Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We often comfort ourselves with the idea that things happen for a reason, or define our struggles as a test of strength. Tom Nash might ask you to reconsider.
Tom is a speaker, former DJ, and globe-trotting advocate for agency, anti-fragility, and the radical idea that your worst moment might be your greatest asset — as he argued in his TED Talk, "The Perks of Being a Pirate.” He’s also the mind behind _Last Meal with Tom Nash_ where he asks his guests what they'd eat if the world ended tomorrow, and then actually cooks it for them.
Tom shares how, at 19, a rare bacterial infection left him a quadruple amputee with a 2% chance of survival. And he'll tell you it's the best thing that ever happened to him.
This isn’t just another conversation about resilience. It’s a deep dive into agency and the difference between a life that happens to you and one you actually choose.
In this episode, we explore:
➡️ Why the story you tell yourself about your own life is the most powerful force in it
➡️ The difference between resilience and anti-fragility (and why it matters)
➡️ Tom’s framework for navigating adversity: The Artist, the Author, and the Alchemist
➡️ The counterintuitive reason why we actually need support networks
➡️ Why "everything happens for a reason" can be a trap (and the perspective that works better)
➡️ What your last meal choice reveals about what you're really searching for
➡️ Why the concept of being "self-made" is a dangerous illusion
Tom joins me to challenge a fundamental question: who is really holding the pen when it comes to your story?
This… is _A Bit of Optimism._
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Watch the new season of Tom’s show _Last Meal with Tom Nash_ and head to: lastmealwithtomnash.com
Want more Tom? Check out his website: tomnash.com
+ + +
Chapters
00:00:00 Adversity Can Be The Best Thing You Experience
00:03:45 Tom's Story: Contracting Meningococcal Disease
00:07:47 The Gift of Agency: Choosing to Amputate
00:09:00 The Anti-Victim Mindset: Rejecting Victimhood
00:16:18 The Three Characters: Artist, Author, and Alchemist
00:23:40 Learning to Walk Again: The Power of Momentum
00:26:57 The Value of Support Networks: Debt of Honor
00:13:48 Anti-Fragility: Gaining Advantages From Disability
00:41:52 The Leadership Lesson: Joel Robuchon and Leading From the Sidelines
00:47:37 The Last Meal Philosophy: What Your Food Choices Reveal
01:00:48 Stop Saying Everything Happens for a Reason
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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.
Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.
Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including _Start With Why,_ _Leaders Eat Last,_ _Together is Better,_ and _The Infinite Game._
+ + +
Website:simonsinek.com
Leaderful: simonsinek.com/leaderful
Podcast:apple.co/simonsinek
Instagram:instagram.com/simonsinek
Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/simonsinek
Twitter:twitter.com/simonsinek
Facebook:facebook.com/simonsinek
We often comfort ourselves with the idea that things happen for a reason, or define our struggles as a test of strength. Tom Nash might ask you to reconsider.
Tom is a speaker, former DJ, and globe-trotting advocate for agency, anti-fragility, and the radical idea that your worst moment might be your greatest asset — as he argued in his TED Talk, "The Perks of Being a Pirate.” He’s also the mind behind _Last Meal with Tom Nash_ where he asks his guests what they'd eat if the world ended tomorrow, and then actually cooks it for them.
Tom shares how, at 19, a rare bacterial infection left him a quadruple amputee with a 2% chance of survival. And he'll tell you it's the best thing that ever happened to him.
This isn’t just another conversation about resilience. It’s a deep dive into agency and the difference between a life that happens to you and one you actually choose.
In this episode, we explore:
➡️ Why the story you tell yourself about your own life is the most powerful force in it
➡️ The difference between resilience and anti-fragility (and why it matters)
➡️ Tom’s framework for navigating adversity: The Artist, the Author, and the Alchemist
➡️ The counterintuitive reason why we actually need support networks
➡️ Why "everything happens for a reason" can be a trap (and the perspective that works better)
➡️ What your last meal choice reveals about what you're really searching for
➡️ Why the concept of being "self-made" is a dangerous illusion
Tom joins me to challenge a fundamental question: who is really holding the pen when it comes to your story?
This… is _A Bit of Optimism._
+ + +
Watch the new season of Tom’s show _Last Meal with Tom Nash_ and head to: lastmealwithtomnash.com
Want more Tom? Check out his website: tomnash.com
+ + +
Chapters
00:00:00 Adversity Can Be The Best Thing You Experience
00:03:45 Tom's Story: Contracting Meningococcal Disease
00:07:47 The Gift of Agency: Choosing to Amputate
00:09:00 The Anti-Victim Mindset: Rejecting Victimhood
00:16:18 The Three Characters: Artist, Author, and Alchemist
00:23:40 Learning to Walk Again: The Power of Momentum
00:26:57 The Value of Support Networks: Debt of Honor
00:13:48 Anti-Fragility: Gaining Advantages From Disability
00:41:52 The Leadership Lesson: Joel Robuchon and Leading From the Sidelines
00:47:37 The Last Meal Philosophy: What Your Food Choices Reveal
01:00:48 Stop Saying Everything Happens for a Reason
+ + +
Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.
Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.
Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including _Start With Why,_ _Leaders Eat Last,_ _Together is Better,_ and _The Infinite Game._
+ + +
Website:simonsinek.com
Leaderful: simonsinek.com/leaderful
Podcast:apple.co/simonsinek
Instagram:instagram.com/simonsinek
Linkedin:linkedin.com/in/simonsinek
Twitter:twitter.com/simonsinek
Facebook:facebook.com/simonsinek
