In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Mike Baker, author of The Optimist’s Way: Rising With Hope Toward Purpose and Light.

Mike is a CEO, artist, musician, and father of three who’s spent decades leading with empathy in community healthcare while creating art and music that amplify hope. He’s the founder of The Optimist’s Way — a movement and a message rooted in resilience, creativity, and connection.

In this episode, you’ll learn why optimism isn’t blind positivity — it’s a daily, conscious choice rooted in presence and purpose; how slowing down helps you find meaning in the chaos; and how Mike’s creative use of AI has opened new doors for storytelling, healing, and expression.

We hope enjoy this incredible conversation with Mike Baker.

To Learn More about Mike and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/025B2Iq

Website/Socials: https://mikebakerhq.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091396103160

https://www.youtube.com/@Mike-BakerMusic

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikebaker1398/

https://tiktok.com/@mikebakerhq

https://instagram.com/infinitecanvasai

**Chapters may slightly vary depending on ad placement**

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:24  Why optimism & gratitude are important in a chaotic world

2:51  Realistic optimism vs toxic positivity (“show your work!”)

7:08  Stoic joy: Understanding what you control & your choices

10:34  Deep meaning in Mike Baker’s book

14:06  The need for the optimist’s way

16:01  AI’s role in creating art with Mike

20:52  Tired about life? Go the optimist’s way

21:46  Your attention is a form of love

25:36  Making others feel like a million bucks

30:26  Slowing down & letting your brain breathe

33:45  Being quicker to forgive & say sorry

35:40  Where to find Mike

36:24  Ironmans & Spartan Races

39:02  Slow down and find the beauty around you

40:09  Mike’s mentors & their influence

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Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast!

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In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Kim Butler, author of many books including Busting the Scarcity Mindset: Your Guide to Becoming a Prosperity Thinker.

Kim is the founder of Prosperity Thinkers, co-founder of the Prosperity Economics Movement, and the author of eleven paradigm-shifting financial books. She’s been helping families and entrepreneurs build wealth without Wall Street for over 30 years. A former financial planner who walked away from conventional practices, Kim is now a nationally recognized expert in whole life strategies, cash flow control, and building lifelong prosperity.

In this episode, you’ll learn why scarcity thinking shows up more often than you realize, how to actively retrain your mindset using the 7 Principles of Prosperity, and why gratitude—not budgeting—is the real secret to abundance.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Kim Butler.

To Learn More about Kim and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/fF6sUQ5

Website/Socials: prosperitythinkers.com/bookthinkers

https://prosperityparents.com/

https://bustingscarcitymindset.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimdhbutler/

https://www.youtube.com/user/KimButlerP4P

https://twitter.com/kimdhbutler

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:30 Learning personal finance through books and audiobooks

5:47 Kim’s first book “Leave your life insurance”

7:34 Publishing a book through Amazon

8:54 How Kim’s wisdom helps you bust the scarcity mindset

11:53 What to do about the scarcity mindset (praising & gratitude)

18:42 Gratitude is the antithesis of scarcity

22:49 The habit of scarcity

25:27 Positive affirmations to counteract the scarcity mindset

29:48 Who should read Kim’s book

34:52 Prosperity Parents: Expectations, Earning, E…

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Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast!

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Marco Pasqua, author of From Potential to Purpose: Your Guide to Authentic Connections.

Marco is an award-winning entrepreneur, accessibility consultant, and inspirational speaker. Born with cerebral palsy, he’s spent over a decade helping global brands and organizations create more inclusive environments — all while showing others how to turn life’s obstacles into fuel for growth. He’s delivered TEDx talks, advised governments, and created a framework that’s changing lives.

In this episode, you’ll learn how Marco’s CUBE Principle can help you creatively utilize your best energy to overcome challenges, how to reframe limitations into launchpads for purpose, and why authentic connection — to people, passions, and yourself — is the key to lasting success.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Marco Pasqua.

