- 14
- Episodes
- 4
- Ratings
- 2024
- First episode
About What We Aim To Do
What We Aim To Do is a podcast about vocation. Featuring conversations with, artists, writers, and founders, host Megan Nichols asks questions about the challenges and joys of pursuing meaningful work, balancing ambition with well-being, and finding purpose in the work we share with the world.
- Publisher
- Megan Nichols
- Category
- business
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 7 May 2024
- Latest episode
- 13 May 2025
Latest episodes
14 episodes in the feed.
13 May 2025
What Abigail Welhouse Aims To Do
Send us a text In this episode of What We Aim to Do, I talk with Abigail Welhouse, poet, book publicist, and horseback riding instructor, about the art of balancing multiple passions. We explore the freedom of trying new things without pressure, the hidden challenges of book publicity, and the value of curiosity as a core creative practice. Abigail shares insights on living and creating in New York City, teaching, and how embracing diverse interests has enriched her life and writing. About th...
22 Mar 2025
What Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr. Aims To Do
Send us a text In this episode, I talk with poet, translator, and consultant Elizabeth T. Gray, Jr. about her new poetry collection, After the Operation (Four Way Books, 2025). The book began after Elizabeth underwent brain surgery to remove a benign tumor. In it she weaves poems, medical documents, journal entries, and memories into a thought-provoking and entirely captivating book. We discuss the decision to have the surgery, how the poems emerged during recovery, and what it meant to give ...
22 Sept 2024
What Poet & Podcaster James Morehead Aims To Do
Send us a text In this episode, James Morehead, Poet Laureate of Dublin, California, shares his journey from writing poetry in high school to self-publishing collections like canvas, portraits of red and gray, and The Plague Doctor. James also talks about hosting the Viewless Wings Poetry Podcast, and how he balances his career in tech with his creative passions. The conversation touches on the power of putting your work out there, self-publishing versus traditional routes, and how to e...
16 Sept 2024
Corporate Storytelling and Creative Strategy with Jason Stevens
Send us a textJason Stevens is the creative mind behind Future vs. Fiction, a project that blends corporate themes with fictional storytelling. Having worked closely with Jason as an editor on Future vs. Fiction, I experienced firsthand the collaborative energy that drives his work. Together, we discuss how creativity, self-confidence, and business intersect, especially within the context of corporate dynamics and personal growth. Jason shares his insights on branding, freelancing, and the po...
12 Sept 2024
What Writer Geoff Bouvier Aims To Do
Send us a textWhen you open Us From Nothing, you're immediately drawn into a vast historical journey—one that begins with the Big Bang and traces the unfolding of the universe right up to our near future. Geoff Bouvier’s third collection of prose poetry takes on the ambitious task of condensing cosmic history into intricate, beautiful cantos.In our conversation, Geoff shares insights into the creation of this ambitious work, his influences, and the role luck and surprise have played in his ca...
14 Aug 2024
A conversation with the founding editor of kith books
"It is a radical act to not fold yourself under. It is a radical act to say, I'm going to take this time and go write a poem because I want to - because it makes me feel whole and because I find it fulfilling."- william katharine ‘wim’ blair, founding editor of kith books.I spent this conversation with wim frantically writing down notes and pausing for too long, simply to reflect on what was being said. We spoke back in June and I have thought about this conversation repeatedly since. We talk...
11 Jul 2024
The Reality of Running an Online Course | An Interview with Colleen Welsch
Transparency in the online business space is rare, which is part of why I love talking to Colleen Welsh. She's open, honest, and willing to discuss the less-than-glamourous side of being a business owner. In this conversation, we discusses the challenges of setting up a business, the importance of organization and templates, and the overwhelming responsibility of having an audience. Colleen also talks about the drawbacks of being a course creator and coach, including the difficulty of controlling the outcomes for students and the mental strain of feeling responsible for others' success. She offers advice on building an exit plan for your business and emphasizes the importance of knowing yourself and making decisions that align with your values. About the guest: Colleen Welsch is a singer-songwriter, music producer, comedian, YouTuber, copywriter, and business owner. Links! Colleen’s Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@colleenwelsch_/videos)Colleen Welsch, Singer-Songwriter (https://www.colleenwelsch.com/) Listen to my first interview with Colleen. (https://whatweaimtodo.wordpress.com/2024/05/07/what-musician-colleen-welsch-aims-to-do/) What We Aim To Do is a podcast about vocation. Featuring conversations with artists, writers, and founders, host Megan Nichols asks questions about the challenges and joys of pursuing meaningful work, balancing ambition with well-being, and finding purpose in the work we share with the world. www.whatweaimtodo.com Megan Nichols is the author of the chapbook Animal Unfit (Belle Point Press, 2023). Her poems have appeared in Iron Horse Literary Review, The Threepenny Review, Frontier Poetry and elsewhere. She lives in the Ozark Mountains.
