Episode Description:
In this week’s Optimist Daily Roundup, Arielle and Karissa explore solutions that inspire connection and community. From Warsaw’s new underground library that encourages commuters to swap scrolling for stories, to expert insights on why you don’t need one “best friend” to feel fulfilled, the episode highlights practical ways to strengthen belonging.
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Transcript:
Theme music
Arielle:
Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s weekly Roundup. I’m Arielle.
Karissa:
And I’m Karissa, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement.
Arielle:
Hello, everybody. We are back with another episode of our pod to share the solutions from the Optimist Daily this week.
Karissa:
And if you want all of these solutions in your inbox, you can subscribe to our free daily newsletter. We’ve added it into our show notes, so the link is right there. Or you can head over to our website.
Arielle:
And we are also all over social media. We are on Pinterest, Instagram, Blue Sky, X. You can find us @OptimistDaily on everything except for X. There we are @OdeToOptimism.
Karissa:
Yep, we’re trying to get the solutions out there everywhere. So go check them out. And of course, we have to say thank you to our Optimist Emissaries who support us with financial support. And if you want to find out more on how you can become an emissary you can also check out that link in the show notes.
Arielle:
And since you’re listening to our podcast, we also want to thank you! Because that helps us a whole lot in getting our message out there. If you could share the podcast with your friends or, you know, shoot an e-mail over with one of our solutions, interact with us on social media, comment, subscribe, follow, and review, that would be amazing. And it’s also the last chance to send in a nomination for our Local Changemakers series, so if you haven’t already, then go ahead and do that.
Karissa:
The submissions are open until the end of the day today, Friday, September 26, 2025. And we’re looking forward to going through all the submissions and seeing who is making a difference in your community. So, keep an eye out for that because those articles will be rolling out pretty soon, and we can’t wait to discuss more about it on the pod too.
Arielle:
And a reminder that when you nominate, your name gets put into a draw, into a raffle to get an Optimist Daily mug. So, if you need just another little bit of an incentive, there it is!
Karissa:
Perfect for fall… and oh, fall is here, and it has me tired.
Arielle:
Oh, no.
Karissa:
The autumnal equinox was this past week, so, kind of cool. We wrote an article about the fun moon stuff going on at this time of year. And pumpkin spice is back! We mentioned that… leaves are changing, but it has me really… tired.
Arielle:
Are you feeling just under the weather as well, or…?
Karissa:
Not really under the weather, just, uh, just tired.
The weather, at least where I live, has been super hot but rainy. And usually in California, that’s not at all what happens. It’s either one or the other. That’s kind of been my I’m an Optimist, but… of the entire week.
Arielle:
- Yeah, I guess it’s just a bit unexpected for your body.
Karissa:
Yeah. It’s so unexpected. And pairing that with just, I mean, we talk about this all the time, but what’s going on in the world, it just has me in a weird funk.
Arielle:
Yeah, I totally get that. My, I’m an Optimist, but… actually stems from me trying to, like, take my mind off what’s going on on land. Yeah, earlier this week, my partner and I were just like, okay, let’s just watch a nature documentary and just chill. So, he actually chose The Shark Whisperer on Netflix
Karissa:
Mm-hmm.
Arielle:
And we really thought it was going to be like David Attenborough-esque calming narration about sharks.
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
Have you seen This Karissa?
Karissa:
No, I haven’t.
Arielle:
Yeah, it’s… it’s amazing. It’s really not what I was expecting, and it wasn’t super relaxing I have to say…
Karissa:
Oh no!
Arielle:
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but yeah, I highly recommend. It’s about this conservationist… a shark conservationist named Ocean Ramsey, and I think I can say this without giving anything away, but she literally swims with sharks, like without a cage. She, like, becomes friends with them.
Basically, her and her romantic partner, I forget his name…. I think it’s Juan. But they’re just… out there. Swimming with the sharks. But it brings a lot of attention to the plight of the sharks.
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
And how so many species are going extinct or endangered because of really horrible fishing practices and things like shark finning, and that just made me really sad. She does present sharks in a different way. I mean movies like Jaws kind of villainize sharks, and obviously they are very powerful and very dangerous. But they are creatures that we share this planet with, and perhaps they’re just misunderstood.
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
So yeah, that’s my I’m an Optimist, but… I’m an optimist, but I’m sad that sharks are on the receiving end of such horrible treatment by humans, who are the apex predators of, like, every species?
