Optimist Daily Update

This week's positive news: We're back! Arielle and Karissa present the new iteration of The Optimist Daily's podcast and update you on what's been going on during our hiatus. Then they dive straight into their favorite stories of the week. Arielle speaks about astronomer Susan Murabana and her mission to bring the wonders of the Cosmos to disadvantaged youth in Kenya. Karissa follows with the exciting news of a baby beaver sighting in California, and what a rebound in beaver populations could mean for the environment. The Optimist Daily is a project of The World Business Academy. Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http://   

Today we are both happy and sad to share that this will be the season finale and the start of an indefinite hiatus of the show.  It has been a privilege to bring you solutions news every day. We have a vast library of daily updates and special guest interviews to keep you inspired, so please keep coming back to your favorite episodes when you need a lift! Keep connected with The Optimist Daily. We'll continue to be a resource for solutions as we transition into the next chapter of our organization... Updates to come on optimistdaily.com.  Thanks for listening to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy and being part of the solutions-oriented consciousness to change our world for the better. 

Today we're welcoming guest Paul Relis to the show! Paul is a pioneer of environmental solutions after being called to action from the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill - a transformative event in US history that launched many environmental protection programs, and Paul's career. With his leadership in forming the Community Environmental Council, starting recycling programs with the California Environmental Protection Agency, taking executive roles in the bioenergy sector, and engaging in many more impressive positions, Paul has a lot to share with us about taking environmental action.  You can read more about Paul's work in his book, Out of The Wasteland: Stories from The Environmental Frontier. More of his work is also detailed on paulrelis.com. 

Today's innovative design news: Arielle and Kristy dive into the design world with two inspiring stories. They begin by talking about hydrofoils and how they can be used to electrify ferries and ships, one of the only modes of transport that is yet to be successfully decarbonized. Then, they discuss a beautifully designed eco-school located in the Thar desert in India. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's out-of-this-world news: Arielle and Kristy journey into space with today's solutions. First, Arielle talks about NASA's newly assembled team committed to investigating UFOs. Then, Kristy discusses how kombucha, the talented tea, is helping us better understand extraterrestrial life. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's wildly positive news: Summers highlights how Australian whale watchers are being treated to an earlier-than-usual whale watching season thanks to successful conservation! Then, Kristy talks about a new study that details how animal adaptations could inform better women's health. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's optimistic news: A new smart pillow can track the sleep of a user and provide essential data, and Uber is aiding Ukrainians by parterning with the UN World Food Programme. That and more on The Optimist Daily today!  Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's solutions news: Italy's special police force, the Carabinieri, teams up with bees to fight climate change, and here are four policy changes we can make to reduce the environmental cost of the meat industry. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Summers talks about how students at the University of Illinois, Chicago have built a fully functional solar charging station for an on-campus food truck and other EVs. Then, Kristy discusses how the Biden administration is trying to drastically scale up solar production. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: California levels up its composting game by making composting a statewide practice. Plus, North Carolina State University has developed an Attentional Failure during Driving Questionnaire (AFDQ) to help determine which drivers are most at risk of having an accident.  If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Summers and Kristy start the week by talking about how new research from the University of California, Fullerton reveals a correlation between youth who participate in team sports and better mental health. Then, they discuss the VEST hackathon is helping make the professional field of construction more equitable for all. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's positive news: Firefighting goats are helping prevent wildfires in California's Ojai Valley (shout out to Emissary Warren Petersen for submitting this story for our Optimist Change-Makers nominations!)! Plus, the world's largest plant (think 20,000 football fields big) has just been discovered off the coast of Australia. All that and more on The Optimist Daily today!  Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers and Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Kristy shares exciting news about Barbie's first trans doll, modeled after amazing actress and trans woman Laverne Cox. Then, Summers discusses how Germany is coming to terms with its colonial history and, as a part of that journey, has decided to return ancient stolen artifacts to Namibia. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Summers talks about how the Wildlife Conservation Society is building an enormous photo database of Amazonian wildlife with the help of an international team of scientists. Then, Kristy discusses how authorities around the world are working to regulate greenwashing. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's positive parenting news: Arielle talks about a Colorado law that gives LGBTQ+ parents rightful custody over their own children and Kristy shares advice on how to talk to students who are afraid or anxious about going back to school in the wake of the tragic Uvalde shooting. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Happy Friday! We have some wheel-y good solutions on The Optimist Daily Update today. Summers and Kristy are chatting about good transportation news ahead of a big travel weekend for Memorial Day in the United States. Germany just reduced public transportation fees to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and old recycled rubber tires are improving the lifespan of our roads.  Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers and Kristy -- Making Solutions the News!

