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 one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs. At 30-years-old he has already founded multiple companies, starred on Britain’s hit tv show Dragon’s Den, and he is now the host of one of the planet’s most popular podcasts, Diary of a CEO. He is a leader for the new era. It was a joy to turn the tables on him a...
Aug 22, 2023•46 min•Ep. 91
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 communities. She started her first business at 24, creating a nail salon that changed the beauty industry. Now she runs a media network for the next generation of women in power. This is…A Bit of Optimism. For more on Sharmadean and her work, check out: https://thestack.world https://sharmadeanreid.com...
Aug 15, 2023•35 min•Ep. 90
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 turned out to be right next door. David’s latest book, “The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109 Year-Old Man,” is a best-seller about resilience, American history, and what it means to live well. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on David and his work check out: https://www.simonandsc...
Aug 08, 2023•29 min•Ep. 89
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 Brown is the head of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is also the current nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. If he is confirmed as Chairman later this year, it would make him the most senior-ranked member of the United States military. General Brown is humble, approa...
Jul 04, 2023•43 min•Ep. 88
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 that she now sees them for what they really are: signals for opportunity. Now, she helps companies and individuals thrive during times of major change. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Cassandra and her work check out: Her book Change Enthusiasm https://a.co/d/jlB2Xnk https://cassandraworthy.com/...
Jun 27, 2023•31 min•Ep. 87
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 can edit — that has done one of the best jobs maintaining public trust in our polarized era. I sat down with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, in front of a live studio audience to explore how we got here and how Wikipedia’s transparency and vulnerability may be a model for a better future. This…is A Bit of O...
Jun 20, 2023•39 min•Ep. 86
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. Miroslav Volf is a theologian and professor who has been grappling with these ideas for decades. He is the founding director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture where he teaches a class called “Life Worth Living,” and recently wrote a book by the same name. It turns out, life worth living is life helping othe...
Jun 13, 2023•31 min•Ep. 85
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 thing to that list: a muse. And he should know. His muse guided him to incredible success as an author of fiction, nonfiction, and movies including hit books like: The Legend of Bagger Vance, The War of Art, and Gates of Fire. Steven’s story of the long and bumpy road he took to find his muse and his success can h...
Jun 06, 2023•32 min•Ep. 84
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 decades later, he and his 20 million fans now make the world a kinder place by donating life-changing money to unsuspecting strangers who are spontaneously kind, compassionate, or generous. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Jimmy and his work, check out: https://www.jimmydarts.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/U...
May 30, 2023•25 min•Ep. 83
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 'Feeld’, a revolutionary app that helps people break free from traditional norms, explore alternative relationships, and discover the boundless potential for love that comes with accepting yourself and others without judgment. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Ana and her work check out: https://feeld.co/...
May 23, 2023•34 min•Ep. 82
“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 awe for over 40 years. He made the Statue of Liberty disappear, escaped from Alcatraz, and walked through the Great Wall of China. And it turns out, the key to great magic is also the key to any great work: a visceral, emotional connection between the act and the performer. You have to find and honor the soul of ...
May 16, 2023•30 min•Ep. 81
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 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 later became the Academy Award nominated movie, Molly’s Game, and the...
May 09, 2023•50 min•Ep. 80
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 often accused of heinous crimes – as human. The lessons she has learned about how to find compassion for people with whom we vehemently disagree are absolutely essential for this divided world. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Robin and her work check out: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610838/t...
Apr 04, 2023•44 min•Ep. 79
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, among countless other Disney and Looney Tunes characters. What started as a simple impression sparked an amazing career that has influenced millions with a message of optimism. He views his work as an act of service. As a result, he brings his audience joy that they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Thi...
Mar 28, 2023•26 min•Ep. 78
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 ruins of the Titanic. You see, Mike Reiss isn't just the funniest guy in the room — he's also the most well-traveled. He's been to Iran, the North Pole, North Korea, and everywhere in between. Whether he's sharing travel anecdotes or writer's room memories from his 600+ episodes of The Simpsons, one thing ...