2 Jul 2024
Free feedback for writers, running a nonprofit, & taking write-ins on tour! A convo with Jason W. McGlone
Jason McGlone runs Pencilhouse, a 501c3 organization that helps writers improve their craft and writing practice. They offer a free feedback program, host virtual and in-person writing room events, and publish the literary magazine Zero Readers. In this episode, I ask Jason about Pencilhouse, his own writing journey, and we share our favorite feedback stories. If you're not a writer, you might want to sit this one out :) About the guest: Jason W. McGlone is the author of Look How We Are (2024, Plan B Press) His work has appeared in Stanchion Zine, Olney Magazine, Autofocus, X-R-A-Y, and BS/WS, from which he received a 2022 Best of the Net nomination. He runs the writing nonprofit Pencilhouse (https://pencilhouse.org/)and is Publisher of its accompanying journal, Zero Readers. Jason lives in the Cincinnati area, where he lives with his family and their heterochromatic dog. He’s currently working on a novel and is on various socials @maoglone. Links! Pencilhouse.org (https://pencilhouse.org/) Support Pencilhouse on tour (https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-pencilhouse-fund-a-writing-tour-in-october-2024) Pencilhouse Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/pencilhouse/posts) Jason on Twitter! (https://x.com/maoglone) Zero Readers (https://www.zeroreaders.com/) What We Aim To Do is a podcast about vocation. Featuring conversations with artists, writers, and founders, host Megan Nichols asks questions about the challenges and joys of pursuing meaningful work, balancing ambition with well-being, and finding purpose in the work we share with the world. www.whatweaimtodo.com Megan Nichols is the author of the chapbook Animal Unfit (Belle Point Press, 2023). Her poems have appeared in Iron Horse Literary Review, The Threepenny Review, Frontier Poetry and elsewhere. She lives in the Ozark Mountains.
28 Jun 2024
Poetry, Teaching, and the Internet! A Convo with Gregory Crosby
Gregory Crosby is the author of Said No One Ever (2021, Brooklyn Arts Press) and Walking Away From Explosions in Slow Motion (2018, The Operating System). He's an incredible poet, gifted educator, and super fun to have a conversation with. I took his Brooklyn Poets class on the sonnet back in 2022 which was truly one of my fondest poetry memories. We touch on all sorts of topics in this conversation, such as Las Vegas, Twitter, and the murky history of the term "flash fiction". But mostly the conversation centers around Gregory's journey as a writer, his work as an educator, and his approach (and enviable confidence!) to writing. Gregory's Twitter: @monostich Gregory's Bluesky: @monostich.bsky.social Gregory's Website: speakingpicture.com (http://speakingpicture.com/) Brooklyn Poets: https://brooklynpoets.org/ (https://brooklynpoets.org/) What We Aim To Do is hosted by Megan Nichols www.whatweaimtodo.com What We Aim To Do is a podcast about vocation. Featuring conversations with artists, writers, and founders, host Megan Nichols asks questions about the challenges and joys of pursuing meaningful work, balancing ambition with well-being, and finding purpose in the work we share with the world. www.whatweaimtodo.com Megan Nichols is the author of the chapbook Animal Unfit (Belle Point Press, 2023). Her poems have appeared in Iron Horse Literary Review, The Threepenny Review, Frontier Poetry and elsewhere. She lives in the Ozark Mountains.
