A Bit of Optimism

Classical music could use a little disruption. For Anastasia Kobekina, that means playing outside of its rigid forms.An accomplished soloist, Anastasia has played with prestigious orchestras all over the world. She also bangs on her cello, improvises with Vivaldi, and sings.I was thrilled to sit down with Anastasia to discuss her musical experimentations and to hear her play some pieces from her remarkable new album Venice.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Anastasia and her music, check out:kobekina.info

Courage isn't about bravado. It's about staying calm. Li Karlsen knows a lot about staying calm under the most inhospitable conditions. One of the most accomplished freedivers in the world, Li is a record-holding champion at holding her breath and diving hundreds of feet below the ocean's surface.I wanted to ask Li what freediving has taught her about managing stress and fear. It turns out the lessons she's learned in the ocean work just as well above the water. Something as simple as changing the way we breathe can have a huge impact on our own fear and stress.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Li, check out:her AIDA stats@li_karlsenand her latest venture bkm.health

In Part 2 of our conversation, Brené Brown, Adam Grant, and I continue our journey of out loud self-reflection.We discuss identifying our values, the two types of narcissists, explanation-based parenting, and exercising judgment over our own judgment. Listen to Part 1 here or wherever you listen to podcasts.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Brené and Adam's work, check out:brenebrown.comadamgrant.net

To become more self-aware, sometimes you need a friend. Two friends is even better.Brené Brown and Adam Grant swing by the podcast for one of our trademark conversations with no plan. It turns into a deep dive about knowing our selves and how self-reflection is sometimes best done with others. What's a little metacognition between friends?This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more from Brené and Adam, check out:brenebrown.comadamgrant.net

Building wealth is an unequal pursuit. Scott Galloway believes no one is getting more screwed financially than young people.Scott argues what the U.S. is doing to the economic future of its youth is nothing less than a war on the young. The massive transfer of wealth from young to old is a topic he explores in his new book The Algebra of Wealth. I was delighted to have Prof G back on the show to share what's been on his mind lately, and enjoyed veering far off topic to discuss love, money, and the nature of true friendship.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Scott and his work, check out:his book The Algebra of Wealthhis podcasts at Prof G Mediahis TED Talk

Seven years after ISIS killed her son, Diane Foley met with one of his killers. Somehow, she was able to find the humanity in her son's murderer. ISIS held journalist James Foley hostage for 2 years before publicly executing him in 2014, when they uploaded a YouTube video of James's beheading. After her son's murder, Diane Foley started The Foley Foundation, working to free American hostages held abroad, teach journalist safety, and inspire people to act with moral courage.I asked Diane how she found the moral courage to meet ISIS terrorist Alexanda Kotey and see him as a human being. If Diane could find the grace to connect with her son's murderer, the rest of us can find the moral courage to see the good in those with whom we so vehemently disagree.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Diane and her work, check out:her book American MotherThe Foley Foundation

Humility stems from confidence. Confident leaders can admit when they're not the smartest person in the room.Blake Hall exemplifies the type of leadership we need more of in business. A former Army Ranger, Blake was awarded the Bronze Star for leading his platoon in combat during the Iraq War. Now he's the CEO and co-founder of ID.me, a digital wallet that simplifies online identity verification.I sat down with Blake to discuss how his combat experience informed his journey as an entrepreneur and why the smartest leaders lead with humility.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Blake and his work, check out:id.me

The jump from $250 million to $2 billion in revenue doesn't happen overnight. Over 25 years, John Burke transformed Trek Bikes into a global powerhouse — one mom-and-pop bike store at a time.The key to John's success is simple but powerful. Create value for others first, and you too shall be rewarded. John and I discuss why the best way to win isn't to focus on "winning," but to focus on "play," and how the principles of The Infinite Game have guided his leadership. And he tells me why creative leadership is exactly what's missing in American government.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about John and his work, check out:his book, A Bold Plan For AmericaTrekBikes.com

War reporters risk their lives to document conflict. And yet, after a career living on battlefields, Sebastian Junger's closest brush with death was surviving an aneurysm.Sebastian's story of his sudden internal hemorrhage and making sense of what he saw while dying is the subject of his new book In My Time of Dying. As someone who usually writes as an outside observer, it's an atypical and personal exploration of death.I was privileged to speak with Sebastian about the fragility of life and why being necessary to others is one of our highest needs of all. This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Sebastian and his work, check out:sebastianjunger.comhis book, In My Time of Dying

