The Optimistic American

When Meaning is More Important Than Happiness

Join Dr. Bashah and I in this series regarding the 7 steps to regain your agency.  Addictive ideologies promoted by the nightly news, political parties, candidates and social media can rob you of your ability to see the world clearly, and benefit from its opportunities.    This episode begins with Viktor Frankl’s experience in Nazi Concentration Camps and the development of his Logotherapy that is very successful in helping people deal with fears and suicidal thoughts through meaning.   We then transition to how we can unknowingly be in a victim mindset, how to break free, to motivate ourselves and find true happiness, that can only come from meaning.   To support the podcast and spread our message, forward this episode to others you think it may be helpful too.   We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism.   We post new content every week so make sure to follow, turn on notifications, and review our videos! Learn more about The Optimistic American by checking out our website! https://www.optamerican.com

How to Overcome Adversity and Generate Abundance! - Joe Polish

In this special episode of the Optimistic American, Joe Polish shares insights and transformative lessons from his upcoming book ‘What’s in it for them.’ You will learn about his journey to massive success, and how he overcame overwhelming personal and professional challenges to become one of the most successful entrepreneur, coach and networker in the world. If you’re a small business owner (or know someone close to you that is) looking to generate lasting success and abundance, this episode is for you. Joe will teach you the art of networking with meaning. Growth comes from optimism, serving others and building genius networks.   We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism. This interview reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.    We post new content every week so make sure to leave a review, follow, and like our videos! Learn more about The Optimistic American by checking out our website! https://www.optamerican.com

Learning to Talk with Those you Don’t Agree with Makes you Stronger!

Dr. Emily Bashah, a psychologist focused on trauma and related challenges, and Paul Johnson, host and founder of The Optimistic American podcast, discuss the “7 Codes” designed to help listeners/readers successfully navigate this divisive world.    Their 7 Codes: Make Space for Optimism Begin Anew and Start with Love We Not Me – We Belong to Something Bigger Strength Over Safety Real Power is Within Us –We are Not Victims Exit the Box We Build for Ourselves – Stop Labeling/Comparing Others Building a Better You   In Episode 3, Dr. Bashah and Paul discuss putting strength over safety. Strength means resilience, courage, bravery. All of us need to face our fears, at times confronting others with difficult conversations yet looking others in their eyes and humanizing. The American founders created a country that remains a work in progress, designing America to progress towards a “more perfect union.”   Dr. Bashah and Paul note that in America we share fundamental truths binding each other. And while our founders focused on individual rights and freedoms, they created a “social contract” enabling the power of the collective, to solve together seemingly intractable problems. Every one of us needs to control their individual “agency,” their individual rights and powers.   We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism.   This interview reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.   You can listen to this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts!    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0mfMCiR0Jtqs8lr4JeuYwA   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-optimistic-american/id1615223090   Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkLnBvZGJlYW4uY29tL29wdGFtZXJpY2FuL2ZlZWQueG1s   We post new content every week so make sure to subscribe, turn on notifications, and like our videos!    Learn more about The Optimistic American by checking out our website! https://www.optamerican.com

Reclaiming your Authentic Self by Letting Go of Addictive Ideologies & Negative Perspectives

This is a new series focusing on helping you reclaim your sense of "agency". Agency refers to the human capability to influence one's functioning and the course of events by one's actions. You may not be able to control your destiny but you can control your fate. There are three forms of Agency one can influence others: Individual - You bring your influence on what you can control Proxy - You bring your influence on others who have knowledge or resources Collective - You pool knowledge, skills and resources to work with others Our Theory: To own your agency, you must be able to use the neo-cortex portion of the brain where you can access rational thoughts, creativity, innovation, optimism. Without this you are doomed to serve a master other than yourself. You can lose your sense of agency through fear, despair, depression. These can be effected by others who manipulate you and your negative bias to steal your agency. The goal of those groups is to make you afraid so you will not think, you will only react. In this series we will be going over ways to get it back! We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism. This interview reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.   Watch the episode on our YouTube, The Optimistic American!

