Episode Description:

It’s our first episode of the year! And the Optimist Daily Weekly Roundup is officially refreshed. Karissa and Arielle kick off the new format (hello, “tasting menu” of all ten weekly solutions), explain the difference between Emissaries and Optimists, and share a new perk: Emissary shout-outs celebrating the people and organizations doing good in the world.

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Transcript:

Karissa 

Hey everyone, I’m Karissa. 

Arielle 

And I’m Arielle. 

Karissa 

And we are so excited to be back! 

Arielle 

Yes, it’s already the very end of February, but since it’s the first time that we’re on the podcast this year, Happy New Year, Karissa and everyone else. 

Karissa 

Happy New Year. I mean, it was just Lunar New Year last week. 

Arielle 

Yeah, it’s a time for new beginnings. This is a really exciting time for us because it is the first time that we are introducing the new and improved Optimist Daily Weekly Roundup. 

Karissa 

Yeah, and we have a lot of great new additions. We’re going to be diving into all of the solutions that we share each week instead of just two. And we’re also going to feature some other voices on the podcast as well. 

Arielle 

Yeah, it’s going to be fun and new and exciting, but we are also kind of going with the flow. So, if you guys, our fellow Optimists, have any comments, questions, or feedback for us, please e-mail us at podcast@optimistdaily.com. And we’ll throw that in the show notes as well so that it’s easy for you guys to communicate with us. 

Karissa 

Yeah, exactly. 

Arielle 

As usual, though, we do have our daily newsletter. So, if you’re not signed up for that yet, then go ahead and do that. And if you prefer getting your news on your newsfeed and your socials, we are @OptimistDaily on pretty much everything except for X, where we are @OdeToOptimism, O-D-E, Optimism. 

Karissa 

Yeah, and if you want to talk to us about anything with the podcast on those channels as well, just send us a message. 

Arielle 

Yeah, we would love if you guys slid into our DMs. But since we are turning a new leaf, why don’t we just start with the basics? So, we normally thank our Emissaries… but what is an Emissary exactly, Karissa? 

Karissa 

Yeah, well, an Emissary is a financial supporter of the Optimist Daily. We use the term “emissary” instead of just a supporter or donor because an emissary, the dictionary definition, is someone who is sent on a special mission to, you know, fulfill a quest. And our quest here is to spread optimism and spread positive news out there because, as we all know, the world is pretty bleak, and we need these solutions, and we need to focus on what is going right. Emissaries help us do that. 

Arielle 

Yeah, so we definitely appreciate our Emissaries, but we still have so much love for our fellow Optimists, just people who interact with us online, read the newsletter, share articles. Anyone who’s just a part of our community, you guys are the whole reason we do this thing. And you guys are also kind of circulating hope around, which is what we need right now, because as you said, Karissa, the world is bleak. It feels like it’s on fire. And without hope, there’s no forward progress. 

Karissa 

Yeah, exactly. 

Arielle 

With this new rendition of the podcast, we also have another little perk for Emissaries. We’re going to start reading shout outs that Emissaries can send us. So that can be to anyone that you’re grateful for, your mom, your dad, a local charity that you love, anything that you think deserves to be highlighted. And if you just send us your message, which we’re going to figure out how we’re going to do that, actually. Karissa’s going to… going to set up, like, a little survey link that we can send you once you either become an Emissary or you’ll already get it automatically if you are an Emissary already. And yeah, that way we can spread more love to the positive change makers of this world.  

Well, I think we’ve talked a lot about the updates that were going on behind the scenes in these past couple months. Should we jump into the solutions that we featured this week? 

Karissa 

Yeah, and we’re just going to talk about each solution and a few highlights. 

Arielle 

Yeah, it’s a little bit of a tasting menu, so you know what tickles your fancy and what else you should go deeper into on the website. 

