Episode Description:

In this uplifting episode, Arielle and Karissa explore how Iceland’s connection to nature, social supports, and resilience boost national happiness—and how Swiss doctors are now prescribing museum visits to improve mental health. From cotton candy skies to Claude Monet, this conversation dives into how culture, community, and creativity are reshaping wellness worldwide. Plus, we round up this week’s most inspiring solutions from the Optimist Daily, from AI space discoveries to rave-ready nightclubs.

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Transcript:

Theme music

Arielle:
Hello and welcome to The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up. I’m Arielle.

Karissa:
And I’m Karissa, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.

Arielle:
So hello! We are back with another episode of our pod after a short break last week. How are you doing, Karissa?

Karissa:
Doing well! I’m really glad to be back. I’m feeling pretty optimistic today because we’ve had a lot of great solutions since we last met here on the podcast.

Arielle:
Yeah, it’s been great. But before we dive into all the good news that’s going on, I guess we’ll just head over to our “I’m an optimist, but…” segment.

So, last weekend in the Netherlands, we celebrated Koningsdag—or King’s Day—which is basically a really fun celebration where all the big cities throw citywide parties. I don’t know exactly what it’s like in the villages—probably a bit more quiet. Everyone wears orange, of course, and we’re supposed to be celebrating the King or Queen’s birthday, but really, it’s just an excuse for everyone to get hammered.

Karissa:
Sounds like it fits the times! But it sounds like a lot of fun.

Arielle:
Yeah, honestly, I did not participate this year. I was taking it very chill because my in-laws—or, my partner’s parents—got a new dog. So we went over there to hang out with the new dog.

Karissa:
Aww, so cute!

Arielle:
But when we got back into the city, we saw the aftermath—and of course, there was plastic littered everywhere. Trash in the canal. It just kind of brings the mood down a bit.

But luckily, I found this account online—one of my friends told me about it—it’s an Instagram account called Plastic Whale, I believe. They organize groups in Amsterdam to clean up after huge events like Koningsdag—anything that brings a lot of people joy, happiness, and then… later, litter. They provide boats, skippers, drinks even—and get all these volunteers out there fishing plastic from the canals and cleaning up the general surroundings. I thought that was a cool initiative that I could get involved in next year.

Karissa:
That’s really awesome. Maybe we’ll have to investigate a little further on the Optimist Daily about their work over at Plastic Whale. But yeah, unfortunately that kind of goes hand in hand with big party celebrations. You know, people have food and drink and decorations, and…

Arielle:
Mm-hmm.

Karissa:
…a lot of that is just not so sustainable. So it’s really great to see that people are trying to do something about it.

Arielle:
Yeah—good action from the community.

Karissa:
Probably makes them a lot happier.

Both:
laugh

Arielle:
Yeah, okay. That is a helpful little comment so that I can segue into my solution this week, which explores something really refreshing. It’s from an article titled Why Icelanders are getting happier every year – and what we can learn from them.

Karissa:
Hmm.

Arielle:
In a world where happiness seems to be slipping in so many places, Iceland is quietly moving in the opposite direction—and it’s pretty inspiring.

Karissa:
That’s amazing, because like you said, a lot of places around the world are feeling not so happy. So what’s going on over there that’s making Icelanders just so happy?

Arielle:
According to the 2025 World Happiness Report, Iceland is one of the few countries where happiness is not just holding steady—it’s climbing. Since 2008, they’ve had a remarkable 9.1 percent boost in reported well-being. They’ve jumped from 18th place to 3rd, and now top the global charts in social support, and rank really high in freedom and generosity.

Karissa:
Yeah, wow—that’s such a huge jump, honestly. And they’re doing it with such a small population too, right? Because I think the population in Iceland is under, like, 400,000 people.

Arielle:
Exactly! They’re definitely punching above their weight. I guess let’s just dive into what makes Icelanders so joyful—and hopefully we can pick up some tips for ourselves along the way.

Karissa:
Yes, please share.

