A Bit of Optimism
Episodes
A Bit of Optimism Will Return in the New Year
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Team Simon here! As the year comes to a close, A Bit of Optimism is pressing pause for a short winter break. The show will return on January 27, 2026 ...
Revisited: Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with Happiness Expert Mo Gawdat
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Team Simon here! Thank you for being part of such an incredible year—and for helping us grow the podcast through your support, sharing it with other...
Prepare for the Life You’re Meant to Live With Chaplain John Fox
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Often the biggest transformations we undergo don’t arrive as lightning bolts, but as quiet shifts we’ve been preparing for all along. For John Fox...
How Losing Everything Taught Her to Help Everyone: Joan Howard’s Story
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Life can change in an instant. One day you’re shopping at Saks Fifth Avenue, and the next you’re sitting in your car with everything you own, and ...
A Rebel With a Cause (and a Cone) with Jeni’s Ice Cream Founder Jeni Britton
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if a great business was built like a handmade mixtape? A lovingly crafted experience that is as much a love letter from its founder as it is cust...
The Culture That Converts Even the Biggest Cynics with former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who would’ve guessed that one of the world’s best company cultures was hiding behind a can of WD-40? Of all the places to find a leadership master...
Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely with author Fredrik Backman
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if great friendships aren’t found by luck but built through effort?Bestselling novelist Fredrik Backman, the mind behind A Man Called Ove (adap...
The Smartest Way To Be Stupid with comedian Matthew Broussard
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you feel stupid while learning something new, you’re doing it right. But if you keep doing the same thing over and over hoping it’ll suddenly m...
The Man Who Proved Me Right with CEO Bob Chapman and the Barry-Wehmiller Team
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve long imagined a world where people wake each morning inspired, feel safe wherever they work, and return home fulfilled by what they’ve create...
Rob Lowe Names Names: The Power of ‘Screw It’
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hey Optimists! We’re taking a little hiatus, but exciting things are coming your way! We’ll be back on October 21 with some amazing new episodes ...
The Future You Avoid Is Riskier Than the One You Face with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The future is something we create, not just something that happens. To guide progress toward real good, we need bold, optimistic visions of what socie...
What Your Love Life Can Teach You About Work Relationships with psychotherapist Esther Perel
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve never had more freedom in our relationships—yet many of us feel more disconnected than ever. Marriage, family, and even the workplace have a...
Your Instincts Know What You Want with Author Arthur Brooks
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Your instincts aren’t just whispers. They’re a compass pointing you toward the life you’re meant to live. But in a world obsessed with speed, me...
The Power of Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re often told to do more, move faster, and chase the next big trend—but some of the most remarkable successes come from narrowing your focus, o...
Simon Goes Nuclear with nuclear energy influencer Isabelle Boemeke
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Nuclear” might make you wince—but the real problem isn’t the energy, it’s the branding. Safe, low-carbon, and scalable, nuclear could be a ...
The Brilliance of Boredom with creative polymath Elle Cordova
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We’re wired to chase the next spark - scrolling, swiping, refreshing - but some of our brightest ideas sneak in when we stop chasing, let boredom se...
The Privilege of Bad Experiences with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This was the most epic Zoom call we’ve ever been a part of — an incredible conversation with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim, live from the International...
The Business Case for Good Manners with etiquette coach William Hanson
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Good manners aren’t just about being polite — they’re about making other people feel seen.William Hanson is one of the world’s leading etiquet...
Live Like You Have 2 Years Left with dancer and cancer survivor Angela Trimbur
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You have two years left to live. What would you do?That's a real question Angela Trimbur had to answer. In 2018, a breast cancer diagnosis forced her ...
The Quiet Power of the Empathetic Leader with Navy SEAL turned rowing coach Gordon Schmidt
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
We All Get Cancelled One Day with Somebody Feed Phil’s Phil Rosenthal
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
🚨 Chomp Alert! 🚨We saw your comments — loud and crunchy. Turns out not everyone wants front-row seats to mouth sounds. Who knew?Skip to 29:2...
The Extraordinary Magic of Ordinary People with author Brad Meltzer
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Magic moments do happen in real life. If you ask Brad Meltzer, magic happens when ordinary people choose to do the extraordinary. Brad is a prolific ...
This Is... A Bit of Optimism
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. So we headed to Milk B...
Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 o...
Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes in life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I you going next?” Other times, it’s more fun to do a podcast takeover.No one has e...
The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 i...
(PART 2) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
*Please note: At 9:01, Simon and Cory have a discussion about suicide.What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's now...
(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest ...
Find Your Allies Fast with philanthropist Melinda French Gates
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Who Are You, Really? with journalist Maria Shriver
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 wildl...
The Search for Self-Love with podcaster Lewis Howes
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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?Lewis Howes knows that learning...
Revisited: Why Awkward Is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Bit of Optimism is on hiatus this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations! In this episode, Simon talks with psychologist Ty T...
Does Gender Change How We Lead? with Retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor?DeDe Halfhill would say yes and no. A retired Air Force colonel, Dede spent 20 y...
The Myth of the Perfect Meditator with podcaster Jay Shetty
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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?J...
When Your 'Flaw' Becomes Your Edge with Comedian Hasan Minhaj
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 some...
Humble Leaders Lead Better Teams with Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 any...
A Sweet Conversation About Dying with Death Doula Alua Arthur
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 mea...
The Secret Art of Micromanagement with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
People aren’t born great leaders. They learn to become great leaders.For Brian Chesky, the learning never stops. As the co-founder of Airbnb, he had...
You Are More Like Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier Than You Think
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To create something truly original, do we build something new or break what came before? Perhaps the answer is both—simultaneously.Jacob Collier doe...
Kids (And Employees) Know More Than You Think with Dr. Becky Kennedy
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting is the hardest job in the world—and it turns out, it’s also one of the best training grounds for leadership.Dr. Becky Kennedy, aka the “...
Spite Is The Greatest Motivator with Watch Duty founder John Mills
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When the wildfires struck Los Angeles, turmoil quickly consumed the city. People were desperate for clear, reliable information—unsure of evacuation...
The First Steps to Reducing Your Anxiety with author Mel Robbins
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Life can feel overwhelming, especially when we're too drained to even get out of bed. So, how do we push through those days?For Mel Robbins, facing th...
The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 b...
Trevor Noah Makes My Brain Hurt
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 form...
Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard Univers...
The First Steps to Find Love with Matthew Hussey
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way.Matthew Hussey helps people find love, and sometimes, redefine their relations...
Dr. Mark Hyman: To Live Longer You Need...
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines.If you don’t believe me, believe Dr. M...
Alexis Ohanian: Why I Left Reddit and Why Greed Can Inspire Good
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why...
What can we learn from a rural school in Kenya? with principal Carol Moraa
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, On a trip to Kenya, I h...
Peace Is A Process with negotiation expert William Ury
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side.Few people on this planet have as much experience...
Creating Astonishment with Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder. As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to asto...
A Lifetime of Leadership with President Joe Biden
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 e...
Revisited: How To Be A Friend with chef and entrepreneur Christina Tosi
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friends can help us get through life’s toughest moments. But a true friend remembers to smile about the good times. That’s why I wanted to revisi...
Revisited: Molly's Game with Molly Bloom
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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. He...
Revisited: We Cannot Heal Alone In The Loneliness Epidemic with Rabbi Sharon Brous
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Confident Ignorance with rapper, novelist, and filmmaker Logic
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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-...
Wealth Is Togetherness with community organizer Kennedy Odede
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Landing Moonshots with Google's Innovation Chief Dr. Astro Teller
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ide...
Creativity Is Connection with poet IN-Q
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Smell of Memory with scent designer Dawn Goldworm
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 G...
Mastery is an Infinite Game with performance psychologist Mike Gervais
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fierce competition can lead to burnout. How do we train ourselves to maintain excellence without giving in to the pressure to perform?High-performance...
Breaking Tradition with cellist Anastasia Kobekina
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Classical music could use a little disruption. For Anastasia Kobekina, that means playing outside of its rigid forms.An accomplished soloist, Anastasi...
How to Breathe Out Fear with freediver Li Karlsen
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 mo...
More Thinking About Thinking with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: Part Two
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Thinking About Thinking with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: Part One
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 tra...
The War On The Young with Professor Scott Galloway
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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....
Moral Courage with Diane Foley, mother of executed journalist James Foley
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Seven years after ISIS killed her son, Diane Foley met with one of his killers. Somehow, she was able to find the humanity in her son's murderer. ISI...