To Learn More about Marco and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/cx8355Z

Website/Socials: https://www.marcopasqua.com/

https://www.instagram.com/marcogpasqua/

https://www.facebook.com/RealMarcoPasqua

https://www.youtube.com/@MarcoPasqua

https://twitter.com/Marco_Pasqua

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:30 “Back to the Future”’s impact on Marco’s life and on how he sees life

2:48 The importance of entertainment and action

4:11 Identifying signs that you are on the right track in your life

6:42 A story Nick has never shared before about the number 42

9:08 The importance of gratitude and acknowledging serendipity

12:30 Why Marco didn’t define himself with the word “disability”

15:58 Marco’s experience using NLP to influence someone

18:56 Bradley Cooper’s “Limitless” & NLP

21:39 Creatively utilizing your best energy & connecting

25:18 Finding your tribe

28:47 Setting boundaries is as important as showing love (Parenting)

30:49 Cultivating emotional intelligence as a parent

32:58 Bringing an older version of yourself to give you wisdom

34:51 The butterfly effect and being aware of your choices

36:44 Nick’s story with a member of the BookThinkers family in Croatia

42:18 Where to find Marco’s book and work

43:56 Marco’s one message to the world

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Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Bill Zujewski, author of What’s Your Life Score: A Playbook for Designing Your Best Life.Bill is a tech executive turned founder, author, and the creator of the GoodLiife Score — a personal balanced life scorecard that helps people design lives full of purpose, health, and happiness. After decades leading high-growth companies and raising a family, he’s now dedicated to helping others measure what really matters and live more intentionally.In this episode, you’ll learn how to identify the most important areas of your life and actually track your progress, why measuring your “Zen Score” might be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed, and how designing a good life starts with one powerful habit: self-reflection.We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Bill Zujewski.To Learn More about Bill and buy his book visit: The Book: https://a.co/d/jjLu0t4Website/Socials: https://www.goodliife.com/https://www.facebook.com/goodliifeLLC/https://www.instagram.com/goodliifellc/https://twitter.com/GoodLiifeLLChttps://www.linkedin.com/company/goodliife/Chapters: 0:00 Intro

1:27 Life advice for Bill’s kids and building strong relationships

5:42 Reflecting on life and how you’d feel if it ended today

11:53 Dreaming, daily goals, and stacking small wins

14:39 Using reflection questions to plan and take action

17:22 Exploring income options while pursuing your purpose

24:48 How coaching and accountability can drive progress

30:23 What balance really means and how it evolves

33:32 Thoughts on relationships, partnerships, and family

35:43 How CEOs influenced Bill’s perspective________________________________________________Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast!

In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Ryan Leak, author of How to Work with Complicated People: Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone.

Ryan is a New York Times bestselling author, executive coach, and speaker who delivers over 100 keynote talks a year to Fortune 100 companies, pro sports teams, and world-class organizations. He’s also the author of Leveling Up and Chasing Failure, and his mission is to help people lead better, collaborate better, and live better—even when it’s complicated.

In this episode, you’ll learn why the people around you matter more than the job title on your résumé, how to improve your own emotional intelligence before expecting it from others, and practical ways to transform tension into teamwork, especially when working with difficult personalities.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Ryan Leak.

To Learn More about Ryan and buy his book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/cMUREnc

Website/Socials: https://www.ryanleak.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ryanleak

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleak/

https://www.facebook.com/theryanleak/

https://www.youtube.com/c/ryanleak

Chapters:

0:00 Intro1:26 Being seen as difficult and becoming easier to work with

6:01 Bringing self-awareness into your work dynamics

10:22 Respecting others’ pace and using assessment tools

13:39 Encouraging open disagreement and honest conversations

20:27 Preparing talks by asking what the audience needs

23:34 Starting with small public content to test bigger ideas

30:00 How the book improves understanding in relationships

32:45 Ways to reach Ryan

33:10 A personal story and summary of key ideas

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Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast!

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In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Dr. Emily Anhalt, author of Flex Your Feelings: Train Your Brain to Develop the 7 Traits of Emotional Fitness.

Dr. Emily is a clinical psychologist, executive coach, and cofounder of COA — the gym for mental health. Over the past two decades, she has worked with hundreds of leaders and high performers, conducted original research with top psychologists and entrepreneurs, and collaborated with companies like Google, Salesforce, and the NBA to promote emotional fitness at scale.

In this episode, you’ll learn why discomfort is the gateway to everything meaningful in life, how to build emotional fitness through seven powerful traits, and what it really looks like to “train your brain” for success in business, leadership, and relationships.

We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Dr. Emily Anhalt.

