Best Rational Optimism Podcasts (2025)

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#188 | Should You Add Music Royalties To Your Investment Strategy If You're Seeking Reliable Passive Income? 24:59

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11h ago24:59

24:59

Are you really diversified — or just following outdated portfolio models? If you've never considered music royalties as part of your investment strategy, you're not alone — but you're likely missing out. In this episode, John talks with David Vankka, President and CFO at ICM Asset Management and lead manager of the Crescendo Music Royalty Fund. The…

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The limits of logic: Should we embrace the irrational? |Iain McGilchrist, Beatrix Campbell, Simon Blackburn 43:28

2d ago43:28

43:28

Our culture prizes logic and rationality, if not above all else, as two of the most fundamental social traits. But are we missing out by overlooking the irrational? Can logic explain everything, or what is it missing? And is it possible to live (and enjoy) a life led by logic? Logic, in philosophy and beyond, seems to always to be self-evidently ri…

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Minna Patosalmi - playing the d**k card 57:01

2d ago57:01

57:01

This week Finnish leadership is… playing the d**k card. 🃏 🚨Trigger warning: parental advisory, explicit content🚨 This week we sit down with the Chairperson at Ferroplan, experienced Board Member, coach and keynote speaker Minna Patosalmi to discuss one of the most important aspects of leadership, cutting through the bulls**t, having difficult conve…

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#187 | Why Financial Advice Must Reach Underserved Communities Now 3:26

3d ago3:26

3:26

Who really gets access to good financial advice — and who’s left behind? Financial resilience shouldn't be a privilege. In this episode, we explore how underserved and underrepresented communities — from LGBTQ+ individuals to visible minorities — are often excluded from the guidance they need most. You’ll discover: Why traditional financial systems…

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#186 | 5 Ways You’re Missing Financial Empowerment in Canada’s Most Vulnerable Communities—And How To Fix It 21:43

7d ago21:43

21:43

Are you only thinking about financial literacy in terms of dollars and cents—and missing the people behind the numbers? This episode dives deep into how financial literacy and empowerment are evolving in Canada, especially for marginalized, neurodivergent, and underserved populations. John welcomes William Moores, President of CAFE (Canadian Associ…

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Consciousness Begins in the Body | Antonio Damasio 30:56

8d ago30:56

30:56

We tend to believe consciousness is purely mental. And since Descartes' "I think therefore I am", we've privileged the mind as the centrepiece of thought and consciousness. But such a view is mistaken argues award-winning neuroscientist Antonio Damasio. Feelings, long dismissed as secondary to thinking, are where consciousness begins, and are deepl…

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#185 | Why Honesty and Integrity Matter More Than Credentials in Choosing a Financial Advisor 4:28

10d ago4:28

4:28

Are you trusting your financial advisor to guide you through uncertainty — without ever questioning their integrity? In an era defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), it’s not just strategy that matters. It’s who you trust to deliver it. In this episode, we explore why honesty and integrity are non-negotiable traits in…

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The Selfish and The Selfless SPECIAL | JD Vance, Pope Francis, and the 10 Commandments 45:09

13d ago45:09

45:09

What can JD Vance's arguments with Pope Francis teach us about selfishness, altruism, and the morality of the modern world? Join the team at the IAI for four articles about egoism, self-sacrifice, and everything in between, analysing a range of subjects, including: Friedrich Nietzsche and his rivalry with former maestro Arthur Schopenhauer; the 10 …

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Ep. 155: “Prevention is Your Best Asset Strategy” – Air Quality, Facilities Maintenance and Safety with Norelle Done of Viking Pure Solutions 19:17

14d ago19:17

19:17

Norelle Done is Director of Marketing at Viking Pure Solutions where she is on a mission to elevate the way we think about health, safety, and sustainability in the spaces we live, learn, and work. Mike Petrusky asks Norelle about the importance of addressing invisible threats in facilities, such as airborne viruses and chemical residues, and how n…

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#184 | Why Working With a Financial Planning Consultant Can Transform Your Wealth Strategy 22:01

14d ago22:01

22:01

Do you really need a financial planner—or can you do it yourself and still build lasting wealth? If you’ve ever second-guessed the value of hiring a certified financial planner, this episode might change your perspective. In this deeply personal and practical conversation, consultant and speaker Doug Dvorak shares how decades of professional succes…

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Being mindful in a mindless world | Ellen Langer 22:46

16d ago22:46

22:46

The mindful body with Ellen Langer Can mindfulness be contagious? Ellen Langer's research certainly seems to suggest that's the case. As Professor of Psychology at Harvard University and the author of 'The Mindful Body', Ellen has racked up decades of experience and numerous awards during her investigations into the impact of mindful living. In thi…

