Looks Like Work

Finding Your Zone of Genius and What's Right for You (with Tali Slonim)

 In this inspiring conversation, Tali Slonim, CEO and founder of The Stretcher and author of "Unleash Your Talent," shares her journey from corporate HR executive to entrepreneur, coach, and author. Together, Chedva and Tali explore the concept of the "zone of genius" - that sweet spot where passion meets ability - and how major life changes like divorce, loss, and global events can force us to reevaluate our priorities. Tali opens up about her transformation from workaholic to someone who has found sustainable success by questioning traditional work paradigms and asking herself what's truly right for her. The conversation touches on the power of daily writing, the importance of bringing your whole self to work, and how vulnerability and authenticity in business can actually increase credibility and trust.
Key Topics:
The zone of genius: where passion and ability intersect
Transitioning from corporate workaholic to balanced entrepreneur
How major life events (divorce, loss, COVID, war) reshape priorities
The slash (multi-hyphenate)  lifestyle: managing multiple roles and identities
Daily writing as a practice for self-discovery and connection
Bringing authenticity and vulnerability to professional spaces
The importance of questioning "what's right for me" vs. external expectations
How personal tragedies can provide life perspective and proportionality
Writing a book in three months while in flow state
Creating physical spaces that reflect and support your work
Notable Quotes:
"When you work in what you're passionate about, it only looks like work. It doesn't feel like work."
"We are both recovered workaholics."
"On your stone, no one writes 'she didn't spend enough time at work' or 'she was a great HR executive.' People always talk about the kind of friend you were, about the kind of mother, the kind of person you were."
"Once you're in [the zone of genius], it almost feels like you're volunteering, because it's stuff that you would be ready to do for free."
"Work is important but it's not everything... It's part of my life. I'm also other things. It's not 100% of my identity."
 
Tali's Powerful Question: "What's truly right for me? What's right for my values, what's right for my long-term journey, what makes me feel good even physically."
Resources Mentioned:
"Unleash Your Talent" by Tali Slonim
Tali Slonim on Linkedin
"The Big Leap" by Dr. Gay Hendricks (zone of genius concept)
CTI (Co-Active Training Institute) coaching methodology
Get access to CuriosityGPT and find your gateway questions
Connect with your leader mindset and walk out with an actionable roadmap and insights that you actually want to follow - join the Curiosity Lab

Curiosity, Reality, and the Stories We Don't Want to See (with Tal Barda)

 In this profound conversation, filmmaker Tal Barda shares her journey of documenting the unseen realities of our world. Growing up between cultures (Israeli, French, and American), Tal developed a fearless curiosity that drove her to explore places and stories most people prefer to avoid - from prisons to Gaza, from ultra-Orthodox communities to immigrant families navigating tradition versus personal freedom. She discusses her recent film I Shall Not Hate about a Palestinian doctor from Gaza, which was completed just one week before October 7th, and how that tragedy transformed both the film's meaning and her mission as a filmmaker. The conversation explores the intersection of curiosity and introspection, the challenge of belonging when you're always the outsider, and how witnessing difficult realities can lead to personal transformation and social change.
Key Topics:
Using documentary filmmaking to reveal hidden and ignored realities
The power of curiosity as a driving force for personal and professional growth
Growing up between cultures and how that shapes perspective
The challenge and responsibility of filmmaking during times of conflict
Balancing personal safety with the calling to witness difficult truths
The difference between telling big stories through small, human lenses
Finding belonging as a perpetual outsider
The intersection of art, activism, and human connection
Managing the intensity of extreme subject matter while maintaining humanity
Notable Quotes:
"I'm always looking at reality, but the reality that most of us prefer not to see or to ignore."
"If you meet one person and then you can't continue generalizing everything around and you can't continue being so polarized."
"Reality is much stronger than what you planned."
"I feel that 50% of a solution would be just first realizing there's a problem or realizing a reality that we prefer maybe not to look at."
"I feel more lively there [in extreme situations]."
"We can all see ourselves in many different forms and characters. We all have different parts of our personality in ourselves."
"Let the void be a void. We don't have that understanding in our modern society that it's okay that there's a void."
Tal's Powerful Question: "How am I witnessing whatever is taking place and the violence around and doing enough... Am I allowing myself to deal also with my personal issues and questions through these stories?"
Resources Mentioned:
I Shall Not Hate - Tal's documentary about a Palestinian doctor from Gaza (currently screening in 50 cinemas across France)
Prison series "Tזalmon" on Channel 11 (contact Tal if you want to view it internationally)
"Criminal File 512" series about the crime world
Tal on IMDB
Pecha Kucha Festival (Tel Aviv)
Follow Tal's work through Instagram
Get access to CuriosityGPT and find your gateway questions
Connect with your leader mindset and walk out with an actionable roadmap and insights that you actually want to follow - join the Curiosity Lab
Get more questions, thoughts and introspection on Chedva’s newsletter

