A Bit of Optimism — Page 10 | Podcast

Episode 154

Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara

They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But what about business and friends? My dear friend Will Guidara is the perfect person to dive into this question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for owning and operating Eleven Madison Park, once named the best restaurant in the world. He’s also the author of the brilliant book *Unreasonable Hospitality* and a co-producer of the FX television series *The Bear*. Will and I have worked together before, so I was excited to chat with him about turning friends into colleagues, the reality of friendship breakups at work, and why sometimes showing respect means we have to change the way we treat a friend. This…is A Bit of Optimism For more on Will and his work, check out: [Unreasonable Hospitality](https://www.unreasonablehospitality.com/) [The Art of Creating Fiercely Loyal Customers](https://simonsinek.com/product/the-art-of-creating-fiercely-loyal-customers-a-team-building-program/)

December 10, 2024 49 min

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Episode 153

The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger

We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to answer that question. In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives since 1938. Some of them are still alive today and the findings are clear: lasting happiness isn’t about wealth or fame—it’s about something much deeper. Robert Waldinger, a professor and psychiatrist, has directed the study for over 20 years. His TED Talk about it went viral with nearly 50 million views, and in 2023, he wrote a book about it - *The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.*I asked Robert to share what the study has revealed about happiness over the decades, how its insights have shaped his own life, and the one essential ingredient for a joyful, meaningful existence. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Robert and his work, check out: [The Harvard Study of Adult Development](https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/) [robertwaldinger.com](http://robertwaldinger.com/)

December 3, 2024 46 min

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Episode 152

The First Steps to Find Love with Matthew Hussey

Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way. Matthew Hussey helps people find love, and sometimes, redefine their relationship with love. Matthew is a dating coach who balances practical advice about the art of attraction with the importance of centering our own sense of self in our search for love. Starting as a teenager and working primarily with women, he’s helped thousands of people find romance and create relationships built on values which feel right for them. I sat down with Matthew to ask him everything he’s learned about love after decades as a dating coach. He shares with me the most common mistakes people make when looking for a partner, what we ought to be looking for, and why our own happiness is ultimately our own responsibility, not anyone else’s. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Matthew and his work, check out: his new book, [Love Life](https://matthewhussey.com/love-life-book/) his [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9HGzFGt7BLmWDqooUbWGBg) [matthewhussey.com](http://matthewhussey.com/)

November 26, 2024 49 min

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Episode 151

Dr. Mark Hyman: To Live Longer You Need...

Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines. If you don’t believe me, believe Dr. Mark Hyman. Mark is one of the leading voices in the functional medicine movement, which is all about taking a holistic approach to our health for natural healing and preventing disease. The smallest changes in our daily lifestyle habits, or what we eat and drink, or our positive social interactions can have huge impacts on our long-term health. I sat down with Mark to talk about my most recent obsession – friendship. I was eager to get a physician’s perspective on all the ways friendship is beneficial for our health. In this conversation, we discuss the biological benefits of talking to a good friend and why you’re only as healthy as your five closest friends. This…is A Bit of Optimism For more on Mark Hyman and his work, check out: [The Doctor’s Farmacy](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-doctors-farmacy-with-mark-hyman-m-d/id1382804627) podcast [Function Health](https://www.functionhealth.com/?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PaidSearch&utm_campaign=Branded&utm_agid=154663154383&utm_term=function%20health&creative=703909346783&device=c&placement=&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA_9u5BhCUARIsABbMSPvGpAfAZbjDv0IaXJDFx4A1KlhOXgrIrGonWZKRKUteCRVDFSJCeTYaAnTZEALw_wcB) [drhyman.com](http://drhyman.com/)

November 19, 2024 48 min

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Episode 150

Alexis Ohanian: Why I Left Reddit and Why Greed Can Inspire Good

In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave? The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowing him to invest in startups that are trying to make the world a better place. And it’s the reason he resigned from Reddit after George Floyd was killed, requesting the board replace him with a Black director. In this conversation, Alexis shares with me his thoughts on the future of entrepreneurship, the race for AGI, climate change, and the principles that guide the way he leads. It turns out, building a business with values is the best thing for long term greed. This...is A Bit of Optimism For more on Alexis and his work, check out: [776](https://sevensevensix.com/) [alexisohanian.com](https://alexisohanian.com/)

November 12, 2024 1 hr 4 min

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Episode 149

What can we learn from a rural school in Kenya? with principal Carol Moraa

Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara. The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa is giving them that opportunity. She's the founding principal of Kisaruni Girls High School and Provost for Legacy College. I wanted to ask Carol where her kids find the motivation to willingly sign up for 18-hour school days. It turns out when learning is a choice, not an obligation, it's possible to build schools where cultural values and community are at the heart of what people do. This...is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Carol and her work, check out: [Legacy College](https://www.legacy-college.org/faculty/carol-moraa) [Kisaruni Girls High School](https://www.wecharity.org/kisaruni-group-of-schools)

November 5, 2024 40 min

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Episode 148

Peace Is A Process with negotiation expert William Ury

Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side. Few people on this planet have as much experience making peace as William Ury. William spent decades as a peace negotiator, resolving the world's most intractable conflicts — from avoiding nuclear catastrophe in the Cold War to mediating ethnic tensions and civil wars. Considered one of the world's pre-eminent negotiation experts, he's written several books on the subject, including the best-selling *Getting To Yes*. His latest book is titled *Possible*. I sat down with William to discuss the possibility of peace in an increasingly conflicted world. He shares some great stories with me from his career and what he's learned about the right way to influence others. This...is A Bit of Optimism. For more on William and his work, check out: his books, [*Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict*](https://www.williamury.com/possible/) and [*Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In*](https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Yes-Negotiating-Agreement-Without/dp/0143118757) [williamury.com](https://www.williamury.com/)

October 29, 2024 42 min

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Episode 147

Creating Astonishment with Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren

Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder. As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to astonish people with sports moments they'll never forget. A veteran executive of professional football, he's also served as COO of the Minnesota Vikings and Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. For Kevin, helping others experience the magic of the Bears starts with finding his own astonishment. He shares with me why ambitious high-performers need to slow down and appreciate the little things if they want to become better leaders and happier human beings. This...is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Kevin and his work, check out: [Kevin's Chicago Bears bio](https://www.chicagobears.com/team/front-office/kevin-warren)

October 22, 2024 56 min

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