What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go.
Mar 10
Revisited: The Kennedy Family and the Search for Self with Journalist Maria Shriver
Hello from Team Simon! We’re taking a short hiatus, but A Bit of Optimism will return with brand-new episodes March 24th. In the meantime, we’re revisiting some of our favorite episodes. Episodes that many of you who listened, shared them, and told us what resonated. This week, w ... Show More
43m 48s
Mar 3
Revisited: How to Turn Stress Into Creativity With Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier
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
58m 33s
Jul 2025
What Mount Everest Taught Her About Failure, Fear, and Finding Her Voice: Alison Levine
What does it take to lead the first American women's Everest expedition, survive a near-fatal heart condition, and keep climbing into your 50s? For mountaineer, author, and speaker Alison Levine it all comes down to one thing: putting one foot in front of the other, even when you ... Show More
47m 56s
Nov 2024
The Color Of Everything: Cory Richards On Big Peaks, Being Bi-Polar, Healing From Trauma, PTSD, & Alcoholism
Cory Richards is a renowned National Geographic photographer and artist behind the iconic avalanche selfie that graced the magazine’s 125th-anniversary cover. This conversation explores the paradox of achievement and healing through Cory’s raw lens on mental health, trauma, and t ... Show More
2h 21m
Sep 2025
Why Fear Can Save Your Life: Nelly Attar on K2 and Everest
What happens when one of the Arab world’s most fearless adventurers sits down to share the risks, triumphs, and raw truths behind her record-breaking climbs? In this riveting episode of Luca’s Insight Track, Luca is joined by Nelly Attar—the first Arab woman to summit K2—whose jo ... Show More
1h 6m
Nov 2017
6 Lessons from the Youngest Woman to Summit Mount Everest From Both Sides
At just 26 years old, Mollie Hughes became the youngest woman in the world and the first English woman to summit Mount Everest from both sides. In 2017, Mollie stood on top of the world for the second time after her first summit from the south side in 2012. From this major feat, ... Show More
5m 57s