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Simon Sinek

My career is an accident. It started when I set out to rediscover my passion and reignite a spark I’d lost — and that journey led me to the work I do now.

If you know me from my books or my speaking, you know I’m fascinated by why people do what they do. What makes someone find joy and meaning in their life, or pursue something far greater than themselves?
I started A Bit of Optimism to explore those ideas and expand my own perspective. This podcast is a trove of honest conversations, with people who challenge me, teach me, or simply help me see things in a different way. Some guests are household names, and others you may be meeting for the first time. But each one of them has something to share that can help all of us grow.

So if you’re looking for a spark — some insight, inspiration, or just a reminder that good things are possible — join me on A Bit of Optimism! 

Let’s grow together.

A Bit of Optimism

Happiness is a choice. But it’s not always an easy choice to make.

Mo Gawdat had to face an impossible choice. Before he was a bestselling author and podcast host, Mo worked a lucrative career as Chief Business Officer at Google X. He reached the heights of business influence and amassed a fortune by 29. And yet, he was miserable. It was only after the tragic death of his 21-year-old son Ali that Mo was forced to confront the truth.

Mo now dedicates his life, work, and research to figuring out how human beings can be happier, and he’s on a mission to make 1 billion people happy. He sat down with me to share what he’s learned – that happiness is both a choice and our default setting, how to trick our brains out of survival mode, and why the happiest emotions we feel are rooted in the present, not the past or future.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

To learn more about Mo and his work, check out:mogawdat.com

Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat

When morale problems affect a team, some leaders choose to make a big, rousing speech. But quite often, it’s the quiet leader who leads with empathy that sees a better emotional solution.

Gordon Schmidt is a retired Navy SEAL with enough combat experience to understand that empathy is an operational advantage, not a weakness. After 20 years of military service, he started his second act as a high school rowing coach. According to Gordo, be it coaching rowers or leading soldiers, the emotional lessons he’s learned about leadership apply just the same.

In this conversation, Gordo shares with me how to move on into a new chapter in life and why emotional intelligence in high-stress situations is often a leader’s only way out.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Gordon and his work, check out:

San Diego Rowing Club

The Quiet Power of the Empathetic Leader with Navy SEAL turned rowing coach Gordon Schmidt

We turn to ancient philosophies to help us cope with the stress of modern life. But what if ancient wisdom could use some help from the modern world?

Jay Shetty has made it his life’s work to make wisdom, peace, and purpose available to everyone. After living as a monk for 3 years, he left his monastic lifestyle with the hope of spreading what he learned to as many people as possible. Today, he’s the host of the On Purpose podcast, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a life coach, and an entrepreneur who has helped millions of people find clarity in their lives.

I was excited to talk with Jay about the balance between ancient practices and modern life. He shared with me the three biggest lessons he learned as a monk, what people get wrong about meditation, and how we can slow down and reflect amid the bustle of modern society.

For more on Jay and his work, check out:

On Purpose Live Tour

jayshetty.me

The Myth of the Perfect Meditator with podcaster Jay Shetty

If you walk up to someone and say “you’re being unreasonable!” most people would be offended. Will Guidara, however, would take it as a compliment. 

A renowned New York restaurateur, Will transformed Eleven Madison Park into the best restaurant in the world by reinventing how they offered hospitality....they made it unreasonable. 

I had a chance to sit down and talk to him about how he learned the power of being unreasonable.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Will and his work, check out his new book Unreasonable Hospitality below or wherever you prefer to buy your books: 

https://simonsinek.com/optimism_press_books/unreasonable-hospitality/

Unreasonable Hospitality with Will Guidara

The jump from $250 million to $2 billion in revenue doesn't happen overnight. Over 25 years, John Burke transformed Trek Bikes into a global powerhouse — one mom-and-pop bike store at a time.

The key to John's success is simple but powerful. Create value for others first, and you too shall be rewarded. 