Humble Confidence with veteran and entrepreneur Blake Hall
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Humility stems from confidence. Confident leaders can admit when they're not the smartest person in the room.Blake Hall exemplifies the type of leader...
The Ultimate Infinite-Minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 powerhous...
Be Necessary with war journalist Sebastian Junger
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
War reporters risk their lives to document conflict. And yet, after a career living on battlefields, Sebastian Junger's closest brush with death was s...
Invention is Reinvention with entrepreneur Eric Ryan
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Starting a company from scratch isn't easy. Doing it multiple times seems downright impossible.Eric Ryan is one of those serial entrepreneurs. Most kn...
The Definition of Success with author Neil Strauss
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In 2005, Neil Strauss published The Game, a book about his years living in the pickup artist community. The Game sold millions of copies, stirred up ...
Happily Friended with author Rhaina Cohen
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Society treats marriage like the end goal of human intimacy. Platonic friends can never be as important as romantic partners. What would life look li...
How To Eat with Glucose Goddess Jessie Inchauspé
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's not just what we eat but how we eat it that counts. Eating the same meal in a different order can dramatically change how we feel!Glucose Goddess...
Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
We Cannot Heal Alone with Rabbi Sharon Brous
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Loneliness is now an epidemic, with devastating impacts on our health. How can we rekindle the deep human connection we need now more than ever?For Ra...
Ideas That Stick with advertising legend Lee Clow
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Apple's "1984" commercial, the Energizer Bunny, and the launch of Air Jordans all have one thing in common. They're all creations of legendary ad man ...
The Anxious Generation with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Anxiety disorders affect Gen Z at astronomically higher rates than previous generations. There's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world. But t...
How to Live to 100 with Blue Zones explorer Dan Buettner
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us would count ourselves lucky to live to age 80. And yet, there are places on Earth where people regularly live to 100, suffer virtually no c...
Going To Mars with NASA director Laurie Leshin
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As the private space industry races to colonize space for profit, where does NASA fit in to the equation?Laurie Leshin is just the person to answer th...
Four Years in Solitary Confinement with political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If great leaders are those willing to suffer for their beliefs, Leopoldo Lopez is certainly a great leader.After he led the massive 2014 Venezuelan pr...
Redemption with charity founder Scott Harrison
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Life as a nightclub promoter in New York City was an unending cycle of drinking, drugs, models, and fast cars. After ten years, Scott Harrison's vices...
Supercommunicators with journalist Charles Duhigg
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Great communicators aren't born that way. They're self-made.Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose new book, Supercommunicators,...
Community Starts at Home with author Alexandra Hudson
13 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a divided society, idealists believe we can overcome our differences.Alexandra Hudson is one of those idealists. Disillusioned by the backstabbing ...
How To Be A Friend with chef Christina Tosi
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When life gets tough, true friends ask for help.Christina Tosi is that kind of friend. She's someone I can trust with anything and someone I can cry w...
Why Awkward is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Awkwardness gets a bad rap, but the trait is often an indicator that someone is extraordinary. Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro has spent a great...
A Theory of Everyone with behavioral researcher Dr. Michael Muthukrishna
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes humanity unique?Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is fascinated by why our species behaves the way it does. In his book, A Theory of Everyone, Mich...
Atomic Habits with author James Clear
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the New Year, we all aspire to become better versions of ourselves. But how do we change our behavior so new habits actually stick?Well, James Clea...
Excellence with Silicon Valley Legend Jackie Reses
09 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Lasting success requires innovation. But how do we build teams that keep innovation in their DNA?Jackie Reses is Silicon Valley royalty precisely beca...
Imperfections, Nuance, and Humanity with comedian Alex Edelman
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Great comedians have the ability to point out some of the madness, ridiculousness, and nuance that exists in the world.Alex Edelman is already one of ...
Drive with professional racer Danica Patrick
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Value of Values with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
A Curious Mind with movie producer Brian Grazer
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Authenticity is exceedingly rare.Yet Brian Grazer embodies it with an unparalleled zest and refreshing innocence. Though Grazer might not be a househ...
Talking to Animals with A.I. ethicist Aza Raskin
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
A New Paradigm for Trust with entrepreneur Yat Siu
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Humanize with designer Thomas Heatherwick
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...