Podcasts by A Bit of Optimism

Drive with professional racer Danica Patrick from 2023-12-12T08:00

Drive can get you to peak performance. 

But what happens when you enter the next chapter of your life? 

Danica Patrick was one of the best drivers in the world, the only woman in a...

The Value of Values with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon from 2023-12-05T08:00

All business leaders want to make a lasting impact, but very few have the scale and tools to change the entire planet.  

Doug McMillon has the scale and the tools. He is the CEO of Walmar...

A Curious Mind with movie producer Brian Grazer from 2023-11-28T08:00

Authenticity is exceedingly rare.

Yet Brian Grazer embodies it with an unparalleled zest and refreshing innocence. 

Though Grazer might not be a household name, his tv shows and mo...

Talking to Animals with A.I. ethicist Aza Raskin from 2023-11-21T08:00

When did we get so disconnected from the world around us? How can we find our way back?

Aza Raskin thinks the answer might lie in humanity's greatest adversary - listening.

As co-f...

A New Paradigm for Trust with entrepreneur Yat Siu from 2023-11-14T08:00

We have lost trust in almost everything. 

Yat Siu has a clear vision for how we can solve our large-scale trust issues and enhance human coordination. 

For every problem t...

Humanize with designer Thomas Heatherwick from 2023-11-07T08:01

We used to care about beautiful architecture. 

Luckily, Thomas Heatherwick still does. He is on a quest to make the world less boring.

You may not know Thomas yet, but you know his...

Teammateship with NBA champion Shane Battier from 2023-10-31T10:34:25

High-performing teams require more than just a leader. Great teams come from great teammates.  

Shane Battier won't be in the NBA Hall of Fame, but he was one of the greatest teammates to ...

The Future of Leadership with educator Elizabeth English from 2023-10-24T07:00

When we want wisdom, we turn to people older than us. But there is a lot to be learned from younger generations too.

Elizabeth English knows this. She’s the head of one of the most innovat...

Remember Love with the poet Cleo Wade from 2023-10-17T07:00

We are told from a young age to pursue love—romantic love, self-love, divine love. But how do you actually define love? And once you do, how do you find it?

Cleo Wade is the right person t...

Purpose over Profit with Thrive Causemetics CEO Karissa Bodnar from 2023-10-10T07:00

How do you run a thriving company that cares more about impact than about profit and margins?

Karissa Bodnar is a genius CEO who dedicated herself to building a cause-based company. Thrive...

Beautiful Conflict with the poet Yung Pueblo from 2023-10-03T07:00

How are you? It’s a question we get asked everyday, but we hardly ever answer it honestly.  

When Diego Perez — also known under his penname, Yung Pueblo — started asking himself that ques...

Power with author Robert Greene from 2023-09-26T07:00

How do people become powerful? Can understanding power protect us from those who wield it too strongly?

When Robert Greene first set out to write about power, he didn’t have much of it. He...

Failing Well with professor of leadership Dr. Amy Edmondson from 2023-09-19T07:00

Failure is the secret to success. Our failures are agents of inspiration, iteration, and innovation.  

Dr. Amy Edmondson is the Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business S...

Happier-ness with author Arthur Brooks from 2023-09-12T07:00

You’ll never achieve perfect happiness. This might sound like bad news, but it’s actually a good thing. Because being happy is not a final destination, it’s an ongoing practice. In short, it’s <...

Intuition vs. Reason with poker champion Liv Boeree from 2023-09-05T07:00

When should we trust our gut and when should we depend on logic? 

Liv Boeree can actually answer that question.  She won the World Series of Poker before retiring from the game to explore ...

When to Quit with Steven Bartlett (Part 2) from 2023-08-29T07:00

When should you quit a project and when should you persevere?

As one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, Steven Bartlett has thought deeply about this problem.

Steven is used to ge...

Sweating the Small Stuff with Steven Bartlett (Part 1) from 2023-08-22T07:00

How you do anything is how you do everything.

