POLINA RUBIN

For the past 20 years, I’ve been having the same soul-searching, wine-fueled conversations with my closest friends: How do we find work that matters and pays the bills? We’ve spent countless nights scheming, venting, and plotting the perfect career pivot that feeds the bank account and the soul.

Then in 2015, I stumbled into the world of podcasts—and got completely hooked. With two toddlers and limited time for books or adult conversation, I was starved for more. Podcasts became my lifeline. Suddenly, washing sippy cups or dodging a meltdown in aisle five at Trader Joe’s turned into my backstage pass to the world I missed. Brilliant minds, unfiltered conversations right in my earbuds, whenever I wanted. It felt like I was sneaking into the rooms I wanted to be in and I loved it.

That obsession turned into action when I teamed up with Brianna Burrowes, founder of I Want Her Job, to co-host a podcast sharing career and life stories from women shaking up the world of work. In 2021, I rebranded the show as Meant For You, a space for stories about people brave enough to follow the path they were meant for. The goal? To spark a shift in perspective, ignite a new idea, or even inspire a total life re-route for anyone listening.

As a first-gen Russian immigrant from Minsk, Belarus, I was raised to play it safe. My parents were all about the practical path. I tried. I really did. But my heart? It had other plans. It took me nearly two decades (and a few spectacular stumbles) to finally own the fact that meaningful work wasn’t optional for me, it was the only way forward.

Rooted in the Jewish values of Tzedek (justice) and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), I started this podcast as a way to give back and to amplify voices fighting for something better.  If you’re craving real talk, brave pivots, and soul-stirring stories that remind you you’re not alone, you’re in the right place.

Subscribe and join us as we chase lives that feel real, honest, and beautifully full. Not perfect, not polished, but aligned with what we know in our gut was meant for us. Lives with depth, meaning, and purpose. Lives that stretch us, surprise us, break us open, and piece us back together and hopefully, help heal the world along the way.

Yelena Mugin

I’ve always been interested in everything — drawn to building, creating, and exploring different paths. Whether it was technology, real estate, media, entrepreneurship, or connecting with fascinating people, I’ve always been driven by curiosity and new opportunities. I never confined myself to just one lane; instead, I followed what excited me and shaped my life along the way.

Amidst the fast pace of work and exploration, I did something that surprised even me: I had four kids. While I continued pursuing my interests, parenthood added a new dimension to my journey. It made me reflect on the kind of impact I wanted to have, not just professionally but as a person. Stepping away from my 20+ year career in technology after my youngest was born gave me space to reimagine my goals. I wanted to take everything I had learned—about business, leadership, creativity, and human connection—and use it to inspire others to carve out their own meaningful paths.

That’s what led me to Meant for It. I love being part of a podcast that uncovers the real journeys of people who took bold steps to create lives they love. Titles don’t define us — our impact comes from the way we bring our individuality into everything we do. My hope is that these stories inspire our listeners into action to shape their own paths with confidence and purpose.

.