Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

Your Screen Is Changing Your Brain. Take Back Control, with Jonathan Haidt

If you feel like your attention span has shrunk, you’re not imagining it. According to social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, our phones and social platforms have fundamentally reshaped childhood, work, and our ability to focus. In his bestselling book The Anxious Generation, Jon argues that the rise of smartphones and social media triggered what he calls the “great rewiring of childhood.” But the consequences extend far beyond kids. In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi talks with Jon about what constant connectivity is doing to our minds,how we got here, and why reclaiming our attention may be one of the most important challenges of our time. Jon and Jess discuss: * How smartphones reshaped adolescent development * Why social media use is linked strongly to rising anxiety and depression among young people * How tech platforms are intentionally designed to capture and fragment our attention * Why today’s digital tools isolate people * Practical steps families, workplaces, and individuals can take to reclaim focus and develop healthier tech habits * Why restoring unstructured play, independence, and boredom is critical for healthy development At its core, this conversation asks a simple question: What happens when an entire society loses control of its attention, and how do we get it back? Find Jon’s new book for kids, The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World, here [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/797271/the-amazing-generation-by-jonathan-haidt-and-catherine-price-illustrated-by-cynthia-yuan-cheng/].  Follow Jonathan Haidt [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-haidt-2a594666/] and Jessi Hempel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessihempel/] on LinkedIn.

Why We Quit Too Soon, and How to Keep Going

Do you think of your beliefs as immutable facts? If so, you might be holding yourself back. In this episode of Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Nir Eyal, bestselling author whose work sits at the intersection of psychology, technology, and human potential. His latest book, Beyond Belief [https://www.nirandfar.com/beyond-belief/], explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape our motivation, and how changing those stories can change our outcomes. In this conversation, Jessi and Nir explore how limiting beliefs take hold, why our brains default to helplessness, and how we can challenge the narratives that keep us stuck. Jessi and Nir discuss: * Why beliefs should be treated as tools, not truths * How limiting beliefs undermine motivation and progress * The “motivation triangle” and why belief is essential to action * Why we often quit too early, and what a famous rat experiment reveals about persistence * A practical method for questioning assumptions and collecting new perspectives * Why visualization can actually hurt motivation, and what to do instead * The difference between pain and suffering, and why separating the two matters At the heart of Nir’s work is a simple idea: our minds default to safety and survival, not growth. But when we learn to question the beliefs that hold us back, we can unlock more motivation, agency, and possibility in our lives. Follow Nir Eyal [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nireyal/] and Jessi Hempel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessihempel/] on LinkedIn. Office Hours are back! Join Jessi live [https://www.linkedin.com/events/7443405290340827136?viewAsMember=true] from her LinkedIn page on Wednesday 4/1 at 3pm EST.

Why Women’s Health Is a Workplace Issue with Melinda French Gates and Regina Dugan

Women spend nearly a decade more of their lives in poor health than men. It’s a gap that doesn’t just affect individuals, it holds back entire organizations. This week on Hello Monday, Jessi Hempel sits down with Melinda French Gates, philanthropist and founder of Pivotal, and Regina E. Dugan, President and CEO of Wellcome Leap, to unpack the health disparities impacting women at work, and explore what it will take to close them. Melinda and Regina both operate at the intersection of capital, science, and equity. Together, they are rethinking how we invest in women’s health, examining why progress has been so slow, and identifying what leaders can do to drive meaningful change. Jessi, Melinda, and Regina discuss: * Why women spend more years in poor health, and how that affects their careers * The ways health inequities limit advancement and economic opportunity * Why investing in women’s health isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a smart move financially * The role senior leadership plays in reshaping outcomes for women at work * How policy, science, and leadership all play a part in closing the health gap for women Follow Melinda French Gates [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindagates/], Regina E. Dugan [https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-dugan-321687121/], and Jessi Hempel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessihempel/] on LinkedIn This conversation was recorded live in Bellevue, Washington. If you’re a premium member, you can watch the extended version, featuring lots more audience questions, here [https://www.linkedin.com/events/7430000361857347584?viewAsMember=true]. We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at hellomonday@linkedin.com [hellomonday@linkedin.com] and let us know!

Think Like A Futurist: Respond, Don’t React

AI is reshaping industries and jobs faster than most of us can keep up. But futurist Amy Webb argues we have more control over what lies ahead than we might think.  In today’s episode, Jessi Hempel sits down with Amy, founder and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group and one of the world’s leading experts on strategic foresight. For nearly two decades, Amy’s annual tech trends report has helped leaders understand what’s coming next, and what to do about it. Amy and Jessi explore the concept of creative destruction—the economic force that disrupts old systems to make room for new ones—and what today’s wave of AI-driven change means for workers, leaders, and organizations. Amy and Jessi discuss: * What creative destruction really means, and why we should embrace it * How AI and emerging technologies are transforming industries faster than many leaders expect * How leaders can strategically prepare for trends and crises, rather than merely reacting to them * Why organizations need to invest in foresight and long-term thinking * How individuals can position themselves to adapt and thrive during rapid transformation Follow Amy Webb [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywebb/] and Jessi Hempel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessihempel/?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base%3BQX22DGf9TGC0fKMpD6z8LA%3D%3D] on LinkedIn Learn more about The Future Today Strategy Group [https://ftsg.com/] Watch Amy’s 2026 SXSW talk  [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFHlNmyGFFM] We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at hellomonday@linkedin.com [hellomonday@linkedin.com]

The New Intelligence That Matters More Than IQ

What skill is most critical in a world defined by constant change? Leadership coach and author Liz Tran believes it’s AQ, or agility quotient. In this episode of Hello Monday, host Jessi Hempel sits down with Liz to explore why traditional measures of intelligence like IQ and even EQ may matter less in today’s AI-powered, rapidly evolving workplace. Instead, Liz argues that what really predicts success is our ability to adapt, navigate uncertainty, and respond to change. Liz’s new book is AQ: A New Kind of Intelligence for a World That's Always Changing. Drawing from her work with executives, founders, and professionals across industries, she explains how AQ works—and why it’s a skill anyone can develop. Together, Jessi and Liz unpack how strengthening your agility quotient can help you navigate career transitions, unexpected challenges at work, and a future where skills evolve faster than ever. Liz and Jessi discuss: * What AQ (agility quotient) is—and why it may matter more than IQ or EQ in the modern workplace * Why AI and automation are leveling traditional intelligence advantages * The four AQ archetypes—Astronaut, Novelist, Firefighter, and Neurosurgeon—and how each handles change * How understanding your archetype can guide career decisions, leadership style, and personal growth * How to build resilience and adaptability in a world where careers span multiple industries and roles Follow Liz Tran [https://www.linkedin.com/in/liztran1/] and Jessi Hempel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessihempel/]on LinkedIn.  We will be launching the Hello Monday book club soon. If you’re interested in joining, send us an email at hellomonday@linkedin.com [hellomonday@linkedin.com] and let us know!