Today’s Solutions: December 16, 2025

Hope after heartbreak: divorce

Hope after heartbreak: divorce support in India and 7 uplifting benefits of getting older

This week, Karissa and Arielle dive into stories of transformation. From India’s empowering divorce retreats to science-backed reasons to embrace aging with open arms. They discuss why aging might just be the best chapter of your life (spoiler: less stress, more joy), how one woman’s loss Read More...

5 simple fitness tests for lon

5 simple fitness tests for longevity + turning wind turbines into tiny homes

In this week’s roundup, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful solutions shaping the future of health and sustainability. First, discover how five simple fitness tests—like balancing on one leg or your natural walking speed—offer surprising insights into longevity and independence as we Read More...

Celebrating Local Changemakers

Celebrating Local Changemakers: Nominate Your Community Heroes of 2025

This week, Arielle spotlights the return of our Local Changemakers Series! From food justice in Olympia to climate activism and dog rescue in Thailand, last year’s nominees inspired us with their creativity and compassion. Now we’re inviting you to nominate the people and projects making a Read More...

How Adults Can Capture Back-to

How Adults Can Capture Back-to-School Joy, and How Rocky Mountain National Park is Expanding Access

This week Arielle and Karissa are exploring solutions both personal and global—from Rocky Mountain National Park’s inspiring accessibility upgrades to playful ways adults can tap into back-to-school energy. They also take time for an I’m an Optimist, But… reflection on women’s safety, a Read More...

From mind-reading BCIs to ER-p

From mind-reading BCIs to ER-proof life tips: this week’s top 10 innovations

This week on the podcast, Arielle and Karissa explore surprising yet powerful solutions—from Stanford’s breakthrough brain-computer interface that decodes inner speech (complete with a mental privacy password!) to the top five preventable injuries that send people to the ER—yes, avocado hand Read More...

Hormone-free male birth contro

Hormone-free male birth control + one-minute wellness check-ins

This week, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful shifts in health and wellness. First, they dive into YCT-529, a promising hormone-free male birth control pill that may finally bring more balance to reproductive responsibility. Then, they share a simple but impactful habit: a one-minute daily Read More...

Safer streets, smarter cities:

Safer streets, smarter cities: protecting women, wildlife, and well-being

In this week’s episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa explore two powerful stories that spotlight how cities are becoming safer, smarter, and more inclusive for both people and animals. Arielle shares how Amsterdam is installing tiny wooden staircases along its Read More...

Turning tragedy into hope: Reb

Turning tragedy into hope: Rebuilding after wildfires and the future of canine cancer research

In this episode, Karissa and Arielle explore two uplifting stories of transformation. First, they look at how Southern California communities are rebuilding sustainably after the Eaton Fire—repurposing concrete, steel, and trees into roads, buildings, and soil. Then, they dive into groundbreaking Read More...

From clutter to connection: Th

From clutter to connection: The screen-free movement and the magic of Poppins

In this episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Arielle and Karissa explore two uplifting solutions that challenge overconsumption and digital overwhelm. First, they dive into the growing trend of screen-free living among younger generations, highlighting how a quiet rebellion is Read More...

From pinecones to predators: w

From pinecones to predators: wildfire tech and the misunderstood vulture

This week on The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Round-up, Karissa and Arielle explore two unexpected environmental heroes: a pinecone-inspired wildfire sensor called Pyri, and the misunderstood but essential role of vultures in ecosystem health. Discover how design students in London are helping prevent Read More...