Looks Like Work

Chedva Ludmir
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Welcome to Looks Like Work. After learning, succeeding, failing (a lot) and learning even more, I decided to do what I do best and ask lots of questions. In this podcast I’ll be exploring work, career, entrepreneurship and everything that makes for a fulfilling and joyful life through conversations, opinions and curated content. Looks Like Work is a podcast by Chedva Ludmir, a serial entrepreneur obsessed with the future of work, reading, politics and curiosity.

  1. OCT 14

    Chaos as a Compass with Linda Du

    Guest Bio Linda Du is the founder of Moola Money, a FinTech startup providing financial guidance for millennials. A British-Chinese first-generation immigrant with an engineering degree from Cambridge and MBA from Yale, Linda spent 4.5 years at McKinsey advising global banks before leaving to build her own ventures. Her international journey spans London, Dubai, Berlin, and Silicon Valley, bringing a unique global perspective to democratizing financial literacy. She also runs Okta Investment, applying over a decade of retail investing experience. Episode Summary Linda shares her journey from McKinsey consultant to FinTech founder, driven by an embrace of chaos and the "outsider advantage." We explore how being perpetually foreign shaped her ability to navigate uncertainty, why Germany's Industry 2.0 mindset struggles in today's volatile world, and how undiagnosed ADHD led to burnout but ultimately revealed her entrepreneurial superpowers. Linda reveals why even high-earning professionals struggle with personal finance and how transparency—not complexity—is the key to financial empowerment. Key Takeaways The Outsider Advantage: Being perpetually foreign gives you permission to shape your own identity and break cultural norms—a superpower for founders Chaos Over Control: In a world of infinite unknowns, the ability to navigate chaos beats trying to control outcomes De-risking vs Control: Instead of trying to control everything, focus on reducing risk while maintaining flexibility Purpose + Lifestyle: Sustainable work comes from both caring about what you do AND designing a lifestyle that supports your neurodivergence Financial Transparency: People's finances are often better than they imagine—they just need clarity, not more complexity Memorable Quotes "I embraced the fact that I would always be an outsider. And there's actually a lot of incredible power in that because people can't really expect you to fit into cultural norms." "Risk equals reward, but it's about how do you be smart in taking that risk?" "I see so much opportunity for international collaboration... but I feel like we're going in another direction where countries and states are starting to say, let's do things our way." "If you didn't have to work for a living, what would you do with your time?" Resources Mentioned Pierre Bourdieu's forms of capital (economic, cultural, social) Maslow's hierarchy of needs China Plus One investment strategy Stanford investor education program Moola Money: [Website link] Gravitas - 1:1 accelerator for biz owners stepping into their founder era The Curiosity Lab - Strategy sessions for leaders by Chedva You’re Gonna Want to Sit Down for This - bi-weekly email packed with lessons and free tools Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions Reflection Questions How might being an "outsider" in your industry actually be your biggest advantage? Where in your life are you trying to control outcomes instead of de-risking? What would you do with your time if money wasn't a factor?