Resilience Without Questions Can Turn on Your Values (with Chedva Ludmir)

In this deeply personal solo episode, Chedva takes us through her 17-year entrepreneurial journey - from translator to blogger to design journalist to marketing agency owner to tech startup founder and back to founder mode with her new venture, Consider. After recent trips to New York and Greece for conferences, she reflects on the seductive pull of "founder mode" and how easily we can lose ourselves in the pursuit of our dreams. Drawing inspiration from seeing Audra McDonald in the Broadway musical "Gypsy," Chedva explores the dangerous intersection of resilience and ambition when they're not balanced with introspection and question-asking. She shares her own experiences of getting sucked into work identity and offers a powerful warning about how positive traits like determination can turn against our values when left unchecked.
Key Topics:
The evolution of a 17-year entrepreneurial journey across multiple industries
The seductive danger of "founder mode" and losing yourself in your work
How resilience without introspection can make you turn on your own values
The importance of maintaining identity and life outside of your business
Learning to integrate work and personal life rather than compartmentalizing
Growing up multicultural and the sense of belonging everywhere and nowhere
The challenge of sustaining passion projects without burning out
Using Broadway's "Gypsy" as a metaphor for entrepreneurial obsession
The necessity of regular check-ins with yourself and your values
Notable Quotes:
"Resilience without questions or introspection can quickly make you turn on yourself, on your loved ones, and on your values."
"When I don't regularly check in with myself and question my own automatic behavior... I can find myself alone, burnt out, and perhaps even worse, working towards something that is opposed to my values."
"I actually love my life and I wanna be part of it."
"I didn't really love my life back then... a lot of that time I didn't want to stay with my own questions."
Chedva's Powerful Question: "When do these positive, celebrated behaviors or values like resilience and being hardworking turn on us or make us help turn on ourselves? And how can we ask ourselves better questions when it comes to it?"
Resources Mentioned:
Consider.club - Chedva's new venture focused on transformative question-asking
CuriosityGPT - AI tool for asking better questions
chedva.substack.com - Weekly newsletter with questions, musings, and thoughts and specifically this issue about integration
Broadway shows: "Gypsy" starring Audra McDonald, "Death Becomes Her"
Orca Global Network - Global network of Israeli business owners

More Values, Less Effort (with Meirav Rosenberg)

 In this deeply personal conversation, Meirav Rosenberg, CEO and founder of Paz Interactive and author-to-be, joins Chedva to explore the complexities of balancing multiple roles as a mother, entrepreneur, and partner. Together, they dive into themes of vulnerability, taking up space in the world, and the crucial importance of prioritizing yourself to better serve others. Meirav shares her journey of self-discovery, the lessons learned from writing "60 Dates to Love," and how fine-tuning your values leads to effortless alignment. The conversation touches on managing internal voices, the challenges of motherhood, and the power of asking difficult questions to live authentically.
Key Topics:
The courage and challenge of taking up space, especially as parents
Managing the internal dialogue and voices in our heads
Prioritizing self-care as the foundation for good parenting
Values-based prioritization in life and work
The relationship between authenticity and success in business and dating
The importance of letting go and surrendering control
Finding purpose and calling while maintaining balance
The intersection of personal growth and professional success
Burnout, functional medicine, and listening to your body's wisdom
Notable Quotes:
"I want to take up space... I have a certain purpose and a certain duty to speak for people who don't have a voice."
"One of the things that I prioritize is, how can I be a great mom? It's focusing on me first, which is the first priority."
"Filling up my cup so that I can help and I can be there for them in my best way."
"I feel like our body tells us exactly everything."
"The bigger the why, the easier the how."
"I'm not scared of dying, I'm just scared of not living exactly the way that I want to."
"The more honest I got with myself... the less effort [I needed]."
"Sometimes I have to ask myself those hard questions, but I do love asking questions."
Meirav's Powerful Question: "What do you want?" - A simple yet profound question she asks women to help them express their desires and live more authentically.
Resources Mentioned:
Meirav’s free resource "Dating Like a CEO"
Paz Interactive - Meirav's digital marketing agency
Chedva's Curiosity GPT
Chedva’s newsletter on Substack

