A Bit of Optimism

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.

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2025

What if this podcast turned into a baking show? For Christina Tosi’s third visit to A Bit of Optimism, we decided to find out.

Transcribed - Published: 3 June 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 27 May 2025

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 Harvard professor Robert Waldinger.

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2025

Sometimes in life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I going next?” Other times, it’s more fun to do a podcast takeover.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's nowhere left to run from yourself?

Transcribed - Published: 29 April 2025

What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.

Transcribed - Published: 22 April 2025

Change happens to all of us whether we choose it or not. What’s the best way to go through transition, especially when it’s something we didn’t want?

Transcribed - Published: 15 April 2025

We often define ourselves by what we do or who we are to other people. But at our core, who we are is often something much deeper, and sometimes wildly different, from the version that the world sees -- or projects onto you.

Transcribed - Published: 8 April 2025

Self-love is never as easy as we think. Is it possible to fall in love with ourselves the way we fall for other people?

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2025

Simon talks with psychologist Ty Tashiro about social awkwardness and why being awkward can actually be a superpower.

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2025

Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor?

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor?

Transcribed - Published: 18 March 2025

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?

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2025

To recognize your own talent takes time and self-awareness. But to find the courage to pursue it? That often requires a spark of inspiration from someone else.

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2025

Most people believe the only way to lead is to become the best at something. But what if great leadership means admitting you’re not the best at anything?

Transcribed - Published: 25 February 2025

Death is a word we like to avoid. We dance around the subject or use vague euphemisms to not hurt anybody. But what if being open about our deaths meant we could live happier lives?

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2025

People aren’t born great leaders. They learn to become great leaders.

Transcribed - Published: 11 February 2025

To create something truly original, do we build something new or break what came before? Perhaps the answer is both—simultaneously.

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2025

Parenting is the hardest job in the world—and it turns out, it’s also one of the best training grounds for leadership.

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2025

When the wildfires struck Los Angeles, turmoil quickly consumed the city. People were desperate for clear, reliable information—unsure of evacuation routes or how to track the fires as they spread in a history-making wind storm. Then, we found Watch Duty. This intuitive app became our lifeline.

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

Life can feel overwhelming, especially when we're too drained to even get out of bed. So, how do we push through those days?

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2025

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

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

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

Transcribed - Published: 10 December 2024

We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it?

Transcribed - Published: 3 December 2024

Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way.

Transcribed - Published: 26 November 2024

Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines.

Transcribed - Published: 19 November 2024

Transcribed - Published: 12 November 2024

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

Peace is a process. Not an outcome.

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2024

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2024

Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too. Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of  his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Friends can help us get through life’s toughest moments. But a true friend remembers to smile about the good times.

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2024

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.

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2024

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 iKARSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2024

Vision, not skill, is the heart of creativity. But when a creative vision gets too big for one person, the key is to ask for help. Logic is a platinum-selling rapper who’s made waves in the hip hop world. After a troubled childhood, he started making music with a positive, introspective message, eventually receiving nominations for two Grammy Awards. But after achieving massive popular success, he decided to branch out into something different. Today, he writes science fiction novels, makes movies, and is the only rapper to also have a New York Times bestseller. I sat down with Logic, whose real name is Bobby Hall, for a deep dive into bringing creative visions to life — especially when you have no idea what you’re doing. This…is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Logic and his work, check out: his new novel, Ultra 85 @logic See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2024

The slums of Kenya are a tough place to grow up. Stealing a mango could get you killed. Kennedy Odede grew up in Kibera, Africa's largest urban slum. A street kid at age 10, he dreamed of factory work for 10 cents a day. But after stealing a mango out of hunger, a stranger's single act of kindness changed the course of his life. Today, Kennedy is the CEO and founder of Shining Hope for Communities, or SHOFCO. For 20 years, SHOFCO has empowered Kenya's poorest neighborhoods, helping over 4 million people access clean water, education, and Internet. In 2024, TIME Magazine named Kennedy one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Kennedy shares with me what it takes to see human goodness while surrounded by scarcity and anger, and how poverty taught him that being together is one of the greatest forms of wealth. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Kennedy and his work, check out: SHOFCO.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2024

Before Elon Musk rebranded Twitter, X was already in use — at Google. Google X was Google's secret research lab, where Google's most imaginative ideas came to life. As CEO and co-founder, Astro Teller's job is to harness X's wildest, most futuristic technology to solve the world's hardest problems. The same "moonshot factory" that created Google Brain and Waymo self-driving cars is also working on carbon capture, laser-beam Internet, delivery drones, and more. I sat down with Astro to discuss how we build cultures of radical innovation. He shares some useful wisdom about unlearning what we know and why the counterintuitive approach is the key to landing moonshots. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Astro and his work, check out: X, the moonshot factorySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2024

