Episode Description

Today’s positive news:

Karissa tells us all about the successful loggerhead sea turtle conservation efforts in Greece. Then, Arielle goes into why a No-Spend Month can change not only our financial health, but our mental health.

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://

Transcript:

Theme Music 

 Karissa: 

Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Karissa. 

 Arielle: 

And I’m Arielle, and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism in movement. 

Karissa: 

Hello again! We’re back with another episode of our podcast to share solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. And boy, did we have a lot of great solutions. 

Arielle: 

Mhm! 

Karissa: 

How are you doing, Arielle? 

Arielle: 

I’m doing pretty well. Life is very busy as usual, but I’ve been trying to slow down and appreciate what I have and what’s happening in my local community. That’s kind of what we’re doing with Optimist Daily. 

Karissa: 

Yeah, a couple of weeks ago, we asked our newsletter subscribers and followers to let us know about changemakers in their communities. 

Arielle: 

We didn’t get to every nomination, but we want to thank everyone who participated. We ended up with 16 finalists that we’ll be sharing in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving. Our first changemakers of the week are “Nature in the Classroom” and “The Man That Rescues Dogs.” You can definitely check out their stories on OptimistDaily.com. It’s been really fun to engage with our community this way. 

Karissa: 

Yeah, I love this so much. It’s been so exciting, as you said, to see all these great solutions from our Optimist community. 

Arielle: 

On another note, we’re going to be taking a break next week from the pod. It’s a very busy season for everyone, and it’s always good to take a break when needed. 

Karissa: 

So, we won’t have a new episode for you next week, but we’ll be back in two weeks. 

Arielle: 

And in case you miss us, you can always go back into our archives and listen to some earlier episodes. Or, there are so many other ways to access the solutions we have—through our socials and, of course, on OptimistDaily.com. 

Karissa: 

But before we take that break, we’ve got some great solutions to share with you this week. So, Arielle, I’ll just start off with my solution, if you don’t mind. 

Arielle: 

Yeah, of course! Go for it. 

Karissa: 

Yeah! So, my solution is called “Greece’s Sea Turtle Nests Reach Record Numbers as Conservation Efforts Pay Off.” After decades of tireless conservation efforts, the endangered Caretta caretta sea turtle is making a spectacular recovery on Greece’s coastlines. This ancient mariner, which has been around for over 100 million years, so, a very old one indeed, was nearly extinct due to human activity and environmental threats. Thanks to conservationist efforts led to a record number of sea turtle nests in Greece, marking an enormous triumph for wildlife preservation. 

This amazing phenomenon is happening on the sandy beaches of Sekania on the Ionian island of Zakynthos, which is the largest nesting place for loggerhead sea turtles in the Mediterranean. Charikleia Minotou, the WWF program manager in this protected area, has monitored loggerhead turtles for nearly 25 years and her discoveries are nothing short of amazing. She says the message from sea turtles is clear— “the measures we have taken over the past 25 years to ensure conditions are right for the marine turtles to nest here are working. It’s fantastic.” This year alone, more than 1,200 nests were discovered on the beach, which is an incredible number with one nest per 50 centimeters.  

Minotou and her crew have seen record numbers of both nests and surviving hatchlings, indicating a remarkable rebound for the species. The Mediterranean region has seen an extraordinary increase in sea turtle nesting numbers, from Spain to Cyprus. This success is largely due to coordinated efforts by conservationists dedicated to saving the species. Though only about one in every thousand sea turtle hatchlings survives to adulthood, the number of nests is increasing, demonstrating the effectiveness of these conservation programs. Greece, which contains 60% of the Mediterranean’s loggerhead turtle nests, has seen the most dramatic recovery. According to Archelon, the Sea Turtle Protection Society of Greece, the average number of nests each year has increased from 5,000-7,000 to more than 10,000 since 2023.  

Arielle: 

Wow, that’s an incredible rebound. 

Karissa: 

Definitely, and these efforts have centered on getting as many hatchlings into the water as possible, giving them the best chance of survival. 

Arielle: 

So, how did the population get so low in the first place? 

Karissa: 

Well, yeah. So, the success of these conservation programs did not come easily because of the previous neglect to the plight of the Caretta caretta, putting the species on the brink of extinction. Human activities, particularly the expanding tourism industry, which brought boats, beach equipment, and an increase in people posed a significant threat to turtles. And few people understood these early battles better than Lily Venizelos, the founder of the Mediterranean. Association to Save Sea Turtles (MEDASSET) based in the United Kingdom. In the 1980s she aggressively advocated for legislation to protect the turtles, and she says, “I spent years when they were endangered, running around different ministries with pieces of paper. Because back then, no one cared to listen.” 

