Episode Description:

Happy Valentine’s Day! This week, Arielle and Karissa are diving into a love-infused lineup of solutions, starting with a fascinating study on how your partner’s scent might actually help you sleep better. Then, they explore San Francisco State University’s groundbreaking new climate justice requirement, plus more inspiring stories on sustainability, wellness, and innovation. Whether you’re celebrating romance or just enjoying some good news, we’ve got the perfect dose of optimism for you!

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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

All right, hello! We are back with another episode of our pod to share the solutions from The Optimist Daily this week. And—happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!

Karissa

Happy Valentine’s Day! I’m a really big fan because I love love, honestly, and it’s so nice to just take this day to show love to friends, family, and significant others. I had a really good time this week doing some arts and crafts—just making a couple of little heart messages to send to friends and everyone, just to tell them they’re loved. And with everything going on at the moment, you know, you can only control one thing. For me, that’s how much love I put into the world.

Arielle

Ah, that’s so sweet! You’re making me feel bad because I didn’t do anything for Valentine’s Day.

Karissa

Well, it’s OK! It doesn’t have to be Valentine’s Day to show appreciation and love for people in your life. Just a little text or a compliment can make someone’s day.

Arielle

Yeah, that’s so true. I mean, I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day in my personal life, but I do really like it for another reason. I would never celebrate it because I worked in hospitality for quite some time.

Karissa

Busy day, yeah.

Arielle

It’s a really busy day! It’s a money maker for restaurants, and it was always so interesting to watch people’s Valentine’s Day dates unfold (laughs).

Karissa

Mm-hmm.

Arielle

So that’s why I really liked it—it was entertaining but also heartwarming. But you know, whether you love it, ignore it, or just appreciate the fact that there’s probably going to be half-off chocolate tomorrow, we do have a fascinating story for all of our listeners today that we’re pulling from the archive in the name of romance. So, do you mind if I just jump into it, Karissa?

Karissa

Yeah, I’m excited to share this one!

Arielle

All right, so the article is titled Sniff, snuggle, snooze: your lover’s scent may be the key to better sleep.

Karissa

Oh!

Arielle

Yeah, so it turns out that your partner’s scent—yes, their actual, like, musky smell—might be the secret to a better night’s sleep. According to a 2020 study from the University of British Columbia, simply having an item of clothing infused with your partner’s scent can improve sleep quality, even if you’re not consciously aware of it.

Karissa

Oh, that’s so wild. So just keeping a hoodie or a T-shirt from your partner nearby could help you sleep better?

Arielle

Yes, exactly. The researchers had 155 participants whose partners wore plain T-shirts for 24 hours—no deodorant, no cologne, no heavy workouts, nothing that could alter their natural scent. Then, the T-shirts were sealed up and frozen to preserve the smell.

Karissa

Frozen like a scent time capsule.

Arielle

Yeah, pretty much. Then the participants were given two pillowcases—one with their partner’s scent and one that was either unworn or worn by a stranger. So I guess the pillowcases were like, the T-shirts.

Karissa

Okay…

Arielle

And then they swapped them out each night without knowing which one was which.

Karissa

Oh, okay. So then they actually slept better with their partner’s scent, even if they didn’t realize it?

Arielle

Yes! Sleep monitors showed that they tossed and turned less when they had their partner’s scent, and many reported better sleep quality. The researchers think it’s because the brain associates familiar smells with safety and comfort, which can lower stress levels and lead to deeper sleep.

Karissa

Hmm. Okay, that makes sense. I mean, people keep their partner’s sweaters or sleep in their shirts when they’re away—it’s kind of just an instinct.

Arielle

Mm-hmm. And this study backs up that instinct with actual data. Even without physical presence, scent alone was enough to have a measurable effect on sleep.

Karissa

Okay, so now I’m wondering—does this mean we should all start intentionally leaving behind T-shirts for our partners when we travel?

