A Bit of Optimism

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 Development

robertwaldinger.com

Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way.

Matthew Hussey helps people find love, and sometimes, redefine their relationship with love. Matthew is a dating coach who balances practical advice about the art of attraction with the importance of centering our own sense of self in our search for love. Starting as a teenager and working primarily with women, he’s helped thousands of people find romance and create relationships built on values which feel right for them. 

I sat down with Matthew to ask him everything he’s learned about love after decades as a dating coach. He shares with me the most common mistakes people make when looking for a partner, what we ought to be looking for, and why our own happiness is ultimately our own responsibility, not anyone else’s.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

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

his new book, Love Life

his YouTube channel 

matthewhussey.com

Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines.

If you don’t believe me, believe Dr. Mark Hyman. Mark is one of the leading voices in the functional medicine movement, which is all about taking a holistic approach to our health for natural healing and preventing disease. The smallest changes in our daily lifestyle habits, or what we eat and drink, or our positive social interactions can have huge impacts on our long-term health.

I sat down with Mark to talk about my most recent obsession – friendship. I was eager to get a physician’s perspective on all the ways friendship is beneficial for our health. In this conversation, we discuss the biological benefits of talking to a good friend and why you’re only as healthy as your five closest friends.

This…is A Bit of Optimism

For more on Mark Hyman and his work, check out:

The Doctor’s Farmacy podcast

Function Health

drhyman.com

In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave?

The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowing him to invest in startups that are trying to make the world a better place. And it’s the reason he resigned from Reddit after George Floyd was killed, requesting the board replace him with a Black director.

In this conversation, Alexis shares with me his thoughts on the future of entrepreneurship, the race for AGI, climate change, and the principles that guide the way he leads. It turns out, building a business with values is the best thing for long term greed.

This...is A Bit of Optimism

For more on Alexis and his work, check out:

776

alexisohanian.com

Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, 

On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara.  The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa is giving them that opportunity. She's the founding principal of Kisaruni Girls High School and Provost for Legacy College.

I wanted to ask Carol where her kids find the motivation to willingly sign up for 18-hour school days. It turns out when learning is a choice, not an obligation, it's possible to build schools where cultural values and community are at the heart of what people do.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.
 

For more on Carol and her work, check out:

Legacy College

Kisaruni Girls High School

Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side.

Few people on this planet have as much experience making peace as William Ury. William spent decades as a peace negotiator, resolving the world's most intractable conflicts — from avoiding nuclear catastrophe in the Cold War to mediating ethnic tensions and civil wars. Considered one of the world's pre-eminent negotiation experts, he's written several books on the subject, including the best-selling Getting To Yes. His latest book is titled Possible. 

I sat down with William to discuss the possibility of peace in an increasingly conflicted world. He shares some great stories with me from his career and what he's learned about the right way to influence others.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on William and his work, check out:

his books, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict 

and Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In

williamury.com

Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder. 

As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to astonish people with sports moments they'll never forget. A veteran executive of professional football, he's also served as COO of the Minnesota Vikings and Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. 

For Kevin, helping others experience the magic of the Bears starts with finding his own astonishment. He shares with me why ambitious high-performers need to slow down and appreciate the little things if they want to become better leaders and happier human beings.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Kevin and his work, check out:

Kevin's Chicago Bears bio

Leadership is deeply personal. As people change, the way they lead has to change, too.

Few leaders have navigated as much change as Joe Biden. He was elected to the Senate at 29 and will end his time as President at 82. The number of things he has witnessed and been a part of over the course of  his career is remarkable. His journey has been shaped by unlikely friendships and profound personal loss.

I had the honor to sit down with President Biden at the White House to reflect on how his experiences have influenced his approach to both life and leadership.

I chose to stay clear of politics and instead focused on the lessons that are applicable to all Americans…and indeed all people.  I hope you find it insightful and inspiring.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

Friends can help us get through life’s toughest moments. But a true friend remembers to smile about the good times. 

That’s why I wanted to revisit my conversation with the founder and CEO of Milk Bar, host of Netflix’s Bake Squad, and author of several cookbooks including Dessert Can Save the World, my dear friend Christina Tosi.

Christina is the type of friend I can trust with anything, someone I can cry with. Together we reflect on the art of asking for help and why sometimes all we need from a true friend is 8 minutes of their time.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Christina and her work, check out: 

Milk Bar

her cookbook, Dessert Can Save the World

and christinatosi.com

For more on the power of an 8-minute phone call, check out this New York Times article.

***

By the way, I wanted to share Christina's recipe for making an Ice Cream Loaf. It's magic. 

You will need:

2 cups (1 pint) of softened ice cream

1 cup of self-rising flour

1 egg

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix the melty ice cream, self-rising flour, and egg. Do not overmix.
3. Pour the batter into loaf pan.
4. Bake for 45 minutes or until toothpick clean. 

Enjoy.

Some people’s life stories are too crazy not to tell. So today, we’re revisiting one of my favorite episodes, my conversation with Molly Bloom. Her story is so riveting it's no surprise it became a star-studded Hollywood film. 

After her Olympic dreams were dashed, Molly wound up running an illegal, high-stakes poker game where hundreds of millions of dollars would change hands in a night.  

Molly made a lot of money. Celebrities, mafias, and federal informants soon took an interest in her and her game.  Eventually, she lost everything and had no one to blame but herself.

Her story became the Academy Award-nominated movie Molly’s Game, and the lessons she learned from her extraordinary journey have tremendous value for the rest of us.

This is… A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Molly and her work, check out:

twitter.com/immollybloom