On this podcast we will be discussing all the foundational elements of Judaism and life. We will talk about how to define God, what is the purpose of the world, who gets to decide what is good and what is bad, the five categories of relationships and many more topics covering the basics of Judaism. With in-depth but easy-to-listen-to explanations this will add meaning and vitality to every moment of your day. Join us every Thursday on the journey of building strong Jewish foundations. Listen ...
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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 themselves? I started A Bit of Optimism to explore those ideas and expand my own perspective. This podcast is a trove of honest conversations, with p ...
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Join R.A. Martinez and various guests as they discuss the convergence of the prayer and missions movement in this generation. From theological discussions to practical leadership lessons, the MAPS Global Podcast delivers engaging content for those interested in being involved in the modern missions movement in the Church today. Start listening and join the story!
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A podcast investigating human stories of struggle and triumph in the quest to explore the true nature of wellbeing and resilience and discover the secret to a resilience that lasts.
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The Business Case for Good Manners with etiquette coach William Hanson
54:44
54:44
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54:44Good manners aren’t just about being polite — they’re about making other people feel seen. William Hanson is one of the world’s leading etiquette coaches. He’s advised royalty, CEOs, and television personalities on how to communicate with clarity, confidence, and grace. But his mission goes far beyond fine dining or proper handshakes. In today’s fa…
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Live Like You Have 2 Years Left with dancer and cancer survivor Angela Trimbur
53:41
53:41
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53:41You have two years left to live. What would you do? That's a real question Angela Trimbur had to answer. In 2018, a breast cancer diagnosis forced her to get honest with herself. If Angela had only 2 years to live, what kind of life did she truly wish to live? Angela chose to start over. She sold everything she owned, moved to New York City, and be…
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163: Conversations With a Rabbi: Paul and the Law
1:11:52
1:11:52
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1:11:52In the second episode of this three-part series, Conversations with a Rabbi, R.A. Martinez and Rabbi David continue their discussion on understanding the concept of the Law. Join them as they explore the New Testament, unpack how Jesus fulfilled the Law, and consider what it means for us today—both from Gentile and Jewish perspectives. Register for…
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The Quiet Power of the Empathetic Leader with Navy SEAL turned rowing coach Gordon Schmidt
1:10:02
1:10:02
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1:10:02When morale problems affect a team, some leaders choose to make a big, rousing speech. But quite often, it’s the quiet leader who leads with empathy that sees a better emotional solution. Gordon Schmidt is a retired Navy SEAL with enough combat experience to understand that empathy is an operational advantage, not a weakness. After 20 years of mili…
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Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat
1:32:39
1:32:39
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1:32:39Happiness is a choice. But it’s not always an easy choice to make. Mo Gawdat had to face an impossible choice. Before he was a bestselling author and podcast host, Mo worked a lucrative career as Chief Business Officer at Google X. He reached the heights of business influence and amassed a fortune by 29. And yet, he was miserable. It was only after…
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This week on the podcast, R.A. Martinez welcomes his good friend, Rabbi David, for a powerful conversation about Jesus, the Bible, and faith through a Messianic Jewish lens. Together, they explore the intersection of Jewish tradition and belief in Jesus as the Messiah, offering deep insights, thoughtful dialogue, and a unique perspective you won’t …
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We All Get Cancelled One Day with Somebody Feed Phil’s Phil Rosenthal
1:08:17
1:08:17
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1:08:17🚨 Chomp Alert! 🚨 We saw your comments — loud and crunchy. Turns out not everyone wants front-row seats to mouth sounds. Who knew? Skip to 29:29 to dodge most of the chewing. We promise, after that it’s just a few graceful nibbles of Basque cheesecake. 🧀🍰😅 _____________________________________ We turned the studio into a restaurant for the day—becau…
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The Extraordinary Magic of Ordinary People with author Brad Meltzer
52:40
52:40
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52:40Magic 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…
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161: Non Negotiables: Personal Growth
1:00:00
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1:00:00Here at MAPS Global, we have built a robust culture of health in our community and missions work. One of the key facets of our culture is our Non Negotiables: Joy, Presence of God, Servant Leadership, and Personal Growth. Tune into this series as we dive into each topic and why it is Non Negotiable for MAPS Global!…
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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…
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Ask Yourself "What If?" with Milk Bar Founder Christina Tosi
47:44
47:44
