Best A Bit Of Optimism Podcasts (2025)

1
We All Get Cancelled One Day with Somebody Feed Phil’s Phil Rosenthal 1:08:17

4m ago1:08:17

1:08:17

We turned the studio into a restaurant for the day—because when Phil Rosenthal’s in the house, you don’t just talk about food, you eat it! Phil—the genius behind Everybody Loves Raymond and Somebody Feed Phil—joins us for a heartfelt, hilarious meal where we dive into everything from sitcoms and food shows to gratitude, creativity, and finding joy …

1
648. The 5 Offer Structures Silently Sabotaging Your Business (And What to Do Instead) 9:30

2h ago9:30

9:30

There are seemingly endless options when it comes to your offer structure and depending on what coach or guru you listen to, they all work. After helping thousands of online fitness coaches and selling a fitness coaching company, there are certain offers structures that just plain don't work and we don't want you to spend hours and hours trying som…

1
Advocating for the Rights of Undocumented Immigrants with Cristina Jiménez Moreta 31:01

20h ago31:01

31:01

This week on The Monday Edit: JVN sat down with Cristina Jiménez Moreta to talk about her new book Dreaming of Home: How We Turn Fear Into Pride, Power, and Real Change and the work being done at United We Dream, the country’s largest youth-led immigrant organization - which Cristina co-founded. Plus our breakdown of the Tony awards and our HBOTW! …

1
Is Football Possible Anymore? 20:24

22h ago20:24

20:24

Ben recounts his 2007 startup building a database chatbot (before LLMs were cool). Matt tries their methods live with Claude. Ben foolishly uses his phone as a microphone stand.By Ben Rady and Matt Godbolt

1
Research Review: Evidence for Periodizing Strength and/or Endurance Training According to Menstrual Cycle Phases to Optimize Female Athlete Performance is Lacking 7:31

5d ago7:31

7:31

The title explains it all but we discuss where focusing on this type of specific training falls in a much larger area of performance, nutrition, training, and sleep. Article LINK: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11-xcw23uN4BgoQbUxSwrSaJ9jbxUi1DK/view?usp=sharing #complicatedsimple #resultsthatgiveback #researchreview…

1
647. Should You Share Profit Numbers With Your Team? (Yes, here’s why it’s a HUGE mistake not to) 12:31

1d ago12:31

12:31

Wrapping up our profit series, the limiting belief I hear all the time inside of IFCA from coaches is "should I share my profit numbers with my team?" Yes and there's a right way and a lot of very wrong ways to go about this. In this episode, I'll explain why you should be transparent with your team, how to cut the right costs to be more profitable…

1
This Underrated Trait Will Transform Your Life - Ep 151 19:43

2d ago19:43

19:43

You think you’re being consistent... but are you really? You’ve probably heard: “Consistency is KING.” But what does that actually mean… in real life, with your schedule, your stress, and your unique body? Most people don’t get results because they change too many things at once. They “try everything” and get nowhere. Why? Because they’re never con…

1
The Gen Z Red Wave and Protecting Your Peace Online with Matt Bernstein (aka MattXIV) 44:42

6d ago44:42

44:42

This week we’re joined by political commentator and Gen Z Icon, Matt Bernstein - the creator behind @MattXIV and A Bit Fruity Podcast. Together, Matt and JVN discuss the very real Gen Z red wave, finding your peace amidst online political discourse, make-up (yes, darling!), and much much more - plus, we find out just how many Millennial references …

1
RE-EVAL Ep. 83: 'Wish I Knew'-Nutrition 24:15

3d ago24:15

24:15

In this part of the ‘Wish I Knew’ series we discuss nutrition. This topic can get in depth so quickly and there are so many facets of it that it could go on for hours, we tried to keep it short. Nutrition can get really complex, very quickly and that makes it even harder to apply good principles to your life and to others you serve. Some of the maj…

1
The Extraordinary Magic of Ordinary People with author Brad Meltzer 52:40

7d ago52:40

52:40

Magic moments do happen in real life. If you ask Brad Meltzer, magic happens when ordinary people choose to do the extraordinary. Brad is a prolific writer and bestselling author. He’s published over 70 books in nearly every genre you can think of—thriller novels, biographies, children’s books, film and television. He’s written comic books for icon…

1
646. What If Profit Was the Most Generous Thing You Could Focus On? 7:13

4d ago7:13

7:13

Today's episode is the profit conversation you probably haven't had but need right now. I'm not going to go into all the logistics and boring facts about why profit is important. Instead, I'm going to share with you why profit is about making you and your company better for your clients, your team, and the world. I'll also talk about why business o…

