Celebrating Local Changemakers: Nominate Your Community Heroes of 2025
This week, Arielle spotlights the return of our Local Changemakers Series! From food justice in Olympia to climate activism and dog rescue in Thailand, last year’s nominees inspired us with their creativity and compassion. Now we’re inviting you to nominate the people and projects making a Read More...
How Adults Can Capture Back-to-School Joy, and How Rocky Mountain National Park is Expanding Access
This week Arielle and Karissa are exploring solutions both personal and global—from Rocky Mountain National Park’s inspiring accessibility upgrades to playful ways adults can tap into back-to-school energy. They also take time for an I’m an Optimist, But… reflection on women’s safety, a Read More...
From mind-reading BCIs to ER-proof life tips: this week’s top 10 innovations
This week on the podcast, Arielle and Karissa explore surprising yet powerful solutions—from Stanford’s breakthrough brain-computer interface that decodes inner speech (complete with a mental privacy password!) to the top five preventable injuries that send people to the ER—yes, avocado hand Read More...
Hormone-free male birth control + one-minute wellness check-ins
This week, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful shifts in health and wellness. First, they dive into YCT-529, a promising hormone-free male birth control pill that may finally bring more balance to reproductive responsibility. Then, they share a simple but impactful habit: a one-minute daily Read More...
Safer streets, smarter cities: protecting women, wildlife, and well-being
In this week’s episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful stories that spotlight how cities are becoming safer, smarter, and more inclusive for both people and animals. Arielle shares how Amsterdam is installing tiny wooden staircases along its Read More...
Turning tragedy into hope: Rebuilding after wildfires and the future of canine cancer research
In this episode, Karissa and Arielle explore two uplifting stories of transformation. First, they look at how Southern California communities are rebuilding sustainably after the Eaton Fire—repurposing concrete, steel, and trees into roads, buildings, and soil. Then, they dive into groundbreaking Read More...
From clutter to connection: The screen-free movement and the magic of Poppins
In this episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa explore two uplifting solutions that challenge overconsumption and digital overwhelm. First, they dive into the growing trend of screen-free living among younger generations, highlighting how a quiet rebellion is Read More...
From pinecones to predators: wildfire tech and the misunderstood vulture
This week on The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Karissa and Arielle explore two unexpected environmental heroes: a pinecone-inspired wildfire sensor called Pyri, and the misunderstood but essential role of vultures in ecosystem health. Discover how design students in London are helping prevent Read More...
Support for Texas flood relief and emotional recovery after disaster
In this special episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup, Arielle and Karissa discuss the devastating Texas floods and how to respond with both compassion and care. They walk through trusted ways you can contribute to flood relief efforts and also share practical mental health strategies Read More...
Effective allyship in action + Belgian seniors hit the club in joyful resistance
In this week’s episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa revisit Part II of our popular 2020 series on allyship—this time diving into what effective allyship really looks like in practice. If you missed Part I on performative allyship, you can read it here! They Read More...