Starting a company from scratch isn't easy. Doing it multiple times seems downright impossible.Eric Ryan is one of those serial entrepreneurs. Most known as the co-founder of Method soaps, he's also the founder of Olly vitamins, Welly first aid kits, Cast jewelry, and he has more ventures planned. I sat down with Eric to ask him about his creative process. What follows is a conversation about serial creativity and why reinvention is the key to repeating creative success.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Eric and his work, check out:methodproducts.com

In 2005, Neil Strauss published The Game, a book about his years living in the pickup artist community. The Game sold millions of copies, stirred up huge controversy, and made Neil a bestselling author. Neil has totally reinvented himself since writing The Game, and I wanted to talk with him about walking away from that identity of success. This led to a much deeper conversation about what success even is. Is meaning tied to outcomes, or is intention enough? Neil and I don't see eye-to-eye on everything in this conversation, but I love talking with him because he challenges my ideas. I hope this episode challenges you as well, to continue questioning what the definition of success should be. This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Neil and his work, check out:neilstrauss.comThe Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists

Society treats marriage like the end goal of human intimacy. Platonic friends can never be as important as romantic partners. What would life look like if we made friendship the goal? Journalist and producer Rhaina Cohen tackles this question in her book The Other Significant Others. She tells the stories of people who made platonic friends the closest people in their lives, doing things together like buying houses, executing a will, and raising children. I wanted to talk with Rhaina because redefining what friendship means in our lives lets us connect in new and deeper ways outside the rigid boundaries of a marriage or relationship. And it might take the pressure off our romantic partners to fulfill every one of our social needs.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Rhaina and her work, check out:rhainacohen.comher book The Other Significant Others

It's not just what we eat but how we eat it that counts. Eating the same meal in a different order can dramatically change how we feel!Glucose Goddess is the viral Instagram account of Jessie Inchauspé, who's inspired millions of people to change how they eat. With simple and easy dietary hacks, Jessie teaches people how to prevent glucose spikes -- large influxes of sugar into our bodies that make us tired, stress our organs, and cause us to age.Since adopting her eating habits, my energy has never been better. I was thrilled to talk with Jessie about creating Glucose Goddess and her personal story behind showing people a better way to eat.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Jessie and her work, check out:@glucosegoddessglucosegoddess.com

Relationships are hard. No matter how much we like, respect, or love someone, conflict seems inevitable.But even as we fight and disagree, we can also learn the skills we need to resolve our problems. For over two decades, Shawn McBride has helped thousands of couples do the work to strengthen their relationships. And he has tons of practical advice.Shawn sat down with me to discuss the three biggest problems couples face, why I'm a huge fan of his Instagram, and how love can keep relationships afloat, but it's often not enough.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Shawn and his work, check out:@couples_counseling_center@shawnmcbridespeaksand couplescounselingcenter.org

Loneliness is now an epidemic, with devastating impacts on our health. How can we rekindle the deep human connection we need now more than ever?For Rabbi Sharon Brous, this question is the focus of her work. Considered one of the most influential rabbis in the U.S., she's founded her own congregation and has led multiple White House faith events. In her new book, The Amen Effect, Sharon explores how grief and heartbreak can be gateways to truly seeing each other.Sharon and I talk about what it means to be present to someone else's pain and how a 2,000-year old ritual taught her the meaning of healing together. This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Sharon and her work, check out:her book The Amen Effecther congregation iKAR

Apple's "1984" commercial, the Energizer Bunny, and the launch of Air Jordans all have one thing in common. They're all creations of legendary ad man Lee Clow.As creative director of Chiat/Day, Lee spent decades making work that transcended advertising and became cultural icons. He shared a close relationship with Steve Jobs, and his Think Different campaign revitalized Apple, transforming it into the brand we recognize today.As someone whose career started in advertising, Lee's a hero of mine, and I was thrilled to sit down with him. He shares the entertaining stories behind his most iconic work and some insights into Steve Jobs's leadership, his rare ability to fearlessly embrace creativity.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Lee and his work, check out:Apple's "1984" Macintosh commercialLee in the Creative Hall of Fame

