
Why Mattering Matters with Jennifer Wallace
From Teaching in Higher Ed by Bonni Stachowiak
May 14, 2026 · 41 min · Episode 622
About this episode
Jennifer Wallace discusses her book on the importance of mattering in life and its impact on engagement and connection.
Jennifer Wallace shares about her book, Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose on episode 622 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast. Quotes from the episode Mattering says you belong at the table, but it goes even further, and it says you would be missed if you weren’t here. You are adding value, and we would notice if you weren’t here. -Jennifer Wallace We have so much input and so much output being demanded of us today that often we go through life on autopilot. -Jennifer Wallace Mattering is not another thing to add to your to-do list. Mattering is a way of looking at your to-do list. -Jennifer Wallace When you look at the data on what drives performance, it is engagement. And what drives engagement is mattering. -Jennifer Wallace Resources Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, by Jennifer Wallace Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It, by Jennifer Wallace Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, by Robert D. Putnam Jennifer Wallace’s Website Mattering Movement Gallup-Purdue Index Report Nancy Schlossberg’s Transition Theory World Spins Madly On…
People in this episode
Host: Bonni Stachowiak
Guest: Jennifer Wallace
Topics covered
- mattering
- connection
- purpose
- engagement
- achievement culture
Keywords
- mattering
- connection
- purpose
- engagement
- achievement culture
- performance
- autopilot
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Gallup-Purdue Index
Books & works: Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—and What We Can Do About It, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
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