A Bit of Optimism

Latest Episodes:

Intuition vs. Reason with poker champion Liv Boeree Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

When should we trust our gut and when should we depend on logic?

Liv Boeree can actually answer that question. She won the World Series of Poker before retiring from the game to explore big questions about game theory, competition, and how we can all find more win-wins.

This is…a Bit of Optimism.

For more on Liv and her work check out:

https://livboeree.com/

When to Quit with Steven Bartlett (Part 2) Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

When should you quit a project and when should you persevere?

As one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs, Steven Bartlett has thought deeply about this problem.

Steven is used to getting people to open up on his podcast, but it turns out he’s just as insightful when the focus is on him.

This is…a Bit of Optimism.

For more on Steven and his work check out:

His new book: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook

His website: https://stevenbartlett.com/

Sweating the Small Stuff with Steven Bartlett (Part 1) Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

How you do anything is how you do everything.

Steven Bartlett embodies this old adage. His high standards and focus on the finest details launched him from a broke university dropout to one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs.

At 30-years-old he has already founded multiple companies, starred on Britain’s hit tv show Dragon’s Den, and he is now the host of one of the planet’s most popular podcasts, Diary of a CEO.

He is a leader for the new era. It was a joy to turn the tables on him and have him talk about himself for a change.

His new book, Diary of a CEO, is available for pre-order now.

This is…a Bit of Optimism.

For more on Steven and his work check out:

His new book: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook

His website: https://stevenbartlett.com/

Community and Empowerment with Sharmadean Reid Aug 15, 2023

Show notes

Great businesses often look a lot like social movements.

Sharmadean Reid knows this from experience—she has combined technology and culture to create multiple businesses around strong communities. She started her first business at 24, creating a nail salon that changed the beauty industry. Now she runs a media network for the next generation of women in power.

This is…A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Sharmadean and her work, check out:

https://thestack.world

https://sharmadeanreid.com

The Book of Charlie with David Von Drehle Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

What does it mean to live a long and happy life?

David Von Drehle has spent 40 years covering big stories and important figures as an award-winning journalist. But the best lessons turned out to be right next door. David’s latest book, “The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109 Year-Old Man,” is a best-seller about resilience, American history, and what it means to live well.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on David and his work check out:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Book-of-Charlie/David-Von-Drehle/9781476773926

https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-von-drehle/

Leadership with General CQ Brown, Jr. Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

For this 4th of July, I wanted to do something special to celebrate the birth of our nation. So I invited Air Force Chief of Staff General CQ Brown, Jr. to join me on the podcast.

General Brown is the head of the Air Force and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He is also the current nominee to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. If he is confirmed as Chairman later this year, it would make him the most senior-ranked member of the United States military.

General Brown is humble, approachable, credible, and super inspiring.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on General Brown and his work, check out:

His Leadership Library: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/CSAF-Leadership-Library/

His comments in the wake of George Floyd: https://twitter.com/PACAF/status/1268794618461618177?s=20

His bio: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/

Preparing for Change with Cassandra Worthy Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Change is inevitable. And yet fear, anger, and confusion are often our first reactions to changes.

Cassandra Worthy experienced the negative emotions that stem from change so many times that she now sees them for what they really are: signals for opportunity. Now, she helps companies and individuals thrive during times of major change.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Cassandra and her work check out:

Her book Change Enthusiasm https://a.co/d/jlB2Xnk

https://cassandraworthy.com/

Trust with Jimmy Wales Jun 20, 2023

Show notes

Information is power. But how do we adapt now that most of the information we consume comes with a heavy bias?

In an ironic twist of fate, it’s Wikipedia — the encyclopedia that anyone can edit — that has done one of the best jobs maintaining public trust in our polarized era.

I sat down with the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, in front of a live studio audience to explore how we got here and how Wikipedia’s transparency and vulnerability may be a model for a better future.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Jimmy, his work, and the Founders Forum summit that hosted our conversation, check out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Wales

https://twitter.com/jimmy_wales

https://ff.co/

Life Worth Living with Miroslav Volf Jun 13, 2023

Show notes

What does it mean for a life to go well? What matters most in our time on Earth?

These are the most important questions of our lives and yet most of us have no clue how to answer them.

Miroslav Volf is a theologian and professor who has been grappling with these ideas for decades. He is the founding director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture where he teaches a class called “Life Worth Living,” and recently wrote a book by the same name.

It turns out, life worth living is life helping others.

This is…A Bit of Optimism.

For more information on Miroslav and his work check out:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691260/life-worth-living-by-miroslav-volf-matthew-croasmun-and-ryan-mcannally-linz/

https://faith.yale.edu/people/miroslav-volf

Determination with Steven Pressfield Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Creative success is notoriously elusive, but those who have made the journey insist it comes down to three factors: hard work, luck, and talent.

Steven Pressfield wants to add one more thing to that list: a muse. And he should know.

His muse guided him to incredible success as an author of fiction, nonfiction, and movies including hit books like: The Legend of Bagger Vance, The War of Art, and Gates of Fire.

Steven’s story of the long and bumpy road he took to find his muse and his success can help the rest of us find ours a little quicker.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Steven and his work, check out:

his new memoir, Govt Cheese: https://stevenpressfieldstore.kinsta.cloud/product/govt-cheese-signed-copy/

and his other published works: https://stevenpressfield.com/books/

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