Turning Challenge into Strength - with Thomas Ousterhout

A small update on what's been going on over the extended summer break, and a few thoughts on what is to come. Ig: @justwandering.podSubscribe to my Substack.

As the podcast reaches its 50th episode, this season is coming to an end. Coincidentally, it feels like a season of my life is also ending.In this episode, I look back on the months since graduating: navigating a tough job market, juggling side quests, and leaning into creativity and passion projects. I also share what I've learned about embracing slowness.Drawing on advice from this season's wonderful guests, this episode is here to help you navigate uncertainty in your own life. We talk about embracing growth, letting go of judgment, knowing yourself better, and getting ready for whatever season comes next.Thank you so much for listening and supporting the podcast, it means a lot <3 Have a lovely summer!Love, Ester xFollow on Instagram and Substack to stay up-to-date: Ig: @justwandering.podSubstack: Just Wandering

Are you a multi-passionate struggling to choose what to focus on? How do you develop self-awareness and clarify your values to make better decisions? And how do you define yourself when no single label fits?Maybe the answer lies in finding your through line: the common thread connecting all your choices.Nima Sophia Tisdall has worn many hats: working at the UN, launching her own startup, founding an NGO, and investing in emerging technologies. In this episode, she shares what this diverse career path has taught her, and the guiding thread that ties it all together.If you've ever felt pulled in multiple directions and wondered how to make sense of it all, this conversation is for you.🎧 Listen to Nima's story now.

Ever felt driven by wanting to have a positive impact on the world, but struggled to figure out where to start?In this episode, I spoke with Milene Pardo-Figueroa, a sustainability professional who has spent her career getting closer and closer to the problems she cares about most: from working at the UN in New York, to founding her own NGO, to today advising startups on how to build businesses that are truly sustainable.Listen to find out how to identify what impact really means to you, and how to find work that doesn't just sound meaningful, but actually feels aligned with who you are and what you value.Find out more: Connect with Milene.

What if not fitting into one role was not a flaw but your biggest asset?In a world that used to reward deep expertise in one area, being a jack-of-all-trades felt like a problem. But today things are changing, and the world increasingly needs more generalists.In this episode, I spoke with Dominik Nitsch, entrepreneur, founder of Generalyst, Lacrosse player, and writer who believes the future belongs to generalists. Through his weekly newsletter, he helps people navigate careers that don't follow a straight line, making the case that adaptability, not specialization, is the most valuable skill you can build.Listen to find out how to make the most of your generalist nature, to trust your ability to figure things out, and how to design a life and career that stays resilient to changes around you.Connect with Dominik:Subscribe to Dominik's newsletter.Apply to Generalyst.Follow Just Wandering on Substack.

What if the hardest moments of your life were actually pointing you toward your purpose?In this episode, I spoke with Thomas Ousterhout, a PhD scholar turned entrepreneur and founder of Hird, a neurotech startup aimed at helping people better understand their mental health and manage stress in the workplace.Thomas's focus on mental health began in his teenage years, when he faced some of his biggest personal struggles. Rather than letting them define him, he turned them into the fuel for his passion and career path from psychology to neuroscience, and from California to Copenhagen.Listen to find out how to look inward to find your motivation, and how to build the habits and consistency to keep moving forward and closer to yourself.Disclaimer: the episode contains brief mentions of suicide and mental health struggles, so please keep this in mind and listen only if comfortable.Follow Just Wandering: Instagram: @justwandering.podTikTok: @_justwandering_Read the latest Substack article.

Are you still able to do things "just because"?We live in a society that pushes us toward increasingly optimised versions of ourselves, where AI can help streamline every process in our lives.Sometimes it feels like we have lost the ability to do things without any final outcome, just enjoying the process of learning something new, being a beginner again, and the joy it can bring us. In a world where every hobby could become a source of income, maybe it's sometimes worth slowing down and reflecting on what it is that actually brings us happiness. Is it the metrics or the action?Resources from the episode:Read the Substack article I mention here: "We've optimised outselves into loneliness" Watch Peter Gray's TEDxTalk here: "The decline of play" Learn more about the Danish Education System here: Society & Business DenmarkFollow Just Wandering:Instagram - @justwandering.podTikTok - @_justwandering_Substack - Just Wandering

What can you do when you want to live too many lives but feel like you have too little time? In this episode, I spoke with Madalina Buzdugan about the lessons she learned from her "non-linear" career. Working at the intersection of sustainability, strategy, and communications, Madalina is also the writer of "The Tired Overachiever", a sarcastic self-help book on the 10 most pressing challenges of our time. Listen to find out how to follow your interests to create opportunities, and how to learn to live in seasons, learning more and more about yourself on the way. Learn more about Madalina and her work: Connect with her on LinkedIn.Read more about "The Tired Overachiever."Contribute to her book by filling in this survey.Follow Just Wandering on: InstagramTikTokSubstack

Have you ever held back from putting yourself out there because you were afraid of seeming cringe?You are not alone. Growing up amidst "cringe culture" has made it easy to fear judgment and hard to find the courage to speak up.But most people who have ever built something or tried something new likely started by doing something that felt embarrassing.In this episode, we explore cringe culture and perfectionism, from growing up in the social media era, to Ocean Vuong's take on education, to what theatre teaches us about the power of play.How can we learn to stop fearing the cringe?Ig: @justwandering.podTiktok: @_justwandering_Read the latest article on Substack

Have you ever wondered why Denmark is often ranked among the happiest countries in the world?There are multiple reasons, but one of them is undoubtedly its focus on work-life balance.In this episode of Just Wandering, I am joined by my friend Susana, who has moved to Denmark to study and has decided to stay and start her full-time career. Join us as we explore her experience, the differences between Denmark and our home countries of Italy and Spain, and the nuances between the concepts of work-life balance and work-life integration. From shorter work days to increased trust and ownership, what can we learn from the Danish way of working and living?Ig: @justwandering.podTikTok: @_justwandering_Read the latest article on the Just Wandering Substack