A Bit of Optimism Creators & Guests

Simon Sinek is an author, motivational speaker, and organisational consultant, he is also the author of five books, including Start With Why.

William Guidara is an American restaurateur based in New York City.

Karissa Bodnar is the founder and CEO of Thrive Causemetics.

Jessie Inchauspé is the Founder of the Glucose Goddess.

Brian Chesky is an Internet entrepreneur, co-founder & CEO at Airbnb.

Hasan Minhaj is an American comedian, writer, and actor. He gained prominence as a correspondent on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and later Trevor Noah. Minhaj's breakthrough came with his one-man show "Homecoming King" (2017), which won a Peabody Award for its powerful exploration of the immigrant experience in America. He further cemented his status with the Netflix series "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj," which ran from 2018 to 2020 and earned an Emmy Award.

Alexandra Hudson is an author, an award-winning journalist, and an adjunct faculty member at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She is the founder of the Civic Renaissance and the creator of the new series "Storytelling and the Human Condition" for Wondrium (formerly known as The Great Courses).

Melinda French Gates is an American philanthropist and a former multimedia product developer and manager at Microsoft.

Mel Robbins is a renowned American motivational speaker, author, and television host, celebrated for her expertise in personal development and self-help strategies. She gained widespread acclaim with her TEDx talk "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over" and her bestselling book "The 5 Second Rule," which provides practical techniques for overcoming procrastination and self-doubt. Robbins now hosts The Mel Robbins Podcast and frequently appears as a commentator on CNN. Her engaging and straightforward approach to personal empowerment has inspired millions, making her a leading voice in the self-improvement industry.

Leopoldo Lopez is the founder of Will opposition party.

Guy Raz is a radio broadcaster and the host and editorial director of three NPR programs including two of its most popular ones: TED Radio Hour and How I Built This. Raz joined NPR in 1997 as an intern for All Things Considered and has worked virtually every job in the newsroom from temporary production assistant to breaking news anchor.In 2000, at the age of 25, Raz was made NPR's Berlin bureau chief where he covered Eastern Europe and the Balkans.Guy is also an avid cyclist who commutes to work on his bike year-round. From early April to late September, you can find him at Nationals Park watching baseball.

Trevor Noah is a celebrated comedian, television host, and author best known for his role as the host of "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Noah began his career as a stand-up comedian, gaining international recognition for his sharp wit and incisive humor. He succeeded Jon Stewart as the host of "The Daily Show" in 2015, bringing his unique perspective and global sensibility to the show. Noah has received numerous accolades for his work, including two Emmy wins. In addition to his television career, he is the author of the bestselling memoir "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" (2016), which chronicles his experiences growing up during apartheid.

Michael Muthukrishna is an associate professor of economic psychology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), in England. He is an affiliate of the Developmental Economics Group at the LSE's STICERD, technical director of UBC's Database of Religious History, and CIFAR's Azrieli Global Scholar in the Boundaries, Membership and Belonging programme. His main area of interest is the application of research in cultural evolution to public policy.

Brené Brown is a researcher, lecturer, author, podcast host, and Professor of Management at McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.

Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business.

Lewis Howes is an American entrepreneur, author, and podcast host known for his work in personal development and business coaching. He is the creator and host of The School of Greatness podcast, where he interviews influential figures in business, sports, and self-improvement. A former professional athlete, Howes played arena football before an injury ended his career. He has authored bestselling books, including The School of Greatness and The Mask of Masculinity, which explore success, mindset, and emotional well-being.

Sebastian Junger is a journalist, author, and filmmaker.

Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist and non-fiction author. He was a reporter for The New York Times and is the author of two books on habits and productivity, titled The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business and Smarter Faster Better.

Jay Shetty is a British-Indian author, former monk, and motivational speaker, widely recognized for his inspiring content on mindfulness, purpose, and well-being. Shetty gained prominence through his viral social media videos and his popular podcast On Purpose, where he interviews a diverse range of guests on topics related to life and self-improvement. His book Think Like a Monk became a bestseller, further cementing his influence as a thought leader.