Arielle

Yeah, it wouldn’t hurt! If you or your partner travel a lot or are in a long-distance partnership—like I know you are, Karissa—keeping a piece of their clothing might be a simple way to sleep better while apart. No fancy sleep aids, no apps, just something familiar.

Karissa

Yeah, well, I love this idea. Basically, it sounds like love smells like an old T-shirt (laughs).

Arielle

Yeah, it’s pretty funny when you put it that way. But yeah, sort of! If you needed an excuse to keep stealing your partner’s hoodie—or, as I call it, the hoodie rental—here it is. Science says it’s good for your sleep!

Karissa

Well, I’m sold. And honestly, it’s just nice to hear a story like this around Valentine’s Day that isn’t all about grand gestures. Because, you know, sometimes the little things—like a familiar scent—actually make the biggest difference. So, if you need a last-minute Valentine’s idea, you could just skip the chocolates and give your partner your shirt (laughs).

Arielle

Just be like, “I wore this shirt, babe.” (Laughs).

Karissa

Exactly.

Arielle

Yeah, I totally agree with you. So whether you’re spending today with someone special or just celebrating good sleep, take comfort in knowing that even something as simple as scent can have a real impact.

Karissa

Super interesting. And I think this could probably extend beyond just romantic partners because I’m thinking about how even pets love being around their owner’s scent. So I’m sure if it was a family member or someone else important to you, it could have a similar effect.

Arielle

Yeah! I mean, if you’re embarking on a journey all by yourself—like if you got a job in another country and you don’t know anyone—then, yeah, take all your family’s old clothes and surround yourself with that familiarity (laughs).

Karissa

Yeah, exactly. It’s very sweet, too.

Arielle

Mhmm. Well, what story do you have to share with us today, Karissa?

Karissa

It’s kind of a completely different topic, but still on the science wave, I’d say. Well, actually, maybe even a little further than science… I’ll just get into it.

Arielle

Mm.

Karissa

San Francisco State University leads the way as the first major university to require a climate justice course. So this was a really cool headline I saw this past week. San Francisco State University, or SFSU, is setting a historic precedent by becoming the first major university in the US to require all students to take a climate justice course before graduating. Beginning as early as fall 2026, this initiative ensures that students understand both the science of climate change and its social impacts.

Arielle

Wow, this is a really great move from San Francisco State. I can totally get behind it. How did they decide to make this a requirement for all students?

Karissa

Well, as Autumn Thoyre, co-director at SFSU’s Climate HQ, a hub supporting climate-related work on campus says, “Our students’ lives are already being impacted by climate change, and so we think it’s part of our responsibility as a university to prepare students for that.”

Arielle

Yeah, that makes sense.

Karissa

Exactly. So rather than treating climate change as just a STEM issue, the university is embedding climate justice into multiple disciplines—including ethnic studies, history, humanities, and English.

Arielle

It’s really wonderful to see that the campus recognizes climate change goes way beyond science. The consequences of climate change already affect, and will continue to affect, all aspects of society.

Karissa

Absolutely. And this move highlights how climate change intersects with race, class, and gender—disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, who are often at the forefront of climate solutions. SFSU defines climate justice as the recognition of unequal climate change impacts on underserved populations and the leadership of frontline communities in developing solutions.

Arielle

And we really love to see those solutions.

Karissa

Exactly! This new requirement aims to educate students on the systemic inequalities that shape both climate vulnerability and policy responses. Thoyre emphasized that all careers will be climate-related in the future, stating, “Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck crisis that requires understanding and solutions from all different disciplines and sectors of society.”

Arielle

Yeah, we’ve also written in the past about how younger generations are actively seeking careers that help combat climate change. So I think this is a really great trend.

Karissa

Yeah, I totally agree. And to prepare students for a climate-affected world, SFSU is recertifying more than 100 courses to incorporate climate justice themes. These courses will be woven into existing degree programs, ensuring that every student—regardless of major or desired career path—gains an understanding of how climate change shapes global and local realities.

Arielle

It sounds like SFSU’s decision comes at a really crucial time, especially with shifting federal climate policies—like the US withdrawing once again from the Paris Agreement.

