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Artwork for The Optimist Project

The Optimist Project with Yara Shahidi

SiriusXM Podcasts
Optimism
Mental Health
Afro-Minimalism
Gratitude
Intentional Living
Life
Career
Change Makers
Joy
Love
Creativity
Self-Care
Grief
Environmentalism
Psychology
Pandemic Reflection
Empathy
Compassion
Janelle Monáe
Self-Esteem

Host Yara Shahidi sits down with incredible changemakers to unlock their secrets to conquering life, love, career, and everything in between with unwavering confidence and hope. We often discuss joy and happiness, but this podcast goes deeper. Optimism is where the magic happens! Join us as we find ways to cultivate the practice of optimism in our own lives.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes29Foundeda year ago
Category
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Optimist Project

Latest Episodes

🎬 Storytellers, Builders, and Believers—This One’s for the Architects of Culture Who Speak Truth and Shape Tomorrow.

This week on The Optimist Project, Yara Shahidi welcomes Emmy-winning screenwriter, producer, and trailblazer Lena Waithe for a dee... more

🎨 Creators, Visionaries, and Changemakers—This One’s for the Revolutionaries with a Paintbrush.

This week on The Optimist Project, Yara Shahidi welcomes celebrated artivist, author, and concept artist Nikkolas Smith for a powerful exploration of op... more

🎶 Creators, Dreamers, and Artists—This One’s for the Light Shining in You.

This week on The Optimist Project, Yara Shahidi sits down with Grammy Award-winning musician Estelle for an intimate conversation on purpose, presence, and the art of living... more

✨ Writers, Seekers, and Tender Truth-Tellers—This One’s for You.

This week on The Optimist Project, we’re joined by writer, poet, and spiritual curator Cole Arthur Riley, author of This Here Flesh and creator of the transcendent digital space Black ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

Lena Waithe
Emmy-winning writer, actor, producer, and cultural architect
Episode: Lena Waithe Redefines Legacy, Listening, and Radical Acceptance
Alok Vaid-Menon
Writer, comedian, performer, poet, and advocate
Episode: Alok Vaid-Menon on Art, Identity & the Radical Power of Joy
Ashley Cunningham
Founder of Bad Ash Bakes, culinary artist, and advocate for optimism.
Bad Ash Bakes
Episode: Ashley Cunningham on Courage, Cinnamon Rolls, and the Discipline Behind Optimism
Anousheh Ansari
First person of Iranian descent to travel to space and CEO of the Xprize Foundation.
Xprize Foundation
Episode: Anousheh Ansari on Exploring Space, Cultivating Curiosity, and Igniting Imagination
Dr. Becky Yang Hsu
Sociologist and researcher focused on understanding happiness through cultural perspectives
Episode: Dr. Becky Yang Hsu Breaks Down How Culture Defines Happiness
Bisa Butler
A brilliant artist, an educator, and a visionary storyteller weaving black history into vibrant, unforgettable tapestries.
Episode: Bisa Butler's Threads of Optimism using Art, Teaching, and Legacy
Dr. Vee Kativhu
Gen Z changemaker and education equity advocate
Empowered by Vee
Episode: Dr. Vee Kativhu: Igniting Optimism by Chasing her Dreams & Changing Lives
Demetrius Harmon
A poet, artist, and founder of the fashion brand You Matter.
You Matter
Episode: Demetrius Harmon: Embracing your Unique Journey: The Strength to Lean into Vulnerability, Discover more about yourself & Honor your Purpose
Jaylen Brown
NBA Finals MVP, philanthropic entrepreneur, and thought leader on education and social justice
Boston Celtics
Episode: Jaylen Brown on Finding Optimism in Meditation and Discipline

Host

Yara Shahidi
Yara Shahidi is a host known for her deep and meaningful conversations with a diverse array of changemakers, focusing on the essence of optimism, creativity, and personal growth. She advocates for social justice and aims to cultivate both joy and resilience among listeners.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 350 ratings
  • One of the Best!

    This podcast is one of my new favorites. ❤️ With all that’s happening in the world today, we need positivity, optimism, and joy. Thank you for this gift, Yara!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sista_redd
    United States2 months ago
  • Inspired learning w Yara!

    What a great listen, with lots of rewinding and Relistening! I’m a forever student and I love what’s being taught!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Podnerding
    United States4 months ago
  • My Favorite Podcast!!

    Great Podcast! Great For The Culture! 🙌🏽🤲🏽 This Podcast Is Very Inspirational

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @MFJ
    United States5 months ago
  • Amazing episode with Jaylen Brown!!🌻

    This episode is so amazing and inspiring. I listen to it over and over again and try to implement the advice into my own personal journey.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Foxy_khi3gl
    United States5 months ago
  • A needed podcast

    This was my first time listening and I think this is podcast the world needs! So insightful and deep, but also light! It feels more like a conversation with friends rather than an interview! I love it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    erifun
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the conversations relatable and inspiring, making the podcast feel like a personal dialogue with friends.
Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions about personal growth and community building.
Some critiques mention its focus on optimism as overly idealistic, but overall feedback trends towards appreciation and inspiration.
This podcast is a breath of fresh air, emphasizing positivity and the transformative power of optimism.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lena Waithe Redefines Legacy, Listening, and Radical Acceptance
Q: How are you defining optimism for yourself?
Optimism is finding space every day to acknowledge reality as it is without flinching and still choosing to build.
Estelle on Trusting Yourself & Being a Light
Q: What role does purpose play in your life?
Part of my purpose is to bring joy and be a light, and that can't be turned off once you realize it.
Estelle on Trusting Yourself & Being a Light
Q: When did you feel like you had the capacity to really make that choice?
I had to start letting go and figured out that the least amount of stress I do in airports, the more pleasant my travel experience is.
Estelle on Trusting Yourself & Being a Light
Q: How would you define optimism for yourself?
For me, it's a choice thing. It's choosing my reaction to everything designed to take me the opposite direction.
Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies and the Beauty of Unanswered Questions
Q: What does witnessing mean to you?
Witnessing involves not only seeing beauty but also understanding the complexities of someone's humanity.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Optimist Project

What is The Optimist Project about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations focus on the transformative power of optimism, exploring how it can provide a framework for navigating challenges in life, career, and relationships. Guests often share personal narratives that highlight resilience, creativity, and the importance of community support. There is an emphasis on themes such as self-discovery, joy, mental health, and the complexities of identity, making the discussions both insightful and uplifting. This platform stands out by not only addressing feelings of joy but also by recognizing the struggles that accompany the human experience, urging listeners to engage in optimistic practices actively and reflectively.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Optimist Project?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Optimist Project. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Optimist Project and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Optimist Project get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Optimist Project, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Optimist Project?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Optimist Project, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Optimist Project have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Optimist Project has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Optimist Project?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Optimist Project:

1. Therapy for Black Girls
2. Myleik Teele's Podcast
3. LOVERS by shan
4. She's So Lucky
5. Baby, This is Keke Palmer

How many episodes of The Optimist Project are there?

The Optimist Project launched a year ago and published 29 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Optimist Project?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Optimist Project?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Optimist Project from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Optimist Project?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Optimist Project. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Optimist Project?

Recent guests on The Optimist Project include:

1. Lena Waithe
2. Alok Vaid-Menon
3. Ashley Cunningham
4. Anousheh Ansari
5. Dr. Becky Yang Hsu
6. Bisa Butler
7. Dr. Vee Kativhu
8. Demetrius Harmon

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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