Sunny Side Up

Today's news stories brings us to “type 2 fun” — the idea that some of life’s toughest moments later become our most rewarding stories. To explore that, I'm joined by Jocelyn and Robert, who’ll share their own experiences of struggle, resilience, and growth.

This episode's headlines:

Kelsey Pfendler sets record in solo Hawaii row.

Young Taiwanese sailor remains resilient after record voyage and London theft.

Type 2 Fun: why life’s toughest moments can be most rewarding.

Following some good news from around the world, I look at how dogs brighten our lives - from their impact on our wellbeing to the simple joy of spending time together outdoors. You’ll hear voices from a pet picnic in Yangmingshan, including dog owners Wynter, Momo, Paohan and pet communicators, Yura and Nora, sharing what our furry companions mean to them.

This episode's headlines:

Boy who changed organ donation law gets life-saving heart after 8 years.

Kenyan women entrepreneurs scale businesses with African Development Bank support.

Indigenous Paiwan singer Sauljaljui completes historic North American tour.

Finland study highlights health gains for kids raised with dogs and nature.

In this episode of Sunny Side Up, we bring you a round-up of positive stories from around the world and we return for another segment of Gratitude Graffiti, where listeners share the moments and people they’re thankful for.

This episode's headlines:

UK scraps 200-year law that criminalized rough sleeping.

Copenhagen turns responsible tourism into rewards with CopenPay initiative.

Japanese volunteers mark 34 years of free cleft surgeries in Vietnam.

West African leopards show signs of recovery in Benin park.

This week, Amanda joins the studio to break down why Norway's decision to limit AI usage across schools is a potential win for the future of education.

This episode's headlines:

Solar-powered desalination breakthrough turns seawater into drinking water and valuable minerals.

Italy’s forests overtake farmland, opening a new path for green growth.

Colombia passes landmark law banning female genital mutilation, first in Latin America.

Norway curbs AI in schools to strengthen core learning skills.

Start your Tuesday with a double dose of optimism! In this episode, I kick things off with a roundup of the week’s top positive news stories from around the globe.

Then, in my segment "This Week in Good History," I dive into cooperatives, the incredible story of how they started, and how they are actively shaping a better, more harmonious world right now in 2026. I also bring it home to look at the powerful, real-world impact co-ops are having right here in Taiwan.

Tune in for your weekly reminder of the power of community!

This episode's headlines:

Volunteers help restore Scotland’s Atlantic rainforest with millions of native trees.

Simple white surfaces help Europe, India beat the heat.

Taiwan offers up to NT$8,000 to lure repeat foreign visitors.

The historical timelines, quotes, and thematic details in the This Week in Good History script are adapted from official United Nations and International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) documentation regarding the history of the Rochdale Pioneers (1844), the founding of the ICA (1895), the UN Resolutions (1992/1995), and the official 2026 theme statements by ICA Director General Jeroen Douglas.

This week, I’m joined by Amanda to take a deeper dive into our first story, unpacking the HPV vaccine through UK, U.S., and Taiwanese perspectives.

This episode's headlines:

HPV vaccine drives cervical cancer deaths near zero in young women.

South Korea’s tooth-regrowth patch signals future of natural dental care.

Taiwan’s 10-year quest finds East Asia’s tallest tree, “Heaven Sword.”

After sharing several feel-good international news stories, I shift from headlines to human moments. This week, Sunny Side Up brings you Gratitude Graffiti - a collection of gratitude, perspective, and quietly powerful moments from our community.

This episode's headlines:

Spanish grandmothers crochet climate solution, shading town streets.

Vietnam rescues over 400 cats in major crackdown on pet theft ring.

New training push aims to reduce pain in IUD procedures.

Indigenous Tao voyage revives ancient sea route between Taiwan and Philippines.

South Korea’s tooth-regrowth patch signals future of natural dental care.

Interim housing offers fast, humane path to address homelessness.

Knicks celebration spurs community support as damaged taxi driver receives aid.

Get ready for an episode full of purely positive news, then find out how I would spend a US$500 grant from the Drop Dead Generous experiment to help an indigenous community, plus some tips on how you can start a massive ripple effect today without spending a single cent.

This episode's headlines:

Nature’s engineers: family of beavers saves London tube station from flooding.

New vaccine innovation brings world closer to ending Polio.

Taiwan fathers lead surge in flexible childcare leave.

London hospital opens first rooftop ICU garden to boost patient recovery.

MacKenzie Scott’s $70 million gift expands meals, care for millions of U.S. seniors.

I start by sharing uplifting stories from around the world, then Fil joins me in the studio for a deeper conversation about a project on the ripple effect of human kindness, including his thoughtful take on how he would use a US$500 grant to help complete strangers. To close the show, I introduce my new segment, “This Week in Good History,” highlighting the signing of the Equal Pay Act on June 10, 63 years ago, and how it continues to shape progress toward closing the gender pay gap today.

This episode's headlines:

Hemp-based plastic breakthrough offers durable, non-toxic alternative to conventional materials.

UK opens first heathland green bridge to reconnect wildlife habitats.

Global experiment shows how small acts of generosity can spark big change.

This week's full-length feature wraps up my conversation with Hui Tsyr in its thrilling third and final part. We dive into her journey to Poland, preserving Easter caroling traditions, the power of reviving cultural heritage, as well as a special live violin performance.