My career is an accident. It started when I set out to rediscover my passion and reignite a spark I’d lost — and that journey led me to the work I do now.
If you know me from my books or my speaking, you know I’m fascinated by why people do what they do. What makes someone find joy and meaning in their life, or pursue something far greater than themselves?
I started A Bit of Optimism to explore those ideas and expand my own perspective. This podcast is a trove of honest conversations, with people who challenge me, teach me, or simply help me see things in a different way. Some guests are household names, and others you may be meeting for the first time. But each one of them has something to share that can help all of us grow.
So if you’re looking for a spark — some insight, inspiration, or just a reminder that good things are possible — join me on A Bit of Optimism!
Let’s grow together.
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Why Good News Is Worth the Effort with Journalist David Begnaud
#34 trending · Business
Some people see a rule and follow it. Some people see a rule and ask what it was for. David Begnaud has built a career out of finding the second kind.
For 20 years, Davi
Nov 3 57 min
The Longevity Secret Nobody Can Sell You with Gerontologist Dr. Kerry Burnight
#4 trending · Careers
If you’ve ever dabbled in looking into how to extend your life, your social media feed might be inundated with the “hottest” longevity trends: from cold plunges to VO2 ma
Oct 27 58 min
Revisited: The Power of Doing One Thing Exceptionally Well with Gymshark Founder and CEO Ben Francis
Hello from Team Simon! Brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism are back next Tuesday, October 27. Before then, we're revisiting one last favorite: the company Simon names
Oct 20 1 h 00 min
Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27.
Until then, we’re revisiting s
Oct 13 1 h 02 min
Revisited: Your Instincts Know What You Want with Happiness Expert Arthur Brooks
Team Simon here! A Bit of Optimism is on a short break, and brand-new episodes return October 27. Until then, we're revisiting a few conversations we keep coming back to.
Oct 6 55 min
Revisited: The Power of Saying "Screw It" with Rob Lowe
Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27. Until then, we're revisiting som
Sep 29 1 h 02 min
What Mentally Strong People Do on Their Worst Days with Psychotherapist Amy Morin
#40 trending · Careers
Be honest: you've taken a mental health day that made you feel worse. You stayed in bed, you avoided the thing, and by evening it was still waiting for you—with less of t
Sep 22 1 h 01 min
The Dating Advice Making Us Worse at Love with Relationship Expert Amy Chan
The internet is flooded with advice for dating in the smartphone age: know your type, trust the spark, watch for red flags, protect your peace, never settle.
It sounds li
Sep 15 50 min
Why Trying to “Sound Smart” is Losing You the Room with Strategic Story Producer Rob Willis
Have you ever sat through a presentation and felt your attention just start to…drift? Chances are, it wasn't the content. It was the delivery.
A year ago, Rob Willis was
Sep 8 47 min
Your Limits Are Learned (And They Can Be Unlearned) with Brain Coach Jim Kwik
This might sound familiar: you read a full page, get to the bottom, and realize you absorbed none of it. There's a stack of books beside your bed you fully intend to fini
Sep 1 50 min
How to Trust Yourself When Everyone Has an Opinion with Love Thy Nader's Mary Holland Nader
Maybe this sounds familiar: you finally get the opportunity you've been waiting for, and the voice in your head says, "I'm not ready, I don't belong here."
Now imagine
Aug 25 58 min
What Happens When You Bet on Yourself with Ted Lasso’s Brendan Hunt
Maybe you know the feeling: everyone around you seems to be getting ahead, and every hour you spend on something "frivolous" — the hobby, the detour, the game on a Sunday
Aug 18 1 h 01 min
How to Say the Hard Thing and Keep the Relationship | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 5
Every lasting relationship has survived at least a few hard conversations.
But most of us would still rather not have them... So we put them off and tell ourselves the
Aug 11 45 min
Why Being Right Is Costing You Trust | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 4
Everyone says they want more accountability at work… yet few of us think we're the ones who need to learn how to be more accountable.