Arielle:
First up, it seems like Iceland’s relationship with nature plays a huge role in their happiness. For a lot of Icelanders, nature isn’t just a place to visit—it’s almost like a national therapist.

Karissa:
Yeah, well, that makes a lot of sense, because I imagine having glaciers, volcanoes, hot springs, and the Northern Lights basically in your backyard could really contribute to your sense of happiness.

Arielle:
It would be so, so inspiring. Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir—she’s an Icelandic author—put it really beautifully. She said it’s easy to go from your home or work straight into national parks, rivers, lakes—these wild, open spaces. It’s built into daily life.

And Jessica Poteet, a geologist who moved there from the U.S., talked about how living among cotton candy-pink skies and snowcapped mountains still feels like a dream to her. She says she never takes it for granted.

Karissa:
That’s a gorgeous image to even think about. And it sounds like being that close to nature just shifts your whole perspective. It just reminds you to slow down and notice things.

Arielle:
Absolutely. And what’s even cooler is that workplaces are on board, too. On sunny days, a lot of employers give what’s called a “sun holiday.” Instead of staying indoors being, quote-unquote, productive, they encourage people to get outside and hike or ski or whatever.

Karissa:
OK, that is just the dream—because imagine your boss just saying, “It’s too nice to work today, so go enjoy the outside.” I love that.

Arielle:
In the Netherlands, this is actually not unheard of. We spend such long winters in gray and gloom—and everyone who listens to the podcast has heard me whining about it for so long—so it seems cruel to keep workers inside once the sun finally comes along.

For instance, my partner’s boss will often have the team do their work outside at a park if it’s possible—or at least finish the day off early if they can’t afford to give everyone a full day off. So yeah, it’s just a different philosophy—putting well-being first, not just productivity.

Along with their incredible connection to nature, Icelanders also have something else going for them: a really strong safety net. It’s part of why people there live with a lot more ease and a lot less fear and anxiety.

Karissa:
Yeah, I mean, having stability can change everything. So what does that look like in Iceland?

Arielle:
For starters, if you lose your job—like many people did during COVID—unemployment benefits were there as a real bridge until people found new work. And their parental leave is pretty amazing. Parents get 12 months of shared leave, and it doesn’t matter your gender or even if you’re married. Adoption counts too.

Karissa:
Hmm.

Arielle:
Plus, kindergarten starts at age two, making childcare affordable and accessible early on. It’s all these little supports woven into everyday life that create a culture where people don’t have to constantly live on edge.

Karissa:
Oh, that sounds like such a dream—especially being in the United States. And it definitely sounds like the kind of foundation that a lot of people dream about, because it creates less scrambling and more living.

Arielle:
Precisely. And it’s not just social support. Equality is a big piece too. Iceland has ranked number one on the Global Gender Gap Index for 15 years straight.

Karissa:
Oh wow.

Arielle:
The government is also run by women. They even elected the world’s first democratically chosen female president all the way back in 1980.

Karissa:
That is definitely huge. I mean, imagine growing up thinking that it’s totally normal to see women leading at the highest level.

Arielle:
And Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir—the same author we mentioned earlier—remembers being six years old when that first female president was elected. She said it just felt obvious, even at her age back then. And this year actually marks 50 years since Icelandic women took a historic Women’s Day Off. They literally went on strike to protest inequality in pay and politics, and the progress they made then still ripples forward today.

Karissa:
Well, all of this is just such a great reminder that when you lift people up equally, it’s not just better for individuals—it stabilizes everything: the economy, society, and even the environment.

Arielle:
And speaking of balancing things—tourism has been both a blessing and a challenge for Iceland.

Karissa:
Yeah, there’s kind of a crazy number of tourists in more recent years visiting Iceland. So how are they managing that?

Arielle:
It’s definitely impacted the cost of living—especially housing in Reykjavík—but many Icelanders still see the positives. Tourism helped build better roads, improve community access, and create new economic opportunities. Like after the eruption at Fagradalsfjall volcano—sorry for my pronunciation, I’m doing my best—they quickly developed safe trails to handle visitors, and the completed Ring Road now connects even the most remote parts of the country.