Mar 21, 2023•36 min•Ep. 77
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 is a prolific author and a marketing genius who knows first-hand how love can take an interaction from transactional to transformational. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Seth and his work check out: https://www.sethgodin.com/ A Song of Significance, out May 2023: https://geni.us/pdnqnz...
Mar 14, 2023•35 min•Ep. 76
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 communities. Being enthusiastic, generous, and kind attracts people who want to help—and together you can accomplish the unreasonable. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Jeff and his work check out: https://summit.co/ https://summitimpact.org/...
Mar 07, 2023•34 min•Ep. 75
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 in how we understand anxiety. The emotion isn’t a sickness or a flaw in human design – it’s an evolved advantage that protects us and strengthens our creative and productive powers. So even though anxiety doesn’t feel good…it can be good to feel anxious. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Dr. Dennis-Tiwary...
Feb 28, 2023•34 min•Ep. 74
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. Richard is the patron saint of love in the movies. He’s a writer and sometimes director known for optimistic, funny, and uplifting films like: Love Actually, About Time, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Mr. Bean, and many more. I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Richard on Valentine’s Day of all ...
Feb 21, 2023•33 min•Ep. 73
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. Now, he’s an educator who uses the dramatic ups-and-downs of his own life to inspire the next generation of explorers. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Leland and his work, check out: lelandmelvin.com
Feb 14, 2023•33 min•Ep. 72
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, Scott Galloway and I talk about a lot of things, including our concern that the youngest generation is too afraid of the risks worth taking and how that may be adversely affecting them. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Scott and his work check out: https://www.profgalloway.com/ https://profgmedia.com/the-po...
Feb 07, 2023•39 min•Ep. 71
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 ourselves from studying our past. This is… A Bit of Optimism. Watch Sarah's first TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFC5CwZVCEw&themeRefresh=1 Watch Egypt's Lost Cities on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b011pwms...
Jan 31, 2023•39 min•Ep. 70
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 to ask him what he's learned along the way and what we can learn from him. This is... A Bit of Optimism. For more on Divesh and his work check out: https://www.iconiqcapital.com/
Jan 24, 2023•46 min•Ep. 69
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 contestant and current cooking contributor for Good Morning America went from accountant, to model, to author, to chef. She has done it all and shown up with love at every opportunity. She’s living proof that when you make decisions out of love—both for yourself and others—even your falls can be beautiful. Thi...
Jan 17, 2023•38 min•Ep. 68
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-son research team who specialize in generational differences and their impact on the workplace. David is Gen X, Jonah is Gen Z, and together they are helping today’s leaders understand the new generation. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Jonah and David's work, check out: genguru.com https://www.amazon.com...
Jan 10, 2023•27 min•Ep. 67
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 Optimism. For more on my work, check out: simonsinek.com
Jan 03, 2023•21 min•Ep. 66
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 episodes will be dedicated to answering your burning questions. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on my work, check out: simonsinek.com
Dec 27, 2022•23 min•Ep. 65
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 conversation where we talk about creativity, leadership, and if the three of us love each other. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Brené and Adam's work, check out: https://brenebrown.com/ https://adamgrant.net/...
Dec 20, 2022•27 min•Ep. 64
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 exceptional idea: Get Brené Brown and Adam Grant to join you on a call, have absolutely NO plan, and hit record. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Brené and Adam's work check out: https://brenebrown.com/ https://adamgrant.net/...
Dec 13, 2022•38 min•Ep. 63
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 rewards are actually far greater than the risks. Kathryn is a model for how being yourself can get you ahead in both business and relationships. She is: an author, an entrepreneur, a fund manager, and a celebrated non-conformist. And she does it all in incredible style. This is… A Bit of Optimism. For more on Ka...
Dec 06, 2022•23 min•Ep. 62