    44 min

  2. SEP 30

    The Performance Paradox with Yewande Faloyin

    Guest Bio Yewande Faloyin is the founder of Otito Leadership and a certified executive coach specializing in energy leadership and performance optimization. With a unique background spanning software development at IBM and Morgan Stanley, management consulting at McKinsey, and hedge fund advisory, Yewande brings a holistic approach to leadership development. After experiencing severe burnout, she discovered coaching and became certified in energy leadership, helping leaders move from burnout cycles to sustainable peak performance. Episode Summary In this powerful conversation, Yewande shares her unconventional journey from tech to leadership coaching, driven by a pattern of boredom that led to continuous evolution. We explore the dangerous myth of "pushing through" in high-achievement cultures and why traditional resilience might be keeping us stuck. Yewande introduces her revolutionary framework that moves beyond burnout recovery to true performance optimization - where rest becomes a strategic tool and integration of mind, body, and spirit drives sustainable success. Key Takeaways Boredom as a Compass: What seems like restlessness might actually be your internal guidance system pointing you toward your next evolution The Performance Paradox: True high performance isn't about pushing harder - it's about mastery orientation over outcome orientation Integration Over Separation: The greatest transformations happen when we stop compartmentalizing and start integrating all aspects of ourselves - technical and creative, strategic and intuitive Quality Over Compliance: Going through the motions of self-care (yoga, sleep, nutrition) means nothing if the energy behind them is angry or resentful Rest as Performance Enhancement: Athletes rest 75% of the time - why do knowledge workers think they can perform while running on empty? Memorable Quotes "If it's your calling, it'll keep calling." "I often say that rest is your only legal performance enhancer." "You could choose to rest, I could choose to rest, and yours could be effective and mine might not be because of the how." "No one else's answer makes any difference whatsoever. It's all about you and what's important to you. And that's okay to switch it every single day." Resources Mentioned Energy Leadership certification (IPEC) Website: [Otito Leadership website] Yewande on LinkedIn Gravitas - 1:1 accelerator for biz owners stepping into their founder era The Curiosity Lab - Strategy sessions for leaders by Chedva You’re Gonna Want to Sit Down for This - bi-weekly email packed with lessons and free tools Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions Reflection Questions Where in your life are you "ticking boxes" without addressing the quality or energy behind your actions? What would change if you viewed rest as a performance tool rather than a weakness? How might boredom be guiding you toward your next evolution?

    45 min

  3. SEP 9

    From AI Research to Alternative Healing (with Palveshey Tariq)

    In this transformative conversation, Palveshey Tariq—founder of Alternative Coaching Methods—shares her journey from quantum physics and AI research to guiding others through plant medicine ceremonies. After collecting all the accolades in STEM but feeling empty inside, a suic*de attempt led to a two-year journey of meditating 4-8 hours daily and completely rewiring her relationship with herself. What started as reaching for psilocybin mushrooms as an escape became five hours of taking ownership of her role in her own suffering. The conversation explores how we trade our authentic selves for conditional love starting in childhood, why observing our behavior (internally and externally) changes everything, and how fear drives most of our achievements until we learn to operate from integrity instead. Palveshey reveals her morning routine, why "discipline is the highest form of self-respect," and how asking "How do you know it's true?" can dismantle an entire belief system. Key Topics: From quantum physics to consciousness: the observer effect applied internally Why high achievement doesn't equal high performance (vitality and balance) Trading authenticity for love: "I am who I think you think I am" A psilocybin ceremony that wasn't an escape but a mirror The body screaming what the mind ignores: menstrual pain as communication Morning routine as self-respect: meditation, walking, yoga, reading, then clients   Notable Quotes: "Plant medicines shed light on all the dark areas and assign you homework, but you still have to go home and do the work." "There's a fine line between owning your shit and being full of it." "In order to become a graceful master, we need to look like a foolish beginner." "In order for a spiritual awakening to happen, there has to be a mental breakdown." "Creation and contribution are the antidotes for comparison and criticism". Palveshey's Powerful Question: "How do you know it's true?"—And the crucial follow-up: "What's truer?"   Key Lessons: Our subconscious starts believing love is conditional around age 2-3 The difference between religion and spirituality/devotion Integration is the most important part of plant medicine work Your body whispers before it screams—listen early Four motivators: fear, desire, duty, or love—know which drives you Turn "why me?" into "watch me" Right and wrong are illusions—feel what's right in the moment Resources Mentioned: Alternative Coaching Methods  The Diamond Cutter (and other books mentioned on this season - affiliate links) No Bullshit Spirituality newsletter - one hard truth, one simple turnaround LinkedIn for Palveshey's writings Gravitas - 1:1 accelertaors for biz owners stepping into their founder era The Curiosity Lab - Strategy sessions for leaders by Chedva You’re Gonna Want to Sit Down for This - bi-weekly email packed with lessons and free tools Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions

    48 min

  4. SEP 2

    Finding Heart in Hard News (with Yonat Friling - Frühling)