The loggerhead turtle population’s comeback really encourages Lily, who is now in her 90s. She’s been at this for such a long time, and she’s still at it! What an icon in the sea turtle community over here. 

Both: 

(Laugh)

Karissa: 
But she emphasizes that the fight is far from done and says how it’s crucial that protective measures continue to be enforced. In one false move, everything could be lost. On that note, despite these positive advances, sea turtles in the Mediterranean still confront major obstacles. The region’s expanding tourism economy could jeopardize conservation efforts, because Greece, which hopes to attract 40 million tourists by 2028, has seen an increase in these last-chance tours, which are offered to travelers who want to visit sites threatened by climate change and excessive tourism, so.  

Arielle: 

It seems a little bit backwards.

Karissa: 

Not great to have an influx of visitors that are, you know, endangering these fragile marine habitats. We’ll see how that goes, but there’s a lot of conservationists and activists working against that. But in addition to tourism-related pressures, additional dangers such as climate change, of course, overfishing, pollution, and plastic waste are increasingly endangering sea turtles.

Conservationists are working hard to fight these threats, but they warned that the progress might be jeopardized without ongoing support and enforcement of protective measures. But overall, the resurgence of the Caretta caretta sea turtle demonstrates the strength of prolonged conservation efforts.

Arielle: 

Yeah, these record nesting numbers in Greece and basically throughout the Mediterranean certainly bring a lot of optimism and hope for the future of this iconic species.  

Karissa: 

Absolutely. But the task is far from over. The folks involved are maintaining vigilance and taking action to protect the loggerhead turtles’ long-term survival. 

So, with the correct regulations in place and dedication to safeguarding marine habitats, the Caretta caretta can continue to thrive and it’s already showing great promise. 

Arielle: 

I mean, sea turtles are incredible and fascinating creatures, and they’re ancient. They’ve been on this planet for way longer than we have been. Hopefully these conservation efforts continue and are fortified with time. 

Karissa: 

Well moving on from sea turtles Arielle… 

Arielle: 

Mm-hmm. Yeah. My solution has to do with a bit of a lifestyle tweak that sounds a little bit intimidating—it is a no-spend month.

Karissa: 

Oh, that sounds so tough (laughs).  

Arielle: 

Yeah, I know, and I definitely would struggle doing this, and I haven’t done it, so I can’t really speak from experience, but this article definitely caught my eye. The title is “Five Ways a No-Spend Month Can Transform Your Life for the Better.”  

 Okay, as we said, it sounds a bit intense, but trust me, I’ve read the article and it seems pretty flexible. A no-spend month is basically where you stop spending money on non-essential things for a set period. So, you can still buy your groceries, pay the bills, and cover your essentials, but dining out, shopping, and entertainment costs—that’s what you hit pause on. 

Karissa:

Okay. So, it’s just like cutting out the extras from our spending?

Arielle: 

Exactly. And the best part is that it can really help you reset financially, and not just in terms of your wallet. It’s also a way to take control of your spending and even your mental well-being. I’m going to break it down into five ways a no-spend month could seriously transform your life. 

Karissa:

Okay. Yeah, I’m excited to hear more.

Arielle: 

The first way it can change your life is it will improve your financial health, which is an obvious point, right? But here’s a real-world example: Jazmine Waller, who is now a bit of a budgeting/financial influencer, decided to try a no-spend month and ended up paying off $17,000 of debt in just nine months. She realized through not spending for a month how much was going out the door to things like subscriptions and impulse buys. And I’m definitely guilty of impulse buys. 

Karissa: 

Me too. It kind of shows that, you know, this no-spend month really forces you to look at where your money is actually going. 

Arielle: 

Mm-hmm. Yeah, precisely. Dr. Tracy Williams, who’s a financial therapist, says it’s perfect for people living paycheck to paycheck because it brings new awareness to their spending. When you’re not just mindlessly swiping your card, you’re way more mindful of every purchase.  

And the second transformation is that it reduces stress and financial anxiety. I mean, who hasn’t freaked out when you have, like, an unknown number calling and you think it’s a debt collector or when you get a late payment notice or something like that? Jazmine also mentioned how freeing it was to not be dodging calls about overdue bills. And there’s something super empowering about managing your money and sticking to a plan. When you’re in control, the stress starts to melt away, and you actually feel capable of hitting bigger financial goals. 

Karissa: 

Less debt, fewer freak-outs about money—it’s like reaching financial zen. 

Arielle: 

The third way it could transform your life is by helping you appreciate what you already have. Elyse Lyons, a self-proclaimed money mentor who does no-spend months four times a year — yeah, four times a year — said it made her realize how much she already owned but wasn’t using. 

