We all know a bit about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, but which President was drunk at his inauguration? Who was the first gay president? And what kind of parent would name their kid “Millard Fillmore”?
For this Presidents' Day, I called the brilliant Jeremy Deutsch, the king of presidential history, to drop some obscure presidential knowledge and ... Show More
Oct 13
Revisited: Why Relationships Are the Secret to a Long, Happy Life with Psychotherapist Esther Perel
Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27. Until then, we’re revisiting some of our favorite conversations, including this one with a longtime friend of Simon’s: Esther Perel. For most ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 6
Revisited: Your Instincts Know What You Want with Happiness Expert Arthur Brooks
Team Simon here! A Bit of Optimism is on a short break, and brand-new episodes return October 27. Until then, we're revisiting a few conversations we keep coming back to. This week it's Arthur Brooks, a longtime friend of Simon's and one of his favorite people to talk to. Have yo ... Show More
55m 55s
Sep 29
Revisited: The Power of Saying "Screw It" with Rob Lowe
Hello from Team Simon! We're taking a few weeks off and will be back with brand-new episodes of A Bit of Optimism on Tuesday, October 27. Until then, we're revisiting some of our favorite conversations, starting with one of the most fun we've ever had: Rob Lowe. Maybe you know th ... Show More
1h 2m
Jan 2025
156: Pranks, Blackmail, and Perverts: America’s Weirdest Presidents
Hi friends, happy Wednesday! History books put presidents on a pedestal. We think of them as these untouchable heroes. In school we learn about what made them good leaders… What their big achievements were. How they handled war. Disasters. Terrorist attacks. But what about the we ... Show More
43m 23s
Mar 2024
Abraham Lincoln's Sex Life
Abraham Lincoln is often thought of as the most loved president in America's history, but how much do we know about his personal life?Furthermore, how much do we know about his sexuality, and the potential he might have been gay?Joining Kate today are Callie Hawkins and Joan Cumm ... Show More
38m 44s
Feb 2022
BONUS | Happy Presidents’ Day! Or … not?
Students, teachers and historians reflect on what has changed — and should change — about the way we teach presidential history today. This special episode features presidential experts Barbara Perry and Julian Zelizer, “How the Word Is Passed” author Clint Smith, and the AP gove ... Show More
26m 11s
Oct 2024
Post-Presidential Careers, Part One: Happy Birthday, Jimmy!
Over here in the US, there's one dream job so exclusive that only 45 people have held it so far: President of the United States of America, not to be confused with the band bearing a similar name. In the first part of this week's two-part series, Ben, Noel and Max dive into the a ... Show More
37m 16s
Dec 2022
Finding the Man Within the Myth with Alexis Coe
On today’s episode of Here’s Where It Gets Interesting, Sharon speaks with presidential historian Alexis Coe, who talks about her goal as a historian to tell the whole story. We have a tendency to regard many of our U.S. Presidents as heroes, illuminating the ways in which they s ... Show More
39m 53s