Prioritizing Joy in the Entrepreneurial Journey (with Lee Rotenberg)

In this engaging conversation, Lee Rotenberg shares her entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of fun and authenticity in her work. She reflects on the challenges of defining success and happiness, the lessons learned from founding and selling companies, and the significance of being present and true to oneself. Lee discusses how her recent LinkedIn post about prioritizing fun in her next career chapter resonated with many, and explains why internal success matters more to her now than external validation. The conversation highlights the evolving nature of entrepreneurship, from the excitement of early-stage creation to the challenges of scaling and fundraising, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating their own path to fulfillment.
Key Topics:
Prioritizing fun and authenticity in your career decisions
Redefining success beyond external validation
Finding happiness through presence and mindfulness
Navigating the emotional roller coaster of entrepreneurship
The joy of early-stage business building versus the challenges of scaling
The drawbacks of fundraising for founders
Learning how to evolve and adapt throughout your journey
The importance of taking action on ideas rather than overthinking
Moving from ArtSetters to Ivy to Clay to Hulken
Notable Quotes:
"This next era of my work chapter will be one where I'm essentially focusing more on fun."
"I want to have delight in my day to day more than I want to have success."
"Being successful is being happy... being very present and not trying to think about what is next."
"When you're able to truly just be you and not worry about the external voices or external wants, that makes me invigorated."
"If you want something too badly, it rarely happens. When you're living your best self, you become a magnet for all different areas of your life."
"People's biggest mistake is they wait to launch or they're overthinking the steps. You need something very shitty in a sense, because that's the only way it's going to get better."
"Fear can still stay there and you can do it while you're scared."
Lee's Powerful Question: "What's the why behind what you're doing? Ask yourself the why and be really honest with yourself on that answer."
Resources Mentioned:
"Let Them" by Mel Robbins - described as "the most life-changing book" Lee has recently read
"How to Be a No Limit Person" by Dr. Wayne Dyer - recommended as motivational and energizing
"You Are a Badass" by Jen Sincero - endorsed as an excellent read
Lee's podcast with Alex called "Unfinished Business" - interviews with inspiring entrepreneurs
Follow Lee on LinkedIn for authentic insights on entrepreneurship
 

Work That's Worth It (with Georgi Enthoven)

 In this episode, Chedva talks with Georgi Enthoven, founder and author of "Work That's Worth It." They explore how to find meaningful work that balances personal fulfillment with positive impact. Georgi challenges the false dichotomy between doing good and earning well, and shares her journey from tech executive to purpose-driven thought leader. This conversation fits perfectly with the season's theme of questioning traditional priorities in our work lives.
Key Topics:
The meaning behind "Work That's Worth It" and why our career choices matter
Finding purpose within our 90,000-hour career journey
Challenging the divide between profitable careers and meaningful impact
The importance of being compensated fairly while doing good
How to discover work that energizes rather than depletes you
Embracing a beginner's mindset throughout your career
Notable Quotes:
"You can't convince ambitious people to give up income. It's about finding options where you can do good and well for yourself."
"I really want the kindest, most empathetic people to get to the top levels where they are pulling the levers of decision making."
"If you are doing good in the world and you burn out in two years, we lose you."
"Work that you're meant to do adds value to your life - it gives you incredible challenges that make you wake up eager to get out of bed."
"The powerful question is: what is worth your 90,000 hours?"
Georgi's Powerful Question: "What is worth your 90,000 hours?"
Resources & Links:
Purchase "Work That's Worth It": Available at major booksellers
Calculate your remaining career hours: https://georgienthoven.com/
Follow Georgi on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgienthoven/
Subscribe to Chedva's newsletter: chedva.substack.com

Reclaiming Sacred Texts (with Chaya Gilboa)

 Chaya Gilboa, a Talmud scholar and activist who grew up in an ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem, shares her journey of reclaiming Jewish texts that women were traditionally forbidden to study. The conversation explores the intersection of spirituality, embodiment, and challenging patriarchal systems, as well as how ancient wisdom can provide comfort during times of crisis.
Key Topics:
Chaya's experience studying Talmud as a revolutionary act
The emotional and spiritual dimensions of reclaiming religious texts
Integrating body and mind in spiritual and intellectual practice
Creating new approaches to ancient texts during crisis and war
Balancing calling, career, and family life
Notable Quotes:
"I was pushed out of the door and I looked for the window to go back in."
"I couldn't breathe. I needed to take walks at Ben Gurion University because my body was not even excited, I was uplifted in ways that I didn't even know knowledge could uplift me."
"For many years, growing up, I didn't really know my body. We never talked about the body - the body was something that either you are ashamed of or you need to cover."
"I'm 41 and it's the first time in my life that I'm in sync with what I love to do, what I'm passionate about, what I'm good at, and what I think the world needs."
Chaya's Powerful Question: "What am I chasing after, and what am I running from?"
Resources Mentioned:
Chaya’s beautiful website
Follow Chaya on Instagram: @chayagilboa
 

