Most people didn't consciously choose the rules they were told to follow.

They inherited them.

Go to school.

Get good grades.

Go to college.

Get a degree.

Get a good job.

Build a stable life.

For generations, that promise was powerful because it was largely true.

But what happens when the world changes and the systems built around that promise don't?

That's the question at the heart of Episode 3 of The Signal Lab.

My guest is Meena Naik, Senior Director at Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national nonprofit working at the intersection of education, workforce, and policy. Throughout her career, Meena has focused on helping people understand their value, navigate change, and connect learning to opportunity.

Together, we explore a growing tension that many people feel but struggle t ...