Steven Bartlett embodies this old adage.  His high standards and focus on the finest details launched him from a broke university dropout to o...

Community and Empowerment with Sharmadean Reid from 2023-08-15T07:00

Great businesses often look a lot like social movements.  

Sharmadean Reid knows this from experience—she has combined technology and culture to create multiple businesses around strong co...

The Book of Charlie with David Von Drehle from 2023-08-08T07:00

What does it mean to live a long and happy life?  

David Von Drehle has spent 40 years covering big stories and important figures as an award-winning journalist. But the best lessons turne...

Leadership with General CQ Brown, Jr. from 2023-07-04T07:00

For this 4th of July, I wanted to do something special to celebrate the birth of our nation. So I invited Air Force Chief of Staff General CQ Brown, Jr. to join me on the podcast. 

General...

Preparing for Change with Cassandra Worthy from 2023-06-27T07:00

Change is inevitable.  And yet fear, anger, and confusion are often our first reactions to changes. 

Cassandra Worthy experienced the negative emotions that stem from change so many times ...

Trust with Jimmy Wales from 2023-06-20T07:00

Information is power. But how do we adapt now that most of the information we consume comes with a heavy bias? 

In an ironic twist of fate, it’s Wikipedia — the encyclopedia that anyone ca...

Life Worth Living with Miroslav Volf from 2023-06-13T07:00

What does it mean for a life to go well? What matters most in our time on Earth? 

These are the most important questions of our lives and yet most of us have no clue how to answer them.  Listen

Determination with Steven Pressfield from 2023-06-06T07:00

Creative success is notoriously elusive, but those who have made the journey insist it comes down to three factors: hard work, luck, and talent. 

Steven Pressfield wants to add one more th...

Rewarding Kindness with Jimmy Darts from 2023-05-30T07:00

On the path to fame, most rising stars abandon their morals.

Not Jimmy Darts. He’s done just the opposite.  

Jimmy started his career as a YouTuber pulling ill-advised pranks. Two de...

Love Without Judgment with Ana Kirova from 2023-05-23T07:00

Dating doesn’t have to be about finding “The One.”  At its most rewarding, modern love can be about growth, curiosity, and authenticity.  

Ana Kirova is the CEO of the dating platform 'Fee...

The Soul of an Idea with David Copperfield from 2023-05-16T07:00

“Soul” is a word that I've never really used, but it perfectly encapsulates what has made David Copperfield the most successful magician of all time.  

He has filled global audiences with ...

Molly's Game with Molly Bloom from 2023-05-09T07:00

Molly Bloom’s life story is one-of-a-kind.  

Her Olympic dreams were dashed, so she planned on going to law school. Instead, she wound up running a high-stakes poker game where hundreds of...

The Courage of Compassion with Robin Steinberg from 2023-04-04T07:00

How would you like to be judged for the rest of your life by the worst thing you’ve ever done?

Robin Steinberg was a public defender, where she had to learn to see her clients – who were o...

A Goofy Episode with Bill Farmer from 2023-03-28T07:00

There is a very good chance that Bill Farmer has already made your life brighter and you had no idea.

That's because Bill is a Disney Legend. He has been the voice of Goofy since 1987, amo...

Insane Vacations with Mike Reiss from 2023-03-21T07:00

When you get one of the most successful comedy writers in television history to come on your podcast, naturally the first thing to talk about is...his trip in a homemade submarine to visit the r...

Down A Rabbit Hole with Seth Godin from 2023-03-14T07:00

Our time, energy, and emotions are valuable because they are finite.

And yet conversations with Seth Godin always leave me feeling more patient, energized, and full of love.  

Seth i...

How To Be An Entrepreneur with Jeff Rosenthal from 2023-03-07T08:00

Want to go fast? Go alone. Want to go far? Go together.

Most entrepreneurs aren’t lone wolves. Founders like Jeff Rosenthal know that the greatest ventures come with partners, mentors, and...

