The "Grind": Meaningful or Meaningless? | Lydia Dugdale & James Valentini at Columbia

Lydia Dugdale (Columbia) and James Valentini (Columbia) explore achievement culture, the good life, and finding meaningful work. | Columbia University, 04/20/2026 | Explore more at https://www.veritas.org. Speakers: Lydia Dugdale - Dorothy L. and Daniel H. Silberberg Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of the Center for Clinical Medical Ethics James Valentini - Henry L. and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Chemistry at Columbia University Moderator: Seth Freeman - Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University Want Veritas updates in your inbox? Subscribe to our twice-monthly newsletter here: https://www.veritas.org/newsletter-yt INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/veritasforum FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/veritasforum PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-veritas-forum/id1210782509 SUBSCRIBE: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=VeritasForum Over the past two decades, The Veritas Forum has been hosting vibrant discussions on life's hardest questions and engaging the world's leading colleges and universities with Christian perspectives and the relevance of Jesus. Learn more at http://www.veritas.org, with upcoming events and over 600 pieces of media on topics including science, philosophy, music, business, medicine, and more! 0:00 Introduction 1:53 Defining the Grind: Meaningful Work vs. Drudgery 7:24 What Would You Think From Your Deathbed? 13:29 Satisfaction vs. Happiness: Knowing the Difference 15:46 Seth Freeman - From Wall Street to the Classroom 16:48 Even Meaningful Work Has Its Drudgery 20:02 The PhD Student Weeping on the Subway 23:07 How Do You Know When to Quit? 24:20 What Do You Love? How to Discern Your Calling 28:30 Reality Check: Loans, Constraints, and Life 32:05 Growing Through Adversity 32:51 Practical Steps for Discerning Your Path 37:12 More Than One Path to a Calling 39:40 One Thing to Do If You Want to Live Differently 42:39 Be Engaged in the Process, Not Attached to the Outcome 45:31 Q&R - Is Your Calling a Role or a Way of Being? 50:46 Q&R - Too Many Interests and Callings at Once 56:57 Q&R - Grind Culture and Human Worth 1:02:44 Q&R - Sacrifice, Having It All, and Constraints as Calling