Karissa: 

Oh yeah, I can definitely relate to that because I know I have a lot of clothes I don’t really use, and, you know, hobbies like crafts and stuff that I could do. In these no-spend months, I could definitely go back to what I already have. 

Arielle: 

I guess it’s all about shifting your mindset from “I need more” to “Hey, I already have so much.” Elyse also started using public resources like libraries and community centers, which gave her new experiences without having to spend a dime. And that ties in perfectly with transformation #4—getting creative with your free time. Like you mentioned, Karissa, you do have, like, a bunch of craft supplies and things that you could use around your house. So instead of spending money on, I don’t know, going out to brunch or going to the movies or whatever, you could just find new, cost-free ways to enjoy life.  

Karissa: 

Yeah, instead of, like, a usual weekend brunch, I could go on a picnic, maybe. Or I could even host a brunch at my house. 

Arielle: 

Yeah, exactly. And Elyse found that she actually had way more meaningful experiences with her family and friends by doing simple, fun activities at home—things like movie nights with homemade snacks because, you know, groceries are still allowed. And, yeah, just little things like that. Because those types of experiences help you find joy in small, intentional moments created together. And the fifth way a no-spend month can change your life is probably my favorite—it reduces your environmental impact. So, when you’re not caught up in fast fashion or viral trends, you naturally cut down on waste. 

Karissa: 

Yeah, absolutely. And saving money while saving the planet is such a win-win. 

Arielle: 

And when you stop those impulse buys and instead appreciate what you already have, you’re making more sustainable choices. Elyse now looks for second-hand items and enjoys her purchases way more because they’re intentional. So, if you’re thinking about giving a no-spend month a try, Dr. Williams has a few tips. She says don’t go too hardcore. Give yourself some flexibility—maybe set a small limit for non-essentials because you don’t want to feel like you’re punishing yourself. 

Karissa: 

Yeah, totally. There’s no need to be too strict, and if you mess up, you know, it’s important to just keep going. 

Arielle: 

And Elyse adds that it’s important to just give yourself some grace. As you said, if you mess up a little bit, don’t beat yourself up—just learn from it, pick up, and move on. 

Karissa: 

Well, all of this sounds pretty doable once you explained it, and it’s probably something that everyone could benefit from trying at least once. 

Arielle: 

Yeah, a no-spend month isn’t just about saving money. It’s about reducing stress, getting creative, and living in a more deliberate way. And you might just discover that the benefits go far beyond your bank account. I might try it. I mean, with a no-spend month, you’ll just realize where your money is going more, I think. Just having a general oversight over what you’re spending your money on will already help you be more mindful, so… 

Karissa: 

Yeah, totally! I really liked the solutions we shared this week, but we also had some other great solutions from the Optimist Daily that you can find on our website, including… 

Arielle: 

World Animal Protection’s unique personality awards, celebrating the sentient souls of wildlife. And then we have Britain becomes the first G7 Nation to end coal power, Botanists identifying 33 global “dark spots” filled with undiscovered plant species, and 12 tried-and-true techniques for relieving a cold quickly—it is cold season, so that’ll be a good resource! 

Karissa: 

Oh yeah, I’m feeling it. That one’s perfect to go over to because a lot of us will come down with a cold, like I have, in this season. OK, so we also have Expert-approved foods and drinks to get rid of a hangover quickly, Oldest living microbes discovered in 2-billion-year-old rock—a glimpse into Earth’s early life—really fascinating! And Lung cancer patients have new hope, thanks to this groundbreaking drug combo. And of course, we have the “Changemakers of the Week” series, edition number one that we mentioned at the beginning of the pod. And this week, we’re covering “Nature in the Classroom” and “The Man That Rescues Dogs.” So, head over to The Optimist Daily to find out more about that. 

Arielle: 

Alright, if you want to start your day off right, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter. Get our solutions straight to your inbox. 

Karissa: 

And we also have more on our social channels. You can find us @OptimistDaily on all of our platforms, including Threads and Pinterest—the only different one is on X where we are known as @OdeToOptimism. 

Arielle: 

We are a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If you want to support our mission of putting optimism into the world, please click on the link in the show notes to find out how. 

Karissa: 

Yeah, and support doesn’t always have to be financial. Even just recommending our podcast to a friend, leaving a positive review on Apple or Spotify, forwarding a link to a friend, or sharing the solution to your socials would be a great help. 

Arielle: 

Thank you so much for joining us this week. As we mentioned before, we’re going to take a little bit of a mental health/general health break.  

Karissa: 

Yup!

Arielle: 

So, we’ll see you in two weeks with more solutions! 

Karissa: 

Yeah, looking forward to being back then. But in the meantime, stay optimistic, everyone. Bye! 

Arielle: 

Bye!