POLINA RUBIN

For years, I’ve had the same hours-long conversations with friends: How do we find work that matters and pays the bills? We’ve spent countless nights scheming, venting, and dreaming about careers that feed both the bank account and the soul.

As a first-gen immigrant from Minsk, Belarus, I was raised to play it safe. My parents were all about the practical path. I tried—but going against my heart led to failure after failure. It took nearly two decades (and a few epic stumbles) to finally land on a path that felt right.

In 2015, when I discovered podcasts everything shifted. With two toddlers and zero time for books or adult conversation, podcasts became my lifeline. Suddenly, washing dishes or dodging meltdowns in Trader Joe’s turned into a chance to listen to brilliant minds and inspiring stories on every topic imaginable.

That obsession turned into Meant For You, a podcast I co-host with Yelena. We believe we all have paths that are meant for us—but getting to a place where we’re living a life we won’t regret, while juggling families, careers, and everything life throws our way, is a daily saga.

In each episode, we aim to offer a new perspective, introduce you to fascinating people, make you smile, and remind you that you’re not alone. When you stay open-minded, even the smallest shift in mindset can set you on a new path—one that feels more like you.

As moms and news junkies who love books, travel, culture, and deep conversation, we cover it all: meaning, courage, clarity, and finding purpose—without missing the beauty in each day.

If you’re craving real talk and stories that make you think, laugh, and maybe even reroute your life, click play and please reach out if something moves you.

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.

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