Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

Happiness 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 the tragic death of his 21-year-old son Ali that Mo was forced to confront the truth. Mo now dedicates his life, work, and research to figuring out how human beings can be happier, and he’s on a mission to make 1 billion people happy. He sat down with me to share what he’s learned – that happiness is both a choice and our default setting, how to trick our brains out of survival mode, and why the happiest emotions we feel are rooted in the present, not the past or future. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Mo and his work, check out: http://mogawdat.com/ @MoGawdatOfficial --------------------------- This episode is brought to you by True Classic! I really love their T-shirts, so we called them up and asked if they wanted to work together. And they said yes! Check out their clothes at: http://trueclassictees.com/ --------------------------- ⏰ Timestamps 0:35 An intro to Mo Gawdat 1:50 A deep start - opposing feelings 4:16 Ali's story 20:58 Money and happiness 25:18 Money Is just a symbol 27:08 Be aware that life comes in seasons 34:34 True Classic: An ad with authenticity 36:10 Tragedy is a nudge 39:13 Happiness is a choice 45:08 Challenge vs. privilege 53:49 How to practice happiness 55:55 Remove unhappiness 57:32 Nothing external brings you happiness 1:01:51 How to trick an unhappy brain 1:04:44 A little secret to life 1:06:38 The root of unhappiness 1:10:43 The art of doing nothing 1:13:52 Mini silent retreats 1:22:31 Mo’s happiness mission—1 billion happy + + + 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

Simon SinekhostMo Gawdatguest

Jun 24, 20251h 32mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: June 24, 2025
Duration: 1h 32m
Channel: Simon Sinek
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Happiness 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 the tragic death of his 21-year-old son Ali that Mo was forced to confront the truth. Mo now dedicates his life, work, and research to figuring out how human beings can be happier, and he’s on a mission to make 1 billion people happy. He sat down with me to share what he’s learned – that happiness is both a choice and our default setting, how to trick our brains out of survival mode, and why the happiest emotions we feel are rooted in the present, not the past or future. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Mo and his work, check out: http://mogawdat.com/ @MoGawdatOfficial --------------------------- This episode is brought to you by True Classic! I really love their T-shirts, so we called them up and asked if they wanted to work together. And they said yes! Check out their clothes at: http://trueclassictees.com/ --------------------------- ⏰ Timestamps 0:35 An intro to Mo Gawdat 1:50 A deep start - opposing feelings 4:16 Ali's story 20:58 Money and happiness 25:18 Money Is just a symbol 27:08 Be aware that life comes in seasons 34:34 True Classic: An ad with authenticity 36:10 Tragedy is a nudge 39:13 Happiness is a choice 45:08 Challenge vs. privilege 53:49 How to practice happiness 55:55 Remove unhappiness 57:32 Nothing external brings you happiness 1:01:51 How to trick an unhappy brain 1:04:44 A little secret to life 1:06:38 The root of unhappiness 1:10:43 The art of doing nothing 1:13:52 Mini silent retreats 1:22:31 Mo’s happiness mission—1 billion happy + + + 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

Simon Sinek
host
Author and speaker on leadership, host of the A Bit of Optimism podcast.
Mo Gawdat
guest
Happiness author and former Google executive (ex-Chief Business Officer at Google X), creator of the One Billion Happy mission.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Simon Sinek, featuring Simon Sinek and Mo Gawdat, Your Unhappy Brain Needs Some Assistance with happiness expert Mo Gawdat | A Bit of Optimism Podcast explores mo Gawdat’s practical roadmap to happiness by removing unhappiness daily Mo Gawdat argues happiness is our default setting and is recovered by removing sources of unhappiness rather than adding external rewards.

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