals are critical for Sustainable Ambition, the sabbatical archetypes he identified in his research, and, of course, practical steps for planning one. Learn more about DJ DiDonna: Website: https://djdidonna.com/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djdidonna/ 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/podcast Learn 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! Get 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

July 8, 2026Episode 18123 min

181. What If Curiosity Matters More Than Certainty?

Pauses can be powerful. There’s a Japanese concept called ma that translates literally as gap, space, or pause. In both art and life, it’s a strategic negative space that makes what comes next inevitable. During my break, I’ve been thinking a lot about the value of strategic pauses. And all the while, I’ve also needed to shift into execution mode and get certain things done. As I return to the podcast, I want to share what I’ve found about dancing between states of exploration and execution, frameworks that have helped me create context and shape for how I’m using my time, and the ideas and themes I’ll be exploring in upcoming episodes. 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/podcast Learn 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! Get 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe

March 18, 2026Episode 18030 min

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

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/podcast Learn 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.com Sign 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)

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: Website Brand•Muse Newsletter BONFIRE: Mastermind Community for Creative Pros Creative Professional Coaching Brand Design Masters Podcast Threads: @philipvandusen Facebook: @philipvandusen.agency YouTube: @philipvandusen Connect on LinkedIn 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/podcast Learn 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.com Sign up for my curated bi-weekly Sustainable Ambition Forum newsletter at: https://sustainableambition.com/subscribe