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47:44What 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…
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Revisited: Love Is Not Enough with couples therapist Shawn McBride
47:49
47:49
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47:49We'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 …
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Here at MAPS Global, we have built a robust culture of health in our community and missions work. One of the key facets of our culture is our Non Negotiables: Joy, Presence of God, Servant Leadership, and Personal Growth. Tune into this series as we dive into each topic and why it is Non Negotiable for MAPS Global!…
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Revisited: The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger
45:30
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45:30We'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…
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Where Is Simon Going? with journalist Cal Fussman
50:18
50:18
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50:18Sometimes 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…
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159: Non Negotiables: Servant Leadership
1:02:30
1:02:30
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1:02:30Here at MAPS Global, we have built a robust culture of health in our community and missions work. One of the key facets of our culture is our Non Negotiables: Joy, Presence of God, Servant Leadership, and Personal Growth. Tune into this series as we dive into each topic and why it is Non Negotiable for MAPS Global!…
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The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch
34:37
34:37
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34:37Sometimes in life, we choose the wrong path. When we feel like we're living a lie, it's hard to know what to do next. That’s where Suzy Welch comes in. She’s obsessed with helping people create lives worth living. A professor at NYU’s Stern School of Business, Suzy teaches a popular class called “Becoming You,” where she takes students down a bruta…
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(PART 2) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards
39:47
39:47
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39:47*Please note: At 9:01, Simon and Cory have a discussion about suicide. What happens after we attain success and glory? Where do you go when there's nowhere left to run from yourself? In Part 2 of my conversation with Cory Richards, Cory explains why reaching the summit of Everest marked the beginning of a long, painful fall from grace. After his tu…
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Here at MAPS Global, we have built a robust culture of health in our community and missions work. One of the key facets of our culture is our Non Negotiables: Joy, Presence of God, Servant Leadership, and Personal Growth. Tune into this series as we dive into each topic and why it is Non Negotiable for MAPS Global!…
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(PART 1) The Climb Out of Pain is Taller Than Everest with National Geographic photographer Cory Richards
47:27
47:27
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47:27What happens when we reach the top? There’s only one place to go. Cory Richards has scaled the world’s highest peaks and fallen to life’s lowest lows. An acclaimed mountain climber, photographer, and filmmaker, Cory has literally reached the top of the world. He climbed Mount Everest with no supplemental oxygen, became the first American to summit …
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Find Your Allies Fast with philanthropist Melinda French Gates
38:35
38:35
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38:35Change happens to all of us whether we choose it or not. What’s the best way to go through transition, especially when it’s something we didn’t want? Melinda French Gates has seen her fair share of big transitions. A philanthropist, author, and champion for female empowerment, she spent decades building the Gates Foundation into one of the mighties…
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Who Are You, Really? with journalist Maria Shriver
41:41
41:41
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41:41We often define ourselves by what we do or who we are to other people. But at our core, who we are is often something much deeper, and sometimes wildly different, from the version that the world sees -- or projects onto you. Maria Shriver was born into the legendary Kennedy and Shriver families, arriving with a script already written for her—an ide…
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The Search for Self-Love with podcaster Lewis Howes
51:15
51:15
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51:15Self-love is never as easy as we think. Is it possible to fall in love with ourselves the way we fall for other people? Lewis Howes knows that learning to like yourself, let alone love yourself, can take decades. After surviving a traumatic childhood, Lewis spent years working on himself to try and understand what it takes for human beings to achie…
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157: 5 Ways to Hear the Voice of God
1:02:10
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1:02:10Foundational to walking out the Christian life is discerning the Father’s voice and following in obedience. Often, we have difficulty discerning God’s voice because He is not speaking about what we want to talk about or in the manner in which we want to hear him. Whether in difficult decisions, various seasons, or in the daily mundane of life, we m…
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Revisited: Why Awkward Is Awesome with psychologist Ty Tashiro
31:51
31:51
