My Corporate Job Was Meaningless | How Yoni Schwartz Found His Calling

What do you do when your day job feels empty — but you still need to show up, provide, and stay honest?

In this episode of Shtark Tank, I sit down with my cousin and friend Yoni Schwartz — Head of Data Science at Exponential and Head Producer of Living L’chaim. Yoni shares how he went from a corporate role that felt like “a complete lack of purpose” to leading 10 shows that have inspired and helped countless people. He is also the host of Spirit of the Song podcast, make sure to check it out!

We talk about meaning, ambition, family, and the real-life tradeoffs of building something big on top of a demanding day job.

In this conversation we cover:

• What it feels like when work is steady… but meaningless

• How Yoni first joined Living L’chaim and how the role grew over time

• The ethics of balancing a primary job with major side projects

• Startup life vs. corporate life — and what actually changed for him

• How he manages two intense roles without a rigid system

• The idea of intentionality as a survival tool for busy people

• Setting boundaries after COVID blurred everything

• Early morning learning as a realistic anchor for fathers with young kids

• The impact Living L’chaim aims for — inspiration, mental health, and financial clarity

• Cultivating a relationship with your Rebbi

Key takeaway:
You don’t need a perfect system to juggle a lot — but you do need honesty, priorities, and intentional choices you can live with.

If this episode resonated, please take a moment to follow the show and leave a 5-star rating. It helps more Bnei Torah in the workforce find these conversations.

Guest: Yoni Schwartz
Host: Yaakov Wolff