Karissa 

The first solution is the Yangtze River sees major ecological recovery after China’s fishing ban. After decades of decline, the Yangtze River, which is also one of the most degraded waterways in the world, which I didn’t know, and it’s also one of the longest waterways… it’s showing a rare kind of good news, because a new study finds that fish biomass more than doubled within two years after China’s sweeping 10-year fishing ban that began in 2021, along with an uptick in species diversity and early rebounds for some threatened species. 

Arielle 

Yay, this is so exciting because I think people are looking for proof that big systems can change. And this is just one of those stories where climate and biodiversity progress looks like real enforcement and real funding and a long-term commitment. And it’s not just like a green washy type of solution. 

Karissa 

Yeah, and researchers are calling it a standout example of government action producing measurable ecological change. And it’s really serving as a case study as well for the rest of the world and especially in freshwater systems.  

And another thing I liked about the solution is that human systems were also part of this design. A huge ban when people depend on it for their life isn’t always effective, so we had to take that into account. So this whole plan included support for communities, and it was reported that as many as 200,000 fishers were part of this transition, and boats were decommissioned, and there was just a major investment in making sure they were able to have different livelihoods.  

Arielle 

Nice. All right, what’s next? 

Karissa 

Well, next is 10 brain-boosting hobbies for older adults that help keep the brain and body young. This article highlights which kinds of hobbies tend to deliver the biggest brain payoff, and it has some ideas that range from… familiar things like just walking, or something unexpectedly quirky, like juggling, which happens to have a lot of great benefits. 

Arielle 

Oh, cool. 

Karissa 

And one that stood out to me was teaching as a brain hack. And I feel like maybe that’s a little bit obvious, that teaching, like, you really have to know a subject to be… be able to get it out there. 

Arielle 

And also, teaching is like the best way to learn, to keep learning. I remember when I was teaching Spanish, my language skills actually improved because I had to really get the basics down. So yeah, I mean, knowing something and teaching something —those are two totally different things. 

Karissa 

All right, so another solution we had this week is The EU launches action plan to tackle cyberbullying and protect children’s mental health online.  

So, the EU is rolling out a coordinated strategy to make it easier for kids to get help when online cruelty escalates and to push platforms towards clear responsibility. And this article breaks down what’s being proposed, why it’s happening now, and how it could change the way reporting and prevention work across countries. 

Arielle 

There’s such an influx lately of concern about social media and kids putting, like, bans or at least regulations on all of these new frontiers. So yeah, there was that Australian ban that we reported on a little while ago, and more countries are following suit. It’s good to see that we’re finally protecting our children. 

Karissa 

This EU plan also has an EU-backed app blueprint, which member states can adapt. And the app will be able to help young people store and transmit evidence of online cyberbullying or harassment because posts can disappear, and reporting it is often messy, and just hitting the report button on, like, Instagram or something usually isn’t enough. 

Arielle 

That’s great. They know who to turn to because I guess it’s hard. It’s hard to know even as an adult who to turn to. 

Karissa 

Exactly. So, there’s a bunch of things that are in this plan, and you can check it out more on The Optimus Daily.  

Another solution we had this week is Before you buy, 6 smart questions to avoid impulse spending. And I really appreciate this article because I am definitely guilty of impulse spending. This guide just offers some questions that you can ask and take a moment to pause and actually reflect on if a purchase is actually aligned with your budget and values or whether something else is making you want to make this purchase, whether it’s stress or scarcity or boredom. I’m kind of guilty of boredom purchases, I would say. So, there’s a bunch of things that you should stop and ask before you actually pull the trigger of buying something. 

Arielle 

Yeah, this is really good in the era of online shopping because sometimes there’s like so few barriers to purchasing that you just press the button and suddenly it’s done. It doesn’t even feel like you’ve really spent anything. The box comes to your door, and you’re like, “Woo! It’s magic!” But no, that’s real money being spent. So, it’s good to reflect on, you know, why am I buying this? And do I really need it? 

Karissa 

I actually recently, or in the past year, took off all my card information, so I really have to go get my card and go put everything in. 