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31:51A Bit of Optimism is on hiatus this week, so we’re revisiting one of our favorite conversations! In this episode, Simon talks with psychologist Ty Tashiro about social awkwardness and why being awkward can actually be a superpower. ***** Awkwardness gets a bad rap. But being awkward is often an indicator that someone has extraordinary. Psychologist…
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Does Gender Change How We Lead? with Retired Colonel DeDe Halfhill
40:39
40:39
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40:39Is there such a thing as female leadership? Or is gender not a factor? DeDe Halfhill would say yes and no. A retired Air Force colonel, Dede spent 20 years in the military, where she advised some of the military’s most powerful leaders during the War in Iraq. She was often the only woman in the room for weeks on end. And while DeDe found the princi…
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In this episode, R.A. Martinez & Aaron Custalow talk about the upcoming 50 Hours of Worship and Prayer, happening April 10-12 across seven locations in the 10/40 Window. As worship rises, the rain falls—bringing life to dry and weary places, causing the desert to bloom. What happens when songs and prayers cover the land for 50 hours? How does worsh…
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The Myth of the Perfect Meditator with podcaster Jay Shetty
50:25
50:25
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50:25We turn to ancient philosophies to help us cope with the stress of modern life. But what if ancient wisdom could use some help from the modern world? Jay Shetty has made it his life’s work to make wisdom, peace, and purpose available to everyone. After living as a monk for 3 years, he left his monastic lifestyle with the hope of spreading what he l…
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155: Faith Under Fire: A Missionary’s Calling in Conflict
48:36
48:36
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48:36In this powerful episode, we sit down with a missionary serving at the Levant Missions Base for MAPS Global. She shares her firsthand experience of choosing to stay in a war zone to serve the local people, even as conflict erupted around them. With over a million displaced people in the region, her team worked passionately —distributing meals, hygi…
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When Your 'Flaw' Becomes Your Edge with Comedian Hasan Minhaj
44:43
44:43
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44:43To recognize your own talent takes time and self-awareness. But to find the courage to pursue it? That often requires a spark of inspiration from someone else. For Hasan Minhaj, that spark came from an unexpected trio—a teacher, a roommate, and Napster. A former correspondent on The Daily Show, Hasan’s natural gift of gab allowed him to build a wid…
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Humble Leaders Lead Better Teams with Retired Navy SEAL Jocko Willink
42:07
42:07
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42:07Most people believe the only way to lead is to become the best at something. But what if great leadership means admitting you’re not the best at anything? Jocko Willink believes the secret to his greatest achievements come down to one thing – humility. A retired Navy SEAL commander, Jocko served 20 years in the U.S. military, leading one of the mos…
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A Sweet Conversation About Dying with Death Doula Alua Arthur
45:22
45:22
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45:22Death is a word we like to avoid. We dance around the subject or use vague euphemisms to not hurt anybody. But what if being open about our deaths meant we could live happier lives? That’s where Alua Arthur comes in. Alua is one of the most prominent death doulas in the country, which means it’s her job to help people die. She offers support to her…
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The Secret Art of Micromanagement with Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky
44:06
44:06
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44:06People aren’t born great leaders. They learn to become great leaders. For Brian Chesky, the learning never stops. As the co-founder of Airbnb, he had to transition from an impassioned entrepreneur with a brilliant idea into a CEO responsible for thousands of employees. To make the hard decisions necessary for Airbnb to survive the COVID pandemic, a…
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R.A. Martinez continues our series on the “End Times” with this fourth and final episode. In this conversation, R.A. And Mimi talk about how to cultivate supernatural love and hold your heart in the face of bitterness, betrayal and hatred. Enduring in love is the final battle of the end of the age.
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You Are More Like Grammy-Winner Jacob Collier Than You Think
57:33
57:33
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57:33To create something truly original, do we build something new or break what came before? Perhaps the answer is both—simultaneously. Jacob Collier does exactly that. A brilliant songwriter and musician, he’s known for transforming his live audiences into massive three-part choirs, making music with the very people who attend his concerts. His album …
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Kids (And Employees) Know More Than You Think with Dr. Becky Kennedy
42:42
42:42
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42:42Parenting is the hardest job in the world—and it turns out, it’s also one of the best training grounds for leadership. Dr. Becky Kennedy, aka the “Millennial Parent Whisperer,” became an essential voice for caretakers by offering practical, actionable parenting advice that resonated with millions during the pandemic. As a clinical psychologist and …
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Short Term Trips! Jump into this episode with us as we discuss the whys and the hows behind short-term mission trips. Exclusive: hear a never before told testimony in this episode!
