This week, Arielle and Karissa dive into two very different but deeply connected stories about what it means to truly support healing. First, we unpack new research on what people going through cancer actually find helpful during the holidays, and why practical support often means more than cozy socks and inspirational mugs.

Then they travel to the Sierra Nevada, where nearly 900 acres of ancestral land have been returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation in a landmark cultural and ecological restoration near Yosemite.

They close with some seasonal reflections, a big thank you to listeners, and a look ahead at how they'll be revamping the podcast in 2026 to bring you even deeper, more useful solutions-focused stories.

If you have thoughts on today's stories, ideas for what you'd love to see in the new version of the podcast, or just want to say hi, send a message to social@optimistdaily.com.

Transcript link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1421349

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Australia just became the first country to ban social media accounts for kids under 16... but will it actually keep them safer online? In this episode, Arielle and Karissa unpack the data that pushed lawmakers to act, the huge loopholes critics are worried about, and the real trade-offs for teens, parents, and platforms. They also ask a bigger question: who should be responsible for protecting kids on the internet in the first place?

Have thoughts on the ban or ideas for better solutions? Share your take at social@optimistdaily.com.

Transcript link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1421254

Want to be part of the Optimism Movement? Become an Emissary.

Subscribe to our FREE Daily Newsletter and follow us on Instagram, X, and Blue Sky.

The Optimist Daily is a project of the World Business Academy.

Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http://

This week, Karissa and Arielle tackle two big, very real-world solutions: how to gracefully ask friends and family if they're sick before a holiday hangout, and why the U.S. finally introducing its first female crash test dummy is a major win for road safety and equity. They unpack expert advice on setting health boundaries without drama, explain how the new THOR-05F model closes a decades-long safety gap for women and smaller drivers, and share a quick round-up of other uplifting stories from The Optimist Daily.

They also spotlight an excerpt from Barnet Bain's upcoming book How to Be a Friend in an Unfriendly World and explore how deeper friendship and human connection can be powerful tools for personal and collective well-being. (You can read the excerpt and preorder the book here.)

Transcript link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/?p=1421212

Want to be part of the Optimism Movement? Become an Emissary.

Subscribe to our FREE Daily Newsletter and follow us on Instagram, X, and Blue Sky.

The Optimist Daily is a project of the World Business Academy.

Donate link: https://www.optimistdaily.com/donate-to-support-the-optimist-daily/?gift=Y%20http://