Summers and Kristy begin today's episode by sharing their shock and sadness about yet another mass shooting at yet another school.  Then, they turn their discussion to the uplifting news that we all need, especially when the world feels like a dark place. Summers speaks about the benefits of summer employment for young people and Kristy gets into why we should try to limit our daily TV time to an hour or less. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today, Kristy and Arielle address a hot topic: heatstroke. As the temperatures continue to climb, experts are predicting an incredibly hot summer this year, especially across the western and central areas in the US and Canada. Heatstroke is a serious condition that can even lead to death, so this episode is all about how to identify heatstroke, what to do about it, and how it can be prevented. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's inspirational nature news: Arielle and Summers talk about the remarkable Redwoods and how they're adapting to climate change, and also an exciting conservation project around the Belize Barrier Reef led by non-profit Fragments of Hope. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing good in this world, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Arielle and Kristy discuss the exciting med-tech advancement involving contact lenses that release glaucoma treatments, then they celebrate how US Soccer and both the men's and women's national teams have come to a historic collective bargaining agreement to finally close the gender pay gap. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today we're chatting about some positive labor news! US trucking shortages might be at an end, and architects are redesigning their industry labor model.    Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers and Kristy -- Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Here's a positive reality check about how the job market is actually doing much better than we think it is! Then, Arielle and Summers talk about the MET gala and what we can do to drown out toxic messaging about diet culture. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's mental health news: Today Karissa gives helpful tips for supporting a loved one with bipolar disorder, and Summers shares advice on what to do when faced with a personal or a professional fork in the road. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Summers and Arielle dive into alternative energy stories with a new method that rescues lithium from wastewater and a basic computer that's been powered by algae for over half a year! If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Happy Monday! Summers and Kristy start the week off with spacey solutions: Summers talks about the Orbex rocket prototype and how it could make space travel greener. Kristy then highlights a robot that's smashed records to become the highest jumper to date, engineered or biological.  If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Woohoo! It's Friday! We've got some great forward-thinking stories on The Optimist Daily today. Karissa is talking about how medicinal tattoos are tracking a patient's oxygen levels and more, and Summers is telling us how Europe's largest solar park will open this summer in Portugal (and how she gets to see her puppy today!).  Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers and Kristy -- Making Solutions the News! 

Today's good news: Prestigious Stanford University opens the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, a school dedicated solely to studying the climate crisis. Plus, backgammon offers surprising health benefits.  If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's tech-savvy solutions: Summers and Kristy talk about a new ultra-thin material that might be a gamechanger for batteries, storage, and other electronics. They also dive into the potential of a microwave network that could make the internet not just more climate-resilient, but faster and cheaper. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Tasmania joins Suriname and Bhutan as one of the world's only carbon-negative places. Plus, Germany makes renewable energy cheaper for households and businesses. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Happy Monday! In today's episode, Summers and Karissa discuss uplifting stories in person for the first time ever. Together, they talk about pandemic lessons and a particularly inspiring woman who completed 104 marathons in 104 days. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today we're welcoming Jen Knight from the Wands for Wildlife onto the podcast! Jen joins us to chat about the great work over at Wands for Wildlife, which is a non-profit inspiring people to help wildlife and the planet through repurposing used mascara wands for use in wildlife care, art, and education.  Learn more about Wands for Wildlife and how you can support at wandsforwildlife.org.  

