Matters of Meaning

About Matters of Meaning

Matters of Meaning is a podcast for anyone who’s ever paused to ask, “Is this it?” or “What really matters to me?” Together, we'll explore the big questions — what makes life meaningful, and why that matters. Across cultures and disciplines, one truth stands out: it’s not wealth or status that drives us, but meaning. In each episode, I sit down with people who are asking bold questions & rethinking what matters — in their work, creativity, and everyday lives. This podcast isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about the inquiry!

Publisher

Olivia Hicks

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Apr 2025

Latest episode

2 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Mar 2026

   The Power of the Humble Smile - with Aldous Hicks

   “Give a smile to someone who needs it.” Can a single, repeated sentence change how you move through the world? To wrap up Series 2 of Matters of Meaning, host Olivia Hicks is joined by a very special guest: their father, Aldous Hicks. For years, this simple phrase was the final thing Olivia heard every morning before school. It was a small daily ritual, but as it turns out, its impact was anything but small. In this bonus episode, Olivia and Aldous sit down to unpack these words and explore why such a simple habit can be a radical act of empathy. Together, they explore how this phrase when used habitually has the power to foster greater empathy, connection, and kindness. This episode is a celebration of the small, intentional rituals that shape our daily lives. It’s a reminder that while meaning in life can be complex and studied from many angles, sometimes it starts with something as simple and powerful as a humble smile.

2. 

   16 Feb 2026

   How to Live Meaningfully: Practices for Work, Ritual & Community – with Jeffrey Hanson

   If happiness isn’t the goal, what practices actually make life meaningful? In Part 2 of my conversation with philosopher Jeffrey Hanson, we move beyond definitions to explore how meaning is actually cultivated in the messy reality of daily life. We discuss why a meaningful life is often the opposite of a purely productive one, and why “getting more done” is rarely the answer to feeling fulfilled. In this episode, we explore: The Work Trap: Why “workism” threatens flourishing, and how “job crafting” can help us reconnect our work to a larger sense of purpose. The Infrastructure of Meaning: Why habits, rituals, and even seemingly “pointless” activities like play are essential structures that anchor us in coherence. The Power of the Collective: The surprising link between shared rituals and wellbeing, and why community is indispensable for a meaningful life. The Role of Struggle: Why meaning doesn’t require constant happiness, but does require embracing difficulty, growth, and coherence over time. Jeff offers a refreshing, no-nonsense look at how we can anchor ourselves in a distracted world through the very things we often overlook: our work, our rituals, and each other. Further resources (from Parts 1 and 2) Global Flourishing Study – a large international longitudinal study (≈220,000 participants across 22 countries) led by the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. Hanson, J. & Tyler VanderWeele (2021). The Comprehensive Measure of Meaning: Psychological and Philosophical Foundations. Harvard Human Flourishing Program – interdisciplinary research on human flourishing. Joshua Seachris – What Makes Life Meaningful? (2020) Roy Baumeister – foundational psychological work on meaning, purpose, and narrative. Susan Wolf – Meaning in Life and Why It Matters (2010) Jeffrey Hanson – Imagination, Suffering, and Perfection: A Kierkegaardian Reflection on Meaning in Life (2011), drawing on Søren Kierkegaard. Hannah Arendt – The Human Condition (1958) Thomas Nagel – The View from Nowhere (1986) Hanson, J. et al. (2022). Suffering, authenticity, and meaning in life: Toward an integrated conceptualization of well-being (Frontiers in Psychology).

3. 

   2 Feb 2026

   What Makes a Life Meaningful, Really?