The Wisdom of Anxiety with Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary from 2023-02-28T08:00

Anxiety is the crown jewel of human evolution. 

That’s the professional opinion of neuroscience professor and clinical psychologist Dr. Tracy Dennis-Tiwary, who is driving a paradigm shift...

Guaranteed Joy with Richard Curtis from 2023-02-21T08:00

There are precious few moments in life that guarantee joy. That’s what makes time spent with Richard Curtis or watching his films so special – you just know you’re in for a great time.  

R...

Exploration with Leland Melvin from 2023-02-14T08:00

Explorers discover new worlds and perspectives that change humanity forever.

Leland Melvin has spent his life exploring.  He’s been a rocket scientist, an astronaut, and an NFL player.

Taking Comfortable Risks with Scott Galloway from 2023-02-07T08:00

When is a risk worth taking? We have to learn to embrace the comfortable risks - the ones where the pain of failure is worthwhile or even valuable.  

Podcaster, author and NYU professor, S...

Digging Up the Past with Sarah Parcak from 2023-01-31T08:00

Sarah has the coolest job: Space Archaeologist.

She uses satellites to find undiscovered sites buried deep beneath the ground. But the real interesting stuff is what we can learn about our...

High Performance with Divesh Makan from 2023-01-24T08:00

Divesh is one of the most connected people I know. Charming and opinionated, he advises and invests the fortunes of the most successful and wealthiest people on the planet.  

So I wanted t...

Embracing The Fall with Carla Hall from 2023-01-17T08:00

When you show up with love and aim only to give of yourself, everyone you interact with can feel it.

Carla Hall has led a life and a career filled with zigs and zags. The two-time Top Chef...

Gen Z in the Workplace with Jonah and David Stillman from 2023-01-10T08:00

Every generation is different, but one thing currently unites Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials: they are all struggling to understand Gen Z.  

David and Jonah Stillman are a father-and-...

Ask Simon Anything: Part Two from 2023-01-03T08:00

New year, new opportunities, new questions!

We’re ringing in 2023 with more answers to the hundreds of questions our listeners sent in from all over the world.  

This is… A Bit of Op...

Ask Simon Anything: Part One from 2022-12-27T08:00

A few weeks ago, I put out an open call on social media to see what questions my listeners have for me.  And there were a LOT of responses.

So, as an end-of-the-year special, our next two ...

Two Bits of Optimism with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: Part Two from 2022-12-20T08:00

Remember how it was an incredible idea to get Brené Brown and Adam Grant on a call, have absolutely NO plan, and hit record?

Well, this is the second part of that lovely, free-flowing conv...

Two Bits of Optimism with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: Part One from 2022-12-13T08:00

What separates exceptional ideas from good ideas?  

Here’s an example of a good idea: Book two podcast guests and meticulously plan a conversation about creativity.

Now, here’s an ex...

Being Yourself with Kathryn Finney from 2022-12-06T08:00

Daring to be different feels risky. There’s constant pressure to “read the room” or “tone it down.”

Kathryn Finney discovered at a young age that – when it comes to being authentic – the r...

Live A Long, Happy Life with physician Mark Hyman from 2022-11-29T13:00

<p>Turns out laughter isn't the best medicine. <i>Medicine</i> might not even be the best medicine. If you were to ask Dr Mark Hyman, he would tell you that <i>food</i...

Relationships with Christina Tosi and Will Guidara from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.597940

The best way to learn more about what it takes to build a great relationship is to spend time with people who have a great relationship. That’s why I called my favorite couple - Christina Tosi, ...

Hope with Curtis Martin from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.594116

Our nation is facing a challenge unlike it’s faced in decades. There’s anger, there’s fear, there’s exhaustion. This week I’ve reached out to friends to have necessary and uncomfortable conversa...

Entrepreneurship with Helene and Seth Godin from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.572261

An entrepreneur is not what most people think…that’s what I discussed with marketing guru and serial entrepreneur Seth Godin and his entrepreneur wife, Helene. I learned a lot and I laughed a lo...

