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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

Sometimes in life, we choose the wrong path. When we feel like we're living a lie, it's hard to know what to do next.

That’s where Suzy Welch comes in. She’s obsessed with helping people create lives worth living. A professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Suzy teaches a popular class called “Becoming You,” where she takes students down a brutal, but liberating, journey to live as their authentic selves. 

According to Suzy’s research, purpose is the key to unlocking the real you, but finding that purpose is often trickier than we imagine.I had a blast talking, and debating, with Suzy about what it means to craft a purpose-driven life. In this conversation, she shares with me the difference between passion and aptitude, the reason luck is overrated, and why so many people struggle to know their own values.

To learn more about Suzy and her work, check out:

her book, Becoming You

and The Becoming You Podcast with Suzy Welch

The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with couples counselor Shawn McBride.
 

Relationships are hard. No matter how much we like, respect, or love someone, conflict seems inevitable.

But even as we fight and disagree, we can also learn the skills we need to resolve our problems. For over two decades, Shawn McBride has helped thousands of couples do the work to strengthen their relationships. And he has tons of practical advice.

Shawn sat down with me to discuss the three biggest problems couples face, why I'm a huge fan of his Instagram, and how love can keep relationships afloat, but it's often not enough.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Shawn and his work, check out:

@couples_counseling_center
@shawnmcbridespeaks
and couplescounselingcenter.org

Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride

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 activist Jenna Arnold about how we can learn to accept and manage the grey. This is... A Bit of Optimism.

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Shades of Grey with Jenna Arnold

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 her perspective on what’s going on right now. I loved our chat – I hope you do too. This is… A Bit of Optimism.

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gratitude with Carolyn Adams

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 comes from and how to find it. Guy is the podcast king. He was also a war correspondent. So he knows a lot about courage. His ideas are absolutely inspiring. This is… A Bit of Optimism.

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/officialsimonsinek/

Courage with Guy Raz

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 what I wanted to talk to him about is how he has lived a life of Quiet Service. This… is A Bit of Optimism.

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
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Quiet Service with General Stan McChrystal

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 Enemy, about spending time with white supremacists. Her results were so profound, it raises the question, what if we all had the capacity for extreme listening? This is…A Bit of Optimism. 

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/officialsimonsinek/

Extreme Listening with Deeyah Khan

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 of Facebook and early investors in Bitcoin, have an idea how to give the people back their power. This is … A Bit of Optimism. 

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/officialsimonsinek/

Challenging Authority with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss

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 the second chances his organization, City of Refuge, gives people can teach the rest of us how we can do the same. This is… A Bit of Optimism

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/officialsimonsinek/

Second Chances with Bruce Deel

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 “ethical fading” is in so many aspects of modern life and what we can do about it. This is… A Bit of Optimism

YouTube: http://youtube.com/simonsinek
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/officialsimonsinek/

Ethical Fading with Lenny Wong

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 innovative schools in the country, The Archer School for Girls and has spent her career working with -- and learning from -- younger generations.

We sat down to talk about: the problems facing parents today, why kids need and thrive from rules, boundary setting, phone addictions, and how her students make her hopeful for the future.

This is...A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Elizabeth and her work check out: 

https://www.archer.org/about/from-the-head-of-school

The Future of Leadership with educator Elizabeth English

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