Hi,  a first rough cut episode of Working 2050: a speculative oral history is out.   

Listen to it here.

--  So many questions I've been obsessed with over the last year --   what is work?  what makes work feel meaningful?  What social change work matters?   and many other questions other people on this list are also struggling with, are part of this show.   --  This episode is about purpose and meaning in stories. I've talked about purpose here before (mostly as it relates to TV Tropes).  For this show, I talked with Rabbi Menachem Cohen, a spiritual director and tabletop game designer. Previously. they were a youth worker. Now, they make spiritual tabletop games.   This interview in 2020 informed a fictional story, a 2050 interview with Ursula Delany, a burnt out, tired Pathfinder.   There's one thing that Rabbi Menachem said that changed my life, how I think about work for good.   I wanted to share it with you.    -- RABBI MENACHEM:   Before, I was in the streets and I was doing things, and now it’s like “Should I be out there making sandwiches, delivering them? Should I be getting groceries for people? Instead of staying at home and playing games and trying to do online sessions with people?”  But it's about feelings. It's about doing what makes you come alive.   I might go out and feel that I’m doing that because of responsibility.  I might even feel resentment from doing it, because this is not the right way or the right time for me to be doing this, it’s not making me feel alive.   Whatever it is I’m doing I need to be in that oneness, that oneness has me doing whatever is right for me and necessary and right at any given moment.   So again partly wish I had a better answer, rather than — feeling it. But here I am.   There are some things that are not logical and not rational.   And feelings are one of those.  --   I have no idea what I am doing now that this rough cut is done (...haha).  But I want to believe working towards a better future and 'coming alive' can be part of the same path, the same work. For me, for you, for everyone.     Stay safe,  - H  PS -- I'm not totally sure how this will work, but I'm hoping to get 4-5 people together to give feedback on the full season (there are 5 episodes so far). If this is something you'd be interested in, + you liked this (or hated it but want to tell me why) let me know by replying to this email.