To Learn More about Dr. Emily and buy her book visit:

The Book: https://a.co/d/gWQWNoG

Website/Socials: https://www.dremilyanhalt.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dremilyanhalt/

https://x.com/dremilyanhalt

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dremilyanhalt/

01:26 Elmo, emotional intelligence, and how the pandemic raised awareness of mental health

03:11 Discomfort as a necessary part of growth

07:04 Cultural attitudes toward mental fitness vs. physical fitness

12:36 Why co-founder conflicts are a leading cause of startup failure

14:43 Intergenerational trauma and healing

17:34 Emotional literacy in schools and society

19:46 The 7 traits of emotionally healthy individuals

22:13 Practical examples of emotional fitness habits

24:23 Using mindfulness to handle discomfort

27:10 Curiosity as a tool for self-reflection

27:52 Self-awareness and mindfulness for emotional regulation

29:33 Building resilience through experience and philosophy

32:28 Understanding and applying empathy

33:46 What effective communication involves

35:17 The role of playfulness in emotional well-being

36:37 Emotional growth through consistent practice

40:13 Using physical practices to develop emotional strength

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast! In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Dr. Sylvia Rohde-Liebenau, author of Who’s In Charge? Lead with Real Power and Create an Impact in a Chaotic World.Dr. Sylvia is an executive coach to leaders and changemakers, she has a PhD in international relations, and is the founder of the SMART Power Method. She spent over two decades developing leaders inside major institutions like the European Investment Bank, and now helps top performers lead with more purpose, energy, and impact.In this episode, you’ll learn how to shift from outdated leadership rooted in fear and control to a new model based on authenticity and collaboration, how managing your energy — not just your time — is the key to powerful leadership, and why building a legacy you’re proud of starts long before retirement.We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Dr. Sylvia Rohde-LiebenauTo Learn More about Sylvia and Buy her book visit: The Book: https://a.co/d/3wuz8WFWebsite/Socials: https://www.smartpowermethod.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/sylvia-rohde-liebenau-phd-b51b0328/

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:30 Why Sylvia wrote the book & her view on purpose-driven leadership

4:59 Why old-school, power-based leadership no longer works

9:42 Nick on corporate friction: too many layers, slow decisions

11:12 Modern leadership: collaboration over transactions

13:02 Energy as a key to effective leadership

15:18 The 4 layers of energy: physical, emotional, mental, spiritual

20:10 Emotional energy drains & how to manage them

25:08 Using AI to enhance leadership and collaboration

28:49 Why leaders need interdisciplinary thinking

32:23 Bonus principle: systemic thinking

35:19 Legacy and leading with purpose

37:50 Final lesson: lead with love, not fear

Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!

https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/

The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)

If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!

The World’s #1 Personal Development Book Podcast! In today’s episode, we have the pleasure to interview Devin Sizemore, author of Connection Expansion: You Are One Connection Away From Massive Success in Your Life and Business.Devin is a connector, consultant, and best-selling author who has spent his career helping professionals and entrepreneurs build purpose-driven networks. With a background in launching companies from a marketing agency to a cat café, Devin brings real-world experience and a proven system for generating consistent, high-value referrals.In this episode, you’ll learn how to move beyond one-to-one networking and start building scalable and strategic connections, how to fix the most common referral mistake most people make, and how to create a follow-up system that drives massive business growth without feeling transactional.We hope you enjoy this incredible conversation with Devin Sizemore.To Learn More about Devin and buy his book visit: The Book: https://a.co/d/0I6enfmWebsite/Socials:https://devinsizemore.com/https://www.instagram.com/dpsizemorehttps://www.facebook.com/dpsizemorehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/dpsizemore/

Chapters:1:28 – Devin’s $1M loss and business journey

4:34 – One connection can change your life

7:03 – How curiosity leads to powerful relationships

8:42 – Be a super connector (and stop asking the wrong way)

12:51 – Focus on giving and building real relationships

14:48 – How to give value at networking events

16:52 – Master follow-ups with CRMs

21:52 – Devin on collaboration and co-creation

25:30 – Always be learning — put yourself in new rooms

31:02 – Devin’s most impactful book recommendations

34:02 – How to connect with Devin online

34:34 – Giving back to the world through A.C.E.S.

35:25 – Spotting valuable connections + using contact tags

38:18 – What legacy do you want to leave?

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Join the world's largest non-fiction Book community!https://www.instagram.com/bookthinkers/The purpose of this podcast is to connect you, the listener, with new books, new mentors, and new resources that will help you achieve more and live better. Each and every episode will feature one of the world's top authors so that you know each and every time you tune-in, there is something valuable to learn. If you have any recommendations for guests, please DM them to us on Instagram. (www.instagram.com/bookthinkers)If you enjoyed this show, please consider leaving a review. It takes less than 60-seconds of your time, and really makes a difference when I am trying to land new guests. For more BookThinkers content, check out our Instagram or our website. Thank you for your time!