Karissa

Yeah, absolutely. And Thoyre sees this initiative as an example of local resistance to federal inaction.

Arielle

Mm-hmm, it’s all about those smaller actions after all.

Karissa

Yeah, exactly. And it’s something they can control. For students like Isaac Barajas, a junior studying industrial design, the course requirement represents a critical step toward awareness and activism. He actually said, “I have fallen into the trap of believing things that weren’t real,” highlighting the spread of climate misinformation online.

But he’s really optimistic about this change and says. “This climate justice requirement will allow more students to be socially aware and more informed.”

And it’s not just about understanding climate science—it’s about preparing students for a world reshaped by climate change. Barajas, who grew up in California’s Salinas Valley, has already witnessed extreme climate effects firsthand, from droughts to severe rainfall.

And I can definitely relate to this because I’m from the Central Valley of California, which isn’t too far from there. For me too, seeing these extreme weather events is what really made me passionate about working toward solutions for a better world. Climate justice is definitely part of my job here at Optimist Daily since we share so many solutions related to it, and I’m really glad to be doing that.

Arielle

Yeah, I second that sentiment. It’s really cool to see that SFSU is leading the way, and I wish I had this requirement when I was in university as well.

Karissa

Same! I think it would have been really cool to have one centralized class that just focused on climate justice. I know it was a theme in many of my classes, but having it as a requirement for everyone? That’s such a good step. Hopefully, other universities will follow suit so that future graduates are better equipped to navigate, address, and advocate for climate solutions in their careers and communities.

Arielle

Mm-hmm. Well, amazing news!

Karissa

Yeah, I’m really optimistic about this one. And it’s happening practically in my backyard, so that makes it really cool.

Arielle

Yeah, it’s always great when we get to share solutions that are happening close to home. Though at this point, I don’t think we reported anything that is happening close to me! But still, it’s really cool to learn about.

Would you like to tell us what else we have on the Optimist Daily this week?

Karissa

Yeah, so this week we also shared What is frozen shoulder? Everything you need to know about this painful condition. I didn’t even know that was a thing, so check that out.

We also had How black soldier fly larvae are revolutionizing agriculture—definitely an interesting one. Four simple scalp massage techniques for thicker hair growth, if you need a little self-care this Valentine’s Day. And Brazil bans smartphones in schools to aim for better learning.

What else did we have, Arielle?

Arielle

Eight ways to keep your joints happy as you age— I’m starting to feel the effects of aging on my joints, so I’ll definitely be paying that one a visit.

There’s also America’s first car-free neighborhood is proving walkability works, Gut bacteria may hold the key to breakthrough vitiligo treatment, and Want to bond with your cat? Science says you just need to blink.

I’m kind of surprised you didn’t choose that one, Karissa (laughs).

Karissa

I was close to it (laughs)! But I love that solution too. I love blinking at my cat, so I’m glad to know it’s actually a bonding thing.

If you want to start your day off right next week, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get our solutions straight to your inbox.

Arielle

We also have a lot more on our social channels! You can find us at @OptimistDaily on all platforms, including Threads and Pinterest. The only difference is on X, where we’re @OdeToOptimism.

Karissa

And we’re also on Blue Sky! (Laughs)

Arielle

Oh yeah (laughs), we’re also on Blue Sky!

Karissa

Yeah, so if you’re making the switch over to Blue Sky, check us out there too.

And we’re 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, click on the link in the show notes to find out how.

Arielle

And remember that 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, or sharing a solution on your socials would be a huge help.

Karissa

Yeah! Well, as always, Arielle, it was great to be here with you sharing these solutions. And happy Valentine’s Day to you—showing my coworker some love today!

Arielle

Right back at you! I hope you enjoy your Valentine’s Day today, and the same goes for all of our listeners.

Karissa

Yeah, we love and appreciate that you’re all on this optimistic journey with us. We’ll be back next week with more solutions, but until then, enjoy your weekend.

Both

Bye!