1
The Patriarchy Playbook: How America’s Gendered Hierarchy Endures with Anna Malika Tubbs 35:20

8d ago35:20

35:20

This week on The Monday Edit, we have a very special guest joining in on the Monday fun: best selling author Anna Malaika Tubbs stopped by to tell us all about her new book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us and helps us hone in on real time examples of our Patriarchy is being weaponized today. Anna unpacks how the United States h…

1
Migrating a Legacy JavaScript Codebase to TypeScript - JSJ 680 1:25:42

8d ago1:25:42

1:25:42

In this episode, Dan and I (Steve) dove deep into what turned out to be a surprisingly complex, yet incredibly insightful topic: gradually migrating a massive legacy JavaScript project over to TypeScript. We're talking about nearly 1,000 JS files, 70,000+ lines of code, and years of developer history—all transitioning carefully to a typed, modern f…

1
645. The Solopreneur Trap: How To Know When It's Time To Build A Team (and What to Hire First) 20:08

8d ago20:08

20:08

On Episode 636, we had IFCA clients Justin and Amy join us to talk about data tracking, getting leads, and their client avatar. In Part 2 which we want to share with you today, we talk about hiring and scaling. You'll get a unique perspective from their answers as they own other businesses but this was the first time they went from online coach to …

1
You Can’t Outperform Your Identity - Ep 150 14:03

9d ago14:03

14:03

Most people don’t have a body problem - they have an identity problem. Getting in shape isn’t just about looking good, it’s about becoming the kind of person who earns success. In business, relationships, and life… people judge what they see. And like it or not, looking the part matters. If you’re not where you want to be with your health, energy, …

1
Why Culture Is For You with Matt Rogers 50:00

13d ago50:00

50:00

Matt Rogers, comedian, actor, writer, host, half of the duo behind Las Culturistas and multi hyphenate extraordinaire is on Getting Better this week to enter our queer millennial world on all things pop culture, pride heroes, lgbtqia+, Celine Dion, Tony Awards, Ariana Grande, Epic Universe and of course... JK Rowling. He tells us his and Bowen Yang…

1
This Is... A Bit of Optimism 1:14

10d ago1:14

1:14

My career is an accident. It started when I set out to rediscover my passion and reignite a spark I’d lost — and that journey led me to the work I do now.If you know me from my books or my speaking, you know I’m fascinated by why people do what they do. What makes someone find joy and meaning in their life, or pursue something far greater than them…

1
Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi 47:44

14d ago47:44

47:44

What if this podcast turned into a baking show? For Christina Tosi’s third visit to A Bit of Optimism, we decided to find out. So we headed to Milk Bar to make compost cookies from things in my own pantry and my favorite beer bread from scratch! Christina’s not just my best friend—she’s the founder of Milk Bar, host of Bake Squad on Netflix, a cook…

1
644. The 50K and 250K Sticking Points: Here Is How You Break Past Them! 12:29

11d ago12:29

12:29

If you feel like all you do is work inside the business, deliver your coaching, and have no additional time to work ON the business, this reality is keeping you stuck. I know because it kept me stuck for years even working 70 hour weeks. In today's episode, I'm going to share the difference between a creator and an operator, why you need both (or t…

1
Labubu Supremacy, Taylor’s Masters, Attacks on Safe-Haven Programs 34:50

15d ago34:50

34:50

This week on The Monday Edit: the Dry and Salty Environment of Salt Lake City, Supreme Court revoking the safe haven program, Elon’s drug dealer, the West Village Crypto Kidnapping, conspiracy theories, and propaganda we are not falling for! Not A Phase. Trans Lifeline Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and seni…

1
TypeScript, Security, and Type Juggling with Ariel Shulman & Liran Tal - JSJ 679 1:32:43

15d ago1:32:43

1:32:43

In this episode, we dove headfirst into the swirling waters of TypeScript, its real-world use cases, and where it starts to fall short—especially when it comes to security. Joining us from sunny Tel Aviv (and a slightly cooler Portland), we had the brilliant Ariel Shulman and security advocate Liran Tal bring the heat on everything from type safety…

1
643. Why AI Will Never Replace These 4 Parts of Your Coaching Business [Part 2/2] 6:49

15d ago6:49

6:49

You saved 10+ hours a week automating tasks using AI… now what ? The time you're saving shouldn't be going to Netflix but these 3 areas I'm going to cover in this Part 2 episode. We'll talk about how to build a true community, create experiences that transform, and how to create truly personalized coaching. Time Stamps: (0:28) Last Episode (1:20) A…