24 Jun 2024
Freelancing, Mentoring, and Passion Projects with Amy Ragland
Amy Ragland has been writing for financial firms for 20 years, creating a career that has allowed her the flexibility to raise two teenagers with her husband, care for aging family members, volunteer in her community, and mentor new freelancers . At the core of this conversation is the belief that our work holds meaning not only in the tasks we perform but also in the freedom it provides us to pursue other important aspects of our lives when we're not working. We also dive into the practicalities of freelancing, such as: - Amy's advice for operating a freelance writing business -Determining if an agency model is right for you -Balancing paid and unpaid work -Why Amy offers free business chats to new freelancers Amy's experience and willingness to share was so helpful. I learned so much in this conversation and I'm sure you will too! About the guest: Amy Ragland is a freelance writer. She started freelancing in 2002, back before digital content marketing was even a thing. She freelanced for about 15 years as a generalist writer before pivoting into full-time freelance in 2017. Today, she writes content and copy for the financial services industry, creating content for wealth management firms, banks and WealthTech providers through her company, Luminary Financial Content. She and her husband, Brad, live with their two teenage daughters in Wichita, Kansas. Mentioned in this episode: Amy's website: www.luminaryfc.com (http://www.luminaryfc.com/) Amy's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyragland/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyragland/)
14 Jun 2024
What writer rob mclennan Aims To Do
Sometimes, I really love Twitter. A few months ago, I tweeted about my idea to start a podcast, to which writer rob mclennan replied (https://x.com/mgnchols/status/1781142243669164313), "its my understanding that everyone will, at some point in their lives; this might just be your time." And he was right! That tweet spurred an email exchange and then a wonderful podcast interview where we discussed book reviewing, literary citizenship, and publishing. I learned so much from rob and left the conversation inspired to engage in more my literary community. About the guest: Born in Ottawa, Canada’s glorious capital city, rob mclennan currently lives in Ottawa, where he is home full-time with the two wee girls he shares with Christine McNair. The author of more than thirty trade books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction, he won the John Newlove Poetry Award in 2010, the Council for the Arts in Ottawa Mid-Career Award in 2014, and was longlisted for the CBC Poetry Prize in 2012 and 2017. In March, 2016, he was inducted into the VERSe Ottawa Hall of Honour. His most recent titles include the poetry collection World’s End, (ARP Books, 2023), a suite of pandemic essays, essays in the face of uncertainties (Mansfield Press, 2022) and the anthology groundworks: the best of the third decade of above/ground press 2013-2023 (Invisible Publishing, 2023). His collection of short stories, On Beauty (University of Alberta Press) will appear in fall 2024. An editor and publisher, he runs above/ground press, periodicities: a journal of poetry and poetics (periodicityjournal.blogspot.com (http://periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/)) and Touch the Donkey (touchthedonkey.blogspot.com (http://touchthedonkey.blogspot.com/)). He is editor of my (small press) writing day, and an editor/managing editor of many gendered mothers. He spent the 2007-8 academic year in Edmonton as writer-in-residence at the University of Alberta, and regularly posts reviews, essays, interviews and other notices at robmclennan.blogspot.com (http://robmclennan.blogspot.com/) Mentioned in this episode: rob on Twitter: https://x.com/robmclennanblog (https://x.com/robmclennanblog) periodicities : a journal of poetry and poetics (https://periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/) DUSIE Tuesday Poem Series (https://dusie.blogspot.com/)
8 May 2024
What Poet Trivarna Hariharan Aims To Do
What We Aim To Do is all about navigating meaningful work and Trivarna Hariharan demonstrates that so beautifully with her workshops, literary Instagram page, and online writing community, Wildflowers and Prayers. In this conversation, we discuss how Trivarna grew her "commonplace book" Instagram page to over 200,000 followers, how she approaches workshopping her students' poetry, her relationship to the word "ambition", and the importance of community in ones' writing practice. We've been Instagram friends for years and it was so nice to finally talk over video. She is a true champion of other people's writing - her Instagram page is a collection of posts featuring snippets from prose writers and poets - but her own writing deserves