Quiet Service with General Stan McChrystal from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.556251

General Stan McChrystal was the Commander of The Joint Special Operations Command under President Obama and is the author of Team of Teams. He has had a colorful and distinguished career, but wh...

A Lot of Optimism (Or The One Where I Met Andy Grammer) from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.493339

Where does optimism come from? I think it comes from an innate sense that the future is bright. Andy Grammer, an incurable optimist, thinks it starts with pain. I love his point of view. This is...

Joy with Marco Bizzarri from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.479794

Gucci CEO, Marco Bizzarri, finds joy in the little things. This is his secret. His secret to a happy life, also his secret to leadership. And it works. This is… A Bit of Optimism. 

YouTube...

Generosity with Ann Marie Scichili from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.476649

In life we learn different things from different people. From my friend, retail executive Ann Marie Scichili, I learned about generosity. So, in the spirit of generosity I wanted to share her wi...

A Tension Deficit with James Harding from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.462627

Where do we find the truth? As the business of news has become, well, a business…it seems to have become more and more difficult to actually find the truth. Even search engines are no help. So I...

Designing the Future with Brian Collins from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.446893

Spotify, Target and Twitch are just three of the brands whose identity has been significantly influenced by Brian Collins. He’s a legend in the design world and thinks about the future in ways c...

Learning to Love with Tim Shriver from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.439661

Most people know him as a disability rights activist, chairman of Special Olympics or for his book The Call to Unite. But when we talked, our conversation took a turn. We ended up ta...

Listen

Raising Resilient Kids with Angela Duckworth from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.436594

With unprecedented levels of stress and depression amongst young people, I wanted to know what we, as an older generation can do to help. So I talked to psychologist,  professor at the Universit...

Hope with Shamma Al Mazrui from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.392948

So many politicians say our children are our future, so why do so few nations have a cabinet level position to represent their youth? As the Minister of State for Youth Affairs for the United Ar...

Resolving Conflict with William Ury from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.375656

Fear and anger seem to dominate the headlines. So, to start the New Year, I thought it would be a good idea to find out if there is anything we can do to get to a resolution. And William Ury is ...

Giving A Sh*t with Phoebe Robinson from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.364092

Short packets of content. That’s the world we live in. We've condensed and compressed so much of what we consume that our entertainment and our news seem to have lost any nuance or complexity. Listen

Giving What You Have with Mark Bustos from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.354792

When people want to do good they often get stuck because they don’t know what they can do. 

Mark Bustos figured out that to do good, all we need to do is what we are already good at, but t...

Vulnerability and Redemption with Adrian Grenier from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.342928

We've all been told in our darkest times: "Don't worry this will get better"...but what happens if everything's going right? Should we be afraid that the other shoe will drop?    

Well, fo...

Partnering with Jean Oelwang from 2022-04-21T10:29:48.337479

Some of the most successful people in the world all have a secret power. It’s not their experience or technical expertise that matter most – it’s their partnerships.   

As the President an...

Obscure Presidential History with Jeremy Deutsch from 2022-02-22T08:00

We all know a bit about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, but which President was drunk at his inauguration?  Who was the first gay president?  And what kind of parent would name their kid ...

Happiness with Arthur Brooks from 2022-02-15T08:00

Can we ensure that we will stay happy through every phase of our lives? Arthur Brooks discovered that there is a clear fork in the road that we will all face at some point. Some of us will strug...

My True Crime Episode with David Mittelman from 2022-01-25T08:00

Less than 5% of major crimes end in a conviction. For cold cases, that number drops to 1%.      

Those numbers won’t stay low forever.  

David Mittelman’s company, Othram Inc., is re...

Rebuilding Community with Luma Mufleh from 2022-01-18T08:00

Engraved on the Statue of Liberty it reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” A beautiful sentiment, indeed. The reality is a little less poetic. W...

No More Lonely Friends with Marissa Meizz from 2022-01-11T08:00

How would you react if you found out that your friends purposely planned a birthday party when you were out of town so you wouldn’t attend? And what if you found out from a video that went viral...

