Happier-ness with author Arthur Brooks

Team Simon here! As we take a short hiatus, A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes on March 24, 2026. Until then, we’re revisiting some of the conversations you loved and we still think about long after the microphones turned off. This week, we’re rewinding to Simo ... Show More

Scott Galloway and I don’t always see the world the same way, but our friendly debates almost always lead us back to common ground. It’s probably why we enjoy talking to each other as much as we do. If you haven’t heard my friend Scott’s name before, he’s known for being brillian ... Show More

It’s often true that the most challenging conversations are often the ones most worth having. Conversations that bring up strong feelings, different experiences, and questions without easy answers. Policing, and how we can make it better, is one of those conversations.San Leandro ... Show More

Everyone wants more happiness in their life, but most pursue it incorrectly, mistakenly believing it can be found in places like the promotion or the bank account. Instead, happiness is the by-product of pursuits less appreciated. Like the quality of your relationships with frien ... Show More

Today we welcome back Arthur Brooks to the podcast. ​​Arthur is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School. He is also a columnist at ... Show More

Happiness is one word that seems to have a million meanings. For one person it could mean health, for another it’s material success. What is the universal meaning of happiness? And how do we achieve it? Today, we have a three-part answer from an expert on happiness. Arthur Brooks ... Show More

<p>The unavoidable truth is that our skills change as we get older. We invest so much in our professional success, and then at some point, things change. But there's good news. While certain abilities and mental capacities erode with age, others get stronger. With some foresight, ... Show More

Arthur Brooks, a professor at Harvard University and the co-author of “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” joins Scott to discuss the state of happiness in the US, how to improve your own happiness, and the role religion or some other spiritual means ... Show More

Oprah Winfrey and Arthur Brooks want you to be happier - so the TV megastar and the Harvard academic teamed up to write a book setting out the steps you can take to be a little happier each day.  Over the summer, Dr Laurie Santos read Build the Life You Want, the Art and Science ... Show More

Arthur Brooks is a bestselling author, social scientist, and the President of the American Enterprise Institute. He teaches Leadership and Happiness at the Harvard School of Business. In this episode, Eric and Arthur discuss happiness as well as his book,  Love Your Enemies: How ... Show More

<p>Global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey and Harvard professor and New York Times best-selling author Arthur Brooks want you to be happier - so they teamed up to write a book outlining the steps to ‘<i>Build the Life You Want</i>.’ Enjoy this episode of <a href="ht ... Show More

Enjoy this episode of another show you might like: the Build the Life You Want Super Soul Podcast. Oprah and Arthur Brooks offer listeners a better understanding of the science behind happiness and why Arthur says, “Happiness is not a destination, happiness is a direction.” Toget ... Show More

<p>Arthur C. Brooks is a bestselling author, acclaimed public speaker and professor at the Harvard School of Business, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness. Brooks joined Hoda Kotb for a conversation on the art and science of getting happier, and how to build the ... Show More