Arielle 

That’s so good. That’s such a good tip. 

Karissa 

The last solution I have to share is Hydrogen XT secures $900 million to launch 10 zero-carbon hydrogen hubs across the US.  

So, this is a major financing deal that signals how quickly hydrogen infrastructure is trying to scale in the United States. And the article looks at what the company says it’s building, where it’s aiming to deploy first, and the bigger question of what clean hydrogen really means as the industry moves from, you know, hype and talk to the real -world rollout.  

This $900 million package is obviously a big commitment, and there is going to be a lot of progress made from this big investment. And the first planned site for these hydrogen hubs is actually going to be in Avenal, California. That really stood out to me because I drive past Avenal all the time. It’s off the I-5 of California, which is a major freeway in California and extends from, you know, top to bottom of the United States. And so, I’m looking forward to maybe seeing this hydrogen hub. 

Arielle 

Okay, well, that’s great. That’s something our parent nonprofit, the World Business Academy, is super passionate and optimistic about! 

All right, well, I will take it from here. The next article we have is called Why becoming a regular is good for your mental health and happiness.  

So, there’s a science-backed case for the underrated joy of returning to the same places and faces. So, if you go to the same cafe, the gym, the same bookstore, that’s actually really good for you. The article digs into how community can start with “weak ties” and why routine can feel surprisingly nourishing, and how to make everyday life feel a little bit less isolating. 

Karissa 

This article was really cool, and I liked the bigger idea, you know, that these weak ties, as they call them, aren’t so weak after all. You know, these small talk conversations we have, if we’re talking to a barista or the cashier at the grocery store, they really add up over time. They really contribute to the feeling of community and connection. 

Arielle 

I think we have the tendency to put a lot of weight on our very close relationships. But if you are dealing with loneliness, then having to build a whole relationship is really… it’s a huge undertaking. But knowing that you can just go to the same coffee shop or the same, I don’t know, library and just say hi to a few people that you recognize, and that’s already going to help you alleviate this feeling of loneliness, then that’s so much more accessible. 

Karissa 

I guess, Arielle, are you a regular at any place in your community? 

Arielle 

Yeah, for sure. I’m a regular. There’s a sandwich shop that’s close to the sauna that I go to. I always go to the same sauna. I volunteer at a yoga studio close to my neighborhood, but it’s also easier, I think, in a pedestrianized city. 

Karissa 

I think something else this article was talking about, how like, these third spaces where you are a regular have kind of been not as popular lately since post-pandemic. Things have changed; a lot of online, at-home work is being done, but it’s important to utilize these third spaces because they’re still there. 

Arielle 

Yeah.  

Alright. So, the next one is Single dose of DMT shows promise for treatment resistant depression in early clinical trial.  

A new early-stage trial is adding fresh momentum to psychedelic-assisted therapy research. Researchers tested whether a very short, supervised DMT session paired with structured psychological support could help people whose depression has not responded to standard treatments. So, the article unpacks what they found, why DMT is a unique candidate compared to longer-acting psychedelics, and the big question still standing between promising and widely available. So, I don’t know if you know what DMT is, Karissa. 

Karissa 

I didn’t until I looked it up after reading this article. Just that it’s a psychedelic. So I don’t know much about it, but I know there’s a lot of research out there that psychedelics, mushrooms, and such can be useful in mental health treatment. 

Arielle 

I don’t really know much about DMT either, but we have done a lot of reporting on psilocybin, which is like the hallucinogenic psychedelic property in magic mushrooms. So, it has to be something kind of similar to that, where it just opens up your brainwaves so that your brain can take different paths than it usually does. That will help you, I don’t know, get over your either addiction or depression or patterns of thinking. So yeah, very interesting indeed. 

Karissa 

Yeah, totally. 

Arielle 

So, the next one is 9 dentist approved foods that help fight cavities naturally.  