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
So yeah. But it was also very uplifting to watch this conservationist do what she does, which is…. crazy. It’s really impressive and I would not be putting myself in that position, but more power to her.
Karissa:
Seems like someone we might have to keep an eye on for the Optimist Daily, because seems like she’s really trying to make a difference for the sharks. Speaking of decline and extinction, it kind of brings me to my solution, but it’s something totally different. Something underground, actually.
Arielle:
- Wow, I’m intrigued.
Karissa:
I’ll just start with the title, which is Underground library in Warsaw metro invites commuters to trade scrolling for stories. This one caught my eye because, as I’ve mentioned a lot recently on the pod, I’m really trying to put myself back in the reading game. And it’s just been a concern of mine how little people are reading and really spending too much time on our phones. But you know, of course I’m also guilty of that.
Arielle, you live in Europe, so I’m assuming you must know the dilemma of using public transit and having to pass the time as you wait for the arrival of the train or something. So, if you look around, I would guess, like here, everyone’s kind of looking down at their phones.
Arielle:
I do have to say that I usually bike around. I’ve been trying to avoid public transit lately. I only take it if I really, really need it. But that’s also because here in the Netherlands, the system is pretty good. But there are also a lot of strikes, and that means that there’s a lot of waiting around for trains if you are in the station. And yeah, people are often, you know, flicking through their phone.
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
Definitely not as many people reading as there used to be.
Karissa:
Yeah, or even connecting with each other, I would assume, too.
Arielle:
Yeah.
Karissa:
I think that’s just common, not even just in public transit, but even just waiting in some kind of line for something or…
Arielle:
Mm-hmm.
Karissa:
Mindless scrolling is definitely an issue, globally. And so, in an effort to combat mindless scrolling in Warsaw’s Targówek district, a metro ride has become more than a daily routine. Now it offers a chance to escape into a story through books and connection. Thanks to Metroteka, newly opened subterranean library inside a metro station, commuters can now trade mindless scrolling for mindful reading.
Arielle:
I love this image. So how does it all work?
Karissa:
Well, the 150 -square-meter space is stocked with more than 16,000 books, all available through a fast self -checkout system. Books can be returned either directly to the library or via parcel lockers outside the station, available around the clock. Additionally, visitors can also borrow laptops, sip complimentary coffee, and unwind at a cozy communal area, all while waiting for their train.
Arielle:
I can’t even really imagine what a library would look like in a metro station. Can you kind of paint the picture for me?
Karissa:
Yeah. So, it’s a modern and inviting space that breathes life into the books. There’s a lush hydroponic garden wall filled with herbs and flowers that gives the underground space a breath of fresh air. Literally, because they’re plants. Basil, oregano, and other plants grow without soil or sunlight, infusing the library with an unexpected sense of vitality, since it is underground. The bookshelves shaped like soft undulating waves add to the organic feel.
Arielle:
This sounds so cool. I love the greenery within an underground space, and it sounds like a place I would visit even if I weren’t waiting for a train.
Karissa:
This is all part of a bigger goal to reverse a national trend in Poland because Poland’s reading habits have been in steady decline for years, much like I’m sure the rest of the world. A 2024 survey by the National Library of Poland found that only 41% of respondents had read at least one book in the past year. I mean, even though this is a global trend of people turning to their phones instead of books, it is kind of unique to Poland’s history, according to Tomasz Makowski, director of the National Library. The legacy of war has shaped these numbers. During World War II, Poland lost 70% of its libraries.
Arielle:
Hmm.
Karissa:
Makowski says “We had several generations that did not see their parents or grandparents in front of a wall of books.”
Arielle:
Wow, that’s… that’s crazy. I’m actually kind of learning about this. I am part of a book club, and we’re reading a book called Swimming in the Dark by a Polish writer, Tomasz Jedrowski. I’m so sorry for my pronunciation, if any Polish readers are like, cringing. But yeah, I didn’t know that this was happening in Poland. I’m really not familiar with that history at all, but it is a bit heartbreaking to think that people didn’t have the experience of just access to books because of war.
Karissa:
Yeah, exactly. And here in Poland, Makowski also says that reading is also not something associated with adulthood, but with schools, teachers, librarians, and usually mothers reading to children. So, it’s kind of an interesting cultural phenomenon. By placing literature in the path of everyday commuters, Metroteka hopes to shift that cultural perception.
Arielle:
I really love this idea of an open invitation into the world of books, and putting a library in a commuting hub just makes sense.