Anxiety disorders affect Gen Z at astronomically higher rates than previous generations. There's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world. But the reason behind Gen Z's mental health crisis might be simpler than you'd think.According to social psychologist and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt, the answer lies in growing up with a combination of smartphones and social media. In his new book The Anxious Generation, he argues that Gen Z's anxiety is a symptom of being the first generation to go through puberty on Instagram and TikTok, with iPhones available to access them constantly.Thankfully, Jonathan believes the problem is solvable. He shares some advice he has for concerned parents and tells me how we can fix the mental health crisis affecting our kids in just a few years time.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Jonathan's work, check out:anxiousgeneration.comjonathanhaidt.comAnd for parents, visit:letgrow.org

Most of us would count ourselves lucky to live to age 80. And yet, there are places on Earth where people regularly live to 100, suffer virtually no chronic disease, and live life with a sense of purpose. These "Blue Zones" are the focus of Dan Buettner's work. He's a National Geographic explorer, an author, and a documentarian. He spent years traveling and studying the Blue Zones to understand why these 5 places on Earth produce some of the happiest, and longest-lived, people in the world. Dan and I discuss why happiness is the key to longevity, creating Blue Zones in our own lives, and how a longer life can begin with simply rearranging your kitchen.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Dan Buettner and his work, check out:his Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zonesor bluezones.com

As the private space industry races to colonize space for profit, where does NASA fit in to the equation?Laurie Leshin is just the person to answer that question. She's the Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the first female director in JPL's storied history. To her, NASA's future is defined by its mission — exploring the cosmos for the greater good of humankind.Laurie and I discuss the role of Space X and Blue Origin in the new space age and why NASA should set its sights on Mars, and flying to even deeper space beyond.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To find out more about Laurie and her work, check out:jpl.nasa.gov

If great leaders are those willing to suffer for their beliefs, Leopoldo Lopez is certainly a great leader.After he led the massive 2014 Venezuelan protests that swept the nation, the regime of Nicolás Maduro sentenced Leopoldo to over a decade of political imprisonment. He suffered four years of solitary confinement and psychological torture before he escaped. Leopoldo tells me about his time in prison and how he cultivated the mental strength to endure. The story of how he smuggled himself into exile is a truly remarkable one. Most of us will never experience military prison, but what Leopoldo discovered about surviving enormous stress is something each of us can learn from. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To find out more about Leopoldo and his work, check out:worldlibertycongress.org

Life as a nightclub promoter in New York City was an unending cycle of drinking, drugs, models, and fast cars. After ten years, Scott Harrison's vices caught up with him, and a health scare forced him to reflect on his life.Scott felt decadent, wasteful, and morally bankrupt. He decided to completely reverse course. Scott spent the next 2 years in West Africa on board a nonprofit hospital ship, where he saw a level of human suffering that led him to his true calling.Today, solving the global water crisis is Scott's life's work, and he's built one of the most trusted nonprofits in the world to do just that. His organization charity: water has raised over $750 million, helping more than 17.4 million people access clean drinking water.Scott shares with me the painful road that led to his transformation and why living a life of service can be a path toward redemption.This...is A Bit of Optimism If you would like to help solve the global water crisis, visit:charitywater.org For more on Scott, check out:his book Thirst

Great communicators aren't born that way. They're self-made.Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist whose new book, Supercommunicators, explores how some people have unlocked the secret language of connection.Charles and I discuss what makes these "supercommunicators" unique, why we need stories to convey ideas, and how being honest once saved a CIA recruiter his job.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Charles's work, check out:his book Supercommunicatorscharlesduhigg.com

In a divided society, idealists believe we can overcome our differences.Alexandra Hudson is one of those idealists. Disillusioned by the backstabbing she witnessed in federal government, she began to research how we can repair the divisions keeping us apart. We discuss what being civil means in a dog-eat-dog culture and why building a more connected community can start on the front porch.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Alexandra and her work, check out:her book: The Soul of Civilityalexandraohudson.com

When life gets tough, true friends ask for help.Christina Tosi is that kind of friend. She's someone I can trust with anything and someone I can cry with. She also happens to be a world-class pastry chef, a genius dessert maker, and the founder and CEO of Milk Bar. We reflect on the art of asking for help and how sometimes all we need from a true friend is 8 minutes of their time.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Christina and her work, check out: https://www.christinatosi.com/https://milkbarstore.com/ For more on the power of an 8-minute phone call, check out this New York Times article. And, by the way, I wanted to share Christina's recipe for making an Ice Cream Loaf. It's magic. You will need:2 cups (1 pint) of softened ice cream1 cup of self-rising flour1 eggPreheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.In a large bowl, mix the melty ice cream, self-rising flour, and egg. Do not overmix.Pour the batter into loaf pan.Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick clean.Enjoy.