   Is meaning a mystery — or something we can actually measure? In Part One of this special series on Matters of Meaning, Olivia Hicks is joined by philosopher Jeffrey Hanson, Senior Fellow at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, for a deeply human and surprisingly practical conversation about what really makes life meaningful. We often talk about “finding meaning” as if it were a lucky accident or an elusive and private inner feeling. But what if meaning has a structure — one that can be studied, clarified, and even measured? Jeff introduces the Comprehensive Measure of Meaning, which he co-developed with Tyler VanderWeele at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. The framework shows that meaning is not simply a by-product of happiness, but is built from three essential dimensions: Coherence — making sense of your life and how its pieces fit together Significance — feeling that your life genuinely matters Motivational direction — having a sense of aim or purpose Together, Olivia and Jeff explore how these dimensions work in tandem, why wellbeing alone is only part of the picture, and how this research can help us better understand what actually sustains us through complexity, uncertainty, and change. A grounding and eye-opening conversation with one of today’s leading thinkers on meaning and human flourishing. Further resources (from Parts 1 and 2) Global Flourishing Study – a large international longitudinal study (≈220,000 participants across 22 countries) led by the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. Hanson, J. & Tyler VanderWeele (2021). The Comprehensive Measure of Meaning: Psychological and Philosophical Foundations. Harvard Human Flourishing Program – interdisciplinary research on human flourishing. Joshua Seachris – What Makes Life Meaningful? (2020) Roy Baumeister – foundational psychological work on meaning, purpose, and narrative. Susan Wolf – Meaning in Life and Why It Matters (2010) Jeffrey Hanson – Imagination, Suffering, and Perfection: A Kierkegaardian Reflection on Meaning in Life (2011), drawing on Søren Kierkegaard. Hannah Arendt – The Human Condition (1958) Thomas Nagel – The View from Nowhere (1986) Hanson, J. et al. (2022). Suffering, authenticity, and meaning in life: Toward an integrated conceptualization of well-being (Frontiers in Psychology).

4. 

   19 Jan 2026

   The Power of Everyday Creativity — with Camille Sharara

   Host Olivia Hicks interviews Camille Sharara, sustainable business strategist and artist, who discusses how everyday creativity fosters healing and connection, inviting listeners to rediscover making as a way of coming back to themselves.

5. 

   5 Jan 2026

   Life’s “Third Dimension”: Why Happiness and Morality Aren’t Enough — with Susan Wolf

   Philosopher Susan Wolf discusses the concept of a meaningful life, asserting it extends beyond happiness and morality, in an interview with Olivia Hicks, exploring how subjective attraction and objective attractiveness intersect.

6. 

   22 Dec 2025

   Escaping the Existential Vacuum: Cultivating Everyday Meaning with Alex Vesely (Part 2)

   Psychotherapist Alex Vesely explores the existential vacuum in modern society and shares practical methods for discovering meaning in daily life, offering listeners insights into cultivating a life aligned with their core values in this interview.

7. 

   8 Dec 2025

   Why Meaning — Not Pleasure or Power — Drives Us: Logotherapy with Alex Vesely (Part 1)

   Psychotherapist Alex Vesely, grandson of Viktor Frankl, discusses logotherapy and how meaning, rather than pleasure or power, motivates individuals in this interview with Olivia Hicks.

8. 

   24 Nov 2025

   Moral Ambition, Meaning & How to Begin – with Rutger Bregman

   Host Olivia Hicks interviews Rutger Bregman about moral ambition, exploring its connection to meaning and providing actionable steps for individuals to make a positive impact, regardless of their background, in this interview episode.

9. 

   24 Jun 2025

   6. How Effective Giving Can Save Lives — and Enrich Your Own (with Sjir Hoeijmakers)

   Sjir Hoeijmakers, CEO of Giving What We Can, discusses effective altruism and practical strategies for impactful giving beyond monetary donations, enriching lives and deepening relationships in this interview.

10. 

    10 Jun 2025

    5. Pleasure vs Well-Being — and Where Meaning Fits In: A Neuroscientist’s Perspective

    Cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Bhuvan Awasthi explores the distinctions between pleasure and well-being, revealing how meaning influences decision-making and enriches our lives in this interview.

11. 

    26 May 2025

    4. Spirituality Beyond Religion: Connection in a Disconnected World

    Chaplain David Bradbury explores spirituality beyond religion with host Name Surname, discussing how to cultivate connection and meaning in a disconnected world through curiosity, community, and presence in this interview episode.