Karissa:
I think it totally does. And for Makowski, the location and its potential are just as important as the books. He says, “Opening a library in a metro station is like a dream for us. Libraries should be beautiful and open, inviting, not intimidating. It’s not a shrine, but a place where you can go spend time freely, take part in discussions, public consultations, or meet people.”
Arielle:
Yeah. And the metro station kind of sounds like a perfect spot for that, with all the people coming and going. It sounds like a great place for connection and convenience.
Karissa:
Absolutely. And so, in the coming months, Metroteka plans to host author readings, workshops, and classes to further engage the community and really build this. But by meeting people where they are–literally underground–the library isn’t just promoting reading; it’s redefining what public space can offer. It’s not just a library. It’s not just about the books, even though that’s an important part of it, but really a place to connect with other people.
Arielle:
Yeah, exactly. As we all know, that loneliness epidemic is rampant. Amazing solution. Thank you so much for sharing it. On the topic of connection, I think that flows nicely into my solution.
Karissa:
Mm-hmm.
Arielle:
As usual, I’m going to start with a couple of questions for you, Karissa.
Karissa:
Arielle:
Have you had or do you have a best friend at the moment?
Karissa:
I honestly feel like I have a lot of people I consider my best friends, and I’ve definitely developed new best friends over the years, like in college. And yeah, even though a lot of my so-called best friends are pretty spread out now, we still have such a deep connection.
Arielle:
But not just one, not just like one certain person who is top of the top, best of the best.
Karissa:
Not really. I do have… Well, OK, I have to shout out my best friend Taryn because she is someone I do feel like I… I think, like, we have, like, the strongest bond that’s maintained over the years, and we’ve really made so much effort to get together the most and stuff, but not in a bad way. We’re not so attached to the hip that, you know, we can’t, like, do anything else. So yes and no, I think my final answer is I have multiple, but Taryn is my best friend.
Arielle:
OK, that sounds pretty healthy. I, myself, I think I’ve had people call me their best friend, and no shade, but I don’t think I’ve ever actually considered someone a best best friend because I’ve had such separate social circles. Like growing up, I went to church, and then there’s school, and then there’s like…
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
Family friends and things like that. So, there were a couple people who I would consider my best friend in that context, but…
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
I never really had one best friend. And this question, “Who’s your best friend?” has followed many of us around since grade school, which kind of lets us know at a very young age that our social worth, at least in part, is hinged on whether you had one, like, ride or die friend.
Karissa:
Right.
Arielle:
Pop culture doesn’t help either; we’re told friendships should look like Christina and Meredith from Grey’s Anatomy or Blair and Serena from Gossip Girl, which, to be fair, was pretty toxic.
Karissa:
Yeah, exactly. That’s so funny because one year for Halloween, my best friend and I were Blair and Serena for our Halloween costume. But I mean, the idea that you need that one all -in-forever partner in crime is pretty prominent.
Arielle:
Exactly. But here’s the thing. What if you don’t have that kind of friendship? Does that mean there’s something wrong with you? Not according to my solution, which is titled Rethinking the best friend ideal: why you don’t need a BFF to feel fulfilled.
Karissa:
- Yeah, that sounds interesting. I’m curious to hear more.
Arielle:
Doctor Christina Ferrari, a clinical psychologist in Miami, points out that the best friend label often feels like proof that you’re loved and secure. If someone calls you their best, it’s like you’ve won the friendship lottery. but Ferrari emphasizes that not having that singular BFF is not a failure. In fact, it’s more realistic and healthier.
Karissa:
That’s kind of refreshing to hear because, honestly, maintaining such an all-encompassing, ocean-deep-level bond With anyone sounds pretty exhausting.
Arielle:
Barbie Atkinson, a counselor based in Houston, says the BFF trope is a lovely fantasy, but it really clashes with the reality of adult life. To pull it off, you’d need unlimited free time, perfectly aligned life stages, and zero interference from kids, partners, jobs, all the messy, wonderful stuff that comes with adulthood.
Karissa:
Yeah, exactly. That makes so much sense because, like, I kind of said with my BFF, we’ve been lucky because we’ve been friends since elementary school. But we did go to colleges pretty close by to each other, so we were able to see each other more often. But now that we’re both out of college, we’re both further than we were in college. It’s so hard to see her, or like any of my other best friends I mentioned, a lot of us are in geographically different places. And of course, like you mentioned, different life stages as well.
Arielle:
Mm-hm.
Karissa:
Basically, unless you live in a sitcom, it’s not gonna happen that you’re with someone like that so often.