Karissa:
Well, it sounds like they’re really trying to adapt in smart ways and not just letting tourism overwhelm them.

Arielle:
Yeah. And some hotels are really doing it pretty thoughtfully, too. ION Hotels, for example, has a female-majority staff and focuses on sustainability—and I visited their site earlier and the building itself looks amazing. All the architecture is so dramatic against the mountains in the background and that big blue open sky.

Karissa:
Ohh. Mm-hmm.

Arielle:
I encourage listeners to go check it out. And Hotel Ranga offers this “Live Like an Icelander” experience—taking guests to ancient farmsteads and sacred wells instead of just, you know, your typical tourist spots—which also sounds really cool.

Karissa:
Awesome. That sounds so much more meaningful than just another bus tour.

Arielle:
And maybe the biggest thing helping Icelanders stay happy is resilience. There’s this beautiful Icelandic word—innsæi. It means “the sea within,” but also “to see from the inside out.” It speaks to intuition, adaptability, and listening to that inner compass.

Karissa:
Well, I love that—especially coming from a place where the earth literally shakes under your feet sometimes.

Arielle:
Yes! Hrund Gunnsteinsdóttir said that with all the eruptions and earthquakes, you get a constant reminder that things can change fast. And it teaches you to make the best out of what you have, adapt when plans fall apart, and just stay rooted in what really matters.

Karissa:
Yeah. No, that’s such a great and powerful lesson. It’s not about having a perfect life—it’s about having the tools inside you to meet whatever comes. And we definitely try to share resilience through our work at The Optimist Daily, whether that’s how to cultivate personal resilience when life hits you hard with difficult times, or how communities build resilience together in the face of climate change or other shared struggles.

Arielle:
Yeah—other shared struggles such as huge parties.

Karissa:
Yeah (laughs)—the litter from that.

Arielle:
And Iceland is really showing us how it’s done—blending breathtaking nature, real social supports, equality, and resilience into a way of life. In a world where so much feels uncertain, Iceland shows us that happiness isn’t about avoiding change—it’s about being ready for it. I really found this article inspiring to read, and hopefully we can take a note.

Karissa:
I know—yeah. I hope we do take a note. But I’m kind of thinking maybe they should have kept this to themselves because now I want to move to Iceland! (laughs)

Arielle:
Yeah, right!

Karissa:
Thank you, Arielle, for sharing this one.

Arielle:
My pleasure. I’m curious to hear about your solution—because it also has to do with, I guess, happiness in a way, or at least mental health.

Karissa:
Yeah, it does. And I guess I’ll go ahead and pivot over here and share the title of my solution, which is In Switzerland, doctors are prescribing museum visits to boost mental health.

In Western Switzerland, doctors are embracing an unexpected ally in the quest for better mental health—which is art. So, in the city of Neuchâtel, physicians are now prescribing museum and garden visits as part of a year-long pilot program aimed at supporting residents facing mental health challenges or chronic illness. Rather than relying solely on medication, the initiative encourages patients to explore public gardens, art galleries, and museums. The idea is simple but powerful: art and nature can play an important role in emotional well-being—which we kind of saw with your solution, Arielle.

Arielle:
Yeah, definitely. What a fascinating idea. How exactly are they offering up these prescriptions at the moment?

Karissa:
So far, 500 prescriptions are being offered to local patients, granting free access to four sites: the city’s Botanical Garden and three museums, including the Neuchâtel Museum of Art and History. There, visitors can enjoy pieces by masters like Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, as well as explore a whimsical collection of automated dolls.

Arielle:
Oh!

Karissa:
Pretty cool. One recipient of a cultural prescription—a 26-year-old woman recovering from burnout—described the experience as uplifting. She said, “I think it brings a little light into the darkness.”

