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Simon Sinek

The future is always bright…if you know where to look. Join me each week for A Bit of Optimism! I talk to inspiring people who teach me more about life, leadership and general interesting things.

A Bit of Optimism

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 former host of The Daily Show, a bestselling author, and a stand-up comedian. But his brand of humor isn’t just a barrel of laughs— it’s raw, witty, thought-provoking, and often makes you see the world in a whole new way.

In this conversation, we ditched the small talk (mostly) and went deep into the paradox of choice, the public's response to the murder of United HealthCare's CEO, and why the human experience might be defined by constraint. It will make you chuckle, think, and probably question everything all at once.

This...is a Bit of Optimism.

P.S. Come back and see us on January 7, 2025 for an all new episode. Until then, take care of yourself and each other.
 

For more on Trevor and his work, check out:

trevornoah.com

Trevor Noah Makes My Brain Hurt

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 years in the military, where she advised some of the military’s most powerful leaders during the War in Iraq.

She was often the only woman in the room for weeks on end. And while DeDe found the principles of leadership to be universal, there was no denying her experience as a woman leader was different from the men.

DeDe is an old friend of mine, and I was excited to talk with her about what she learned during her time in the Air Force. She explained to me why people react differently to male versus female leaders, why loneliness often shows up as exhaustion, and how the ability to do emotional labor makes all leaders great, regardless of gender.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on DeDe and her work, check out:

dedehalfhill.com

Does Gender Change How We Lead? with retired colonel DeDe Halfhill

We all want to feel like we belong. We feel safe surrounded by people who see the world the way we see it. This is why we all have to find our tribe. Social psychologist and award winning Harvard professor, Amy Cuddy, certainly found hers - The Grateful Dead. So I sat down with this lifelong Deadhead to talk about the value of finding your tribe. This is … A Bit of Optimism.

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Finding your Tribe with Amy Cuddy

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 University have been trying to answer that question. In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives since 1938. Some of them are still alive today and the findings are clear: lasting happiness isn’t about wealth or fame—it’s about something much deeper.

Robert Waldinger, a professor and psychiatrist, has directed the study for over 20 years. His TED Talk about it went viral with nearly 50 million views, and in 2023, he wrote a book about it - The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.I asked Robert to share what the study has revealed about happiness over the decades, how its insights have shaped his own life, and the one essential ingredient for a joyful, meaningful existence.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

To learn more about Robert and his work, check out:

The Harvard Study of Adult Development

robertwaldinger.com

The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger

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 question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. 

In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for owning and operating Eleven Madison Park, once named the best restaurant in the world. He’s also the author of the brilliant book Unreasonable Hospitality and a co-producer of the FX television series The Bear. 

Will and I have worked together before, so I was excited to chat with him about turning friends into colleagues, the reality of friendship breakups at work, and why sometimes showing respect means we have to change the way we treat a friend.

This…is A Bit of Optimism

For more on Will and his work, check out:

Unreasonable Hospitality

The Art of Creating Fiercely Loyal Customers

Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara

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 been a leading voice in bringing the loneliness crisis to light, stressing its devastating impact on public health. As his second term nears its end, he leaves behind a powerful reflection in his letter, My Parting Prescription for America and the World.

In an insightful conversation with Dr. Murthy, we delve into what it truly means to be healthy—not just physically, but emotionally and socially—and discuss why the pursuit of fame, wealth, and power often leads us further from what we really need.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

To read the letter, visit this link: My Parting Prescription for America and the World 

To learn more about Dr. Murthy, click here: vivekmurthy.com

The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

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 this very question turned her life around. Struggling with $800,000 in debt and at rock bottom, she became obsessed with finding practical ways to regain control. Fast-forward to today, and Mel is a bestselling author and podcast host who has helped millions transform their lives. In her latest book, The Let Them Theory, she reveals how shedding the weight of others' expectations can help us live more authentically.

I sat down with Mel to dive into how we can take action when we're emotionally spent, why our need for control ties us to other people's opinions, and how giving others the freedom to be themselves allows us to align with our true values.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Mel and her work, check out:

The Mel Robbins Podcast

and her book, The Let Them Theory

The First Steps to Reducing Your Anxiety with author Mel Robbins

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.
 

The visionary behind the app is John Mills, a seasoned tech entrepreneur who created Watch Duty out of necessity after his own community in Northern California was repeatedly threatened by deadly wildfires. But John didn’t just build an app—he reimagined how business and philanthropy can intersect to solve real-world problems.

Watch Duty is a not-for-profit initiative that harnesses the power of technology and human talent, relying on volunteers to gather critical data from fire scanners and reporters to save lives. Despite its explosive growth, John has no plans to sell the app, because for him, the value isn’t in making money—it’s in using his skills to help others. In a world where many focus on getting rich, John is challenging us to rethink how we can use our talents to serve the greater good.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on John and his work, check out:

Watch Duty

Spite Is The Greatest Motivator with Watch Duty founder John Mills

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 “Millennial Parent Whisperer,” became an essential voice for caretakers by offering practical, actionable parenting advice that resonated with millions during the pandemic. As a clinical psychologist and founder of Good Inside, she’s now helping parents build sturdy leadership skills that not only transform their homes but also their work lives.

In this conversation, Dr. Becky shares how understanding boundaries, emotional triggers, and big feelings can help us become more effective leaders. Whether you’re a parent or a manager (or both!), her insights will help you lead with more intention, connection, and confidence.

This… is A Bit of Optimism.

 

Check out Dr. Becky's work:

https://www.goodinside.com/

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

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

Jacob Collier does exactly that. A brilliant songwriter and musician, he’s known for transforming his live audiences into massive three-part choirs, making music with the very people who attend his concerts. His album Djesse Volume 4 was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammy Awards, alongside icons like Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, and Taylor Swift. Although Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter won, Jacob snagged his seventh Grammy for his rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

I sat down with him in a music studio a few days before the Grammys, surrounded by multiple pianos, and it was a joy to hear him play. Jacob’s approach to music—blending structure with spontaneity—offers insights into creativity that are as inspiring as his sound.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Jacob, check out:

jacobcollier.com

You Are More Like Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier Than You Think

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 Tashiro about social awkwardness and why being awkward can actually be a superpower.

*****

Awkwardness gets a bad rap. But being awkward is often an indicator that someone has extraordinary.

Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro has spent a great deal of time studying (and living!) social awkwardness. He's fascinated by how the same traits that cause us social embarrassment can also drive exceptional accomplishment. 

As a fellow awkward person, I was delighted to sit down with Ty and discuss the competitive advantages of social awkwardness, and how sometimes what society labels a weakness turns out to be our greatest strength.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Ty and his work check out: 

his book, AWKWARD: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome

tytashiro.com

Revisited: Why Awkward Is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro

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