In this episode we bring you a ray of sunshine all about solarpunk optimism, resilience, and staying defiantly hopeful about our future. Being optimistic has several benefits (backed by extensive science!) for your health, wellbeing, and overall experience of life. And sharing optimism and hope is inspiring and contagious. So tune in for a breath of fresh air from all the negativity and dystopian narratives that tend to dominate today’s media, how to find radically good news, and what you can do to start building our hopeful future. This episode will truly brighten up your day! 

*sorry for the weird feedback noise in this one folks, we have no clue what happened with our tech!

Episode time stamps:

0:00 Introduction

20:52 The science and benefits of optimism

30:17 Unlocking your future super-empowered optimistic self

38:01 The power of sharing optimism with others

49:18 Good News Stories

Want more? Here are some things that we spoke about in this episode that we recommend:

-Imaginable: How to Create a Hopeful Future (2023) by Jane McGonigal

-Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable

Imaginable (2024) by Hannah Ritchie

-Better Things Are Possible: How rebellious hope will change the world (2025) by Jack Toohey

-How to Save the Whole Stinkin’ Planet (2019) & How to Save the Whole Blinkin’ Planet (2024) by Lee Constable

-The Science of Optimism (YouTube Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynjOQgll5PE

-https://hal.science/hal-04295131v2/document

-https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-new-science-of-optimism-and-longevity/

-https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167202289012

-https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2752100

-https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-08527-005?doi=1

-https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11284214/

-https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000187911300170X

-https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-09924-001

-Forrest Gump (1994)

-The Sound of Music (1965)

-Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

-Amelie (2001)

-The Martian (2011 book; 2015 movie)

-The Good Place (2016-2020)

Good News Stories:

https://www.designboom.com/technology/3d-printed-ceramic-sculptures-raphael-emine-hotels-insects-small-wildlife-wasp-02-05-2025/

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/05/uk-to-launch-pilot-scheme-that-helps-homeless-people-access-banking

Places to find good news stories:

Good Good Good Co (@goodgoodgoodco, https://www.goodgoodgood.co/)

Wattle Media (@wattle_media, https://www.youtube.com/@Wattle_media) 

The Happy Broadcast (@the_happy_broadcast, https://thehappybroadcast.com/)