They may have seemed an unlikely pair, but it didn’t take long for Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers star, and Arianna Huffington, co-founder and editor in chief of the Huffington Post Media Group, to develop the easy familiarity of old pals. Soon after Ms. Huffington, 64, arrived at Antonello Ristorante in Santa Ana, Calif., Mr. Bryant, 36, walked in, speaking fluent Italian to the waiters who trailed in his wake.

“Kobe’s just showing off,” Ms. Huffington said with a smile. “But the accent is good, isn’t it?”

Mr. Bryant, an 18-year veteran of the N.B.A. and winner of five league championships (as well as the M.V.P. award in 2008), leaned down to kiss Ms. Huffington, whose latest book, “Thrive,” was a No. 1 best-seller. Over the next two hours (and a salad for Ms. Huffington and pappardelle for Mr. Bryant), the pair spoke candidly about their personal hardships and triumphs, the meditation that helps recharge them and the crucial difference between what we do and who we are.

PHILIP GALANES: I didn’t think you two knew each other. How did that happen?

KOBE BRYANT: I’m known for sending out cold emails. I love learning from people who take on giants and slay them. I wanted to know how Arianna did what she did, and why.

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Kobe came to my house six months ago for tea. And the sweetest thing is that our housekeeper, who has seen lots of famous people — well, I’ve never seen her like that. There were tears.