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Spite Is The Greatest Motivator with Watch Duty founder John Mills
39:02
39:02
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39:02When the wildfires struck Los Angeles, turmoil quickly consumed the city. People were desperate for clear, reliable information—unsure of evacuation routes or how to track the fires as they spread in a history-making wind storm. Then, we found Watch Duty. This intuitive app became our lifeline. The visionary behind the app is John Mills, a seasoned…
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The First Steps to Reducing Your Anxiety with author Mel Robbins
54:35
54:35
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54:35Life can feel overwhelming, especially when we're too drained to even get out of bed. So, how do we push through those days? For Mel Robbins, facing this very question turned her life around. Struggling with $800,000 in debt and at rock bottom, she became obsessed with finding practical ways to regain control. Fast-forward to today, and Mel is a be…
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The Cure for Loneliness with U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
46:39
46:39
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46:39Loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. Where do we go to feel like we belong? As the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Vivek Murthy has been a leading voice in bringing the loneliness crisis to light, stressing its devastating impact on public health. As his second term nears its end, he leaves behind a powerful reflection in his lett…
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Check out the third Episode in our series about the End Times. You’ll want to listen to episodes #148 & #149 to catch up! Listen as we continue to dive into what Jesus has to say about the signs of the approaching End of the Age.
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It’s our last episode of 2024, so I decided to invite comedian Trevor Noah on…to get as serious as possible. Most Americans know Trevor as the former host of The Daily Show, a bestselling author, and a stand-up comedian. But his brand of humor isn’t just a barrel of laughs— it’s raw, witty, thought-provoking, and often makes you see the world in a …
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Should You Work With Your Friends? with my friend Will Guidara
49:26
49:26
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49:26They say business and pleasure don’t mix. But what about business and friends? My dear friend Will Guidara is the perfect person to dive into this question because we're actively trying to get into business together. And, let's just say, it requires a lot of effort. In addition to being someone I love, Will is a renowned restaurateur, known for own…
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Imagine Darkness turning to Light...this is what’s happening across the 10/40 Window through the power of worship and prayer. We just released our MAPS Global Annual Report! In this podcast, we talk about what God has done this year, telling the impact stories from our HQ and Missions Bases. Thanks for tuning in! Read the Annual Report here: https:…
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The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger
45:30
45:30
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45:30We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to answer that question. In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives sin…
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The First Steps to Find Love with Matthew Hussey
48:48
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48:48Finding love is a journey. We might take some wrong turns along the way. Matthew Hussey helps people find love, and sometimes, redefine their relationship with love. Matthew is a dating coach who balances practical advice about the art of attraction with the importance of centering our own sense of self in our search for love. Starting as a teenage…
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Dr. Mark Hyman: To Live Longer You Need...
48:04
48:04
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48:04Close friends are the best thing for your health. Friendship, it turns out, is one of life’s best medicines. If you don’t believe me, believe Dr. Mark Hyman. Mark is one of the leading voices in the functional medicine movement, which is all about taking a holistic approach to our health for natural healing and preventing disease. The smallest chan…
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150: Understanding the Signs of the End Times
1:01:29
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1:01:29Following the previous discussion in Episode #149, R.A. Martinez & Mimi continue the conversation around Matthew 24 & 25. In these passages, we see that Jesus is neither confused nor unclear about the End Times. And guess what? He wants us to have clarity about this essential topic, too! Listen as we dive into what Jesus has to say about the signs …
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Alexis Ohanian: Why I Left Reddit and Why Greed Can Inspire Good
1:04:18
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1:04:18In 2020, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian resigned from his own company in protest. After 15 years building Reddit into a social media juggernaut, why leave? The answer is values. Alexis is the kind of entrepreneur and investor who believes that integrity and long term profits go hand in hand. It’s the reason he started his new company 776, allowin…
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What can we learn from a rural school in Kenya? with principal Carol Moraa
39:58
39:58
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39:58Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside, On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara. The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa…
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