104. Moral Ambition: is the Search for Meaningful Work Possible in a Capitalist Economy
About this episode
This episode explores the complexities of pursuing meaningful work within a capitalist economy and introduces a framework for understanding different types of work.
A growing number of people feel caught between the desire to build meaningful lives and the economic realities of surviving within systems that often reward status, productivity, and profit over contribution and care. Inspired by Moral Ambition and reflections on work, vocation, and systems change, this episode explores what it actually means to direct our ambition toward making the world better, and why that path is often far more complicated than inspirational narratives suggest. The conversation unpacks the rise of “bullshit jobs,” the emotional tension many changemakers feel between survival and purpose, and why some of the most meaningful forms of contribution are not always financially rewarded under capitalism. The episode also introduces a practical framework for understanding the four types of work — hobbies, jobs, careers, and vocations — and how changemakers can navigate purpose-driven lives without romanticising burnout or unrealistic expectations. 📰 Read the accompanying article for this podcast episode here. Join the Changemaker Q&A Community & ASK YOUR QUESTIONS…
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