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A Bit of Optimism

A Bit of Optimism

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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.

122 - The Anxious Generation with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt
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  • 122 - The Anxious Generation with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt

    Anxiety disorders affect Gen Z at astronomically higher rates than previous generations. There's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world. But the reason behind Gen Z's mental health crisis might be simpler than you'd think.

    According to social psychologist and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt, the answer lies in growing up with a combination of smartphones and social media. In his new book The Anxious Generation, he argues that Gen Z's anxiety is a symptom of being the first generation to go through puberty on Instagram and TikTok, with iPhones available to access them constantly.

    Thankfully, Jonathan believes the problem is solvable. He shares some advice he has for concerned parents and tells me how we can fix the mental health crisis affecting our kids in just a few years time.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To learn more about Jonathan's work, check out:

    anxiousgeneration.com
    jonathanhaidt.com

    And for parents, visit:

    letgrow.org


    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 26 Mar 2024
  • 121 - How to Live to 100 with Blue Zones explorer Dan Buettner

    Most of us would count ourselves lucky to live to age 80. And yet, there are places on Earth where people regularly live to 100, suffer virtually no chronic disease, and live life with a sense of purpose. 

    These "Blue Zones" are the focus of Dan Buettner's work. He's a National Geographic explorer, an author, and a documentarian. He spent years traveling and studying the Blue Zones to understand why these 5 places on Earth produce some of the happiest, and longest-lived, people in the world. 
     
    Dan and I discuss why happiness is the key to longevity, creating Blue Zones in our own lives, and how a longer life can begin with simply rearranging your kitchen.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.


    For more on Dan Buettner and his work, check out:

    his Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones

    orbluezones.com

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 19 Mar 2024
  • 120 - Going To Mars with NASA director Laurie Leshin

    As the private space industry races to colonize space for profit, where does NASA fit in to the equation?

    Laurie Leshin is just the person to answer that question. She's the Director of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the first female director in JPL's storied history. To her, NASA's future is defined by its mission — exploring the cosmos for the greater good of humankind.

    Laurie and I discuss the role of Space X and Blue Origin in the new space age and why NASA should set its sights on Mars, and flying to even deeper space beyond.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism.

    To find out more about Laurie and her work, check out:

    jpl.nasa.gov

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 12 Mar 2024
  • 119 - Four Years in Solitary Confinement with political prisoner Leopoldo Lopez

    If great leaders are those willing to suffer for their beliefs, Leopoldo Lopez is certainly a great leader.

    After he led the massive 2014 Venezuelan protests that swept the nation, the regime of Nicolás Maduro sentenced Leopoldo to over a decade of political imprisonment. He suffered four years of solitary confinement and psychological torture before he escaped. 

    Leopoldo tells me about his time in prison and how he cultivated the mental strength to endure. The story of how he smuggled himself into exile is a truly remarkable one. Most of us will never experience military prison, but what Leopoldo discovered about surviving enormous stress is something each of us can learn from. 

    This…is A Bit of Optimism.

     

    To find out more about Leopoldo and his work, check out:

    worldlibertycongress.org

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 05 Mar 2024
  • 118 - Redemption with charity founder Scott Harrison

    The thrills of pleasure-seeking don't last long before we need even more. And when the excitement isn't enough, what is?

    Scott Harrison's life as an elite nightclub promoter was an unending cycle of drinking, drugs, models, and fast cars. After ten years, his vices caught up with him, and a health scare forced him to reflect on his life.

    Scott felt decadent, wasteful, and morally bankrupt. He decided to completely reverse course. Scott spent the next 2 years in West Africa on board a nonprofit hospital ship, where he saw a level of human suffering that led him to his true calling.

    Today, solving the global water crisis is Scott's life's work, and he's built one of the most trusted nonprofits in the world to do just that. His organization charity: water has raised over $750 million, helping more than 17.4 million people access clean drinking water.

    Scott shares with me the painful road that led to his transformation and why living a life of service can be a path toward redemption.

    This...is A Bit of Optimism

     

    If you would like to help solve the global water crisis, visit:

    charitywater.org

     

    For more on Scott, check out:

    his book Thirst

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Tue, 27 Feb 2024
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