This piece is basically a tooth-friendly grocery list, and it rounds up foods that support enamel, saliva production, and gum health. Plus, a few smart damage control tips for the biggest cavity culprits, which are sugary drinks, sticky candies, and constant snacking. And I am a constant snacker. 

Karissa 

I kind of am too. I’m not going to lie. 

Arielle 

The one thing that surprised me on this list —I’m not going to read the whole thing —but it says cheese. 

Karissa 

Oh, yeah, I do eat a lot of cheese. So, my excuse is that it’s great for the teeth. 

Arielle 

Yeah, enamel support, acid buffering, all that fun stuff.  

And then we have The silk solution: why surgeons are turning to spiders to repair nerve injuries. There are a bunch of surgeons and researchers in Oxford who are exploring a surprisingly ancient material, spider silk, as a new way to help severed nerves reconnect across difficult gaps. And the article follows the real-world problem with current nerve repair methods and why this specific kind of silk from a specific kind of spider is getting attention. 

Karissa 

This one is so cool. It’s so sci-fi and it makes me just think of Spider-Man and the webs… their used to do a whole bunch of cool things. 

Arielle 

Yeah, it’s another way that spiders can become superheroes, I suppose. 

Karissa 

I really like the idea of turning to nature for medical advances. 

Arielle 

Yeah, it’s amazing. And it’s kind of poetic. 

Karissa 

It definitely is. 

Arielle 

The last solution that we have this week is, Does dark showering help you sleep better? Experts explain the viral bedtime trend.  

So, there’s this viral bedtime habit that’s making its rounds, and it’s showering with the lights dimmed or off. And actually, I was doing this before I read this article, before I even knew it was a trend because I’m not really on social media. But I, like, for the past six months, I’ve just been showering by candlelight. 

Karissa 

Oh, so lovely. 

Arielle 

It’s a vibe! I just thought that it’s more relaxing. I normally shower at the end of my day, so I’m just trying to wind down. And it’s nice to know that experts say it’s actually helpful. 

Karissa 

Yeah. 

Arielle 

The article breaks down what might be happening in your body and brain, who dark showering can help most, and what to pair it with if you want real sleep benefits. 

Karissa 

I hadn’t heard of this being a trend, though, but now I’m curious. And I think a little candlelight would help. So maybe I’ll take your approach to it, Arielle. 

Arielle 

Yeah, I mean, it’s not going to… the article goes into how it’s not going to fix, like, insomnia or anything, but it will support better sleep.  

Those were all of the amazing solutions we had on The Optimus Daily, or just a little taster of them. You can read the full articles on optimistdaily.com or scroll through them on our socials. 

Karissa 

Yeah, exactly. And again, if you want these solutions to your inbox, you can subscribe to the free daily newsletter. And then… (laughs) I’m like, what are we gonna say next? 

Arielle 

We don’t really have a script to end the podcast this time! Actually, we are going to have our own little closing ritual. We’re going to pick an inspiring quote from our newsletters. Every newsletter comes with a quote, right, Karissa? 

Karissa 

Yeah, a positive quote for you. So just another reason to sign up for the newsletter. 

Arielle 

And today the quote is. 

Karissa 

Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday. And that is from A. A. Milne. 

Arielle 

Beautiful. 

Karissa 

And that had to do with the Yangtze River Solution. It was inspired by that. 

Arielle 

Wow, that’s so nice! 

Karissa 

Yeah! 

Arielle 

Well, before we sign off, we’re just going to thank our parent organization, the World Business Academy. 

Karissa 

Yeah, the World Business Academy is a nonprofit think tank action incubator. And it’s focusing mainly on the role of business in the world and how business can make a difference and be a force for good. 

Arielle 

Thank you, World Business Academy. And thank you to all of you, our listeners, our fellow Optimists, our Emissaries, we cannot do this without you. Everyone have a great weekend! And Karissa, I will talk to you next week. 

Karissa 

Yeah, bye everyone! 

Arielle 

Bye!