And you know, I am also a 26-year-old woman and I definitely relate to feeling uplifted when I get to appreciate art in its many forms. The program is still in its early stages, but the hope is that it provides patients not only with moments of beauty and peace, but also with a supportive, restorative space beyond the walls of the clinic.

Arielle:
Mm-hmm. Yeah, seems like doctors could definitely be on to something here. But where did they get the idea to use arts and culture as a path to healing?

Karissa:
So, the inspiration behind the initiative can be traced back to a 2019 World Health Organization study that explored the connection between the arts and health. The report outlined how cultural engagement can promote mental well-being and help people cope with illness. This insight resonated deeply during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when museum closures had a noticeable impact on public morale.

Arielle:
Yeah, I remember how sad it was to not be able to visit these great public spaces. And museums were even doing virtual events to try to bring the joy of a visit to people’s homes. Actually, I remember that here in Amsterdam, they opened barber shops in museums as a loophole to get people into the museum—because they needed to get a haircut or something. So yeah, people will get creative to get in there!

Karissa:
As humans, we really want this art. And as Julie Courcier Delafontaine, who heads Neuchâtel’s culture department, says, “That was a real trigger and we were really convinced that culture was essential for the well-being of humanity” when it came to COVID and the lockdowns. From her perspective, the pandemic underscored the vital role that cultural institutions play in individual and collective resilience. Art, music, and nature were not just distractions—they were definitely lifelines in that time.

Arielle:
Yeah, I couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. I guess this begs the question then: can the power of art become part of everyday medicine?

Karissa:
Well, the Neuchâtel project will run for a year, but organizers are already thinking about the future of the program. If successful, it could expand to include other cultural activities such as theatre and performance. As Courcier Delafontaine said, “We’d love this project to take off and have enough patients to prove its worth—and that one day, why not—health insurance covers culture as a form of therapy.”

Arielle:
Wow, I love it. Even though prescriptions for art may seem unconventional, this initiative sounds like it’s part of a growing global movement to rethink healthcare in a more holistic, human-centered way.

Karissa:
Yeah, absolutely. This automatically made me think of a solution we shared before on The Optimist Daily where Canadian therapists were prescribing time in nature.

Arielle:
Oh yeah!

Karissa:
I thought that one was really cool and very similar to this. By recognizing the role of joy, creativity, and connection in recovery, Switzerland is offering a model of care that is not only effective, but also beautifully human.

Arielle:
Well, other stories that will hopefully lead you to better well-being and happiness are some of the ones that we published on the Optimist Daily this week. They include:

Karissa:
Manchester’s phone-free nightclub revives the rave spirit for a new generation, US high school student uses AI to uncover 1.5 million hidden space objects—that’s pretty cool—Remembering Pope Francis and his profound impact on climate action, and A new antibiotic pill shows promise against drug-resistant gonorrhea.

Arielle:
We also have The science behind “sound spice”: A simple tone may help prevent motion sickness, Against the tide: how global protections are helping sea turtles recover, Scotland’s largest community solar farm moves forward on the Isle of Arran, and Feeling stuck at work? Here’s how to make a change without starting from scratch.

Karissa:
If you want to start your day off right next week, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get our solutions straight to your inbox.

Arielle:
We also have a lot more on our social channels. You can find us @optimistdaily on all of our platforms—including Threads, Pinterest, and Bluesky. The only difference is on X—on there we are @odetooptimism.

Karissa:
And we are a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If you want to support our mission of putting optimism into the world, click on the link in the show notes to find out how.

Arielle:
And support doesn’t always have to be financial! Even just recommending our podcast to a friend, leaving a positive review on Apple or Spotify, forwarding a link to a loved one, or sharing a solution on your socials would be a huge help for us.

Karissa:
Well, as always, Arielle, it was great to be here with you today, share this positive news, and I definitely feel a lot more uplifted—and want to live like an Icelander, yeah.

Arielle:
Well, we wish all of our listeners and readers a wonderful weekend ahead. And Karissa, I will see you next time.

Karissa:
Yeah, sounds good. Bye, everyone.

Arielle:
Bye.