A Bit of Optimism

Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. Where do we go to feel like we belong?As the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy has been a leading voice in bringing the loneliness crisis to light, stressing its devastating impact on public health. As his second term nears its end, he leaves behind a powerful reflection in his letter, My Parting Prescription for America and the World.In an insightful conversation with Dr. Murthy, we delve into what it truly means to be healthy—not just physically, but emotionally and socially—and discuss why the pursuit of fame, wealth, and power often leads us further from what we really need.This…is A Bit of Optimism.To read the letter, visit this link: My Parting Prescription for America and the World To learn more about Dr. Murthy, click here: vivekmurthy.com

It’s our last episode of 2024, so I decided to invite comedian Trevor Noah on…to get as serious as possible.Most Americans know Trevor as the former host of The Daily Show, a bestselling author, and a stand-up comedian. But his brand of humor isn’t just a barrel of laughs— it’s raw, witty, thought-provoking, and often makes you see the world in a whole new way.In this conversation, we ditched the small talk (mostly) and went deep into the paradox of choice, the public's response to the murder of United HealthCare's CEO, and why the human experience might be defined by constraint. It will make you chuckle, think, and probably question everything all at once.This...is a Bit of Optimism.P.S. Come back and see us on January 7, 2025 for an all new episode. Until then, take care of yourself and each other. For more on Trevor and his work, check out:trevornoah.com 

They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But what about business and friends?My dear friend Will Guidara is the perfect person to dive into this question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for owning and operating Eleven Madison Park, once named the best restaurant in the world. He’s also the author of the brilliant book Unreasonable Hospitality and a co-producer of the FX television series The Bear. Will and I have worked together before, so I was excited to chat with him about turning friends into colleagues, the reality of friendship breakups at work, and why sometimes showing respect means we have to change the way we treat a friend.This…is A Bit of OptimismFor more on Will and his work, check out:Unreasonable HospitalityThe Art of Creating Fiercely Loyal Customers

We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to answer that question.  In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives since 1938. Some of them are still alive today and the findings are clear: lasting happiness isn’t about wealth or fame—it’s about something much deeper.Robert Waldinger, a professor and psychiatrist, has directed the study for over 20 years. His TED Talk about it went viral with nearly 50 million views, and in 2023, he wrote a book about it - The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness.I asked Robert to share what the study has revealed about happiness over the decades, how its insights have shaped his own life, and the one essential ingredient for a joyful, meaningful existence.This…is A Bit of Optimism.To learn more about Robert and his work, check out:The Harvard Study of Adult Developmentrobertwaldinger.com