A Bit of Optimism — Page 17 | Podcast

Episode 105

A Curious Mind with movie producer Brian Grazer

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/1668025507](https://www.amazon.com/Curious-Mind-Expanded-Secret-Bigger/dp/1668025507) [https://imagine-entertainment.com/](https://imagine-entertainment.com/) [https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Grazer/410161296](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Grazer/410161296)

November 28, 2023 29 min

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Episode 104

Talking to Animals with A.I. ethicist Aza Raskin

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.earthspecies.org/) [https://www.humanetech.com/](https://www.humanetech.com/)

November 21, 2023 40 min

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Episode 103

A New Paradigm for Trust with entrepreneur Yat Siu

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/](https://www.animocabrands.com/)

November 14, 2023 31 min

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Episode 102

Humanize with designer Thomas Heatherwick

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/9781668034439](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Humanize/Thomas-Heatherwick/9781668034439) [https://www.heatherwick.com/](https://www.heatherwick.com/)

November 7, 2023 39 min

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Episode 101

Teammateship with NBA champion Shane Battier

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.

October 31, 2023 31 min

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Episode 100

The Future of Leadership with educator Elizabeth English

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](https://www.archer.org/about/from-the-head-of-school)

October 24, 2023 46 min

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Episode 99

Remember Love with the poet Cleo Wade

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://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724180/remember-love-by-cleo-wade/) [https://cleowade.com/](https://cleowade.com/)

October 17, 2023 30 min

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Episode 98

Purpose over Profit with Thrive Causemetics CEO Karissa Bodnar

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](https://thrivecausemetics.com/pages/our-story)

October 10, 2023 32 min

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