1
How to Force Your Body to Adapt - Ep 149 22:05

18d ago22:05

22:05

Most People Go to the Gym for the WRONG Reason… If your goal is to actually change your body… not just sweat, chase pump highs, or play with machines… you need to hear this. The gym isn’t about lifting weights. It’s about forcing your body to adapt. In this eye-opening episode, Andy Naylor breaks down why your body fights change, why muscle is so d…

1
Your Local Libraries Matter Now More Than Ever with Julie Murphy 54:30

20d ago54:30

54:30

#1 New York Times Best Selling Author Julie Murphy stops by to talk with JVN about the recent attacks on local libraries, investing in independent bookstores, why exposure to Queer voices is paramount for young readers - plus! The two go all in on their new YA book Let Them Stare. Julie Murphy is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books fo…

1
642. Stop Doing Busy Work: 4 Coaching Tasks to Automate Immediately [Part 1/2] 16:17

18d ago16:17

16:17

Creating automatons with AI has never been easier and I don't want you to get left behind in this industry if you haven't started implementing these tools in your business. I am going to share 4 big coaching tasks you're probably spending too much time on that AI can help you with and even create a better product and experience for your clients. St…

1
Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride 47:49

21d ago47:49

47:49

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with couples counselor Shawn McBride. Relationships are hard. No matter how much we like, respect, or love someone, conflict seems inevitable. But even as we fight …

1
Karen Read Retrial, The Supreme Court Deadlock, and Supporting Independent Bookstores 28:25

22d ago28:25

28:25

This week on The Monday Edit: The Let Them Stare drop, Karen Read Retrial, The Supreme Court Deadlock, eating around friends, and independent bookstores. Not A Phase. Trans Lifeline Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris New video episodes Getting Better on YouTube every W…

1
Building Agentic AI Workflows with Matthew Henage - JSJ 678 1:03:44

22d ago1:03:44

1:03:44

In this episode, we sat down with full-stack developer and AI innovator Matthew Henage, creator of WAOS.ai (Web App Operating System) and the incredible storytelling platform SpeakMagic.ai. This conversation took us deep into the world of agentic AI, low-code app building, and the future of intelligent workflows. We kicked things off with Matthew s…

1
641. Why I Spend $175k/yr On My Body: My Mental & Physical Optimization Protocol Revealed 19:34

23d ago19:34

19:34

175k may seem like an astronomical amount to spend on your health (and I kind of agree) but what is more important than fueling the very thing that's responsible for your success? Your body and your brain, especially as a fitness professional. In this episode, I'm going to go deep with my protocols and what I've done over the last 20 years but more…

1
Don’t Change Your Workout Until You Hear This - Ep 148 18:36

25d ago18:36

18:36

Are You Sabotaging Your Progress By Getting Bored Too Easily? You’ve been following a training plan for a few weeks. You’re not “feeling it” anymore. The results seem to have plateaued. So your instinct tells you: Time to switch things up. But here’s the truth: That boredom might be killing your gains. In this episode, Andy reveals the real reason …

1
Why Your Brain Craves Revenge and How to Break Free 51:00

27d ago51:00

51:00

Revenge, why do we want to get revenge so bad? And where does that urge come from? And how do we go from wanting to get revenge to being able to forgive someone or others? James Kimmel Jr., Yale lecturer and co-founder of the Yale Collaborative for Motive Studies, is on Getting Better this week to teach us just that. James gives us insight into the…

1
Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger 45:30

24d ago45:30

45:30

We're taking some time off to bring you even more episodes of A Bit of Optimism that you're going to love! In the meantime, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes, like this one with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger. We all want to live a happy life. But what does the research say about how to achieve it? For more than 86 years, researche…

1
640. Healthcare Burnout? This Unexpected Career Move Might Be Your Way Out 10:46

26d ago10:46

10:46

If your life is good on paper but internally your crumbling on the inside because the healthcare industry isn't the safe and meaningful avenue you intended, this episode is for you. We have helped many health practitioners escape the formal healthcare trap and help them build a business of their own that actually helps individuals and doesn't treat…

1
Birthright Citizenship, Trump’s Qatari 747, AMAs 2025 (Taylor’s Version) 30:21

29d ago30:21

30:21

This week on The Monday Edit: Astrological events this week, drone sightings, Birthright Citizenship, Trump’s Qatari 747. Swifties Clowning about the 2025 AMAs, and friendship trauma. Donate: Not A Phase. Trans Lifeline Follow us on Instagram @gettingbetterwithjvn Jonathan on Instagram @jvn and senior producer Chris @amomentlikechris New video epis…

