What if a good life (or a good job) isn’t just about pleasure or purpose—but about complexity, depth, and surprise?
In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew is joined by Shige Oishi, Professor of Psychology at the University of Chicago, to explore his research on psychological richness. Shige challenges the longstanding view that happiness and meaning are the primary ingredients of well-being, and makes the case for a third dimension that’s often overlooked.
Together, they unpack what can make life feel full: curiosity, variety, a willingness to stray from the expected, and the ability to make sense of it all.
Shige shares how this idea applies not just to life in general, but to how we design our work, navigate our growth, and foster well-being in organizations.
Key Takeaways:
- Psychological richness is the diversity and complexity of life experience—and it matters just as much as happiness or purpose.
- People who pursue psychological richness tend to be more curious, adventurous, and open to growth.
- Even highly structured jobs can become more enriching through small changes, creative framing, or playful experimentation.
- Autonomy, storytelling, and exposure to the arts can help cultivate richness at work and beyond.
Why This Episode Matters:
If we want to make work, and life, feel truly fulfilling, we need more than comfort or cause. We need richness: the bittersweet, unpredictable, meaning-making stuff of experience.
About Our Guest:
Shige Oishi is a professor and leading well-being researcher at the University of Chicago. He studies how culture, context, and social conditions shape our understanding of what it means to live well. He’s also a parent, a lover of art and literature, and a firm believer in taking the scenic route—even on the way to class.
More episodes from "Meaningful Work Matters"
Don't miss an episode of “Meaningful Work Matters” and subscribe to it in the GetPodcast app.