The World is Better then you Think and the US is Better Then you can Imagine! - Dr. Emily Bashah

This is a new series focusing on helping you reclaim your sense of "agency".   Agency refers to the human capability to influence one's functioning and the course of events by one's actions. You may not be able to control your destiny but you can control your fate. There are three forms of Agency one can influence others: Individual   - You bring your influence on what you can control Proxy - You bring your influence on others who have knowledge or resources Collective - You pool knowledge, skills and resources to work with others   Our Theory: To own your agency, you must be able to use the neo-cortex portion of the brain where you can access rational thoughts, creativity, innovation, optimism. Without this you are doomed to serve a master other than yourself. You can lose your sense of agency through fear, despair, depression. These can be effected by others who manipulate you and your negative bias to steal your agency. The goal of those groups is to make you afraid so you will not think, you will only react. In this series we will be going over ways to get it back!   We are The Optimistic American, and we are in the business of promoting what is going right in our country. Every day, there is tremendous progress being made in America — across technology, public policy, science and medicine, and much more — that will set current and future generations up for success. Our goal is to highlight these advancements and tilt the scale of news and information from pessimism towards optimism. This episode reflects the best themes of The Optimistic American, that our best days lie ahead.   Check out this series on our YouTube, The Optimistic American!

Defining the Free in Free Speech - Regina Revarova

Regina Revarova, a Russian émigré, journalist and podcast consultant, experienced first-hand the terror of Russian stormtroopers crashing down her doors, taking computers and planting drugs to intimidate her journalism family. Raised in a small mining town in Siberia, she learned journalism and experienced the horrors of Russian destruction of Chechnya, including the burning of innocents in a school.   She immigrated to the United States and decided to learn American journalism and our devotion to free speech. While Russia has a constitution that includes free speech rights, the difference with America’s version is that Russia never internalized its constitution and few even know its rights.   Moving to America was hard; learning English and our culture harder still. She believes that polarization in the US is here to stay and we should simply lean into the different views, respecting those differences and moving towards understanding. She uses her talents today to help individuals create effective podcast based on (1) great ideas, (2) a keen focus on listeners, (3) just launching and fixing as you proceed. Find Revarova’s work at openconversation.com.   Watch the episode on our YouTube, The Optimistic American!

How Democracy can Work for the People - Solange Whitehead

Solange Whitehead serves on the 7-member Scottsdale City Council. An “accidental politician,”she ran for office to protect the largest preserve in the country, the McDowell Mountain Preserve.Like most city elections across the country, candidates run as non-partisans. Whiteheadsupported her candidacy by knocking on thousands of Scottsdale doors. She notes that effort not money drives successful city campaigns. Knocking on doors uncovered much unity in city voters, with problems raised and solutions offered. She underscores that councilmembers serve as public servants, who need great listening skills and fewer opinions. These skills helped the diverse council pass LBGTQ anti-discrimination protections unanimously.Whitehead notes that a government that represents the community earns the community’s trust topass small and big initiatives. And she notes: “One thing cities always can do is answer thephones!” She and they do. Her city public service lessons:1. Understand that your purpose is to serve the people.2. Listen to those people.3. Act honorably, always. Whitehead optimistically notes that when you listen to residents, you understand how nice and smart and optimistic they are, something our national politicians need to learn!

Optimistic About America’s Future, Although Time to Take a Breath - Larry Summers

Larry Summers, the 71st US Secretary of the Treasury (under President Clinton) and President Emeritus and professor of economics at Harvard University, sees more than most that America’s best days are ahead. Dr. Summers predicted America’s current tussle with inflation, the highest profile person to so. He observed excess liquidity, high savings and low interest rates likely would pressure prices and he was right. Now, America must raise interest rates and print less money. For individuals concerned today he suggests we (1) take a deep breath and look around, (2) note we are in a world of abundance not shortages, and (3) recognize that while America current challenges are tough, we live in the most tolerant times ever. Americans should focus more on their strengths than weaknesses and be cautious about short term spending until this inflation phase ends, which it will. We live in a great time and country. A simple test is to ask, where do investors want to invest and where do talented people want to live? The answers are mostly America, not China or other nations. We have numerous advantages, including great universities, inventions of drugs and vaccines and clean energy tech, and cultural factors that other countries desire. Many predict America’s doom, but few countries actually use such predictions to improve – we do! Listen to and watch one of the world’s financial experts opine optimistically about America!   Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel, The Optimistic American!