250. Mike Baker | The Optimists Way

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 ________________________________________________ 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!