A Bit of Optimism

Latest Episodes:

Thinking About Thinking with Brené Brown and Adam Grant: Part One Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

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 trademark conversations with no plan. It turns into a deep dive about knowing our selves and how self-reflection is sometimes best done with others. What's a little metacognition between friends?
This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more from Brené and Adam, check out:

brenebrown.com

adamgrant.net

The War On The Young with Professor Scott Galloway Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

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. is doing to the economic future of its youth is nothing less than a war on the young. The massive transfer of wealth from young to old is a topic he explores in his new book The Algebra of Wealth.
I was delighted to have Prof G back on the show to share what's been on his mind lately, and enjoyed veering far off topic to discuss love, money, and the nature of true friendship.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
To learn more about Scott and his work, check out:

his book The Algebra of Wealth

his podcasts at Prof G Media

his TED Talk

Moral Courage with Diane Foley, mother of executed journalist James Foley Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

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.

ISIS held journalist James Foley hostage for 2 years before publicly executing him in 2014, when they uploaded a YouTube video of James's beheading. After her son's murder, Diane Foley started The Foley Foundation, working to free American hostages held abroad, teach journalist safety, and inspire people to act with moral courage.

I asked Diane how she found the moral courage to meet ISIS terrorist Alexanda Kotey and see him as a human being. If Diane could find the grace to connect with her son's murderer, the rest of us can find the moral courage to see the good in those with whom we so vehemently disagree.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

To learn more about Diane and her work, check out:

her book American Mother

The Foley Foundation

Humble Confidence with veteran and entrepreneur Blake Hall Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

Humility stems from confidence. Confident leaders can admit when they're not the smartest person in the room.

Blake Hall exemplifies the type of leadership we need more of in business. A former Army Ranger, Blake was awarded the Bronze Star for leading his platoon in combat during the Iraq War. Now he's the CEO and co-founder of ID.me, a digital wallet that simplifies online identity verification.

I sat down with Blake to discuss how his combat experience informed his journey as an entrepreneur and why the smartest leaders lead with humility.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
To learn more about Blake and his work, check out:

id.me

The Ultimate Infinite-Minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke May 28, 2024

Show notes

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 powerhouse — one mom-and-pop bike store at a time.
The key to John's success is simple but powerful. Create value for others first, and you too shall be rewarded.

John and I discuss why the best way to win isn't to focus on "winning," but to focus on "play," and how the principles of The Infinite Game have guided his leadership. And he tells me why creative leadership is exactly what's missing in American government.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.

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

his book, A Bold Plan For America

TrekBikes.com

Be Necessary with war journalist Sebastian Junger May 21, 2024

Show notes

War reporters risk their lives to document conflict. And yet, after a career living on battlefields, Sebastian Junger's closest brush with death was surviving an aneurysm.

Sebastian's story of his sudden internal hemorrhage and making sense of what he saw while dying is the subject of his new book In My Time of Dying. As someone who usually writes as an outside observer, it's an atypical and personal exploration of death.
I was privileged to speak with Sebastian about the fragility of life and why being necessary to others is one of our highest needs of all.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
To learn more about Sebastian and his work, check out:
sebastianjunger.com
his book, In My Time of Dying

Invention is Reinvention with entrepreneur Eric Ryan May 14, 2024

Show notes

Starting a company from scratch isn't easy. Doing it multiple times seems downright impossible.

Eric Ryan is one of those serial entrepreneurs. Most known as the co-founder of Method soaps, he's also the founder of Olly vitamins, Welly first aid kits, Cast jewelry, and he has more ventures planned.

I sat down with Eric to ask him about his creative process. What follows is a conversation about serial creativity and why reinvention is the key to repeating creative success.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

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

methodproducts.com

The Definition of Success with author Neil Strauss May 07, 2024

Show notes

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 huge controversy, and made Neil a bestselling author.

Neil has totally reinvented himself since writing The Game, and I wanted to talk with him about walking away from that identity of success. This led to a much deeper conversation about what success even is. Is meaning tied to outcomes, or is intention enough?

Neil and I don't see eye-to-eye on everything in this conversation, but I love talking with him because he challenges my ideas. I hope this episode challenges you as well, to continue questioning what the definition of success should be.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

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

neilstrauss.com

The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

Happily Friended with author Rhaina Cohen Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Society treats marriage like the end goal of human intimacy. Platonic friends can never be as important as romantic partners.
What would life look like if we made friendship the goal? Journalist and producer Rhaina Cohen tackles this question in her book The Other Significant Others. She tells the stories of people who made platonic friends the closest people in their lives, doing things together like buying houses, executing a will, and raising children.
I wanted to talk with Rhaina because redefining what friendship means in our lives lets us connect in new and deeper ways outside the rigid boundaries of a marriage or relationship. And it might take the pressure off our romantic partners to fulfill every one of our social needs.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
To learn more about Rhaina and her work, check out:

rhainacohen.com

her book The Other Significant Others

How To Eat with Glucose Goddess Jessie Inchauspé Apr 23, 2024

Show notes

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 is the viral Instagram account of Jessie Inchauspé, who's inspired millions of people to change how they eat. With simple and easy dietary hacks, Jessie teaches people how to prevent glucose spikes -- large influxes of sugar into our bodies that make us tired, stress our organs, and cause us to age.

Since adopting her eating habits, my energy has never been better. I was thrilled to talk with Jessie about creating Glucose Goddess and her personal story behind showing people a better way to eat.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Jessie and her work, check out:

@glucosegoddess

glucosegoddess.com