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cover art for Optimism Is Not Naive (Simon Sinek, Live at RV)

3 Things (with Ric Elias)

Optimism Is Not Naive (Simon Sinek, Live at RV)

Season 3

Today’s episode was recorded in front of a live audience at Red Ventures, where Ric and our guest Simon Sinek discussed how optimism is different from general positivity, and how an infinite mindset can unlock opportunity and happiness… even when chaos strikes.

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  • Outrun The Bear (Neil Hoyne)

    24:40
    Neil Hoyne is the Chief Strategist at Google and author of the book "Converted: The Data Driven Way To Win Customers' Hearts." In this episode, which was recorded in front of a live audience at Red Ventures, Ric and Neil discuss the future of AI, the power of storytelling, and what it means to "outrun the bear." This is 3 Things, with Neil Hoyne.
  • LIVE: Charlotte Changemakers (Brian Moynihan & Marvin Ellison)

    36:19
    In this special episode, we're sharing a conversation that was recorded in front of a live audience at the Charlotte Business Alliance's annual economic outlook event. Ric sat down with two friends who also happen to be CEOs of two of the largest companies headquartered in Charlotte - Brian Moynihan of Bank of America, and Marvin Ellison, of Lowes Home Improvement.They discussed how each CEO plans to navigate a challenging economic environment next year, why they all agree that purpose is good for business, how their own journeys inspired the ways they pay it forward, and just for fun - what their dream jobs would be if they weren't CEOs.This is 3 Things (LIVE) with Brian Moynihan and Marvin Ellison.
  • Say It Now (Walter Green)

    23:26
    Walter Green is a former CEO, a best-selling author, and a close friend to Ric for more than 30 years. But this episode focuses on the most recent chapter of Walter's life, and his work founding the "Say it Now" movement."Say It Now" inspires people to live a happier, more purposeful life by expressing more gratitude and by having "Living Tributes." The point is to honor people who have had a significant impact on us now - not at funerals, where it's too late. Ric and Walter discuss the original inspiration for Say It Now, how to practice gratitude in everyday life, and how to design your life for better outcomes. If you enjoy this conversation, we recommend checking out Walter's recent TED Talk, called "Why we should eulogize the living." As Walter says - "it’s often too late, but never too soon." This is 3 Things, with Walter Green.
  • "We Changed The World" (Hugh McColl)

    53:24
    Today's guest is one of few leaders who can say they truly changed the world - Hugh McColl. He's the visionary leader who built Bank of America into what was once the world's largest bank - a process which shaped the modern banking industry as we know it today. He's also been called "The Man Who Built Charlotte" for his undeniable role in transforming this small unknown town into one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast.In this special episode, hear what it was like to grow a business by FIFTY TIMES its original scale - and what, in his opinion, it was really all for. And of course, Hugh shares his unique perspective on helping to build a city over the course of 4 decades - from education systems, to arts and culture, and even bringing an NFL franchise to the Carolinas for the very first time.This is 3 Things, with Hugh McColl.
  • Adding To The Woodpile (Erskine Bowles)

    26:06
    Today's guest is Erskine Bowles - a visionary leader who's driven transformative change in both the public and private sectors over the course of an incredible career that's spanned more than 50 years and dozens of impactful roles.You might know him as the former White House Chief of Staff (during the Clinton Administration), OR as the former President of the University of North Carolina system (from 2005-2010). Or you might know of his notable career in investment banking and private equity - founding two successful firms and later serving as a board member for companies like Facebook, Morgan Stanley, and others.In this episode, get to know who Erskine is behind his public profile - what led him to such a wide-ranging career, how life in public service impacted his family, and how he's continuing to make a difference now. This is 3 Things, with Erskine Bowles.
  • 100 Years Young (Marshall Rauch)

    21:03
    In this episode we welcome back Marshall Rauch, one of Ric's closest friends - who just turned 100 years old. If you're a subscriber of 3 Things, you may remember Marshall as "The Jewish Santa Claus" - or the man who started a new business at 93 years old. If you haven't listened to that episode from 2018 about living a longer and happier life, you should definitely go back and listen. It's one of our most downloaded episodes of all time. In this episode, Marshall shares more about what it's been like to watch the world change over 100 years, what he's learned about love, loss, and gratitude - and how he STILL maintains his famous mindset of always planning for the future. This is 3 Things, with Marshall Rauch.
  • Coaching Commitment (Bob McKillop)

    31:57
    Today's guest is Bob McKillop - the legendary head coach of the Davidson College men's basketball team.Coach McKillop devoted more than 3 decades of his career to the Wildcats - with more than 600 wins and 10 NCAA tournament appearances. In that time, he coached both of his sons (who were standout players) and 57 students who went on to play professionally - including two-time NBA MVP Steph Curry. McKillop stepped down from the role last year, and his son Matt took over as Head Coach.In this episode, Coach McKillop discusses what loyalty means to him, how to build a winning team culture, and what separates good players from the great ones.This is 3 Things, with Coach Bob McKillop.
  • Presenting: The Drive w/ Peter Attia (pt 2)

    28:58
    Listen to Ric on the other side of the interview! Ric was recently a guest on "The Drive" with Dr. Peter Attia, where he discussed his approach to living intentionally, valuing time, prioritizing relationships, and more keys to living a rich life.This episode is a shortened version of Peter and Ric's full conversation. To hear it in full, head over to The Peter Attia Drive wherever you get podcasts, or visit https://peterattiamd.com/ for more great content about living longer, happier, and healthier.
  • Miracle on the Hudson (Captain Sully)

    43:08
    How do you say thank you to the man who saved your life? On this day 14 years ago, Flight 1549 crash-landed in the Hudson River. Captain Sully was in the pilot’s seat, and Ric Elias was in Seat 1D.In this special episode, Ric and Captain Sully reflect on their experiences of the “Hudson Miracle” from both sides, and how it’s changed both of their lives forever.More Info:As a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot and an airline pilot for 30 years, Capt. Sullenberger has always been passionate about safety, leadership, risk management, and crisis management. Given a greater voice after his historic, successful Hudson River landing in 2009, he has felt a deep obligation to use his voice for good. He most recently directed his efforts towards safety in global air travel, serving as the U.S. Ambassador and representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a United Nations Specialized Agency. But for many years, Capt. Sullenberger has been vocal about safety not just in the aviation and medical fields, but across all industries. He has testified before congressional committees many times and lent his expertise to shaping safety legislation. And he speaks in defense of democracy and American values. In 2009, with more than 20,000 hours of flight time, Capt. Sullenberger – along with his First Officer Jeff Skiles - safely guided US Airways Flight 1549 to an emergency landing in the Hudson River, in what has become known as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” In terms of total combined years of flying since they had become pilots, Capt. Sullenberger and First Officer Skiles had 75 years’ experience at that time. And in terms of total years of just airline flying experience, they had a combined 50 years, so they were an extraordinarily experienced crew.