The Optimist Daily Weekly Roundup
With Arielle Tiangco and Karissa Garcia
Do you like the stories from around the world that recognize and celebrate the people and events making a positive change? Tune in to The Optimist Daily Weekly Roundup, where our solutions-focused stories continue, and hear behind-the-scenes discussions from the people bringing you the news.
Episodes
January 10, 2025
New Year, New Intentions: Strategies for a Fulfilled 2025
Welcome back to The Optimist Daily Weekly Round-Up! Arielle and Karissa kick off a brand new season with a conversation about setting intentions to make 2025 a year of personal growth and fulfillment. Forget those rigid New Year’s resolutions—learn how intentions can guide your heart and mind toward meaningful change. The hosts also explore how psychological richness, mindfulness, curiosity, and creativity can transform everyday routines into opportunities for engagement and joy.
Start your year with optimism and actionable solutions—hit play and get inspired!
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419460
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://
PLAY 15:38 min
December 20, 2024
Season's Greetings from the Optimist Daily!
In this special mini-episode of The Optimist Daily Weekly Round-Up, join us for a heartfelt message of gratitude from our team. With Karissa out sick, we’re keeping it short and sweet—reflecting on the importance of optimism in today’s world and celebrating you, our incredible community. From all of us at The Optimist Daily and The World Business Academy, we wish you a joyful and hopeful holiday season!
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419428
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://
PLAY 01:44 min
December 13, 2024
California's Southeast Asian Curriculum and The Power of Tiny Acts of Kindness
Episode Description:
This week’s good news:
Arielle kicks things off with an inspiring story about California’s new Southeast Asian curriculum, which celebrates the histories and resilience of Hmong, Vietnamese, and Cambodian Americans. Karissa follows up by exploring the science behind small acts of kindness and how these tiny gestures can create meaningful change in our communities and beyond.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419366
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://
PLAY 13:01 min
November 22, 2024
The World's Largest Coral and Life-Changing Intergenerational Friendships
This week's good news:
Arielle begins by bringing us to the Solomon Islands, where The National Geographic Pristine Seas team accidentally discovered the world's biggest coral. Then, Karissa shares how programs like Dorot and Eldera are helping youth and elders create intergenerational friendships and why these relationships are so important, especially in this day and age.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419292
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://
PLAY 17:21 min
November 15, 2024
Indigenous Voices at COP16 and Intellectual Humility
This week's positive news:
Karissa opens the podcast with wonderful news from this year’s COP16 UN Biodiversity Summit. Then, Arielle dives into why practicing intellectual humility can help us face our own biases, open up to different perspectives, and enrich our understanding of the world.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419260
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://
PLAY 16:25 min
November 08, 2024
Pop-Up Wetlands and Silicon Valley Jail's Store
This week's positive news:
Arielle talks about an innovative program called BirdReturns that pays local rice farmers to flood their fields to offer pop-up wetlands that give migratory birds a safe place to land, rest, and feed. Then, Karissa shares how Goodwill launched its first store inside Milpitas' Elmwood Correctional Facility, which offers hands-on retail training to incarcerated women, preparing them for future work opportunities upon release.
Transcript link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419231
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://
PLAY 12:50 min
November 01, 2024
All About Handling Disagreements, Conflict, and Confrontation
Today's solutions news:
Today, Karissa covers tips and strategies for handling conversations with people you disagree with. Then, if things go further and you need to confront someone, Arielle shares how you can manage that with respect.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419205
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://
PLAY 19:55 min
October 25, 2024
How Donating Food Boosts Supermarket Profits and LGBTQ+ Veterans Get the Honorable Discharge They Deserve
Today's solutions-news:
Arielle dives into a surprising community-focused solution that solves many problems at once. Then, Karissa shares the uplifting news that over 800 veterans who were previously removed under the now-repealed "don't ask, don't tell" policy have had their discharge statuses upgraded to honorable.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419170
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://
PLAY 15:36 min
October 11, 2024
Record Sea Turtle Nests in Greece and The Life-Changing Power of a No-Spend Month
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.
Transcript link:
https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1419115
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://
PLAY 15:44 min
October 04, 2024
4 Ways You Can Help Hurricane Helene Victims Right Now
Arielle and Karissa focus on the devastation left by Hurricane Helene, which hit Asheville, North Carolina, and surrounding areas. They highlight ways that listeners, whether near or far, can help the victims of this disaster.
Where to donate:
United Way Helps NC Fund
Red Cross
Manna Food Bank
Asheville Humane Society
Wooden Robot Brewery
The Salvation Army
Indian Aroma Bistro
Transcript link:
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://
PLAY 06:04 min