Creating Safe Places (with Or Alterman-Barnea)

Or Alterman-Barnea, co-founder and CEO of Mekomot Shmurim (Safe Place), discusses how she transformed theatrical experiences for neurodivergent children. After her own son's autism diagnosis, Or created performances where the lights stay on, sounds remain gentle, and children can move freely without judgment—revolutionizing cultural accessibility across Israel.
Key Topics:
The concept of "relaxed performances" designed for neurodivergent audiences
Creating theater experiences without surprises or sensory overload
The power of community in addressing unmet needs
Or's journey from cultural journalist to inclusive theater pioneer
The philosophy of adapting systems to people instead of forcing people to adapt
Notable Quotes:
"When we started it and thought about 'safe place,' we didn't imagine what kind of meaning 'safe place' would have for us now."
"Every single spoiler that you can think of. There are no surprises."
"It's like we call it a 'shoosh-free zone.' Nobody will shoosh them."
"Many, many families came and said to us, 'This is our first time in the theater.' And we're talking about seven-year-old children, nine-year-old children."
"We're so used to telling this child, 'Listen, if you can't sit then go out'... But no, we will leave the door open. It's on your terms now."
Or's Powerful Question: "When was the last time you thought about who makes the decisions for you? Who decides how people are supposed to dress, to act, to spend their free time, to sit in the theater?"
Resources Mentioned:
The 2025 Safe Place Festival is happening this month - details and tickets are here
Big Umbrella Festival (inspiration for Safe Places): Lincoln Center
Mama-Zone Facebook community (Or's previous initiative): Join here

When Your Dream No Longer Fits (with Natalie Rozenboim)

In this conversation with former Resonai COO Natalie Rozenboim, Chedva explores what happens when we achieve the goals we've worked toward, only to discover they don't feel right anymore. They discuss the pandemic's role in prompting career reassessment, the guilt associated with questioning achievements we've worked hard for, and how to navigate changes in what we want from life.
Key Topics:
The pandemic as a catalyst for questioning career paths
The identity crisis of outgrowing professional achievements
Guilt and confusion when questioning the life we've built
Breaking free from the "sunk cost" mentality
Generational differences in approaching work-life integration
Notable Quotes:
"There's like this pressure to find your thing, which has to encompass so many things. It has to be not only how you make a living, but also something you're passionate about."
"You almost gaslight yourself. Like, why would I not want this? The problem is me."
"We tend to think we just need to decide what we want and just go for it, but I think it's more of a continuous quest."
"We mistake control for progress - holding tightly to answers gives an illusion of forward movement, even when we're standing still."
Natalie's Powerful Question: "Am I building the life I want to live, or do I feel trapped in this life? And what am I going to do about it?"
Resources & Links:
Connect with Natalie on IG https://www.instagram.com/natalie_roz/
Kelly Mindell's blog post "The Year I Built a Life I Don't Want"
Book recommendation: "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende
Article: "The Great Resignation and Rethinking Priorities Post-Pandemic"

The Questions We Don't Dare to Ask (Solo Episode)

In this solo episode, Chedva Ludmir introduces the new season of Looks Like Work, focusing on three pivotal questions: What do you do when your dream no longer feels right? How do you reclaim a system built to suppress you? And how are you questioning traditional priorities? She explores the concept of "gateway questions" - those gentle inquiries that help us approach what we're afraid to confront - and shares why staying with questions might be more valuable than rushing to answers.
Key Topics:
Introduction to the three guiding questions for Season 3
The power of staying with questions even when we crave certainty
Using "gateway questions" to approach difficult life decisions
How world events have led to deeper questioning of our choices
Notable Quotes:
"When the world feels like it's on fire, there's this powerful urge to flock behind anyone speaking in exclamation points."
"We need gateway questions, those gentle indirect inquiries that help us approach what we're really afraid to confront."
"What I could ask myself at that point was: when will I be ready to ask myself that question?"
Resources Mentioned:
Chedva's newsletter at chedva.substack.com
Previous seasons of Looks Like Work podcast