Gratitude with Omar Brownson from 2021-12-28T08:00

Stressed from work? Stressed from life? For all the talk of mindfulness and meditation, a lot of us still struggle to find that calm we want. Omar Brownson tapped into an entirely new way to fin...

Setting Boundaries with Sara Kuburic from 2021-12-21T08:00

Despite all our “social” media, more and more people report feeling lonelier, more stressed and more adrift than ever before. How can we protect our mental health and still engage with friends o...

Being Rich with Ron Finley from 2021-12-14T08:00

We live in an era in which possessions are, too often, more important than personal health and the health of our planet. That never felt right to activist, gardener, and education reformer Ron Finl...

Being Rich with Ron Finley from 2021-12-14T08:00

We live in an era in which possessions are, too often, more important than personal health and the health of our planet. That never felt right to activist, gardener, and education reformer Ron F...

The Asymmetry of Power with Tristan Harris from 2021-11-30T08:00

A small number of tech companies have amassed enormous power in our modern world. Do they wield that power responsibly, or do they abuse it to benefit themselves? I talked to Tristan Harri...

Family with Ari Emanuel from 2021-11-23T08:00

In show business, Ari Emmanuel is the consummate insider. The founder and CEO of the Endeavor agency, he represents some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. He’s a mover and a shaker and a philanthrop...

Enchantment with Chloe Valdary from 2021-06-29T07:30

What is the best way to navigate the world of diversity, equity and inclusion? Chloe Valdary’s point of view is different from the norm. The founder of the Theory of Enchantment believes the bes...

The Value of Failing with Suneel Gupta from 2021-06-22T07:30

There are only a few people in the world who have made a success out of failing. Serial entrepreneur and author of Backable, Suneel Gupta is one of them. We talked about the importance of failin...

Awesome Responsibility with Kyle Carpenter from 2021-06-15T07:30

We’ve seen it in the movies, someone throws themselves onto a grenade to save their buddy, but how many of us could actually do it? Kyle Carpenter, the youngest living recipient of the Congressi...

Thinking Differently with Matthew Barzun from 2021-05-25T07:30

Every now and then, I get to meet someone who sees the world differently. Matthew Barzun is one of those people. He was early to see opportunities that others  didn’t -  in the internet, in poli...

Having a Laugh with Michael McIntyre from 2021-05-18T07:27

In high stress times it helps to laugh,  which is why I called Michael McIntyre, one of the most  successful comedians in the world. And that’s what we did…we laughed. This is… A Bit of Optimism...

Respect with Nicole Avant from 2021-05-11T07:30

In a world that’s increasingly polarized, it’s harder and harder to bridge the divide between ourselves and those we disagree with. Filmmaker and former US Ambassador, Nicole Avant and I chatted...

Confidence with Sara Blakely from 2021-04-27T07:30

Confidence is this thing we all need… this thing we all want. Some seem to find it easier than others. Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx, found it and it worked. This is… A Bit of Optimism.

Vulnerability with Brigadier General Michael “Johnny Bravo” Drowley from 2021-04-20T07:30

If you ask people in the military what makes them willing to sacrifice themselves for each other, the answer may surprise you. It’s not God or country… it's LOVE. In business we have colleagues ...

The One With Brené Brown from 2021-04-13T07:30

People tell me that Brené Brown’s work, more than anyone else, is the perfect companion to my work. So what a treat for me to talk to Brené to further explore… and debate, well, a whole lot of t...

Faith with Quilen Blackwell from 2021-01-12T08:30

Occasionally I get to meet someone whose story absolutely inspires me. Quilen Blackwell is that person. He was on the path set for him - good grades, good college, good job - but he decided to f...

The Infinite Game with Dr. James Carse from 2020-12-29T08:30

Many people have theories, but what philosopher, Dr. James Carse, figured out is more profound. He articulated a basic truth about how the world actually works. His work has had a profound impac...

