A Bit of Optimism

Simon Sinek became famous for "Start With Why" and his TED Talk on leadership, and A Bit of Optimism is where he extends those ideas through weekly conversations. The show has 210 episodes, a 4.8 rating from nearly 2,000 reviews, and a guest list that ranges from Matthew McConaughey and Mel Robbins to researchers and educators you have never heard of. That mix is intentional. Sinek is interested in what drives people to find meaning in their work, and he looks for answers in unexpected places. Episodes run 44 minutes to over an hour, and the format is pure conversation. No scripts, no segments, just Sinek and a guest exploring a topic together. The tone is warmer and more personal than his TED appearances might suggest. Some listeners note that Sinek occasionally whispers in a way that makes portions hard to hear, and he has a tendency to interrupt guests mid-thought. These are real drawbacks. But the conversations themselves frequently surface insights about purpose, motivation, and human connection that translate directly to how you lead a team. The show does not give you management tactics. It reframes how you think about why leadership matters in the first place, which for some listeners is exactly what they need.