The PepToc Hotline and Electric Homes
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: Read More...
Wireless Intubation and Kidney Stones in Space
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: Read More...
Self-Repairing Plastics and Sponge Cities
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: Read More...
Changing our Thinking with News Resiliency and Psilocybin Therapy
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 Read More...
A Binational Ecological River Park & Fraudulent Whisky
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 Read More...
Bonus Episode: Viv for your V
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 Read More...
Bonding Vampire Bats & Wands for Wildlife
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 Read More...
Drunken Monkey Hypothesis & Bacterial Enzyme Machines
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 Read More...
Estrellita the Woolly Monkey & How Spiders Use Webs to Hear
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: Read More...
Climate Anxiety and Body Neutrality
Happy Friday everyone! Today we're talking about tips to deal with climate anxiety and how to embrace the new movement of body neutrality. Digressions include Kristy going "commando" in Target this week, and how Summers is glowing from her new yoga class. Listen to The Optimist Daily Update with Read More...