    In this deeply moving conversation, Yonat Friling - Frühling—Senior Field Producer at Fox News with 20 years in the field—shares her journey from a tiny desert community in Israel to the Oval Office and war zones around the world. Starting with a child's determination to witness history firsthand after watching the Berlin Wall fall on TV, Yonat built a career that puts her at the center of breaking news. The conversation explores how she fought gender barriers to get into the field, why she called every field crew member to apologize after her first day on location, and what it means to carry the weight of covering tragedies like October 7th. Yonat opens up about breaking the "shields" journalists build around themselves, the importance of vulnerability in a profession that demands toughness, and how she's learning that having your dream job doesn't mean sacrificing your dream life. Key Topics: "I want to be THERE"—watching the Berlin Wall fall at age 9 Why everyone in the control room should spend a day in the field Covering October 7th and losing friends on both sides Breaking the shame barrier around journalists' mental health The fragility of life: from Morocco's earthquake to Gaza's war Finding ways to have both your dream job AND dream life Notable Quotes: "If you assume that you already have the no, you already lost. So have the no and try to work around it." "I want to be there...in the front seat of history"—at age 9 watching the Berlin Wall fall "The first day I was out in the field...I called all the people I used to work with and apologized." "You're not the tiny child from Sde Boker...standing behind the president in the Oval Office" "When you try to bury down [your pain], the toll is even greater because you lose so much of yourself." "Even the most devastating days of your life can be a stepping stone for moving forward."   Yonat's Powerful Questions: "Was it a good day?"—Asked daily, finding at least three good things "Is there something that I haven't asked that I should have?"—The magic happens after the interview ends Key Lessons: The "no" is just the starting point—work around it Everyone thinks about failures; rewire your brain to think about successes Mental health is just health—there's no shame in seeking help You can build shields to protect yourself, but they also keep people away Being afraid in dangerous situations is healthy—everyone should be asked Progress for women in journalism: yes, but not enough Resources Mentioned: Yonat on Fox News—20 years as Senior Field Producer Yonat’s Linkedin Brené Brown's work on vulnerability Gravitas - 1:1 accelertaors for biz owners stepping into their founder era The Curiosity Lab - Strategy sessions for leaders by Chedva You’re Gonna Want to Sit Down for This - bi-weekly email packed with lessons and free tools Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions

    45 min

  5. AUG 26

    Building a Business That Supports Your Life (with Jasz Joseph)

    In this energizing conversation, Jasz Joseph—founder of Jasz Rae Digital and HubSpot CRM consultant—shares how burnout from tracking billable hours in 0.25 increments led her to build a business centered on time freedom and travel. After calling her CEO to quit and having him become her second client, Jasz has spent four and a half years creating systems that allow her LinkedIn posts, newsletters, and sales campaigns to run while she's exploring coffee shops in Mexico City. The conversation dives into the trap of tying identity to business success, why "business should be boring" might be the best advice she's received, and how asking "why not?" can uncover the people-pleasing tendencies that hold us back. Jasz reveals how she's learned to sit in the discomfort of slow seasons and trust that busy times will return—all while refusing to track a single billable hour. Key Topics: Why efficient people get penalized in the billable hours model Building systems that work while you're at the beach (or in Mexico City coffee shops) The identity trap: when business struggles feel like personal failure Learning to sit in slow seasons without panicking The eldest daughter to entrepreneur pipeline (it's real) Travel as a business priority: working from everywhere Finding excitement outside the business when it becomes "rinse and repeat" Notable Quotes: "I caught myself one day folding laundry, and I said to myself, 'That took 0.25 of an hour.' And I was like, this is crazy" "Business should be boring. That's when you know you've kind of made it" "My LinkedIn posts are going out, my newsletter is going out, my sales outreach campaigns are going out, and I don't have to move a muscle" "I was like, 'What's next for us?' Revenue was lower...and because my business was so wrapped up in my identity, I took that so personally" "Sometimes your flowery is bigger and sometimes your flowery is too small and you need more of it" "We live in a society that is uncomfortable with quiet, with stillness" "It's one of the cool things about getting older—you start to collect all of these like, 'Wait, I did that' or 'Wait, I can do that'" Jasz's Powerful Question: "Why not?"—Often followed by "What's the worst thing that could happen?" to uncover the people-pleasing tendencies and fears that hold us back. Resources Mentioned: Jasz Rae Digital - HubSpot CRM consulting Christina Langdon - Chedva's former coach - on Looks Like Work   Key Lessons: Automation should give you time back, not enable more hustle Your business being your whole identity makes failures feel personal Slow seasons are for nourishment, not panic Gateway questions help you approach big, scary decisions The evidence of your resilience already exists—you just need to collect it Travel and business integration creates a life of genuine freedom Retry Claude can make mistakes. Please double-check responses.

