The Optimistic American

In this episode 2 of a 4 part mini-series of The Optimistic American, we explore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's involvement in it. Jordan Peterson and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's podcast on Russia and Ukraine sparked a lot of discussion, with Peterson calling out not just the Ukrainian war but also the declining morality of the West. He suggests that G7 leaders should focus on de...

In this episode of a 4 part mini-series of The Optimistic American, we explore the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the West's involvement in it. Jordan Peterson and Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard's podcast on Russia and Ukraine sparked a lot of discussion, with Peterson calling out not just the Ukrainian war but also the declining morality of the West. He suggests that G7 leaders should focus on dete...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss gun control, mass shootings in the United States, and how we can use the data to prevent mass shootings from happening in the future. Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing how mass shootings, directly and indirectly, impact local communities. According to Emily, we need to understand...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to talk about the right way to engage in politics. They explain how being obsessed with civic duties can make you a target for radicalization and impact your ability to find meaning in life. Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing how people can be involved in politics without harming their abilit...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah sit down and discuss the three C’s of every healthy relationship: communication, compromise, and compliments, and why it takes courage to be vulnerable enough to find love. There are three C's to every healthy relationship: communication, compromise, and compliments. If someone you are with can’t get any insight into wh...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah sit down with Dr. Mark Goulston, a psychiatrist, executive coach, and consultant to major organizations. He is the inventor and developer of the Surgical Empathy Process, where he uses focused empathetic listening to break through to people and free them of their internal emotional and psychological blocks. Paul and Emil...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss how cults and extremist groups suck people into addictive ideologies. They talk about the most dangerous aspects of an addictive ideology, the growth of incel culture, and ways to deprogram an addicted cult member. Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing how Ideologies and cults suck peo...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Basha to talk about the friction that exists between attachment and anti-fragililty when raising children. They discuss what it takes to raise confident kids, how to bring up anti-fragile kids, and ways to support your child's sense of agency. Paul and Emily start the conversation by describing what it takes to raise...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Basha to discuss the public sector vs private and how they contribute to economic development in the U.S. They cover how the public sector boosts economic development, ways to be successful in business, why money should not be the primary motivator for going into business, and so much more. Paul and Emily start the...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Brandon Tatum to discuss race and police relations in America. They cover some very controversial issues ranging from race relations, the reality of White privilege, police shootings, and the 1619 Project. Paul and Brandon start the conversation by discussing Brandon's early life, his relationship with God, and playing compet...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss how to master your emotions. They cover ways to improve your life through emotional mastery, the role of cognitive dissonance in our lives, and how being too analytical can rob you of simple life pleasures. Paul starts the conversation by defining emotions and how to differentiate them from feeling...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss trauma and the effects it can have on a person's life. They cover the different stages of trauma, ways psychologists treat it, and effective practices you can use to work on trauma yourself. Emily starts the conversation by defining trauma from a clinical perspective. Paul and Emily agree that you...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss cognitive biases and blindspots and how they relate to you being able to find your sense of agency. They break down common biases that affect our everyday lives and how you can use love and connection to counter people who get high from being right. Paul and Emly start the conversation by defining...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Marc Bonilla to discuss the art of negotiation and why it's such an important skill to master. They break down practical ways to improve your negotiation skills, the value of trust in negotiations, and how to protect your reputation during a negotiation. Marc and Paul start the conversation by describing the key features of a...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Dr. Emily Bashah and Paul Johnson discuss ways employees can improve the quality of life at work and get their needs met.  They break down topics like ways to ask for a raise or a promotion, the rise of the victimhood mentality, and the 5 keys to becoming a superstar employee. Emily and Paul start the conversation by describing the difference between a...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson sits down with Former NATO commander General Wesley Clark to discuss what we can do as Americans to have better conversations with one another.   They break down what the Civility Leadership Institute is all about, the role of the US in keeping world peace, and how strengthening public accountability makes democracy work. Paul and Wesley st...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson welcomes back Dr. Emily Bashah to discuss psychopathy, decision-making, and agency in the context of hierarchy. The two also discuss their book Addictive Ideologies , Stanley Milgram’s 1960s experiment and tyranny. Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah discuss psychopathy, the mistakes that are often made when trying to define it, and the tools...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson welcomes former Phoenix Mayor and past Attorney General of Arizona Terry Goddard to talk about dark money and the key role it plays in political campaigns. They discuss what dark money is all about, how it’s influencing political campaigns and the ongoing efforts to get rid of it. Paul Johnson shares his thoughts about being optimistic. It d...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson welcomes former Maricopa County County Attorney and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rick Romley to discuss his incredible story of overcoming adversity and finding meaning in life. The two also discuss Romley’s career and the key challenges he faced, as well as running for office and giving back to the community.  Rick Romley joined the Marine Cor...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah address several questions they received from people in regards to the concern about the arising recession and how to navigate your way through it, as well as the hierarchy of agency, how to navigate difficult conversations and finding meaning in life. The conversation between Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah kicks off...

In this episode of The Optimistic American, Paul Johnson is joined by Professor Michael Beckley.   They discuss his new book Danger Zone, the role of China and the threat that exists, as well as how it could affect places like Taiwan and how the U.S. should be responding to it. According to Professor Michael Beckley, there is such a different narrative about China than the one we see going on in m...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson is joined by his co-author of the upcoming book Addictive Ideologies: Dr. Emily Bashah. They talk about the key principles and differences between the Alt-Right and Politically Correct Authoritarians, as well as studies that have covered human psychology in such areas.  Paul Johnson sets the stage for the episode by discussing the fact that...

Host Paul Johnson welcomes Harvard University Professor and author Steven Pinker.  They discuss the new wave of enlightenment, what stands in the way of us being more rational, the difference between being an optimist and an optimistic, free speech, cancel culture, and more. Paul Johnson and Prof. Steven Pinker discuss the ongoing issue of American people losing faith, which often leads to losing...

In today’s episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah address those questions, as well as points around agency and authoritarianism related to leadership, cognitive behavioral therapy, and the concept of locus of control.  In today’s episode of The Optimistic American , Paul Johnson and Dr. Emily Bashah address questions around how agency and authoritarianism relate to...

In this episode of The Optimistic American , host Paul Johnson sits down with Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch to discuss what led to the conflict, the current situation, and what potential future scenarios could mean for the U.S. and the rest of the world. This episode of The Optimistic American focuses on the Ukraine war and addresses the question, what does the Ukraine war mean for the U.S.? Today’...