John and I discuss why the best way to win isn't to focus on "winning," but to focus on "play," and how the principles of The Infinite Game have guided his leadership. And he tells me why creative leadership is exactly what's missing in American government.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

To learn more about John and his work, check out:

his book, A Bold Plan For America

TrekBikes.com

The Ultimate Infinite-Minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke

Grief can paralyze us. Most of us aren't given a manual about how to comfort someone grieving or how to ask for help with our own pain. 

That's why I wanted to revisit one of my favorite conversations, with Rabbi Sharon Brous. I talked with her about being present to someone else's pain and what it means to heal together in the loneliness epidemic. 

Considered one of the most influential rabbis in the U.S., she founded her own congregation and has led multiple White House faith events. In her book, The Amen Effect, Sharon explores how grief and heartbreak can be gateways to truly seeing each other.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Sharon and her work, check out:

her book The Amen Effect

her congregation iKAR

Revisited: We Cannot Heal Alone In The Loneliness Epidemic with Rabbi Sharon Brous

Some people’s life stories are too crazy not to tell. So today, we’re revisiting one of my favorite episodes, my conversation with Molly Bloom. Her story is so riveting it's no surprise it became a star-studded Hollywood film. 

After her Olympic dreams were dashed, Molly wound up running an illegal, high-stakes poker game where hundreds of millions of dollars would change hands in a night. 

Molly made a lot of money. Celebrities, mafias, and federal informants soon took an interest in her and her game. Eventually, she lost everything and had no one to blame but herself.

Her story became the Academy Award-nominated movie Molly’s Game, and the lessons she learned from her extraordinary journey have tremendous value for the rest of us.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Molly and her work, check out:

twitter.com/immollybloom

Revisited: Molly's Game with Molly Bloom

They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But what about business and friends?

My dear friend Will Guidara is the perfect person to dive into this question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. 

In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for owning and operating Eleven Madison Park, once named the best restaurant in the world. He’s also the author of the brilliant book Unreasonable Hospitality and a co-producer of the FX television series The Bear. 

Will and I have worked together before, so I was excited to chat with him about turning friends into colleagues, the reality of friendship breakups at work, and why sometimes showing respect means we have to change the way we treat a friend.

This…is A Bit of Optimism

For more on Will and his work, check out:

Unreasonable Hospitality

The Art of Creating Fiercely Loyal Customers

Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara

It’s our last episode of 2024, so I decided to invite comedian Trevor Noah on…to get as serious as possible.

Most Americans know Trevor as the former host of The Daily Show, a bestselling author, and a stand-up comedian. But his brand of humor isn’t just a barrel of laughs— it’s raw, witty, thought-provoking, and often makes you see the world in a whole new way.

In this conversation, we ditched the small talk (mostly) and went deep into the paradox of choice, the public's response to the murder of United HealthCare's CEO, and why the human experience might be defined by constraint. It will make you chuckle, think, and probably question everything all at once.

This...is a Bit of Optimism.

P.S. Come back and see us on January 7, 2025 for an all new episode. Until then, take care of yourself and each other.
 

For more on Trevor and his work, check out:

trevornoah.com

Trevor Noah Makes My Brain Hurt

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. Where do we go to feel like we belong?

As the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy has been a leading voice in bringing the loneliness crisis to light, stressing its devastating impact on public health. As his second term nears its end, he leaves behind a powerful reflection in his letter, My Parting Prescription for America and the World.

In an insightful conversation with Dr. Murthy, we delve into what it truly means to be healthy—not just physically, but emotionally and socially—and discuss why the pursuit of fame, wealth, and power often leads us further from what we really need.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

To read the letter, visit this link: My Parting Prescription for America and the World 

To learn more about Dr. Murthy, click here: vivekmurthy.com

The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

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 Finley. He’s been called an Eco-lutionary, a Guerrilla Gardener, the Gangsta Gardener…regardless of what you want to call him he is one thing: inspiring. 

This is… A Bit of Optimism. 

If you want to know more about Ron and his work, check out: 

https://ronfinley.com

https://www.instagram.com/ronfinleyhq

https://www.instagram.com/ronfinleyproject

Being Rich with Ron Finley

Lyssna när som helst, var som helst

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