Awkwardness gets a bad rap, but the trait is often an indicator that someone is extraordinary. Psychologist and author Ty Tashiro has spent a great deal of time studying (and living!) social awkwardness. He's fascinated by how the same traits that cause us social embarrassment can also drive exceptional accomplishment. As a fellow awkward person myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation with Ty about the advantages of being awkward, what the socially fluent can learn from awkward people, and the best way to navigate conversations in loud clubs.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Ty and his work check out: His book: AWKWARD: The Science of Why We're Socially Awkward and Why That's Awesome.tytashiro.com

What makes humanity unique?Dr. Michael Muthukrishna is fascinated by why our species behaves the way it does. In his book, A Theory of Everyone, Michael seeks to answer some of the deepest questions humans have about ourselves and how our cultures came to be. Why do humans create culture? What do all our societies have in common? And how can this knowledge help us build a better future?This...is A Bit of Optimism.In our conversation, Michael references a paper published in Science titled "The Church, intensive kinship, and global psychological variation." You can read it here.To learn more about Michael's work, check out:michael.muthukrishna.com

In the New Year, we all aspire to become better versions of ourselves. But how do we change our behavior so new habits actually stick?Well, James Clear is THE expert on habits. His book, Atomic Habits, is the #1 New York Times bestseller with over 15 million copies sold.Together, James and I break down his powerful approach to forming better habits, breaking the bad ones, and living the life we desire.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about James and his work, check out:jamesclear.com

Lasting success requires innovation. But how do we build teams that keep innovation in their DNA?Jackie Reses is Silicon Valley royalty precisely because she knows how to hire, build, and lead the best teams for the best companies. Jackie was a senior executive at Yahoo!, Alibaba, and Square and now she is the founder and CEO of a new bank disrupting retail finance.We talked about what it takes to empower people to invent new things and how grit, paranoia, and excellence breed success.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more on Jackie and her work check out: https://www.lead.bank/

Great comedians have the ability to point out some of the madness, ridiculousness, and nuance that exists in the world.Alex Edelman is already one of the greats. His current show, "Just For Us," is a transformative experience for his audiences, as he regales them with his experience as an unwelcome interloper at a meeting for white supremacists. Our conversation was just as enlightening. We discussed how imperfections are beautiful, how seeing humanity in others is the first step to peace, and if IHOP is good, evil, or something in-between. This is...A Bit of Optimism. For more on Alex and his work check out: https://www.justforusshow.com/https://www.alexedelmancomedy.com/

Drive can get you to peak performance. But what happens when you enter the next chapter of your life? Danica Patrick was one of the best drivers in the world, the only woman in a field perennially dominated by men. But that was years ago. Now, she is finding meaning beyond wins, races, and results. It turns out, the best part of drive is the journey. This is...A Bit of Optimism. For more on Danica and her work check out: https://danicapatrick.com/

All business leaders want to make a lasting impact, but very few have the scale and tools to change the entire planet. Doug McMillon has the scale and the tools. He is the CEO of Walmart and employs over 2 million people across the world. But it is Doug's commitment to leading Walmart based on its core values that makes him so important.So I sat down with him to talk about his 33-year career, in which he went from packing trucks in the loading bay to becoming the chief executive, to discuss the value of values and how Walmart can have an impact on the whole world.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more on Doug and his work check out: https://corporate.walmart.com/about/leadership/doug-mcmillonhttps://corporate.walmart.com/about/history

Authenticity is exceedingly rare.Yet Brian Grazer embodies it with an unparalleled zest and refreshing innocence. Though Grazer might not be a household name, his tv shows and movies (like "A Beautiful Mind" and “Apollo 13”) have earned him 242 Emmy nominations and 47 Oscar nominations. He believes in the power of asking endless amounts of questions to shape stories that resonate on a deeply human level.Grazer is an unparalleled storyteller and offers a unique perspective on how to engage, question, and understand the world around us.This is…A Bit of Optimism. For more on Brian and his work check out: His new book: https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Mind-Expanded-Secret-Bigger/dp/1668025507https://imagine-entertainment.com/https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Grazer/410161296