    52 min

  6. AUG 19

    From Family Business to Serial Founder (with Ellen Hockley)

    In this open and vulnerable conversation, Ellen Hockley—three-time founder and consultant—shares her winding path from shredding paper at her family's real estate business to building (and closing) multiple ventures of her own. After launching one of the first eco-friendly event planning companies in NYC, Ellen navigated the collapse of the events industry during COVID while simultaneously starting a sustainable maternity activewear brand—the same week her first son was born. The conversation explores the emotional weight of closing a business, the lessons learned from "fucking up" your books, and why managing 100 employees was never going to be her path. Ellen reveals how each venture taught her something crucial about herself, from discovering she doesn't actually like retail to learning that scarcity creates urgency in time management. Key Topics: Growing up in entrepreneurship: from paper shredder to potential successor Building one of NYC's first sustainable event planning companies The waste crisis in events: when raising money for education means dumping platters of food Pandemic pivot: closing events while opening an apparel business (with a newborn) The reality of overlapping businesses during COVID lockdowns Why product-based businesses are nothing like service businesses Why closing a business takes over a year (emotionally and practically) Building boundaries: no credit cards, no employees, meetings only 9-noon Notable Quotes: "I had two babies in the same week"—on starting Evergreen the week her son was born "My husband was like, 'You need to find a hobby.' I'm pretty sure he meant sourdough, not start a new business" "I joke that I now have an MBA, both from what I learned, but also what I spent" "To somebody on a podcast recently, they said 'You're just sowing your seeds.' And I was like, that is exactly what I'm doing" "Something there failed, but it wasn't a failure. There were many successes" "The fact that you can deal with things and that you're brave and strong doesn't mean you want to put yourself in a position to deal with it"   Ellen's Powerful Question: "Why are you driven to do this?"—A question she believes every entrepreneur must be able to answer, or it's time for a deeper conversation about why you're here. Resources Mentioned: Ellen Hockley Consulting - Current venture Chedva on Ellen and Kat’s podcast - Good Ideas + Bad Decisions Ellen’s Linkedin SNL pandemic psychic skit   Key Lessons: Service-based vs. product-based businesses require completely different skills Interview your bookkeeper about their specific experience (Shopify ≠ service business) Build from your scars: know what risks you will and won't take again Closing a business is both physical and emotional work Every failed venture teaches you what kind of founder you want to be next

    53 min

  7. AUG 12

    Tech Cycles, Masculine BS, Career Choices (with Hannit Cohen)