1
Reinventing Web Development with Brisa: A Conversation with Aral Roca - JSJ 677 1:05:09

1M ago1:05:09

1:05:09

In this week’s episode, it’s just me — Charles Max Wood — and I’m joined by the incredibly sharp and open-source-loving Aral Roca, direct from Barcelona! Aral’s the creator of Brisa, a new full-stack web framework that flips the script on how we build modern web apps. If you thought the "another day, another framework" meme was played out... well, …

1
639. The Hormozi ‘Niches Get the B*tches’ Principle // How IFCA Client Jack Tripled His Rates & Business 9:09

30d ago9:09

9:09

If you're tired of hearing about niching down but you still aren't charging what you are worth, our hope is this episode finally wakes you up and allows you to take action on making your offer specialized to a certain group of people who need and want a unique type of problem solved. An online fitness coach offering exercise, nutrition, and mindset…

1
Bench, Squat, Deadlift? Not If They’re Wrong for You - Ep 147 21:31

1M ago21:31

21:31

You're a high-performer at work - but are you training like one in the gym? Most guys copy what their mates are doing… Squats. Bench. Deadlifts. But have you ever stopped to think about the movements you have chosen to do and WHY? But here’s the truth: Random workouts = random results. In this episode, Andy breaks down how to train smart - not just…

1
Astrology Explained: The Power of Your Chart with Astrologist Aliza Kelly 57:33

1M ago57:33

57:33

This week’s expert is Aliza Kelly, a renowned celebrity astrologer, author, columnist, and host of the podcast, “Horoscope Weekly.” JVN and Aliza go all in on Jonathan’s chart, and how astrology can truly be a self-care practice. Together, they’re diving into the profound ways engaging with astrology can become a meaningful and empowering form of s…

1
RE-EVAL Clinical Insight: The Core 6:30

1M ago6:30

6:30

In this Clinical Insight, Dr. Kyle Boland breaks down exactly what the core is and how you can utilize it to your full ability. It's a great breakdown that it is more than just your abdominal muscles.#complicatedsimple #resultsthatgiveback

1
Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman 50:18

1M ago50:18

50:18

Sometimes in life, we must stop and ask ourselves, “Where am I you going next?” Other times, it’s more fun to do a podcast takeover. No one has ever interviewed me quite like Cal Fussman. Cal has a gift – he pulls things out of you that you didn’t even know were there. A prolific Writer At Large for Esquire, Cal has interviewed legends like Muhamma…

1
638. 3 Chat GPT Hacks to Swipe Viral Fitness Content (Without Losing Your Voice or Integrity) 12:00

1M ago12:00

12:00

There are ways to copy what's working right now when it comes to content that isn't stealing… not quite. We aren't talking about straight plagiarism. That's for scumbags. We are talking about iterating on what's working and formatting it to your offer and audience using ChatGPT. In this episode, we'll go through what's been working well for our stu…

1
Attacks on the Separation of Church and State, The Lawless Supreme Court, and the Update on Public Schools 39:03

1M ago39:03

39:03

This week on The Monday Edit - we’re making public push back fun with Strict Scrutiny’s co-host Leah Litman talking all about her new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Came to Run on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. We’re also talking about why public schools are becoming the battle ground for the separation of church and s…

1
C++ and Rust: Different Tools for the Job 30:58

1M ago30:58

30:58

Matt and Ben discuss programming language debates sparked by an old talk that went viral. They explore how Matt's C++ safety tips convinced someone to switch to Rust instead. Matt stays up all night trying four different implementations to prove a point, then loses. Ben introduces the concept of "carpet bubbles" in language design. Matt lists all t…

1
4 Mindset Shifts Every Former Athlete Needs to Hear 24:10

1M ago24:10

24:10

In this episode of the Decoding Excellence Show, I’m sharing a solo Q&A I originally recorded for the Former Athlete Society. Whether you're freshly out of sport or years removed, this one cuts deep into what really matters: rebuilding discipline, identity, and structure after athletics. I break down four of the most common (and crucial) questions …

1
637. How to Handle ANY Financial Objection With 3 Simple Questions 6:07

1M ago6:07

6:07

You've done all the work to bring a potential client to the table and you are now at the part of the conversation where many inexperienced coaches fumble the bag. If you want to sit on the same side of the table as the prospect and actually help them, listen to this episode. I'll break down a way you can have a clear and honest conversation about f…

1
Building Enterprise Infrastructure with Bit & AI with Gilad Shoham - JSJ 676 58:04

1M ago58:04

58:04

In this episode, I (Steve Edwards) flew solo on the mic but had the pleasure of hosting a truly insightful conversation with Gilad Shoham, VP of Engineering at Bit.Cloud. Gilad brought the heat from Israel as we explored how Bit is revolutionizing enterprise software architecture—and how AI is being layered on top to supercharge developer productiv…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

A Bit Of Optimism Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen