The future is always bright…if you know where to look. Join me each week for A Bit of Optimism! I talk to inspiring people who teach me more about life, leaders...
The Search for Self-Love with podcaster Lewis Howes
Self-love is never as easy as we think. Is it possible to fall in love with ourselves the way we fall for other people?Lewis Howes knows that learning to like yourself, let alone love yourself, can take decades. After surviving a traumatic childhood, Lewis spent years working on himself to try and understand what it takes for human beings to achieve greatness. He overcame learning disabilities, insecurity, and self-loathing to become who he is today. Lewis is a New York Times bestselling author, a former pro athlete, and host of the popular podcast The School of Greatness.After appearing several times on Lewis’s show, I was excited to finally have Lewis join me on A Bit of Optimism. Together, we unpack our insecurities, talk through our money trauma, and discuss why the first step to liking yourself is to find a little courage.This…is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Lewis and his work, check out:his book, Make Money Easyhis podcast, The School of Greatness
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Revisited: Why Awkward Is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro
A Bit of Optimism is on hiatus this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations! In this episode, Simon talks with psychologist Ty Tashiro about social awkwardness and why being awkward can actually be a superpower.*****Awkwardness gets a bad rap. But being awkward is often an indicator that someone has 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, I was delighted to sit down with Ty and discuss the competitive advantages of social awkwardness, and how sometimes what society labels a weakness turns out to be our greatest strength.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 Awesometytashiro.com
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Does Gender Change How We Lead? with retired colonel DeDe Halfhill
Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor?DeDe Halfhill would say yes and no. A retired Air Force colonel, Dede spent 20 years in the military, where she advised some of the military’s most powerful leaders during the War in Iraq.She was often the only woman in the room for weeks on end. And while DeDe found the principles of leadership to be universal, there was no denying her experience as a woman leader was different from the men.DeDe is an old friend of mine, and I was excited to talk with her about what she learned during her time in the Air Force. She explained to me why people react differently to male versus female leaders, why loneliness often shows up as exhaustion, and how the ability to do emotional labor makes all leaders great, regardless of gender.This...is A Bit of Optimism.For more on DeDe and her work, check out:dedehalfhill.com
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The Myth of the Perfect Meditator with podcaster Jay Shetty
We turn to ancient philosophies to help us cope with the stress of modern life. But what if ancient wisdom could use some help from the modern world?Jay Shetty has made it his life’s work to make wisdom, peace, and purpose available to everyone. After living as a monk for 3 years, he left his monastic lifestyle with the hope of spreading what he learned to as many people as possible. Today, he’s the host of the On Purpose podcast, a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a life coach, and an entrepreneur who has helped millions of people find clarity in their lives.I was excited to talk with Jay about the balance between ancient practices and modern life. He shared with me the three biggest lessons he learned as a monk, what people get wrong about meditation, and how we can slow down and reflect amid the bustle of modern society.For more on Jay and his work, check out:On Purpose Live Tourjayshetty.me
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When Your 'Flaw' Becomes Your Edge with Comedian Hasan Minhaj
To recognize your own talent takes time and self-awareness. But to find the courage to pursue it? That often requires a spark of inspiration from someone else.For Hasan Minhaj, that spark came from an unexpected trio—a teacher, a roommate, and Napster. A former correspondent on The Daily Show, Hasan’s natural gift of gab allowed him to build a wide-ranging career which spans standup, acting, Netflix shows, and, most recently, his podcast, Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know.I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hasan to discuss his journey—why gifted people crave external validation, why kids are braver than adults, and where comedians truly rank in the artistic hierarchy.This… is A Bit of Optimism.For more on Hasan and his work check out:hasanminhaj.com
The future is always bright…if you know where to look. Join me each week for A Bit of Optimism! I talk to inspiring people who teach me more about life, leadership and general interesting things.