Thankful for optimists: a Thanksgiving shout out to The Optimist Daily community
In this special Thanksgiving mini-episode of The Optimist Daily's Weekly Roundup, Karissa and Arielle press pause on the usual headlines to say thank you. They share what they are personally grateful for this year, celebrate the Emissaries and listeners who keep solutions journalism alive, and Read More...
From bike buses to art therapy: The uplifting solutions changing everyday life
In this week's episode of The Optimist Daily's Weekly Roundup, Arielle and Karissa return from a fall break with a fresh wave of uplifting stories, diving right into two standout solutions of the week. First: the "bike bus" phenomenon turning school mornings into joyful, community-powered parades Read More...
The science of saving lives: new breakthroughs in immunity and allergy prevention
In this week's episode, Arielle and Karissa gab about two groundbreaking medical solutions changing lives: a one-time gene therapy that helps children with ADA-SCID develop healthy immune systems, and new pediatric guidelines that could drastically reduce peanut allergies. Plus, meet this week's Read More...
From chemo care to creative flair: two stories changing how we heal and create
This week, Arielle and Karissa talk about two powerful wins for compassion and creativity. New York’s new law makes scalp cooling treatments more accessible for cancer patients, while a D.C. author reimagines book access with her “LitBox” vending machine. Together, they remind us that healing Read More...
Can concrete power cities? Can aspirin prevent cancer? The science says maybe.
This week, Arielle and Karissa spotlight two game-changing breakthroughs: MIT’s new battery concrete, which could turn buildings into energy storage devices, and a Swedish study showing that low-dose aspirin may significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer recurrence in certain patients. We Read More...
Why women live longer (and what men can learn from it) + the world’s first Indigenous-led ocean reserve
In this episode, Karissa and Arielle begin in the Pacific Islands, where Indigenous leaders are creating the world’s first ocean sanctuary designed to preserve migratory routes across national borders. Then we turn to the science behind why women tend to live longer than men—and what those Read More...
Bite-Sized Roundup: Cold Plunges, Kimchi, and Global Wins for the Planet
Arielle opens the episode with a quick update—she’s feeling under the weather, so Karissa is taking the reins this week. In this bite-sized round-up, Karissa highlights some of the most intriguing stories from Optimist Daily, including science-backed benefits of kimchi, fresh debates around Read More...
Underground libraries, rethinking BFFs, and other uplifting solutions
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, Read More...
Hope after heartbreak: divorce support in India and 7 uplifting benefits of getting older
This week, Karissa and Arielle dive into stories of transformation. From India’s empowering divorce retreats to science-backed reasons to embrace aging with open arms. They discuss why aging might just be the best chapter of your life (spoiler: less stress, more joy), how one woman’s loss Read More...
5 simple fitness tests for longevity + turning wind turbines into tiny homes
In this week’s roundup, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful solutions shaping the future of health and sustainability. First, discover how five simple fitness tests—like balancing on one leg or your natural walking speed—offer surprising insights into longevity and independence as we Read More...