12. 

    13 May 2025

    3. An Indigenous Perspective on Meaning: Intergenerational Living, Kinship, Responsibility and Connection to Country

    Should we bring intergenerational living back? In this episode, I'm joined by two remarkable Indigenous Australians, Paul Ah Chee and Jessica Johannsen — custodians of the world's oldest continuous culture, with more than 65,000 years of caring for country. Paul is a singer-songwriter and respected community leader whose career spans sport, arts, tourism, and business. His daughter, Jessica — a great friend of mine from school — is a general practitioner at the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, a primary healthcare service for Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory in outback Australia. Both are leaders in their respective professions in their home of Mparntwe (Alice Springs). Together, we yarn about Indigenous perspectives on living a meaningful life — exploring kinship, the deep ties between Country, spirituality, and responsibility, and the power of intergenerational care and learning. While no single conversation can do full justice to the richness of Indigenous wisdom, this one begins to open the door to a more grounded and connected way of being.

13. 

    29 Apr 2025

    2. The Power of Storytelling: An Introduction to Narrative Therapy — with Margaret Hamley

    In this episode, I sit down with Margaret Hamley to explore the power of storytelling in shaping who we are and how we make sense of the world — not just as a tool for reflection, but as a way to understand and reshape how we see ourselves and others. We delve into narrative therapy, which centres people as the experts in their own lives, and explores how the stories we tell ourselves — and the ones told about us — influence our identity, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Together, we unpack the core principles of narrative therapy, especially the concept of externalisation: that we are not our problems. Reclaiming or rewriting our stories, we discover, can help us realise that we are multi-storied — and move beyond judgement and expectations that are often misplaced. We also explore the transformative impact of listening with deep curiosity, and of asking questions you don’t already know the answers to  —  questions like “What is your superpower?” or “What are you most proud of?”. These can open space to challenge the self-limiting narratives we carry. This episode is an invitation to reflect on the stories we tell ourselves and our loved ones— and a reminder that they are not fixed. With intention, they can be re-authored. Resources Curious to learn more about narrative therapy? Check out the Dulwich Centre (https://dulwichcentre.com.au/what-is-narrative-therapy/) — a gateway to narrative therapy and community work. We also briefly touched on the concept of the Becky Brain, coined by Mo Gawdat, as a way to understand your thoughts as separate from your sense of self. You can hear more about it ⁠here⁠ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmpm0_z9Dzs).

14. 

    15 Apr 2025

    1. Why Connection Matters — with Isabel Doraisamy

    In our very first episode, I’m delighted to be joined by Isabel Doraisamy to explore the idea of social health — how our relationships shape our wellbeing and sense of meaning. We dive into the power of meaningful connections, the importance of community, the experience of loneliness, and the complexity of our social identities. Isabel shares thoughtful insights on navigating conflict, nurturing real connection, and being more intentional in how we show up for each other. Isabel also offers simple, practical tips for cultivating meaningful relationships and making space for quality time with the people who matter most. We touch on a few gems you might want to check out: Robert Waldinger’s TED Talk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KkKuTCFvzI ) — What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix Isabel’s Instagram @oursocialhealth (https://www.instagram.com/oursocialhealth) — full of thoughtful stories, tips, and quotes on connection, friendship, and wellbeing.

15. 

    15 Apr 2025

    Wecome to Matters of Meaning

    Start here to discover what Matters of Meaning is all about. In this short teaser, host Olivia Hicks introduces Matters of Meaning — a podcast that explores the big, bold questions: What makes life meaningful? And why does that matter? Each episode features conversations with people who are rethinking what truly matters — through their work, creativity, or the way they live. This isn’t about perfect answers — it’s about the inquiry. If you’ve ever paused to ask, “Is this it?” or “What really matters to me?” — you’re in the right place.

Who has been a guest on Matters of Meaning

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Camille Sharara
• Susan Wolf
• Alex Vesely
• Rutger Bregman
• Sjir Hoeijmakers

Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

28

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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