Mental Health Benefits of Youth Team Sports and the VEST Hackathon
Today's good news: Summers and Kristy start the week by talking about how new research from the University of California, Fullerton reveals a correlation between youth who participate in team sports and better mental health. Then, they discuss the VEST hackathon is helping make the professional Read More...
Firefighting Goats and World's Largest Plant
Today's positive news: Firefighting goats are helping prevent wildfires in California's Ojai Valley (shout out to Emissary Warren Petersen for submitting this story for our Optimist Change-Makers nominations!)! Plus, the world's largest plant (think 20,000 football fields big) has just been Read More...
Barbie's First Trans Doll and Germany Returns Namibian Artifacts
Today's good news: Kristy shares exciting news about Barbie's first trans doll, modeled after amazing actress and trans woman Laverne Cox. Then, Summers discusses how Germany is coming to terms with its colonial history and, as a part of that journey, has decided to return ancient stolen artifacts Read More...
The Biggest Photo Database of Amazonian Wildlife and The Fight Against Greenwashing
Today's good news: Summers talks about how the Wildlife Conservation Society is building an enormous photo database of Amazonian wildlife with the help of an international team of scientists. Then, Kristy discusses how authorities around the world are working to regulate greenwashing. If you'd like Read More...
Colorado Law Defends LGBTQ+ Parents' Rights and Talking with Kids Afraid of Going Back To School
Today's positive parenting news: Arielle talks about a Colorado law that gives LGBTQ+ parents rightful custody over their own children and Kristy shares advice on how to talk to students who are afraid or anxious about going back to school in the wake of the tragic Uvalde shooting. If you'd like to Read More...
Public Transportation in Germany and Secret Ingredient to Longer Lasting Roads
Happy Friday! We have some wheel-y good solutions on The Optimist Daily Update today. Summers and Kristy are chatting about good transportation news ahead of a big travel weekend for Memorial Day in the United States. Germany just reduced public transportation fees to reduce reliance on fossil Read More...
Summer Youth Employment Programs and Bid Binge Watching Goodbye
Summers and Kristy begin today's episode by sharing their shock and sadness about yet another mass shooting at yet another school. Then, they turn their discussion to the uplifting news that we all need, especially when the world feels like a dark place. Summers speaks about the benefits of Read More...
Everything You Need To Know About Heatstroke
Today, Kristy and Arielle address a hot topic: heatstroke. As the temperatures continue to climb, experts are predicting an incredibly hot summer this year, especially across the western and central areas in the US and Canada. Heatstroke is a serious condition that can even lead to death, so this Read More...
Resilient Redwoods and Conserving the Belize Barrier Reef
Today's inspirational nature news: Arielle and Summers talk about the remarkable Redwoods and how they're adapting to climate change, and also an exciting conservation project around the Belize Barrier Reef led by non-profit Fragments of Hope. If you'd like to nominate someone you know who's doing Read More...
US Soccer to Close Gender Pay Gap and Contact Lenses Treat Glaucoma
Today's good news: Arielle and Kristy discuss the exciting med-tech advancement involving contact lenses that release glaucoma treatments, then they celebrate how US Soccer and both the men's and women's national teams have come to a historic collective bargaining agreement to finally close the Read More...