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#183 | How Financial Planning Is Becoming a Profession — And Why Evidence-Based Advice Matters 6:07

17d ago6:07

6:07

Are you asking the right questions before taking financial advice? Most people assume their financial advisor is giving well-researched guidance — but is it actually backed by data, or just dressed-up sales? In this episode, we explore the major difference between selling financial products and offering evidence-based financial planning. With insig…

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The beautiful in philosophy | Babette Babich, Paul Ernest, Ankhi Mukherjee, Sarah Wilson 42:00

20d ago42:00

42:00

The good, the bad, and the beautiful What is beauty? Why are we so drawn to it? And should we be - or is it a distraction? The philosophy of aesthetics and beauty has a long and fascinating history. Over the millennia, while we mostly agree on the essential nature of this ephemeral thing, "beauty", we disagree on the reasons why it is important, on…

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#182 | 3 Signs You’re Misjudging Financial Planning Fundamentals & What It Means for Your Wealth Decisions 30:51

21d ago30:51

30:51

What if the most important wealth decision you ever make isn’t about what you invest in—but when and why? In this compelling episode, financial educator Jason Watt breaks down the myths and evidence around RRSP vs TFSA decisions, why deferring CPP to age 70 may be the smart default, and how flawed planning assumptions can destroy wealth faster than…

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A world without values | Janne Teller, Dale Turner, Robin van den Akker, Isabel Hilton 44:37

23d ago44:37

44:37

Once values such as justice and equality were agreed upon by all. Now they are identified by some as vehicles to entrench or overturn power. On the left, 'justice' as a means to sustain and impose privilege, 'truth' as an attempt to claim enduring authority. On the right, 'diversity' and 'equality' as means to undermine the status quo in favour of …

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#181 | How One Organization Is Making Financial Planning Accessible—And How You Can Help 4:47

24d ago4:47

4:47

Who gets real financial advice—and who gets left behind? In this episode of Make Better Wealth Decisions, we dive into the powerful mission behind the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning (CFFP). John De Goey shares how this volunteer-driven organization is tackling one of the biggest blind spots in financial services: the lack of access to q…

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Ep. 154: “Recognize Your Teams” – Effective Facility Management and Maintenance of the Built Environment with Shawn Morgal of The Building People 21:42

28d ago21:42

21:42

Shawn Morgal is Vice President of Facilities Management and Operations & Maintenance at The Building People where he is proudly serving multiple federal and local government agencies in support of the FM and O&M business lines. Mike Petrusky asks Shawn about his career journey and current perspectives on the state of the facility and asset manageme…

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#180 | How Carolyn Fallis Is Changing Wealth Decisions in Underserved Communities With Financial Planning 16:56

28d ago16:56

16:56

Are wealth decisions only for the wealthy? What happens when financial planning is out of reach for the communities that need it most? In this episode, we dive deep into the launch of a bold new initiative changing that reality—the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning (CFFP). Financial resilience isn't about having more—it's about knowing mor…

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The challenge to optimism | Angus Deaton 21:34

1M ago21:34

21:34

The economy is a vital part of the way we understand our lives and our politics more generally. But after years of growth, development, and progress, on the surface everything is rosy. But as Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton argues, behind the big picture many people have been left behind by the modern economy, and this is precisely because of the blind…

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#179 | Think Wealth Comes From Investing? Why Networking Might Matter More 4:30

1M ago4:30

4:30

Is investing the best way to build wealth—or is there something more powerful? This week, we unpack a different perspective: how networking—not just investing—can have the greatest long-term impact on your wealth, career, and life. Inspired by The Ripple Effect by David Tsubouchi, this episode looks at how meaningful relationships, community servic…

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#177 | How David Tsubouchi Built a Powerful Career Through Integrity-Driven Networking 28:33

1M ago28:33

28:33

Is your networking strategy helping—or quietly holding back—your wealth and purpose? In this episode, former cabinet minister and author David Tsubouchi reveals why integrity-based networking is more powerful than any LinkedIn strategy or business card blitz. Drawing from his new book The Ripple Effect, he shares how real relationships—not transact…

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Searching for the purpose of life |Babette Babich, Frank Tallis, Jonathan Webber, Sandra Laugier 45:53

1M ago45:53

45:53

The journey in search of the destination Does life have a purpose? Is that what gives life meaning? Or is it the journey that matters the most? Join our four speakers - Nietzschean philosopher Babette Babich, clinical psychologist Frank Tallis, existentialist philosopher Jonathan Webber, and linguist philosopher Sandra Laugier - as they explore the…

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#176 | What Most Investors Don’t Know About Adding Private Real Estate to Their Portfolios 4:38