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Today Kristy talks about how the EU is proposing the largest ban on toxic chemicals to date, and Summers discusses why nations should work together to establish ocean reservations to protect our precious coral reefs. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

May the fourth be with you! Today, Summers and Kristy get personal while talking about reproductive rights and access to women's healthcare. They then commend Connecticut lawmakers, who are reacting to the surge of anti-abortion legislation with a bill that expands the kinds of medical practitioners who can offer abortion services within the state.  They also talk about an ancient enzyme that can help address food production concerns around the world. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Washington State becomes the first state to mandate all-electric heating for new buildings and Captain Fanplastic teaches young pirates in South Africa and the Netherlands about plastic pollution and the five "ARRRs": refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

It's May! Summers and Kristy talk about two warm-weather activities that will help you step into May in a positive way: cycling and archery! Learn about the physical and mental health benefits of hopping on a bike or picking up a bow and arrow. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today we're welcoming Nadine Young to the show, who is the communications lead at Elders Climate Action (ECA). ECA is an organization working to unite all generations, especially elders, in the fight against climate change. We're chatting about climate action, climate activism, and more in this wonderful multigenerational discussion.  To learn more about ECA and get involved, visit eldersclimateaction.org. 

Today's good news: Five cities around the world celebrated Earth Day by "plogging," the Swedish trend of combining picking up trash and physical exercise. Plus, Kristy explains what adaptogens are and why are they good for us. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Happy Wednesday! Today's good news is all about the birds and the bees as Summers and Kristy explore why understanding how pregnant individuals make decisions around birth settings, and follow this discussion up with some helpful tips on how to encourage pollinators through the spring and summer months. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's global solutions news: Fukushima transforms itself from a nuclear disaster site to a renewable energy hub, and a million African children have been inoculated against malaria. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's solutions news: Make air travel as green as you can with these 7 tips, and LA County trades in disposable dining ware for compostable and recyclable alternatives! If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Happy Earth Day! Here are four eco-conscious ways you can get rid of your old and worn-out clothing, and there's a slum in India that is improving its conditions while still maintaining community. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Find out why birds migrate and how to help them on their journeys. Also, a local community in Gabon successfully saves ancestral lands from logging. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Feeling down? Call the PepToc Hotline for messages of encouragement from kids. Plus, how switching over to an all-electric home is an efficient and effective way to reduce carbon emissions. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's med-tech news: Wireless video could improve intubation procedures while also making them more accessible, and space mice help scientists figure out why so many astronauts develop kidney stones in space. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's sustainable news: Scientists at the University of Tokyo engineer a plastic that can repair itself at room temperature, and the Big Apple to become more resilient against climate change by becoming "spongier." If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today on the pod we're chatting about influencing our brain through the practice of news resiliency in the wake of bad news, and psilocybin ("magic mushroom") therapy to treat mental health patients. These stories are a dose of great news!  Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Summers and Kristy -- Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Mexico join forces to create a binational ecological river park that celebrates the Sister Cities' friendship, and sniff before you sip! The NOS.E electronic nose will make sure you're drinking the real deal. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Welcome to The Optimist Daily Update's first bonus episode! Today we are highlighting one of our favorite interviews from our podcast archive, with new commentary by content producer, Arielle. Take a walk down memory lane with us as we dive back into a riveting conversation we had with Katie Diasti, CEO of eco-friendly period care brand Viv for your V, and COO Izzy Sarrafzadeh.

Today's good news: Scientists study vampire bats to learn more about the complexities of social bonding, and attention all mascara users! Your old crusty wands can be repurposed as tiny brushes for the smallest of rescue animals. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

Today's good news: Research supports the drunken monkey hypothesis, which suggests that human fondness for alcohol  may have evolutionary roots, and Kristy dives into medical advancements, specifically miniscule bacteria machines. If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!

In honor of National Pet's Day, Summers and Kristy discuss animal-focused good news. Ecuador is the first country to grant wild animals legal rights and scientists explore how spiders use their webs to "hear". If you'd like to lend your voice to the Optimist Daily Update, send an email to: editorial@optimistdaily.com. Listen to the Optimist Daily Update with Summers & Kristy - Making Solutions the News!