A Bit of Optimism

Simon Sinek 236 - Why Being Right Is Costing You Trust | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 4

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.

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Episodes

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28 Jul 2026

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30 Jun 2026

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28 Apr 2026

21 Apr 2026

14 Apr 2026

07 Apr 2026

31 Mar 2026

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10 Mar 2026

03 Mar 2026

24 Feb 2026

16 Feb 2026

10 Feb 2026

03 Feb 2026

27 Jan 2026

20 Jan 2026

13 Jan 2026

06 Jan 2026

30 Dec 2025

23 Dec 2025

16 Dec 2025

09 Dec 2025

02 Dec 2025

25 Nov 2025

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11 Nov 2025

04 Nov 2025

23 Sep 2025

16 Sep 2025

09 Sep 2025

02 Sep 2025

26 Aug 2025

19 Aug 2025

12 Aug 2025

05 Aug 2025

15 Jul 2025

A Bit of Optimism

Episodes

Why Being Right Is Costing You Trust | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 4

What Is Your Team Afraid to Tell You? | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 3

The Secret to Better Conversations Isn't Talking | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 2

The Hidden Cost of Always Saying Yes | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 1

Why We Fall for the Wrong Person with Couples Therapist Dr. Harville Hendrix

How to Tell If Fear Is Protecting You or Holding You Back with Extreme Athlete Nelly Attar

Remembering Bob Chapman: The Mentor Who Changed My Life

The AI Skills Nobody is Teaching (And Everyone Needs) with AI Expert Ethan Mollick

How to Stop Letting Your Own Thoughts Make You Sick, Stressed, and Stuck with Dr. Ellen Langer

What Happens When You Stop Optimizing and Start Committing with Former LA Lakers President Tim Harris

Revisited: Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely with Author Fredrik Backman

How to Stop Being Socially Awkward (According to Science) with Behavioral Scientist Vanessa Van Edwards

Stop Telling Us Everything Happens for a Reason with Anti-Victim Tom Nash

The Real Reason You Feel Empty (Even When Life Looks Good) with Musician Mike Posner

The Real Reason Young People Don't Have 'The Hunger' for Work (And What Leaders Need to Hear) with Generations Expert Dr. Eliza Filby

The Leadership Advice Nobody Follows (But Everyone Should) with Top Leadership Expert Don Yaeger

Why This Baseball Team Has a 4.2 Million Person Waitlist With Savannah Bananas Founder Jesse Cole

Ken Burns and the Art of Telling the Whole Story

What Happens When You’re Naive Enough to Try with KIND Founder Daniel Lubetzky

AI Can Do Everything… Except This (Why Humans Still Win) With Restaurateur Will Guidara

Revisited: What Dying Teaches Us About Living with Death Doula Alua Arthur

Revisited: The Kennedy Family and the Search for Self with Journalist Maria Shriver

Revisited: How to Turn Stress Into Creativity With Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier

The Confidence Conversation We Need to Have with Scott Galloway

28 Years on the Force: Chief Angela Averiett on What It Really Takes to Change Police Culture

When Pop Fandom Becomes a Force for Good with AJR’s Adam Met

What Grit Really Teaches Us About Happiness with Professor Angela Duckworth

Matthew McConaughey on How to Fall Back in Love with Your Life

Revisited: Trevor Noah Makes My Brain Hurt

Revisited: Kids (And Employees) Know More Than You Think with Dr. Becky Kennedy

Revisited: The First Steps To Reducing Your Anxiety with Author Mel Robbins

Revisited: The Beautiful Brilliance of Boredom with Creative Polymath Elle Cordova

A Bit of Optimism Will Return in the New Year

Revisited: Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with Happiness Expert Mo Gawdat

Prepare for the Life You’re Meant to Live With Chaplain John Fox

How Losing Everything Taught Her to Help Everyone: Joan Howard’s Story

A Rebel With a Cause (and a Cone) with Jeni’s Ice Cream Founder Jeni Britton

The Culture That Converts Even the Biggest Cynics with former WD-40 CEO Garry Ridge

Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely with author Fredrik Backman

The Smartest Way To Be Stupid with comedian Matthew Broussard

The Man Who Proved Me Right with CEO Bob Chapman and the Barry-Wehmiller Team

Rob Lowe Names Names: The Power of ‘Screw It’

The Future You Avoid Is Riskier Than the One You Face with LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman

What Your Love Life Can Teach You About Work Relationships with psychotherapist Esther Perel

Your Instincts Know What You Want with Author Arthur Brooks

The Power of Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis

Simon Goes Nuclear with nuclear energy influencer Isabelle Boemeke

The Brilliance of Boredom with creative polymath Elle Cordova

The Privilege of Bad Experiences with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim

The Business Case for Good Manners with etiquette coach William Hanson