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A Bit of Optimism

Simon Sinek
Mental Health
Friendship
Leadership
Creativity
Loneliness
Community
Relationships
Happiness
Personal Growth
Identity
Climate Change
Vulnerability
Entrepreneurship
Grief
Self-Improvement
Mortality
Empathy
Optimism
Nuclear Energy
Community Support

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 th... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes246Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for A Bit of Optimism

Latest Episodes

If you’ve ever dabbled in looking into how to extend your life, your social media feed might be inundated with the “hottest” longevity trends: from cold plunges to VO2 max tests to celebrity-endorsed supplements. As a society, we are obsessed with th... more

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Hello from Team Simon! Brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism are back next Tuesday, October 27. Before then, we're revisiting one last favorite: the company Simon names whenever someone asks which business actually lives the ideas he writes about. ... more

Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27.

Until then, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, including this one with a longtime friend of S... more

Team Simon here! A Bit of Optimism is on a short break, and brand-new episodes return October 27. Until then, we're revisiting a few conversations we keep coming back to.

This week it's Arthur Brooks, a longtime friend of Simon's and one of his favo... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kerry Burnight
Gerontologist, professor of geriatric medicine and co-founder of the first elder abuse forensic center
University of California, Irvine
Episode: The Longevity Secret Nobody Can Sell You with Gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight
Ben Francis
Founder and CEO of Gymshark
Gymshark
Episode: Revisited: The Power of Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis
Esther Perel
Psychotherapist, bestselling author and host of Where Should We Begin?
Episode: Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Arthur Brooks
Happiness expert, Harvard Business School professor, author
Harvard Business School; Author
Episode: Revisited: Your Instincts Know What You Want with Happiness Expert Arthur Brooks
Rob Lowe
Actor and podcast host (Literally with Rob Lowe)
Actor
Episode: Revisited: The Power of Saying "Screw It" with Rob Lowe
Amy Morin
Psychotherapist and author
Independent
Episode: What Mentally Strong People Do on Their Worst Days with Psychotherapist Amy Morin
Amy Chan
Relationship expert, founder of Renew Breakup Bootcamp, author of Unsingle
Renew Breakup Bootcamp; Unsingle
Episode: The Dating Advice Making Us Worse at Love with Relationship Expert Amy Chan
Rob Willis
Strategic Story Producer
Self-employed / content producer
Episode: Why Trying to “Sound Smart” is Losing You the Room with Strategic Story Producer Rob Willis
Jim Kwik
Leading memory and accelerated-learning expert, author of Limitless
Kwik Learning
Episode: Your Limits Are Learned (And They Can Be Unlearned) with Brain Coach Jim Kwik

Host

Simon Sinek
Host of the show and lead interviewer focused on leadership, growth, and optimism through pragmatic conversations with a diverse set of guests.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 8.2k ratings
  • Won’t listen to this show again

    I listened to the first part of the episode on listening with Alex Simon, but stopped because ironically the host was a terrible listener. He constantly interrupted and talked over Alex, always wanting to interject and lecture about his perspective and stories. I understand he’s the host, but it was so disrespectful- and especially surprising given the topic of the episode. This was the first episode of this show I tried listening to, and I heard enough to know I won’t listen again.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Cali169
    United States17 days ago
  • This Podcast is different

    Didn't expect a podcast to change how I think, but this one does. Simon talks to people like he's actually curious about them, not just going through questions. Always leave with at least one thing I keep thinking about. Real, warm and inspiring.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    juli.k1
    Austria19 days ago
  • Pedantic

    The guest has interesting things to yet he steers to the most basic level. So it comes across as general and basic and actually worse for boomers because we’ve heard this stuff since the 80’s and listen to podcasts for more current thinking

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Counterstrain Fan
    United States21 days ago
  • Soul-destroying

    This grifter makes more money than my bin man. Or my GP. There is no hope for this world.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Boogie Moscovitch
    United Kingdom23 days ago
  • this aint it

    ive tried listening to what simon has to say several times- he’s clearly a smart guy but his attitude about most things just feels a bit old-fashioned and out of touch. boomers would probably love him.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    gildedpilgrim
    United States24 days ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Great range of guests—from researchers to executives—with practical takeaways.
Some episodes draw polarized feedback about host dynamics, but content remains valuable.
Listeners appreciate actionable frameworks for teamwork and accountability.
Balanced guests and topics with real-world leadership insights.
High quality conversations but audience notes interrupting and balance issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Longevity Secret Nobody Can Sell You with Gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight
Q: How do we help another person grow with age?
Burnight recommends being present, listening and affirming the person before trying to change them, while Sinek suggests asking permission before offering a challenging perspective.
The Longevity Secret Nobody Can Sell You with Gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight
Q: How did you start to think about the quality of our life rather than the quantity of our life?
Burnight says years spent helping older adults after isolation, exploitation and suffering made her ask how that suffering could be prevented. That shift led her to focus on quality of life and Joyspan.
Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Q: What's the number one relationship skill Jen Z should master before starting their first job?
Perel answers, “Talk to strangers.” She says it helps people practice spontaneity, trust and engaging with uncertainty, all of which are useful when starting work among unfamiliar people.
Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Q: I'm so curious what the dynamic of relationships has changed over the course of a career.
Perel explains that no-fault divorce, contraception, changing expectations of marriage, the service economy, the internet and social media reshaped relationships. As people gained more choice, happiness became a requirement for staying in relationships and work.
Revisited: The Power of Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis
Q: Can you share more about what that lens has done for you and what kind of decisions you would have made that you're making differently now?
Francis says the long-term ambition led Gymshark to narrow its product range, invest in its own product-development expertise, and hire people who want to build careers with the company rather than simply repeat past successes.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About A Bit of Optimism

What is A Bit of Optimism about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful series centered on leadership, personal growth, and the human side of work. Across recent episodes, conversations frequently explore how to build trust, nurture healthy workplace cultures, and lead with empathy, while layerings of psychology, mindfulness, and practical frameworks help listeners apply these ideas to teams, relationships, and personal goals. Guests span authors, researchers, athletes, and business leaders, bringing lessons on accountability, resilience, feedback, and meaningful work. The show often pairs introspective storytelling with actionable tactics for improving communication, collaboration, and well-being, making it valuable for listeners aiming to lead with intention and spark positive change in organizat... more

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Which podcasts are similar to A Bit of Optimism?

These podcasts share a similar audience with A Bit of Optimism:

1. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
2. ReThinking
3. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
4. Worklife with Molly Graham
5. Coaching for Leaders

How many episodes of A Bit of Optimism are there?

A Bit of Optimism launched 6 years ago and published 246 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on A Bit of Optimism?

Recent guests on A Bit of Optimism include:

1. Kerry Burnight
2. Ben Francis
3. Esther Perel
4. Arthur Brooks
5. Rob Lowe
6. Amy Morin
7. Amy Chan
8. Rob Willis

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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