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A Bit of Optimism

Simon Sinek
Mental Health
Leadership
Friendship
Creativity
Loneliness
Community
Relationships
Personal Growth
Happiness
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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes238Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessEducationSelf-Improvement

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Artwork for A Bit of Optimism

Latest Episodes

This might sound familiar: you read a full page, get to the bottom, and realize you absorbed none of it. There's a stack of books beside your bed you fully intend to finish. And the only phone number you can remember is your own.

Jim Kwik says none ... more

YouTube

Maybe this sounds familiar: you finally get the opportunity you've been waiting for, and the voice in your head says, "I'm not ready, I don't belong here."

Now imagine hearing that voice with millions of people watching.

Mary Holland Nader has live... more

YouTube

Maybe you know the feeling: everyone around you seems to be getting ahead, and every hour you spend on something "frivolous" — the hobby, the detour, the game on a Sunday afternoon — feels like falling behind.

Brendan Hunt's career is proof those ho... more

YouTube

Every lasting relationship has survived at least a few hard conversations.

But most of us would still rather not have them... So we put them off and tell ourselves the tension will fade on its own. Instead it goes underground: into the stories we bu... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Mary Holland Nader
Reality TV star, founder of Mary & Pip, host of Growing Interest
Mary & Pip; Love Thy Nader; Growing Interest
Episode: How to Trust Yourself When Everyone Has an Opinion with Love Thy Nader's Mary Holland Nader
Brendan Hunt
Coach Beard from Ted Lasso, writer/producer/creator
Ted Lasso (Apple TV)
Episode: What Happens When You Bet on Yourself with Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt
Alex Simon
Founder of LifeShop, teaches emotional intelligence
LifeShop
Episode: What Is Your Team Afraid to Tell You? | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 3
Harville Hendrix
Relationship expert, Imago Relationship Therapy creator
Imago Relationship Therapy / co-author with Helen LaKelly Hunt
Episode: Why We Fall for the Wrong Person with Couples Therapist Dr. Harville Hendrix
Nelly Attar
Extreme athlete, psychologist, founder of MOVE Saudi Arabia
MOVE Saudi Arabia
Episode: How to Tell If Fear Is Protecting You or Holding You Back with Extreme Athlete Nelly Attar
Robert (Bob) Chapman
Founder and CEO of Barry-Wehmiller
Barry-Wehmiller
Episode: Remembering Bob Chapman: The Mentor Who Changed My Life
Ethan Mollick
AI expert, Wharton professor studying AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation
Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Episode: The AI Skills Nobody is Teaching (And Everyone Needs) with AI Expert Ethan Mollick
Ellen Langer
Harvard psychologist, mindfulness researcher and author
Harvard University
Episode: How to Stop Letting Your Own Thoughts Make You Sick, Stressed, and Stuck with Dr. Ellen Langer
Tim Harris
Former president of business operations for the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
Episode: What Happens When You Stop Optimizing and Start Committing with Former LA Lakers President Tim Harris

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 8k ratings
  • Simon The GOAT

    Simon is my Guru, the role model in the journey of my life

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amanbawa11
    Canada14 days ago
  • Host talks too much

    The Show on How to Be a Better Listener, Simon talked over the guest speaker the whole time! LOL!

    I had stop listening to the show half way through because Simon talked too much and went off on tangents. Bad hosting. Mel Robbins is better.

    Also the guest’s audio was low volume and hard to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    kkkkkgggggirl
    United States22 days ago
  • Had to switch it off…

    It’s too bad because there was a lot of value in the content but I could not listen to him interrupt his guest one more time. Particularly in an episode dedicated to being A BETTER LISTENER 🫣… Awkward dude.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    JaxLoWi
    United Statesa month ago
  • This is such a thought provoking podcast with guests that spark my curiosity and interest in topics that are important to me

    Podcast Addict
    5
    EC Keogh
    a month ago
  • Good demonstration of bad listening

    I love this show but found the podcast with Alex Simon hard to listen to. Sinek repeatedly talked over his guest and dismissed her research. The point of that show was to learn to listen better. Sinek demonstrated by example exactly why the topic is important, probably not in the way he meant to.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MG-101010
    United Statesa month 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.

How to Tell If Fear Is Protecting You or Holding You Back with Extreme Athlete Nelly Attar
Q: What do you think is the difference between fear that is protecting you and fear that is holding you back?
Protective fear is real and signals to be cautious, potentially risking life or safety; the fear that holds you back is the discomfort of stepping out of your comfort zone, the embarrassment or risk of failure, which you should push through while staying mindful.
What Happens When You Stop Optimizing and Start Committing with Former LA Lakers President Tim Harris
Q: What memories stand out that make the Lakers the Lakers?
Tim Harris highlights the emotional power of the moment-to-moment experience—seeing fans, players, and staff together after championships and the importance of being present to absorb the joy and chaos of victory.
How to Stop Being Socially Awkward (According to Science) with Behavioral Scientist Vanessa Van Edwards
Q: What's the key to balancing questions and listening in conversations, especially with high-status individuals?
Lead with curiosity, but read cues; for VIPs or private individuals, avoid turning the chat into an interrogation and instead share stories or invite them to share at their pace.
How to Stop Being Socially Awkward (According to Science) with Behavioral Scientist Vanessa Van Edwards
Q: How should someone begin addressing social awkwardness without feeling performative?
Start with micro-skills you're already good at, then build outward by choosing safe contexts and gradually increasing exposure, all while keeping the intention to add value and connect authentically.
The Real Reason Young People Don't Have 'The Hunger' for Work (And What Leaders Need to Hear) with Generations Expert Dr. Eliza Filby
Q: How does AI influence the way we think about work and mastery?
AI handles the repetitive, countable tasks, freeing humans to leverage judgment, care, and collective wisdom. It also challenges organizations to nurture soft skills, mentorship, and trust-building activities that AI cannot replicate, redefining mastery as the ability to collaborate and lead with empathy.

Audience Metrics

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

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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. ReThinking
2. The Curiosity Shop with Brené Brown and Adam Grant
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 238 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. Mary Holland Nader
2. Brendan Hunt
3. Alex Simon
4. Harville Hendrix
5. Nelly Attar
6. Robert (Bob) Chapman
7. Ethan Mollick
8. Ellen Langer

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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