Happying with Derren Brown from 2020-12-22T08:30

What happens when someone who is obsessed with human behavior, instead of becoming a psychologist, chooses a career in entertainment? Mentalist and illusionist, Derren Brown, has mastered the ab...

Conversion with Ric Elias from 2020-12-15T08:30

On January 15th 2009, Captain “Sully” Sullenberger, against all odds, landed his US Airways Airbus safely on the Hudson River. How would you have reacted to the sound of the engines shutting dow...

Fight with Love, Fight for Love with Aloe Blacc from 2020-11-24T08:30

We are living in a polarized world filled with fear and uncertainty. There is, however, a way we can overcome all of it - Love.  Grammy nominated singer-songwriter, Aloe Blacc and I, talked abou...

Finding your Tribe with Amy Cuddy from 2020-11-17T08:30

We all want to feel like we belong. We feel safe surrounded by people who see the world the way we see it. This is why we all have to find our tribe. Social psychologist and award winning Harvar...

A Bit of Everything with Adam Grant from 2020-11-10T08:30

What would you talk to organizational psychologist and author of Give and Take, Adam Grant, about? Everything! This was one of those conversations that went in so many directions…and I learned s...

Moving Forward with my sister Sara from 2020-09-14T07:30:36

Twenty years ago my sister and our family suffered a tragedy that we don’t talk about very often. She wanted to talk about it with the hope that it helps someone. I think it will help a lot of p...

Ethical Fading with Lenny Wong from 2020-08-31T07:30:04

Are you honest? Let me ask the question a different way: have you ever told a lie? You can see the problem. Dr. Lenny Wong has spent years studying this and we talked about how pervasive this “e...

Second Chances with Bruce Deel from 2020-08-24T07:30:04

It’s often easier to learn lessons when we look at extreme cases. I turned to the military to understand trust. To learn about compassion, I turned to Bruce Deel. He’s an extraordinary man and t...

Challenging Authority with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss from 2020-08-17T07:30:06

Two things - money and the internet - influence and impact almost everything in our lives. Which is a problem when both are run by just a few companies. Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, co-founders...

Extreme Listening with Deeyah Khan from 2020-08-10T07:30:08

Extreme listening are two words that don’t usually go together. But there is no other way to describe what Deeyah Khan does. A Muslim woman, she made a documentary, White Right: Meeting the Enem...

Courage with Guy Raz from 2020-07-27T07:30:10

We all need courage these days. The courage to speak out, the courage to be optimistic, the courage to take care of our loved ones when we’re hurting. Guy Raz and I talked about where courage co...

Gratitude with Carolyn Adams from 2020-07-20T07:30:06

Carolyn Adams is an extraordinary woman. A world-renown dancer, pioneer, and teacher - she is a light that shines bright. I wanted to discover what she’s learned in her purposeful life and get h...

Shades of Grey with Jenna Arnold from 2020-07-13T07:30:01

We live in a world that is increasingly polarized. Reality, however, is a lot more grey than that, which can make us feel uncomfortable. That’s why I wanted to talk to author, entrepreneur, and ...

Leadership with Bob Chapman from 2020-06-29T07:30:22

I imagine a world in which the vast majority of people wake up inspired, feel safe wherever they are, and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Bob Chapman, legendary CEO of manufactur...

Service with Maria Shriver from 2020-06-22T07:30:02

I wanted to talk about Service. Given how she lives her life, Maria Shriver was the perfect person to talk to. We went for a socially distanced walk together in LA and talked about how we can le...

How To Have Difficult Conversations with David Harris from 2020-06-15T07:30:18

I have a desire to have necessary and difficult conversations. But I don’t always know how to start them. My brilliant friend and colleague David Harris helped and guided me. My goal is that thi...

This is... A Bit of Optimism from 2020-05-26T21:40:18

During these times, we are all having to find new ways to connect.  Starting June 1, join me every week from my kitchen table as I talk with people that inspire me, about love, life, leadership ...