A Bit of Optimism

Failure is the secret to success. Our failures are agents of inspiration, iteration, and innovation.  Dr. Amy Edmondson is the Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and her newest book "Right Kind of Wrong" is all about how we can change our relationship with failures and start “failing well.”  This is…A Bit of Optimism.For more on Dr. Amy Edmondson and her work check out:https://www.amazon.com/Right-Kind-Wrong-Science-Failing/dp/1982195061https://amycedmondson.com/https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=6451

You’ll never achieve perfect happiness. This might sound like bad news, but it’s actually a good thing. Because being happy is not a final destination, it’s an ongoing practice. In short, it’s happier-ness.That’s a term Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey coined in their new book “Build the Life You Want” where together they lay out a blueprint for a better life. And they would know: Arthur has studied the science of happiness for over 25 years, and I have never had a conversation with him that I haven’t left with a life-changing perspective on what it means to live a meaningful life. This conversation was no different.This… is a Bit of Optimism.For more on Arthur and his work check out: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Life-You-Want-Science/dp/0593545400arthurbrooks.com

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 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/DOACbookHis website: https://stevenbartlett.com/

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/DOACbookHis website: https://stevenbartlett.com/

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.worldhttps://sharmadeanreid.com

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/9781476773926https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/david-von-drehle/

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=20His bio: https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/108485/charles-q-brown-jr/

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/jlB2Xnkhttps://cassandraworthy.com/

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_Waleshttps://twitter.com/jimmy_waleshttps://ff.co/

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

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/

On the path to fame, most rising stars abandon their morals.Not Jimmy Darts. He’s done just the opposite.  Jimmy started his career as a YouTuber pulling ill-advised pranks. Two decades later, he and his 20 million fans now make the world a kinder place by donating life-changing money to unsuspecting strangers who are spontaneously kind, compassionate, or generous.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Jimmy and his work, check out:https://www.jimmydarts.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2BoMmoR5HSmz5-oS8_1ENwwww.instagram.com/jimmydarts

Dating doesn’t have to be about finding “The One.”  At its most rewarding, modern love can be about growth, curiosity, and authenticity.  Ana Kirova is the CEO of the dating platform 'Feeld’, a revolutionary app that helps people break free from traditional norms, explore alternative relationships, and discover the boundless potential for love that comes with accepting yourself and others without judgment.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Ana and her work check out: https://feeld.co/

“Soul” is a word that I've never really used, but it perfectly encapsulates what has made David Copperfield the most successful magician of all time.  He has filled global audiences with awe for over 40 years.  He made the Statue of Liberty disappear, escaped from Alcatraz, and walked through the Great Wall of China.  And it turns out, the key to great magic is also the key to any great work: a visceral, emotional connection between the act and the performer.  You have to find and honor the soul of the idea.  This is…A Bit of Optimism. For more on David and his work check out: https://www.davidcopperfield.com/html/

Molly Bloom’s life story is one-of-a-kind.  Her Olympic dreams were dashed, so she planned on going to law school. Instead, she wound up running a high-stakes poker game where hundreds of millions of dollars would change hands in a night.  Molly made a lot of money. Celebrities, mafias, and federal informants soon took an interest in her and her game.  Eventually, she lost everything and had no one to blame but herself.Her story later became the Academy Award nominated movie, Molly’s Game, and the lessons she learned from her extraordinary journey have tremendous value for the rest of us.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Molly and her work, check out:twitter.com/immollybloom

How would you like to be judged for the rest of your life by the worst thing you’ve ever done?Robin Steinberg was a public defender, where she had to learn to see her clients – who were often accused of heinous crimes – as human.  The lessons she has learned about how to find compassion for people with whom we vehemently disagree are absolutely essential for this divided world.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Robin and her work check out:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/610838/the-courage-of-compassion-by-robin-steinberg-contributions-by-camilo-ramirez/

There is a very good chance that Bill Farmer has already made your life brighter and you had no idea.That's because Bill is a Disney Legend. He has been the voice of Goofy since 1987, among countless other Disney and Looney Tunes characters. What started as a simple impression sparked an amazing career that has influenced millions with a message of optimism.He views his work as an act of service. As a result, he brings his audience joy that they carry with them for the rest of their lives.  This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Bill Farmer and his work, check out: https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/its-a-dogs-life-with-bill-farmer 

When you get one of the most successful comedy writers in television history to come on your podcast, naturally the first thing to talk about is...his trip in a homemade submarine to visit the ruins of the Titanic.You see, Mike Reiss isn't just the funniest guy in the room — he's also the most well-traveled.  He's been to Iran, the North Pole, North Korea, and everywhere in between.  Whether he's sharing travel anecdotes or writer's room memories from his 600+ episodes of The Simpsons, one thing is very clear: when Mike tells a story, things are going to get animated.  This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Mike and his work check out: His travel podcast "What Am I Doing Here with Mike Reiss": https://bleav.com/shows/what-am-i-doing-here-with-mike-reiss/

Our time, energy, and emotions are valuable because they are finite.And yet conversations with Seth Godin always leave me feeling more patient, energized, and full of love.  Seth is a prolific author and a marketing genius who knows first-hand how love can take an interaction from transactional to transformational.This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Seth and his work check out: https://www.sethgodin.com/A Song of Significance, out May 2023: https://geni.us/pdnqnz