Making Your 80,000 Hours Count (with Benjamin Todd)

About this episode

Benjamin Todd discusses how to make the most of your working hours and the misconceptions surrounding career choices.

If you want to change the world, how you spend your 80,000 working hours may be the most important decision you can make. Benjamin Todd, founder of 80,000 Hours, joins EconTalk's Russ Roberts to dismantle the career advice you've been fed since childhood. "Follow your passion" turns out to be a trap. Chasing a big paycheck barely moves the happiness needle. And being a doctor has a smaller impact than you might think, says Todd. Todd and Roberts wrestle with the real ingredients of a fulfilling career--engaging work, supportive colleagues, meaningful problems--while debating whether Jeff Bezos has lived a worthy life and why most people won't part with 10% of their income to save lives abroad. Along the way, you'll meet unsung heroes like David Nalin, whose solution to dehydration saves millions of children's lives.

People in this episode

Host: Russ Roberts

Guest: Benjamin Todd

Topics covered

• career advice
• meaningful work
• happiness
• philanthropy
• life choices

Keywords

• 80,000 Hours
• career fulfillment
• happiness
• meaningful problems
• income donation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: 80,000 Hours

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