Ambition, Exhaustion, and Everything In Between - Looks Like Work, Season 1, Ep 10
This one’s personal.
In Episode 10 of Looks Like Work, host Chedva Ludmir steps up to the mic solo—and gets real about the complicated, messy, and deeply human relationship between ambition and exhaustion.
From working in the Diamond Exchange at age 15 to launching startups while undergoing steroid treatments, Chedva takes us on a journey through identity, grief, burnout, and why the question “Do I have to?” might just be the most important one we never ask ourselves.
This episode isn’t a how-to.
It’s a pause.
A deep breath.
An unfiltered invitation to consider what we’re chasing—and at what cost.
what we talk about:
Why “the year ambition died” hit differently—and what happened after
Growing up ultra-Orthodox, and how ambition wasn’t just career—it was rebellion
The toll of being “the other” in rooms that don’t see you
Entrepreneurship while navigating chronic illness
Code-switching, name bias, wigs, and the quiet politics of being seen
Rest, grief, and who gets to access either
Moments of unexpected meaning—like a Slack message on Yom HaShoah
Designing your own version of a “good day”
Favorite Takeaways:
“Ambition is good. But it can’t be the end-all, be-all.”
“There’s a toll when you are the only one expected to understand everyone else.”
“Your name isn’t hard to pronounce. It’s unfamiliar to you.”
“Sometimes I do all my favorite things and I still feel awful. And that’s okay.”
If you’re navigating a pivot, running on fumes, or just quietly wondering what the point of it all is—this episode is here to sit beside you, not fix you.
A Question to Hold:
“Do I have to?”
Not everything you’re doing is required. Not everything you’re carrying is yours.
This one question opens the door to clarity, gentleness, and (maybe) a bit more rest.
“Ambition is good. But it can’t be the end-all, be-all.”
Listen to this episode on Spotify | Apple | Wherever you get your podcasts
Resources & Mentions:
The Age of Anti-Ambition in New York Times
Listen to Chedva discuss “Torah & Tech in Israel” on BBC’s The Documentary Podcast
“I’m not asking people to change their accent for me, just asking for basic respect” Maitreyi Ramakrishnan on Twitter
Rejecting mispronounced & whitened names in Toronto Star
‘My dark secret’: Orthodox women reveal their abortion stories in Forward
Catch up on previous seasons of Looks Like Work wherever you get your podcasts: Spotify | Apple | Podbean
Subscribe to the newsletter: chedva.substack.com
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