It's become popular to insist that the key to a successful career is to simply "follow your bliss" straight into a profession that you're truly passionate about. For most people, is it really practical to do what you love? And if it's not, why are we giving this advice to our young people? Miya Tokumitsu, holds a Ph.D in art history. Her recent essay in Jacobin magazine breaks down why being told to "do what you love" isn't necessarily sound advice.

At the end of last year as the federal government allowed long-term unemployment benefits to expire for 1.3 million Americans, and North Carolina led the way in also reducing benefits. Paul Tine is a North Carolina state representative that voted for the unemployment cuts. Jaslyn Roberts is the career center director for Charlotte Works, a job training organization. Together they explain how things have changed in the state since benefits have been cut.

Though heavy snowfalls can conjure feelings of frustration for commuters, a bed of freshly packed snow can also bring back memories of days passed when thick snow meant a day at home from school. Todd Zwillich, Takeaway Washington Correspondent, gives us some of his best snow day memories. Lester Laminack is the author of the children's book "Snow Day!" When he's not writing books he's a professor of education at Western Carolina University. He joins The Takeaway to explain how snow days bring back childhood memories.

Wealth can be a tool for investment, for development and even for change. But wealth can also be an end in itself—becoming an addiction. That was the case for Sam Polk, a former hedge fund manager. In his last year on Wall Street, Polk earned a $3.6 million bonus. He felt it wasn't enough. Today, Polk explores why Americans love and possibly have an addiction to money.

Older Americans are increasingly shunning retirement to start companies. Liz DiMarco Weinmann is 61-years-old and started Dare Force Corporation, which helps women over 40 to start new careers. Susan Price is 54-years-old and was laid off in 2008. Losing her job prompted her to go back to school for an MBA. She now works full-time and has also started her own side-business as a career coach. Together these two women explain how they made their career transitions and what the process was really like.

Jessi Smith, an Associate Professor of Psychology at Montana State University, researched the psychology of bragging in women. Tomorrow you'll hear more about Professor Smith and her fascinating research into the psychology of bragging. But first, we're opening the door for you to brag—tell us about a time when promoting yourself paid off. We want to hear all types of stories. Call us at 1-877-869-8253 and be part of the conversation, or leave a comment here or by visiting us on Facebook.

While some have criticized the MTV shows "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" for making stars out of very young mothers, a new study co-authored by economist Melissa Kearney indicates that these shows may have helped reduce the teenage pregnancy rate by nearly six percent.

A hundred years ago, the Ford Motor Company instituted an eight-hour workday, but in today's world of globalization, smartphones and increasing competition, working only eight hours seems like a dream come true.

About 40 percent of Americans make new years resolutions, but just 8 percent actually achieve them. Samantha Henig, digital editor for the New York Times Magazine, has been interviewing a family with an outstanding New Year's resolution track record. Robin Marantz Henig, a freelance science writer for our partner The New York Times, has been looking into the science of new year’s resolutions with the NYU Motivation Lab.

"I can't walk down the street without people stopping me to say thank you," says the 84-year-old, who shot to stardom this year after winning the Supreme Court Case that made gay marriage legal. "It's thrilling."

Our work determines how we spend most of our days, the people we spend our time with, the kind of lifestyle we can afford, and it influences our fundamental sense of who we are. It turns out that what we're paid and how we really feel about our jobs aren't always in sync. Al Gini, a professor of Business Ethics at Loyola University’s School of Business Administration and resident philosopher at WBEZ, has dedicated much of his career to understanding the value of work. He’s also the author of “My Job My Self." 

President Barack Obama has revived his populist message and made a case for the Affordable Care Act as a vehicle to reduce income inequality. Jonathan Alter, journalist and author of "The Center Holds: Obama and his Enemies," explores the president's rebranding efforts. He notes that as Obama dusts off his brand of populism, his core base—millennials—seems to be abandoning him. Heather McGhee, vice president of policy and outreach at Demos, examines how the President's message about income inequality resonate with the youngest voters.

Last year, Giving Tuesday brought $10 million in dollars of donations to charities, though it's a small sum compared to the billions of dollars spent on all other shopping days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Peter Singer, a bioethics professor at Princeton University, teaches a course on charitable giving and is the author of "The Life You Can Save: Acting Now to End World Poverty." He joins The takeaway to discuss why Americans don't give more.

Researchers at the Emory University School of Medicine recently released a study arguing that memories can be passed on through DNA. It’s the latest piece in a growing body of evidence for transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, and if it’s right, it could change the way we act in our everyday lives.

It’s no secret that technology is changing the way we live, but what does that mean when it comes to our experience of the holiday season? Some may say that digital technology is taking the magic out of the holidays as Christmas no longer seems quaint when 1 in 3 children write their lists to Santa through a website or smartphone app. Manoush Zomorodi, host of WNYC’s New Tech City, joins The Takeaway to discuss how technology has transformed our holiday traditions.