Business and poetry usually don't mix. But vulnerability has the power to bring teams together. Poet IN-Q has found an unlikely audience in business. A slam poetry veteran and accomplished songwriter, companies invite IN-Q to help strengthen their cultures. He works with teams to connect on a deeper level, using poetry to share something human. As he'll tell you, winning over crowds of skeptical businesspeople is an art. In this conversation, IN-Q takes me through a powerful exercise in vulnerability. He shares some deeply personal poems and walks me through writing my own, and I learn that to truly connect with someone else, you must offer something of yourself first. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about IN-Q and his work, check out: The Never Ending Now poetry journal IN-Q.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2024

Our sense of smell has the deepest tie to emotion and memory. But it's also the most overlooked. In business, that's a giant missed opportunity. Dawn Goldworm knows how to use scent to evoke emotion and create loyalty. From Lady Gaga to Ferrari to books, Dawn designs signature fragrances that allow customers to connect with brands in a more meaningful way. A perfumer turned entrepreneur, her company 12.29 works with some of the biggest names in hospitality, fashion, automotive, and beyond. Many years ago, Dawn helped me create the Scent of Optimism. I was excited to talk with her about what it takes to compose a new smell from scratch and why smell has the unique ability to make a brand instantly memorable. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Dawn and her work, check out: 12.29See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2024

Fierce competition can lead to burnout. How do we train ourselves to maintain excellence without giving in to the pressure to perform? High-performance psychologist Mike Gervais has a solution. He calls it mastery. Mike's approach to mastering our thoughts and emotions has helped Olympians win gold medals, the Seattle Seahawks win the Superbowl, and CEOs take their companies to the next level. Mike and I sat down to discuss the psychological tools to fine-tune our inner voices and why focusing on purpose instead of outcome empowers us to accomplish difficult things. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Mike's work, check out his podcast: Finding MasterySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2024

Classical music could use a little disruption. For Anastasia Kobekina, that means playing outside of its rigid forms. An accomplished soloist, Anastasia has played with prestigious orchestras all over the world. She also bangs on her cello, improvises with Vivaldi, and sings. I was thrilled to sit down with Anastasia to discuss her musical experimentations and to hear her play some pieces from her remarkable new album Venice. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Anastasia and her music, check out: kobekina.infoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2024

Courage isn't about bravado. It's about staying calm. Li Karlsen knows a lot about staying calm under the most inhospitable conditions. One of the most accomplished freedivers in the world, Li is a record-holding champion at holding her breath and diving hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface. I wanted to ask Li what freediving has taught her about managing stress and fear. It turns out the lessons she's learned in the ocean work just as well above the water. Something as simple as changing the way we breathe can have a huge impact on our own fear and stress. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Li, check out: her AIDA stats @li_karlsen See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2024

In Part 2 of our conversation, Brené Brown, Adam Grant, and I continue our journey of out loud self-reflection. We discuss identifying our values, the two types of narcissists, explanation-based parenting, and exercising judgment over our own judgment. Listen to Part 1 here or wherever you listen to podcasts. This...is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Brené and Adam's work, check out: brenebrown.com adamgrant.netSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2024

To become more self-aware, sometimes you need a friend. Two friends is even better. Brené Brown and Adam Grant swing by the podcast for one of our trademark conversations with no plan. It turns into a deep dive about knowing our selves and how self-reflection is sometimes best done with others. What's a little metacognition between friends? This...is A Bit of Optimism. For more from Brené and Adam, check out: brenebrown.com adamgrant.net See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2024

Building wealth is an unequal pursuit. Scott Galloway believes no one is getting more screwed financially than young people. Scott argues what the U.S. is doing to the economic future of its youth is nothing less than a war on the young. The massive transfer of wealth from young to old is a topic he explores in his new book The Algebra of Wealth. I was delighted to have Prof G back on the show to share what's been on his mind lately, and enjoyed veering far off topic to discuss love, money, and the nature of true friendship. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Scott and his work, check out: his book The Algebra of Wealth his podcasts at Prof G Media his TED TalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024

Building wealth is an unequal pursuit. Scott Galloway believes no one is getting more screwed financially than young people. Scott argues what the U.S. is doing to the economic future of its youth is nothing less than a war on the young. The massive transfer of wealth from young to old is a topic he explores in his new book The Algebra of Wealth. I was delighted to have Prof G back on the show to share what's been on his mind lately, and enjoyed veering far off topic to discuss love, money, and the nature of true friendship. This...is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Scott and his work, check out: his book The Algebra of Wealth his podcasts at Prof G Media his TED TalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2024