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A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

An inspiring podcast with Simon Sinek.

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Episodes: Page 7

Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi

Episode 178

Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi

What if this podcast turned into a baking show? For Christina Tosi’s third visit to *A Bit of Optimism*, we decided to find out. So we headed to Milk Bar to make compost cookies from things in my own pantry and my favorite beer bread from scratch!  Christina’s not just my best friend—she’s the founder of Milk Bar, host of *Bake Squad* on Netflix, a cookbook author, and a fan favorite on this podcast. She lives by one simple question: *what if?* In this experimental episode, we dug into some big ideas about creativity, uncertainty, and the magic of trying something new. Recipes below! This...is A Bit of Optimism. You can watch the video version of this episode on YouTube [**here**](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgCOAz4cqZMTQ4Blgkfr4IqU2YAJWJzN1). For more on Christina and her work, check out: [christinatosi.com](http://christinatosi.com/) \---------------------------- Simon's Compost Cookie Recipe (makes 15-20 cookies): - 16 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature - 1 cup granulated sugar - 2/3 cup tightly packed light brown sugar - 2 tablespoons glucose syrup - 1 large egg - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract - 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder - 1/4 teaspoon baking soda - 1 teaspoon kosher salt - Maltesers - 85% dark chocolate - Optimism Coffee grounds - Granola - Space/Astronaut Ice Cream - Kettle Corn Pop Chips For the full step-by-step recipe, visit Milk Bar's [website](https://milkbarstore.com/blogs/recipes/compost-cookie-new?srsltid=AfmBOoq3Xn896zypVDfdBRaoxfyMcdfdyAcJ2eYzK_PSZGBEMbmDF_FM)! Beer Bread Recipe: - 3 cups self-rising flour - 1 teaspoon kosher salt - 4 tablespoons honey (or to taste) - 12 oz beer (Samual Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout is Simon's preference!) - 2 tablespoons butter (and save a little for the top) Mix ingredients slowly together Bake at 350 for 45-60 mins until baked through \---------------------------- This episode is brought to you by True Classic! I really love True Classic T-shirts, so we called them up and asked if they wanted to work together. And they said yes!  Check out their clothes at: [trueclassictees.com](http://trueclassictees.com/)

June 3, 2025 48 min
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Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride

Episode 177

Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with couples counselor Shawn McBride.   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](https://www.instagram.com/couples_counseling_center/) [@shawnmcbridespeaks](https://www.instagram.com/shawnmcbridespeaks/) and [couplescounselingcenter.org](https://www.couplescounselingcenter.org/team)

May 27, 2025 48 min
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Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger

Episode 176

Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger. We all want to live a happy life. But what does the research say about how to achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to figure out how humans can live happier lives.  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/)

May 20, 2025 46 min
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Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman

Episode 175

Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman

Sometimes in life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I you going next?” Other times, it’s more fun to do a podcast takeover. No one has ever interviewed me quite like Cal Fussman. Cal has a gift – he pulls things out of you that you didn’t even know were there. A prolific Writer At Large for *Esquire*, Cal has interviewed legends like Muhammad Ali and Mikhail Gorbachev, and he’s the host of the podcast Big Questions. So, to mark 15 years since writing *Start With Why*, I invited Cal to take over *my* podcast and ask me the questions I don’t usually get asked. Cal did get me to open up in this conversation, but not in the way you might expect. We talk about where I’ve been, where I’m going, the infinite game, creativity in AI…and why I’ve become so obsessed with friendship lately. This…is A Bit of Optimism For more on Cal and his work, check out: [Big Questions with Cal Fussman](https://www.calfussman.com/podcast)

May 13, 2025 50 min
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The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch

Episode 174

The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch

Sometimes in life, we choose the wrong path. When we feel like we're living a lie, it's hard to know what to do next. That’s where Suzy Welch comes in. She’s obsessed with helping people create lives worth living. A professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Suzy teaches a popular class called “Becoming You,” where she takes students down a brutal, but liberating, journey to live as their authentic selves.  According to Suzy’s research, purpose is the key to unlocking the real you, but finding that purpose is often trickier than we imagine.I had a blast talking, and debating, with Suzy about what it means to craft a purpose-driven life. In this conversation, she shares with me the difference between passion and aptitude, the reason luck is overrated, and why so many people struggle to know their own values. To learn more about Suzy and her work, check out: her book, [*Becoming You*](https://www.suzywelch.com/books/) and [The Becoming You Podcast with Suzy Welch](https://www.suzywelch.com/podcasts/)

May 6, 2025 35 min
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(PART 2) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards

Episode 173

(PART 2) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards

**\*Please note:** **At 9:01, Simon and Cory have a discussion about suicide.** What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's nowhere left to run from yourself? In Part 2 of my conversation with Cory Richards, Cory explains why reaching the summit of Everest marked the beginning of a long, painful fall from grace.  After his tumultuous decision to retire from climbing, Cory found himself lost and confused about his true identity. At the same time, he was forced to grapple with multiple life-shattering events at once -- some of his own making. In this episode, we discuss the difference between identity and purpose, the skills Cory learned to cope with multiple tragedies, and why the more we ignore life’s harshest lessons, the louder they become. Listen to Part 1 [here](https://simonsinek.com/podcast/episodes/the-climb-out-of-pain-is-taller-than-everest-with-national-geographic-photographer-cory-richards-part-1/) or watch it on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvQ4K1JpvFI). This…is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Cory Richards and his work, check out: [coryrichards.com](http://coryrichards.com/)

April 29, 2025 40 min
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(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards

Episode 172

(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards

What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go. Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest lows. An acclaimed mountain climber, photographer, and filmmaker, Cory has literally reached the top of the world. He climbed Mount Everest with no supplemental oxygen, became the first American to summit an 8,000-meter mountain, and narrowly survived an avalanche, after which he skyrocketed to fame when his photos graced the cover of National Geographic. And yet, after all that success, Cory felt like an emotional wreck. As his mental health deteriorated, his volatile behavior damaged his career and his relationships. Without the identity of “climber” to give him validation, Cory was forced to confront who he really is.I n Part 1 of this conversation, Cory shares with me head-spinning stories from climbing the Himalayas, his struggles with mental health as a teen, and the difference between survival and resilience. This…is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Cory Richards and his work, check out: [coryrichards.com](http://coryrichards.com/)

April 22, 2025 47 min
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Find Your Allies Fast with philanthropist Melinda French Gates

Episode 171

Find Your Allies Fast with philanthropist Melinda French Gates

Change happens to all of us whether we choose it or not. What’s the best way to go through transition, especially when it’s something we didn’t want? Melinda French Gates has seen her fair share of big transitions. A philanthropist, author, and champion for female empowerment, she spent decades building the Gates Foundation into one of the mightiest charitable organizations in the world. But after 25 years, she decided it was time for a change. Leaving the Foundation and her marriage to Bill Gates behind, she struck out on her own for a new decade of philanthropy. I was delighted to sit down with Melinda to talk about how we can successfully navigate the big changes in life, and why finding your allies during tough transitions is the best way to start a new chapter. This…is A Bit of Optimism. For more on Melinda French Gates and her work, check out: her book, [*The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward*](https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250378651/thenextday/) her investment and philanthropy organization, [Pivotal Ventures](https://www.pivotalventures.org/)

April 15, 2025 39 min
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