The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

ℹ️ EPISODE INFO

Released

May 6, 2025

Duration

35m

Channel

Simon Sinek

Watch on YouTube

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📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Sometimes 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 brutal, but liberating, journey to live as their authentic selves. According to Suzy’s research, purpose is the key to unlocking the real you, but finding that purpose is often trickier than we imagine. I had a blast talking, and debating, with Suzy about what it means to craft a purpose-driven life. In this conversation, she shares with me the difference between passion and aptitude, the reason luck is overrated, and why so many people struggle to know their own values. To learn more about Suzy and her work, check out: her book, https://www.suzywelch.com/books/ and https://www.suzywelch.com/podcasts/ + + + Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game. + + + Website: http://simonsinek.com/ Live Online Classes: https://simonsinek.com/classes/ Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/ Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek Simon’s books: The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/ Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/ Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/ Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/ Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together-is-better/ + + + #SimonSinek

🎤 SPEAKERS

• Suzy Welch

  guest

  Professor at NYU Stern known for teaching courses on values and purpose and for her career in journalism and authorship, including being married to former GE CEO Jack Welch.

• Simon Sinek

  host

  Author and speaker who hosts the A Bit of Optimism podcast and is known for leadership and purpose work (e.g., “Start With Why”).

🧾 EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Simon Sinek, featuring Suzy Welch and Simon Sinek, The Cure for Nihilism with professor Suzy Welch | A Bit of Optimism Podcast explores finding purpose to combat nihilism through values, service, and community Suzy Welch describes how personal grief and a return to work led her to create NYU Stern’s “Becoming You” course, focused on intentional life design and authentic purpose.

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