When did we get so disconnected from the world around us? How can we find our way back?Aza Raskin thinks the answer might lie in humanity's greatest adversary - listening.As co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology and of the Earth Species Project, Aza and his team are using Artificial Intelligence to decode the language of animals, from whales to crows, while remaining dedicated to ensuring the accelerating rise of A.I. remains safe and responsibly handled.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more on Aza and his work check out: https://www.earthspecies.org/https://www.humanetech.com/

We have lost trust in almost everything.Yat Siu has a clear vision for how we can solve our large-scale trust issues and enhance human coordination. For every problem technology creates, technology also has a solution.This is…A Bit of Optimism. For more on Yat Siu and his work check out: https://www.animocabrands.com/

We used to care about beautiful architecture. Luckily, Thomas Heatherwick still does. He is on a quest to make the world less boring.You may not know Thomas yet, but you know his work. He's designed iconic buildings and experiences and he says our cities have become dreadfully unhuman and our lack of beauty is negatively impacting our physical and mental health. He's a truly original thinker with great insights into how to innovate, create, and humanize.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more on Thomas and his work check out: His new book, Humanize: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Humanize/Thomas-Heatherwick/9781668034439https://www.heatherwick.com/

High-performing teams require more than just a leader. Great teams come from great teammates. Shane Battier won't be in the NBA Hall of Fame, but he was one of the greatest teammates to ever play professional basketball. He won back-to-back NBA Championships with the Miami Heat and was named the league's Teammate of the Year during their second championship run. His insights into trust, discomfort, and "teammateship" are essential for teams -- and teammates -- of all types. This is...A Bit of Optimism.

When we want wisdom, we turn to people older than us. But there is a lot to be learned from younger generations too.Elizabeth English knows this. She’s the head of one of the most innovative schools in the country, The Archer School for Girls and has spent her career working with -- and learning from -- younger generations.We sat down to talk about: the problems facing parents today, why kids need and thrive from rules, boundary setting, phone addictions, and how her students make her hopeful for the future.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more on Elizabeth and her work check out: https://www.archer.org/about/from-the-head-of-school

We are told from a young age to pursue love—romantic love, self-love, divine love. But how do you actually define love? And once you do, how do you find it?Cleo Wade is the right person to ask. She's a poet whose latest book is called “Remember Love: Words for Tender Times.” Our conversation about love led down many paths: we talked about appreciating pain, staying present, and the resurgence of poetry.This is... A Bit of Optimism.For more on Cleo and her work check out:her new book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724180/remember-love-by-cleo-wade/https://cleowade.com/

How do you run a thriving company that cares more about impact than about profit and margins?Karissa Bodnar is a genius CEO who dedicated herself to building a cause-based company. Thrive Causemetics started out of her one-bedroom apartment and now it’s a massively successful brand that has donated over $139 million of value to those in need.We sat down to talk about finding your purpose, leading younger generations, and so much more. This is… A Bit of Optimism.For more on Karissa and her work check out: https://thrivecausemetics.com/pages/our-story

How are you? It’s a question we get asked everyday, but we hardly ever answer it honestly. When Diego Perez — also known under his penname, Yung Pueblo — started asking himself that question and answering honestly, his entire life changed.In this conversation, Diego opens up about his own struggles with addiction and shares hard-earned wisdom about conflict, spirituality, and so much more.This is...A Bit of Optimism.For more of Yung Pueblo's work check out: his new book out today The Way Forwardhttps://yungpueblo.com/

How do people become powerful? Can understanding power protect us from those who wield it too strongly?When Robert Greene first set out to write about power, he didn’t have much of it. He worked odd jobs and was largely at the mercy of other people’s power. Now, his book “The 48 Laws of Power” has given him the power he wrote about. He sat down with me to share what he’s learned on both sides of that spectrum.This… is a Bit of Optimism.For more on Robert and his work, check out:https://powerseductionandwar.com/

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=6451https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycedmondson/https://twitter.com/AmyCEdmondsonhttps://www.instagram.com/amycedmondson/

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.com2

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/