A Bit of Optimism

By: iHeartPodcasts
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  • Summary

  • Hi listeners! A Bit of Optimism will be on hiatus through August 2024. We'll be back with more episodes in September!

    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.
    2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
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Episodes
  • Wealth Is Togetherness with community organizer Kennedy Odede

    Wealth Is Togetherness with community organizer Kennedy Odede
    Sep 10 2024

    The slums of Kenya are a tough place to grow up. Stealing a mango could get you killed.

    Kennedy Odede grew up in Kibera, Africa's largest urban slum. A street kid at age 10, he dreamed of factory work for 10 cents a day. But after stealing a mango out of hunger, a stranger's single act of kindness changed the course of his life.

    Today, Kennedy is the CEO and founder of Shining Hope for Communities, or SHOFCO. For 20 years, SHOFCO has empowered Kenya's poorest neighborhoods, helping over 4 million people access clean water, education, and Internet. In 2024, TIME Magazine named Kennedy one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

    Kennedy shares with me what it takes to see human goodness while surrounded by scarcity and anger, and how poverty taught him that being together is one of the greatest forms of wealth.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

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

    SHOFCO.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    37 mins
  • Landing Moonshots with Google's Innovation Chief Dr. Astro Teller

    Landing Moonshots with Google's Innovation Chief Dr. Astro Teller
    Sep 3 2024

    Before Elon Musk rebranded Twitter, X was already in use — at Google. Google X was Google's secret research lab, where Google's most imaginative ideas came to life.

    As CEO and co-founder, Astro Teller's job is to harness X's wildest, most futuristic technology to solve the world's hardest problems. The same "moonshot factory" that created Google Brain and Waymo self-driving cars is also working on carbon capture, laser-beam Internet, delivery drones, and more.

    I sat down with Astro to discuss how we build cultures of radical innovation. He shares some useful wisdom about unlearning what we know and why the counterintuitive approach is the key to landing moonshots.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

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

    X, the moonshot factory

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    46 mins
  • Creativity Is Connection with poet IN-Q

    Creativity Is Connection with poet IN-Q
    Aug 6 2024

    Business and poetry usually don't mix. But vulnerability has the power to bring teams together.

    Poet IN-Q has found an unlikely audience in business. A slam poetry veteran and accomplished songwriter, companies invite IN-Q to help strengthen their cultures. He works with teams to connect on a deeper level, using poetry to share something human. As he'll tell you, winning over crowds of skeptical businesspeople is an art.

    In this conversation, IN-Q takes me through a powerful exercise in vulnerability. He shares some deeply personal poems and walks me through writing my own, and I learn that to truly connect with someone else, you must offer something of yourself first.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To learn more about IN-Q and his work, check out:

    The Never Ending Now poetry journal

    IN-Q.com

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    38 mins
Management Career Success Economics Personal Success
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Profile Image for Shaqeel Baksh

Your worth it...

I was actively listening for the entire thing. It was captivating. A story filled with lessons and learning.

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Profile Image for Joan Johnson

Insights to millennials

I wasn’t aware of Sara Kuburic before this podcast but am so glad I listened. My children are millennials and so much of what Sara says resonates with my understanding of their struggles. Very helpful to me to increase my awareness of what questions and tools can help. Thanks !

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Great Series!

Love too many of the episodes to list. Even the episodes I did not love taught me. Great job Simon!

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Profile Image for Charles Butler

What an Amazing Episode!

I loved this episode! Simon is such an amazing conversationalist and listener! This episode shows and shares the power of listening, slowing down, and being present. I will be sharing this episode with many people! THANK YOU!

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Profile Image for Bijou

Insightful!

I very much enjoy Simon and his guests. He has a wide array of topics to discuss and I appreciate his mindfulness while interviewing. I especially loved the episode with the TSA lady and the guy who did the voice of Goofy! So much fun!

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Profile Image for Lori English Social Worker

Great Interesting Podcast .Brilliant!

I really LoveSimon as I listen to him in Ted and His Podcast is Amazing. I truly love his work is brilliant! Thank You !

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A Must In Such A Pessimistic World

I always love Simon's teachings, these podcasts are a powerful mix of individual/social improvement advices

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♡

This was delivered so wonderfully, great information and educating piece paired with a wonderful message.

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Profile Image for Romina

It will fill your heart (and brain)

This podcast fills me with hope, love, ideas and optimism. I just love Simon and his amazing guests. Thank you so much for such inspirational conversations.

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Inspiring!

Making a difference in people lives in a way that builds character and caring. Love love love it!

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