Kenya's Maasai Mara is rugged, beautiful, and tough. Values are everything for the people who live in this rural countryside,

On a trip to Kenya, I had the opportunity to visit The Mara. The intelligence and grit of the young people there blew me away! I met incredibly driven young women determined to uplift their families from poverty. Carol Moraa is giving them that opportunity. She's the founding principal of Kisaruni Girls High School and Provost for Legacy College.

I wanted to ask Carol where her kids find the motivation to willingly sign up for 18-hour school days. It turns out when learning is a choice, not an obligation, it's possible to build schools where cultural values and community are at the heart of what people do.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Carol and her work, check out:

Legacy College

Kisaruni Girls High School

Peace is a process, not an outcome. It's a process that must begin with understanding the other side.

Few people on this planet have as much experience making peace as William Ury. William spent decades as a peace negotiator, resolving the world's most intractable conflicts — from avoiding nuclear catastrophe in the Cold War to mediating ethnic tensions and civil wars. Considered one of the world's pre-eminent negotiation experts, he's written several books on the subject, including the best-selling Getting To Yes. His latest book is titled Possible.

I sat down with William to discuss the possibility of peace in an increasingly conflicted world. He shares some great stories with me from his career and what he's learned about the right way to influence others.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on William and his work, check out:

his books, Possible: How We Survive (and Thrive) in an Age of Conflict

and Getting To Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In

williamury.com

Astonishment. A feeling of amazement so powerful you have to stop in wonder.

As President and CEO of the Chicago Bears, Kevin Warren's job is to astonish people with sports moments they'll never forget. A veteran executive of professional football, he's also served as COO of the Minnesota Vikings and Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.

For Kevin, helping others experience the magic of the Bears starts with finding his own astonishment. He shares with me why ambitious high-performers need to slow down and appreciate the little things if they want to become better leaders and happier human beings.

This...is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Kevin and his work, check out:

Kevin's Chicago Bears bio