Most of us believe we already know
Aug 4 52 min
What Is Your Team Afraid to Tell You? | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 3
Giving and receiving feedback is one of the hardest things we do at work and most of us just... avoid it.
But avoiding feedback has a cost. Everything you need to grow is
Jul 28 57 min
The Secret to Better Conversations Isn't Talking | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 2
The fastest way to improve your relationships isn't talking. It's listening.
Most of us hear what's being said. Very few of us know how to make someone feel heard.
Feel
Jul 21 48 min
The Hidden Cost of Always Saying Yes | A Bit of Optimism: Feelings at Work | PART 1
Welcome to Feelings at Work, a special series from A Bit of Optimism with Simon Sinek.
Work isn't just about deadlines, meetings, and getting things done. It's also wher
Jul 14 58 min
Why We Fall for the Wrong Person with Couples Therapist Dr. Harville Hendrix
Maybe this sounds familiar: you fall hard for someone, and over a year later you're fighting about the very things that drew you to them in the first place. And you can't
Jul 7 53 min
How to Tell If Fear Is Protecting You or Holding You Back with Extreme Athlete Nelly Attar
We tell ourselves the reason we never chase the big dream is that we're not ready, not brave enough, doomed to fail.
Nelly Attar would tell you she felt all of that too…
Jun 30 51 min
Remembering Bob Chapman: The Mentor Who Changed My Life
Sixteen years ago, an unknown CEO running a manufacturing company in the Midwest saw my TED Talk and recognized something in it. He sent me a letter and we made plans to
Jun 23 52 min
Chart trend
Position in the Careers chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#3#4AugSepOctNov
#1
all-time peak
443
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where A Bit of Optimism ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 3, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I love listening to Simon & his guests and the topics! The insights are profound to me & I strive to learn something from every conversation.
I’m struggling with the volume in the episodes. Every time I listen in the car (where I do most of my listening) I have to crank the volume about 15 notches to hear the conversation. And in the latest episode, Simon’s mic was much quieter than the guest’s mic; it was a bit disconcerting.
Can y’all please check & level the volume?
Mjschwinger · Sep 2026
It’s so different from the other podcasts out there. It’s not a summary of points and how to’s. There’s rapport, there’s a good flow between Simon and the guest. Love!
Missamychan · Sep 2026
This is a great podcast for honest and open discussions about the topics. Great guests and always something fresh and relevant.
F-4 Phorever! · Jun 2026
I watched some lectures by Simon Sinek in college, and they always stuck with me. I had no idea he had a podcast. I absolutely LOVE his interview style- i have never heard anyone do it quite like he does. He asks the most unexpected, interesting questions right out of the blue in a way that i find riveting. You can tell he is ACTUALLY fascinated with his guests, but he doesn't always agree with them either, which I ALSO find so endearing. He seems to just enjoy the interplay between himself and his guests, and its just so satisfying to hear. A+++++
mysterymach · Jun 2026
The audio level for the latest episode with Amy Chan was so low that it was incomprehensible / inaudible without cranking up the volume really high. But then a sudden loud (or even normal audio level) section can completely blow out someone’s ears. The video recording on the website doesn’t have this issue (though I didn’t listen / watch the whole thing on the web yet), so something about the podcast recording caused this problem. Please fix so it can be heard on the Podcasts app.
mrndfp · Sep 2026
I have never written a review of a podcast, let alone an individual episode. However, this particular episode was so difficult to listen to that I feel compelled to provide feedback, specifically because of the episode’s focus. Throughout, Sinek expertly demonstrated how NOT to be a good listener—talking over his guest, not allowing her to respond, and clearly listening to respond, not to understand. I would bet that if you break down this episode, you will find that he did 80% of the talking. I had to take several breaks from this episode to be able to finish it, as I found Sinek’s engagement to be so incredibly frustrating and anxiety inducing.
Listening to Respond · Jul 2026
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of A Bit of Optimism, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
