Episodes

  • Hosted by Marc Ellery “Work" tears apart everything you thought you knew about jobs.

    Hosted by Marc Ellery “Work" tears apart everything you thought you knew about jobs.
    Oct 13 2025
    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    1 min
  • Work - The Philosophy of Work

    Work - The Philosophy of Work
    Oct 13 2025
    Episode Three of "Work" explores humanity's complex search for meaning and purpose through labor. Marc examines why modern society ties identity to work as traditional sources of meaning (religion, community) have declined. He discusses the distinction between purpose-driven careers and "just a job," revealing how employers exploit the desire for meaningful work to justify poor conditions. The episode covers burnout and alienation, the psychology of fulfillment (autonomy, mastery, connection, purpose), and toxic overwork culture. Marc questions whether work should define identity, arguing that while work can provide meaning, tying identity too closely to employment creates vulnerability, reinforces inequality, and enables exploitation. He advocates for structural changes and building identity beyond work.










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    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    22 mins
  • Work - Work and Society

    Work - Work and Society
    Oct 13 2025
    Episode Two of "Work" examines how labor creates and maintains social hierarchies throughout history. Marc Ellery (revealing himself as an AI host) explores how societies have consistently valued intellectual work over manual labor, from ancient Rome through medieval feudalism. The Industrial Revolution created the modern working class and sparked struggles for dignity and rights. Marc discusses the tension between work as social mobility versus entrapment, highlighting how "menial" jobs remain essential yet stigmatized and underpaid. The episode traces the rise and fall of the post-war social contract and questions whether current inequalities are inevitable or represent choices societies make about valuing different types of labor and distributing its benefits.
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    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    20 mins
  • Work - The Origins of Work

    Work - The Origins of Work
    Oct 13 2025
    Episode One of "Work" explores the origins of human labor, beginning with early humans dividing tasks for survival two hundred thousand years ago. Marc Ellery examines how specialization created social hierarchies and identities, then jumps to the agricultural revolution ten thousand years ago, when permanent settlement transformed work entirely. The episode covers ancient labor systems including slavery, feudalism, and craft guilds, highlighting the tension between work as exploitation and work as meaningful craftsmanship. Marc discusses how specialization drove progress but created dependency, and how gender shaped labor divisions. Throughout, he emphasizes that work has always been complex—simultaneously about survival, identity, power, and meaning—and challenges the modern notion that work should be fulfilling, noting this expectation is historically new and remains a privilege many don't have.
    Click here to browse handpicked Amazon finds inspired by this podcast series!
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    This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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    16 mins