1M ago4:38

4:38

Are you still thinking of real estate as only something you own physically? If so, you might be missing out on one of the most powerful—and underutilized—tools for building a better investment portfolio: private real estate. In this episode, we break down how institutions and hedge funds have been using it for decades, and how you can access it wit…

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Ep. 153: “Start Small and Start Smart” – The Power of RFID Technology in FM and Asset Management with Joe Alvarez of National Office Systems Companies 20:03

1M ago20:03

20:03

Joe Alvarez is President & CEO of National Office Systems Companies where he is passionate about helping to bridge the gap between an organization's processes and technology when considering storage and asset management systems. Mike Petrusky asks Joe about RFID technology and the ways that it offers a more efficient and accurate way to track asset…

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Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap | Babette Babich 24:19

1M ago24:19

24:19

Nietzsche, the birth of tragedy, and the technology trap with Babette Babich Babette Babich discusses Nietzsche, the importance of tragedy, and the danger of technology interfering with our judgement. Babette Babich is a world renowned Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University in New York. In this in-depth interview, she looks to Nietzsche's Bi…

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#175 | Why Private Real Estate Is a Game-Changer for Your Wealth Decisions 23:54

1M ago23:54

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Are your investments actually working for you—or just following the herd? If you’ve ever dismissed private real estate or alternative investments as “too complex” or “illiquid,” you might be leaving serious returns on the table. In this episode, Jason Jogia—CIO and co-founder of Avenue Living—shares how his firm built an $8 billion real estate port…

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Caroline Wayman - Leadership under pressure 28:44

1M ago28:44

28:44

Episode 67 Caroline Wayman – Leadership under pressure SUMMARY Caroline Wayman is an accomplished, high-profile leader who – as Chief Executive of the Financial Ombudsman Service – lead the drive to compensate bank customers caught up in the national Payment Protection Insurance (PPI) scandal. Over ten years, her team dealt with two million PPI com…

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#174 | Can You Trust Your Financial Advisor? The Hidden Danger of Disinformation in Finance 6:37

2M ago6:37

6:37

Do you really know if your financial advisor is giving you facts—or just repeating lies they believe are true? In this episode, we break down the essential difference between misinformation and disinformation, and how both are deeply embedded in the Canadian financial services industry. Drawing on a conversation with a veteran media journalist and …

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#173 | Why You’re Missing the Bigger Picture on Journalism & Disinformation—Steve Paikin Weighs In - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 27:21

2M ago27:21

27:21

Is modern journalism helping or hurting your ability to make informed decisions? Legendary Canadian broadcaster Steve Paikin joins the conversation to explore the shifting role of journalism in an era defined by disinformation, industry complacency, and political volatility. From moderating federal debates to closing out The Agenda, Steve reflects …

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The philosophy of fun | Myriam François, Freya India, James Tartaglia 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

The essential philosophy of fun Do we need to have fun or is it an unnecessary excess? Are we living in an age of fun's decline, what with the moralism and strictures of Gen Z, or is there something else going on? On this panel, our three guests - philosopher James Tartaglia, film-maker Myriam François, and writer Freya India - dive into the idea o…

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#172 | Why Most Wealth Decisions Fail Without Historical Context—And How To Fix That 4:22

2M ago4:22

4:22

Do you base your investment decisions on today’s headlines — or centuries of history? If you’re making wealth decisions without reflecting on capital market history, you could be flying blind. In this episode, we explore why understanding the past—like Japan’s 33-year market recovery and the stagflation of the 1970s—should shape how you invest duri…

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Neoliberalism: A Soviet nightmare | Abby Innes 31:25

2M ago31:25

31:25

There is an old Soviet joke, ‘Capitalism is the exploitation of man by man. Communism is its exact opposite.’ On the surface, neoliberalism, with its emphasis on free markets, competition and privatisation, is as far removed as possible from the Soviet Union. But behind the policies, could they be guided by the same false utopianism? Abby Innes, pr…

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Ep. 152: “The Data to Prove It” – Telematics, Transportation Operations and Fleet Management with Mike Duffy of The University of Virginia 20:55

2M ago20:55

20:55

Mike Duffy is Transportation Operations and Fleet Manager at The University of Virginia where he is passionate about improving UVA FM vehicles and equipment, implementing programs that steward funds while reducing environmental impacts. Mike Petrusky asks Mike to share about his career journey in fleet management, his achievements in the field, and…

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Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson – Building Rational Optimism 56:00

2M ago56:00

56:00

This month Finnish Leadership is building its rational optimism.This episode we sit down with the CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce, Finland Alexandra Pasternak-Jackson. We discuss the role of optimism in leadership, authenticity, the importance of sparring, Finnish leaders’ international appeal, the changing nature of American-Finnish busine…

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#171 | Why You Need a Resilient Portfolio Strategy To Navigate Behavioral Bias in Finance - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 26:00