    In this candid conversation between old friends and former co-founders, Hannit Cohen—VP R&D at Easy and Chedva's past CTO at Emerj—shares her journey through tech's boom-bust cycles from the late '90s and ever since. From starting as a programmer in the Israeli army to becoming one of the few female CTOs in tech, Hannit discusses the strategic choices that shaped her career, including the difficult decision to step back from deep tech to raise her three children. They explore what it truly means to build diverse teams (Hannit's current team is 50% women), the importance of creating psychologically safe work environments, and why asking "What do you want to be when you grow up?" never gets old. The conversation touches on the harsh realities of raising money as female co-founders, the myth of work-life balance, and why the best managers plan for their employees' careers beyond the current company. Key Topics: Navigating tech's cyclical nature through multiple boom-bust cycles Strategic career planning: From programmer to CTO by 35 The difficult choice between high-level tech roles and family time Building truly diverse teams The evolution (or lack thereof) of workplace culture for women in tech Why "unlimited vacation days" is the greatest scam in tech The challenges of being self-employed when you love coding but hate business Raising money as female co-founders doing "soft" social good work Creating psychological safety and shutting down inappropriate workplace behavior Mentoring as the most enjoyable part of leadership Notable Quotes: "You don't have to have a wonderful idea to succeed. You need to have a decent idea... What matters more than that is the execution on all bases." "At the time, programming was a world of the youngs... You knew for sure that your only way to have a career in this world will be to become an executive." "The higher you get, the percentage [of women] goes down a lot." "You don't have to live with this masculine bullshit around you." "When I look at my job, I think that's a very crucial part of it, to look at my people and tell, okay, they're working here now, but it's only a step." Hannit's Powerful Question: "What do you want to do when you grow up?" (Asked to herself and her team members at every stage of their careers) Resources Mentioned: Hannit Cohen on LinkedIn Emerj - The startup Chedva and Hannit co-founded The Curiosity Lab - Strategy sessions for leaders by Chedva Chedva's newsletter - Weekly musings and questions

    58 min

  8. AUG 5

    The Body as Home: Movement, Language, and Questions (with Liza Futerman)

    In this profound conversation, Liza Futerman, a somatic educator, practitioner, and artist, shares her journey from Soviet Russia to Israel, her academic journey pursuing advanced degrees at Oxford and Toronto, and how movement and language became her twin resources for navigating identity, loss, and healing. Liza's life took an unexpected turn when her mother was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. This led her back to movement through contact improvisation, particularly mixed-abilities dance, where she discovered new ways of understanding leadership, disability, and what it means to be human. The conversation explores how major life disruptions - from immigration to divorce to witnessing war in one's neighborhood - can reconnect us to our bodies and reshape our relationship with uncertainty. Key Topics: Immigration and identity: Finding home between Russian, Hebrew, and English The body-mind split and the journey toward integration Using photography and narrative to communicate with a parent with Alzheimer's Contact improvisation as a path to healing trauma and anxiety Mixed-abilities dance and the intersection of visible and invisible disabilities Somatic approaches to grief, money, and taboo subjects Leadership as a question rather than certainty How major life events force us to reconsider our relationship with control The nervous system's response to crisis and the importance of discharge Academic competition versus embodied learning environments Notable Quotes: "As opposed to Russian and Hebrew, my self did not exist in English. And so I could shape it the way I wanted." "Whatever is hard, whatever is challenging can be done easier, can be done in a more gentle way." "If something is hard, it means that it's not getting the right support." "I came to this class and we were invited to lie on the floor. And it was just like an answer to all of my prayers." "All of a sudden I was dancing in the studio with people with wheelchairs... And that made me feel human again." Liza's Powerful Questions: "How should a human be?" (from Kelly Rodriguez) "How to ask questions?" "What support do I need and how to ask for that support and where to ask the support from?" Resources Mentioned: Liza's website Liza’s TEDx talk about dementia "What We All Long For" by Dionne Brand "Maus" by Art Spiegelman Get access to CuriosityGPT and find your gateway questions Connect with your leader mindset and walk out with an actionable roadmap - join the Curiosity Lab

    55 min
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About

Welcome to Looks Like Work. After learning, succeeding, failing (a lot) and learning even more, I decided to do what I do best and ask lots of questions. In this podcast I’ll be exploring work, career, entrepreneurship and everything that makes for a fulfilling and joyful life through conversations, opinions and curated content. Looks Like Work is a podcast by Chedva Ludmir, a serial entrepreneur obsessed with the future of work, reading, politics and curiosity.

Information

  • Creator
    Chedva Ludmir
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Looks Like Work