Arielle:
Yeah, precisely. And even if it were possible, experts caution that putting all your emotional eggs in one basket isn’t healthy. Ferrari compares it to investing. If you wouldn’t put all your money in one stock, why would you put all your emotional needs in one person.
Karissa:
Yeah, I think that’s such a good point. And that also reminds you of romantic partnerships as well. I just really don’t like the idea of putting all your emotional needs in, like, just your romantic partner. When I’ve seen people doing that and stuff, I get really concerned. And I try my best not to do that either with my partner.
Arielle:
Yeah.
Karissa:
But I guess, what’s the alternative?
Arielle:
So, Atkinson suggests thinking of your friendships like a circle of support rather than a single pillar. And here’s where it gets interesting. Each friend can bring out a different strength.
Karissa:
I love that.
Arielle:
I guess this is kind of how I’ve been viewing friendships without having all this language around it. She says that you can find friends who play all of these different roles that I’m about to lay out for you. So first, there’s the emotional anchor. This is the friend you can trust with your most vulnerable moments. They’re the one you call when you’re heartbroken or when family drama gets overwhelming. And they may not have all the answers, but their gift is listening and helping you feel seen.
Karissa:
Nice.
Arielle:
There’s also the practical problem solver. This is the person you text when you’re stressing over whether to take a new job or how to plan a two-week trip somewhere. They’re level-headed, logical and great at mapping out options you might not have even considered.
Karissa:
So this is kind of like a human version of a pros and cons list.
Arielle:
Yeah. Then there’s the playmate who fills a completely different need. They’re spontaneous. Maybe they’re the person who drags you out dancing on a weeknight. Or convinces you to book that last-minute road trip. They bring lightness and fun and spontaneity, and that’s just as essential as deep conversations.
Karissa:
I feel like we kind of underestimate how important that type of friend is. Sometimes joy is the medicine you need, and sometimes you need that friend to give you that extra push.
Arielle:
And then you’ve got the contextual companion. The friends you don’t necessarily call every day, but who do make certain parts of life better. So maybe it’s someone you go running with who keeps you accountable or… yeah, I have like, book club friends who I don’t talk to throughout the month, but I always have great discussions with them when we’re together. These connections might not feel all-encompassing, but they do add a lot of richness to daily life.
Karissa:
Yeah. And instead of one person carrying the weight of being everything, you end up with this tapestry of friendships, each adding a unique thread.
Arielle:
That tapestry can be just as fulfilling, if not more, than having the mythical best friend we’ve all been told we should have.
Karissa:
Yeah, absolutely. It makes friendship feel less about scarcity. Like, you’re missing out if you don’t have one BFF, and more about abundance.
Arielle:
You don’t need a crowned to BFF to feel loved and supported; what matters is building a circle where every connection, big or small, adds to your sense of belonging.
Karissa:
Yeah, I just love this so much. Like I’m about to shed a tear because I’m thinking about my great friends who I see in a lot of these different pillars you discussed, Arielle. So, shout out to all my friends. They make the tapestry of life so much better.
Arielle:
It’s really fun to have a support system of varied and diverse people. Because life throws all of these varied and diverse curveballs. So that was my solution of the week!
Karissa:
Yeah. Love it. And I loved all the other solutions we had on the Optimist Daily this week too.
Arielle:
Yes, they include All aboard the clean power express: Colorado startup turns trains into rolling batteries. Senegal’s “schools for husbands” are saving mothers’ lives by reshaping masculinity. How to plan a realistic digital detox the whole family will enjoy, and Hope in Cape Cod: rescuers save 12 dolphins in two-day stranding response.
Karissa:
Now we also had 6 sneaky habits that are secretly sabotaging your joints (and how to fix them). AI tool speeds up stroke care across England, tripling recovery rates, New brain stimulation helmet could transform treatment for Parkinson’s and depression. And How to shine as potluck guest, according to a hosting pro.
Arielle:
Pro perfect. Great for all of. Those autumn and Thanksgiving gatherings that are probably going to start happening soon.
Karissa:
Yeah, and mingling with those different friends of your life.
Arielle:
Yeah, exactly. And maybe you can trade book recommendations as well.
Karissa:
Yeah.
Arielle:
All right, that is all from us this week. Karissa, I wish you a very happy weekend and the same to all of our listeners and fellow Optimists.
Karissa:
Yeah, me too. And I can’t wait to be back next week with more solutions! Until then.
Both:
Bye!
