Episodes 226
Avg. Duration 40m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.8 (2,002)
Since May 2020
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
98%
Hosting
rss2.flightcast.com

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About This Podcast

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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Recent Episodes

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

Jun 09, 2026 57m Transcript

Most of us are so certain about, well, everything. We think we can predict what's coming, what that off-hand comment really meant, what that look was about, what's going to go wrong. And according to…

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

Jun 02, 2026 56m Transcript

In a world of job-hopping, side hustles, and an endless LinkedIn feed, Tim Harris did something almost no one does anymore. He stayed put.Few executives spend an entire career helping build a…

Revisited: Choose Your Seven Humans Wisely with Author Fredrik Backman

May 26, 2026 58m Transcript

Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a quick break this week and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism next Tuesday. Until then, we're revisiting one of our favorite episodes —…

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

May 19, 2026 58m Transcript

Maybe this sounds familiar: you leave a party and spend the rest of the night convinced everyone was upset with you. Or you replay something you said in a meeting for days and second-guess every last…

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

May 12, 2026 1h 2m Transcript

We often comfort ourselves with the idea that things happen for a reason, or define our struggles as a test of strength. Tom Nash might ask you to reconsider.Tom is a speaker, former DJ, and…

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

May 05, 2026 52m Transcript

If at some point, you've looked at your life—your job, your relationships, your achievements—and thought: “is this it?” This episode is for you. Mike Posner had that moment at 30. His life, by every…

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

Apr 28, 2026 1h 25m Transcript

Admit it, you've complained about at least one other generation. Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z—somehow, they all end up with reputations built around what's wrong with them.Dr. Eliza Filby has a…

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

Apr 21, 2026 54m Transcript

The most successful leaders, coaches, and teams in history share one counterintuitive secret: their main focus wasn’t winning. And yet… they won more than everyone else. My guest, Don Yaeger, learned…

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

Apr 14, 2026 1h 5m Transcript

We talk a lot about building successful things. But what does it actually take to build something people love?Jesse Cole has built an entirely new genre of entertainment: The Savannah Bananas and the…

Ken Burns and the Art of Telling the Whole Story

Apr 07, 2026 54m Transcript

We live in a world that pushes us to simplify everything: right or wrong, good or bad, this or that. It makes things and our place in the world easier to understand. But the truth is rarely simple……

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

Mar 31, 2026 54m Transcript

Naiveté is one of the most powerful assets an entrepreneur can have. In fact, I think some of the most meaningful things in the world only exist because someone was naive enough to try. Daniel…

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

Mar 24, 2026 1h 5m Transcript

As businesses race toward faster systems, smarter tools, and total automation, something critical is getting lost: human connection. And ironically, the rise of AI is making that gap impossible to…

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

Mar 17, 2026 45m Transcript

Team Simon here! While A Bit of Optimism is on a short break, we’re revisiting a few episodes you helped make some of our favorites. We’ll be back with brand-new conversations next week, on March…

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

Mar 10, 2026 43m Transcript

Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a short hiatus, but A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes March 24th. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes. Episodes…

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

Mar 03, 2026 58m Transcript

Team Simon here! As we take a short hiatus, A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes on March 24, 2026. Until then, we’re revisiting some of the conversations you loved and we still…

The Confidence Conversation We Need to Have with Scott Galloway

Feb 24, 2026 54m Transcript

Scott Galloway and I don’t always see the world the same way, but our friendly debates almost always lead us back to common ground. It’s probably why we enjoy talking to each other as much as we…

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

Feb 16, 2026 1h 5m Transcript

It’s often true that the most challenging conversations are often the ones most worth having. Conversations that bring up strong feelings, different experiences, and questions without easy answers.…

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

Feb 10, 2026 1h 1m Transcript

Fanbases are some of the most powerful forces on the planet.They show up. They buy the tickets. They travel across countries and time zones. They memorize lyrics, study interviews, hunt for Easter…

What Grit Really Teaches Us About Happiness with Professor Angela Duckworth

Feb 03, 2026 56m Transcript

We’re often told that the secret to success is grit - more discipline, more perseverance, more individual effort. And grit does matter. But what if it’s only half the story?In today’s world, we’ve…

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

Jan 27, 2026 59m Transcript

In a world defined by constant change, reinvention isn’t optional - it’s essential. We often assume reinvention comes from bold leaps or lucky breaks, but actor and author Matthew McConaughey’s story…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A Bit of Optimism have?

A Bit of Optimism has published 226 episodes since May 2020, covering topics in Business, Careers.

Is A Bit of Optimism still active?

A Bit of Optimism is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 40m.

How do I contact A Bit of Optimism for sponsorship or guest appearances?

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