134 episodes

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.

A Bit of Optimism iHeartPodcasts

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 2 Ratings

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.

    The War On The Young with professor Scott Galloway

    The War On The Young with professor Scott Galloway

    Building wealth is an unequal pursuit. Scott Galloway believes no one is getting more screwed financially than young people.

    Scott argues what the U.S. is doing to the economic future of its youth is nothing less than a war on the young. The massive transfer of wealth from young to old is a topic he explores in his new book The Algebra of Wealth. I was delighted to have Prof G back on the show to share what's been on his mind lately, and enjoyed veering far off topic to discuss love, money, and the nature of true friendship.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Scott and his work, check out:

    his book The Algebra of Wealth

    his podcasts at Prof G Media

    his TED Talk
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr 2 min
    Moral Courage with Diane Foley, mother of executed journalist James Foley

    Moral Courage with Diane Foley, mother of executed journalist James Foley

    Seven years after ISIS killed her son, Diane Foley met with one of his killers. Somehow, she was able to find the humanity in her son's murderer. 

    ISIS held journalist James Foley hostage for 2 years before publicly executing him in 2014, when they uploaded a YouTube video of James's beheading. After her son's murder, Diane Foley started The Foley Foundation, working to free American hostages held abroad, teach journalist safety, and inspire people to act with moral courage.

    I asked Diane how she found the moral courage to meet ISIS terrorist Alexanda Kotey and see him as a human being. If Diane could find the grace to connect with her son's murderer, the rest of us can find the moral courage to see the good in those with whom we so vehemently disagree.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To learn more about Diane and her work, check out:

    her book American Mother

    The Foley Foundation

     

     

     

     

     

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 31 min
    Humble Confidence with veteran and entrepreneur Blake Hall

    Humble Confidence with veteran and entrepreneur Blake Hall

    Humility stems from confidence. Confident leaders can admit when they're not the smartest person in the room.

    Blake Hall exemplifies the type of leadership we need more of in business. A former Army Ranger, Blake was awarded the Bronze Star for leading his platoon in combat during the Iraq War. Now he's the CEO and co-founder of ID.me, a digital wallet that simplifies online identity verification.

    I sat down with Blake to discuss how his combat experience informed his journey as an entrepreneur and why the smartest leaders lead with humility.This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Blake and his work, check out:

    id.me

     

     

     

     

     

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 28 min
    The Ultimate Infinite-Minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke

    The Ultimate Infinite-Minded CEO with Trek Bicycle CEO John Burke

    The jump from $250 million to $2 billion in revenue doesn't happen overnight. Over 25 years, John Burke transformed Trek Bikes into a global powerhouse — one mom-and-pop bike store at a time.The key to John's success is simple but powerful. Create value for others first, and you too shall be rewarded. 

    John and I discuss why the best way to win isn't to focus on "winning," but to focus on "play," and how the principles of The Infinite Game have guided his leadership. And he tells me why creative leadership is exactly what's missing in American government.This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To learn more about John and his work, check out:

    his book, A Bold Plan For America

    TrekBikes.com
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 25 min
    Be Necessary with war journalist Sebastian Junger

    Be Necessary with war journalist Sebastian Junger

    War reporters risk their lives to document conflict. And yet, after a career living on battlefields, Sebastian Junger's closest brush with death was surviving an aneurysm.

    Sebastian's story of his sudden internal hemorrhage and making sense of what he saw while dying is the subject of his new book In My Time of Dying. As someone who usually writes as an outside observer, it's an atypical and personal exploration of death.I was privileged to speak with Sebastian about the fragility of life and why being necessary to others is one of our highest needs of all. This...is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Sebastian and his work, check out:sebastianjunger.comhis book, In My Time of Dying
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 32 min
    Invention is Reinvention with entrepreneur Eric Ryan

    Invention is Reinvention with entrepreneur Eric Ryan

    Starting a company from scratch isn't easy. Doing it multiple times seems downright impossible.

    Eric Ryan is one of those serial entrepreneurs. Most known as the co-founder of Method soaps, he's also the founder of Olly vitamins, Welly first aid kits, Cast jewelry, and he has more ventures planned. 

    I sat down with Eric to ask him about his creative process. What follows is a conversation about serial creativity and why reinvention is the key to repeating creative success.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To learn more about Eric and his work, check out:

    methodproducts.com

     

     

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 34 min

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