The Arik Korman Show

Simon Sinek has the second most viewed TED talk of all time and is the author of the bestselling business book "Start With Why." Simon's latest book is "Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't" and he came to speak at Town Hall Seattle. Simon shares how each of us can lead a happier, more fulfilled work life.

H. Keith Melton is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC and the author of several nonfiction spy books. Keith visited Seattle to launch the SPY: The Secret World of Espionage exhibit at the Pacific Science Center. Keith talks about modern spy tools, how and where spies are used... and whether James Bond could do his job in real life.

Shane Bauer, Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd unknowingly walked across the Iranian border, were accused of espionage and thrown into solitary confinement. Their compelling memoir is "A Sliver of Light" and they speak tonight at Town Hall Seattle. Shane, Josh and Sarah describe their ordeal, dispell myths about solitary confinement in America and offer advice for international travelers.

Internationally acclaimed writer Warren Berger explains how questions play into today's rapidly-changing economy and why children should never lose their curiosity. Warren Berger's new book is "A More Beautiful Question: The Power of Inquiry to Spark Breakthrough Ideas" and he speaks at Town Hall Seattle tonight.

Dr. Svante Paabo, one of the greatest biologists of our time, says modern humans mixed with Neanderthals and other hominid species much more than previously thought. Dr. Paabo's latest book is "Neanderthal Man: In Search of Lost Genomes." Dr. Paabo talks about where we came from and where we are (hopefully) headed as a species. Fascinating.

Odysseo by Cavalia, the world's biggest touring show, is an amazing spectacle featuring 66 horses, 52 acrobats, a 125-foot big top covering the area of two football fields and 110 semi trucks. Learn more from Marc-Olivier Leprohon, the artistic and equestrian operations director. Odysseo by Cavalia runs in Seattle through March 16. Don't miss it!

Up and coming actress Gillian Williams stars in "Venus in Fur," a comedy about dominance and submission now playing at the Seattle Repertory Theater through March 9. Gillian talks about pushing boundaries, how much skin actresses should show and how portraying a strong, uninhibited character can impact your life offstage.

Mark Roth, a research scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, can induce suspended animation in mice and much larger animals. Are humans next? And can suspended animation techniques slow or stop the aging process?

Scientist Erez Aiden is the co-author of "Uncharted: Big Data as a Lens on Human Culture." Along with Jean-Baptiste Michel, he created the Ngram Viewer ( https://books.google.com/ngrams) that crunches words contained within the 30 million+ volumes of Google Books to look for social and historical trends. Yes, this is mind candy!

Ever wonder what it would be like to converse with another species? Bob Ingersoll, the hero of "Man On Wire" Director James Marsh's excellent documentary "Project Nim," spent several years with chimpanzee Nim Chimsky. The experience altered Bob's life forever.

Cutting edge music video director Joseph Kahn talks about his latest film "Detention" and the lack of movies for teens. Joseph made iconic videos such as "Toxic" by Britney Spears, "Elevation" by U2, "Without Me" by Eminem and many more.

When the Dalai Lama visited Seattle, he shared unmatched wisdom and perspective. You'll also hear from the amazing Archbishop Desmond Tutu and David Rosen, the coolest rabbi I have ever heard.

Gutsy filmmaker Ondi Timoner tackles the phenomenon of sharing all aspects of our lives in her documentary "We Live in Public," which focuses on Josh Harris, the Internet pioneer you've never heard of. How much of our life SHOULD be kept private?

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California is the best tennis tournament in country because you have incredible access to the top players in the world. I had the opportunity to interview Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Documentary Director Davis Guggenheim, best known for "An Inconvenient Truth" and "It Might Get Loud," shares his perspective on how to reform education in America. Check out WaitingForSuperman.com for more info.

Sloane Crosley is one of the hottest writers in the country. Her first book, a brilliant collection of essays and personal stories called "I Was Told There'd Be Cake," became a New York Times Bestseller and was optioned for an HBO series. Her first novel, "The Clasp," is set for release in 2015.

University of Washington Molecular Biologist John Medina, author of "Brain Rules" and "Brain Rules for Baby" is one of the most captivating people on the planet. You'll want to hear what he has to say about challenges facing the next generation in the workplace and at home. Check out http://www.brainrules.net/ for more!

Ballet goddess Maria Chapman has been a principal dancer with the Pacific Northwest Ballet since 2009 and rocks the house whenever she's onstage. She also co-founded and chairs Second Stage, which helps dancers find new careers after they retire from performing. Maria talks about a dancer's lifecycle and teaches me how to jump!

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt talks about his indie film "50/50," a secret behind success in acting and in life, and his HitRECord project ( http://www.hitrecord.org/)

Lily Verlaine is one of the most captivating people you will ever meet. Lily is a classically trained ballet dancer turned burlesque artist. She has shared a stage with such talent as Dita Von Teese, Julie Atlas Muz, Dirty Martini, and author Andrei Codresceau. Look for her work around Seattle and at http://www.lilyverlaine.com/

Acting legend Gary Oldman shares how he played lead character George Smiley in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," along with advice on how to encourage imagination in children and how I can become a better bass player.

As the Seattle Opera's world-famous "Ring" cycle continues, I thought you might appreciate a glimpse inside the life of up-and-coming young soprano Ani Maldjian. Learn how today's opera, rock and Hollywood have so much in common.

Singer/songwriter Melissa Etheridge talks about speaking up, her battle with cancer, parenting in a non-traditional household and the joys of following your dreams. Melissa is an inspiration.

Actor Matthew Lewis played Neville Longbottom in all 8 Harry Potter films, starting when he was 11 and wrapping up at age 21. Matthew talks about life as a childhood star and how he handles worldwide fame

Seattle basketball goddess Sue Bird talks about life in the WNBA, playing overseas, why she got an Israeli passport and how she stays fit both physically and mentally. Sue Birds rocks.