2M ago26:00

26:00

Are your portfolios actually protecting clients—or just following outdated advice? Despite advancements in behavioral finance, most advisors still follow legacy strategies that ignore how real investors actually behave under stress. In this episode, Philip Toews joins us to challenge the conventional 60/40 portfolio and offer a behaviorally informe…

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The dark side of chasing rewards | Paul Bloom, Nancy Sherman, and Dan Ariely 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

Something for nothing Do rewards and incentives damage our humanity? In much of our personal and professional lives, we receive rewards for good behaviour and carrying out our responsibilities. But, evidence now suggests there are risks to this approach. Studies show rewards can damage wellbeing, fostering dependence and undermining our own sense o…

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#170 | Stop Telling Rational Lies: The Real Reason Your Wealth Isn’t Growing - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 3:48

2M ago3:48

3:48

Are your financial decisions really smart—or just emotionally comfortable? In this episode, we explore the surprising ways we deceive ourselves when it comes to money, investing, and decision-making. Inspired by a conversation with author Mark Robinson, we dive deep into the psychology behind self-sabotage in wealth-building. You’ll learn: Why over…

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#169 | Why Your Ego Is Sabotaging Your Financial Decisions Without You Realizing It - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 26:11

2M ago26:11

26:11

Are your financial decisions based on facts—or ego? In this hard-hitting conversation with Mark Robinson (a.k.a. The “Shitty Leadership Guide”), we unpack how our self-deception, optimism bias, and avoidance of uncomfortable truths undermine our ability to lead, invest, and grow wisely. Whether you're a financial advisor, business leader, or just s…

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Rethinking the Enlightenment | Historian Aviva Chomsky 26:24

2M ago26:24

26:24

The spectre of the Enlightenment What the Enlightenment a net positive or a net negative? Or is that the wrong question, and should we look at it simply as a historical period? Join Professor of History Aviva Chomsky as she dissects one of the most important periods in modern history from the lens of a critical historian. The Enlightenment was not …

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#168 | Why You Should Consider Structured Products in Your Finance Strategy to Make Smarter Wealth Decisions - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 4:59

2M ago4:59

4:59

Are you relying only on stocks and bonds to protect your portfolio? You might be missing a key piece. This episode explores why structured products are often overlooked in traditional finance—and how they can play a pivotal role in helping you make better wealth decisions. Whether you're managing risk or aiming for long-term financial stability, th…

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Was Karl Marx misunderstood? | Terry Eagleton on the forgotten ideals of Marxism 24:23

2M ago24:23

24:23

Why Marx was right Having fallen out of favour around the turn of the century, Marxism is now back in fashion, often playing the role of an alternative to the increasingly right-wing politics of the modern world. Once the guiding ideology of Korean guerillas and Hampstead screenwriters alike, Marxism is back and taking universities and intellectual…

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Ep. 151: “You Should Feel Empowered” – Holistic Facility Solutions with Chief Facilities Officers at the 2025 Annual Conference for the Virginia Chapter of APPA 28:28

2M ago28:28

28:28

Mike Petrusky hosted a Chief Facilities Officer panel discussion at the 2025 Annual Conference for the Virginia Chapter of APPA where the theme was “Holistic Facility Solutions: Balancing Operational Efficiency with Health and Wellness Priorities”. The panelists were Ken Copeland, Vice President for Business Affairs and Finance at Hampden-Sydney Co…

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#167 | Are You Missing Out on Structured Notes in Your Finance Plan? Here's What to Know - Financial Literacy, Financial Advisors & Wealth 15:14

2M ago15:14

15:14

Do you really understand structured notes—or are you missing out on one of finance’s most flexible tools? Structured notes have exploded in popularity, yet remain misunderstood by many investors. This episode breaks down how they work, why they’re so adaptable, and how they help balance risk and return in volatile markets. In this conversation with…

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The power and the pitfalls of narrative | Matthew Beaumont, Ruth Padel, and Theodore Dalrymple 42:34

2M ago42:34

42:34

Lost in stories Is life a story or a sequence of events? Our narratives enable us to make sense of the complex, often confusing, world that we live in. And yet there is a risk that rather than helping us to truly understand this world, narratives can hide reality from us, providing delusional states of mind in its place. From witch hunts to cults, …

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Dr Marcellus Baz BEM – Building relationships and making a difference 29:00

2M ago29:00

29:00

Episode 66 Dr Marcellus Baz BEM – Building relationships and making a difference SUMMARY Dr. Marcellus Baz BEM is an award-winning social entrepreneur, youth mentor, and the founder of Switch Up and the Marcellus Baz Foundation. Honoured with a British Empire Medal and an honorary doctorate from Nottingham Trent University, Baz has dedicated his li…