just as much attention. I am particularly in love with her poem, "To See Myself in Another’s Light" (https://www.stirringlit.com/vol-22-ed-4-p-two-poems-by-trivarna-hariharan). In it, Trivarna writes, "From these frogs, I learn that faith does not require breaking out of the body, but being en-wombed in what you pray for. " Her writing, curation, and observations are a true gift and I am so happy to get to share our conversation. We begin our conversation learning about the art keeping an Instagram commonplace book. About the guest: Trivarna Hariharan is a poet, pianist and educator. She has studied English Literature at Delhi University, and the University of Cambridge (ICE). A Pushcart prize and Orison Anthology nominee - her poems are published or forthcoming in Duende, Entropy, Stirring, Times of India, Deccan Chronicle, COUNTERCLOCK, Atticus Review, JMWW, The Hunger, Whale Road Review, The Shore, Chiron Review, and others. She has authored two collections of poetry - Letters Never Sent (Writers Workshop Kolkata), and There Was Once A River Here (Les Editions du Zaporogue, France). She founded Wildflowers Are Prayers in order to provide writers of all ages & nationalities with a nurturing home for their writing. A safe, non-judgmental space for expressing themselves and creating the art they’d want to create— whilst receiving ongoing encouragement and support. Mentioned in this episode: trivarnahariharan_poetry on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/trivarnahariharan_poetry) Wildflowers and Prayers (https://www.trivarnahariharan.com/wildflowers-are-prayers) When will you rest, dear heart? on Substack (https://trivarnahariharan.substack.com/)
8 May 2024
What Musician Colleen Welsch Aims To Do
Colleen Welsch is a singer-songwriter, music producer, comedian, YouTuber, copywriter, and business owner. Colleen is an insightful creative who speaks candidly about sobriety, money, confidence as a copywriter and intimidation and excitement around music production. I've been following her for a few years on YouTube and I've been a member of her community, The Freelance Writer's Guide, for about a year. I reached out to her a few months ago asking if she needed a podcast co-host - for her nonexistent podcast. Through our conversations, this project - What We Aim To Do - was born. I'm inspired by Colleen's commitment to her instincts, creativity, and boundaries. I find her confidence and vulnerability truly inspiring. What We Aim To Do is all about navigating meaningful work and in this conversation Colleen shares what she's achieved and where she's headed next. Mentioned in this episode: Colleen's Youtube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@colleenwelsch_/videos) Colleen Welsch, Singer-Songwriter (https://www.colleenwelsch.com/) The Freelance Writer's Guide (https://www.thefreelancewritersguide.com/) The Glossy Type (https://www.glossytype.com/) To Be Magnetic (https://login.tobemagnetic.com/offers/B3A5LJU7/checkout) Book Yourself Solid by Michael Port
7 May 2024
A Conversation with Kevin Johar
Kevin Johar is one of my favorite people to talk to about money, ambition, and self-belief. We met years ago through a mutual friend and bonded over our interest in MBTI and working for ourselves . He's an advocate for sharing - and showing - your work, an approach I appreciate in others but have historically been too afraid to do myself. Inspired by his vulnerability, I share what prompted me to to start this podcast and what my goals are. Kevin talks about the crossroads he's at in his career and endures a lot of unsolicited advice from me. :) This isn't the first episode I recorded for WWATD, but it's the first I'm publishing. Perhaps what Kevin is best at is helping people feel comfortable enough to let their authentic self rise to the surface. Despite my best efforts, I am very much myself during this conversation. About the guest: Kevin Johar is a software developer turned high-ticket closer living outside Toronto. He's a writer, podcaster, and mindset coach. Follow Kevin on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/kevin.johar/)and LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-johar/). Mentioned in this episode: Kevin Jumping Out of a Plane (https://twitter.com/kevinjohar/status/1662909866787188738) Paul Graham's essay, How To Do Great Work (https://paulgraham.com/greatwork.html) Ten Meter Tower YouTube Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QMlIjSnt_E) The Cost of What One Wants (https://whatweaimtodo.substack.com/p/the-cost-of-what-one-wants) Youtuber Colleen Welsch (https://www.youtube.com/@colleenwelsch_)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 2 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 32
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 0
- Engagement
- 32
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