A Bit of Optimism

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All Episodes

Revisited: How to Turn Stress Into Creativity With Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier

Team Simon here! As we take a short hiatus, A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes on March 24, 2026. Until then, we’re revisiting some of the conversations you loved and we still think about long after the microphones turned off. This week, we’re rewinding to Simo ... Show more

. 58min 33sec

The Confidence Conversation We Need to Have with Scott Galloway

Scott Galloway and I don’t always see the world the same way, but our friendly debates almost always lead us back to common ground. It’s probably why we enjoy talking to each other as much as we do. If you haven’t heard my friend Scott’s name before, he’s known for being brillian ... Show more

. 54min 53sec

28 Years on the Force: Chief Angela Averiett on What It Really Takes to Change Police Culture

It’s often true that the most challenging conversations are often the ones most worth having. Conversations that bring up strong feelings, different experiences, and questions without easy answers. Policing, and how we can make it better, is one of those conversations.San Leandro ... Show more

. 1h 5min

When Pop Fandom Becomes a Force for Good with AJR’s Adam Met

Fanbases are some of the most powerful forces on the planet.They show up. They buy the tickets. They travel across countries and time zones. They memorize lyrics, study interviews, hunt for Easter eggs, and turn the smallest detail into an entire universe of meaning. They collabo ... Show more

. 1h 1min

What Grit Really Teaches Us About Happiness with Professor Angela Duckworth

We’re often told that the secret to success is grit - more discipline, more perseverance, more individual effort. And grit does matter. But what if it’s only half the story?In today’s world, we’ve become experts at tracking achievement, yet novices at nurturing belonging - and th ... Show more

. 56min 5sec