The United States has become so disrespected in the world that bands of 7th-century ruffians in small boats are blowing up cargo ships without any resistance. The Houthis are emboldened by the U.S. weakness on the seas and everywhere. They blew up a Greek-flagged ship called the Sounion this week. Fortunately, the crew is okay. […] The post Houthis Continue to Terrorize Ships in the Red Sea appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Gov. Brian Kemp of Georgia and Donald Trump have reconciled for the country’s sake. We have to stop the Harris-Walz communist agenda. Georgia governor officially endorsed the former president for the 2024 election. This marked a significant change after years of disagreements and mutual insults. “Well, Sean, look, we gotta win. We gotta win from […] The post Gov. Kemp and Donald Trump Team Up to Defeat Harris-Walz appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Actor Brian Cox bounces between film and TV shows with the greatest of ease. Now, the “Succession” alum insists the magic now happens on the small screen following comments made at the Edinburgh International Film Festival Aug. 20. “What’s happened is that television is doing what cinema used to do …  I think cinema is in a very bad way. I think it’s lost its place because of, partly, the grandiose element between Marvel, DC and all of that. And I think it’s beginning to implode, actually. You’re kind of losing the plot.” Cox, who ironically played the heavy in 2003’s “X2: X-Men United,” called the recent smash “Deadpool & Wolverine” “party time.” Is he wrong? Dave Benett/WireImage Yes, the theatrical box office made an impressive comeback this summer thanks to the aforementioned MCU smash, “Inside Out 2” and “Despicable Me 4.”  Will any of those films stand out in five years? Ten? Can anyone remember the last few Best Picture winners? For the record, it’s “Oppenheimer,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “CODA,” “Nomadland” and “Parasite” in descending order. TV continually churns out both binge-worthy shows and dramas that immediately leave us addicted. Think “The Bear,” “Succession,” “House of the Dragon,” “Baby Reindeer” and “Severance.” Some of the most popular actors now regularly appear on the small screen. Nicole Kidman. Jeff Bridges. Hugh Grant. Tom Hardy. Cillian Murphy. Meryl Streep. Harrison Ford. Chris Pratt. Mahershala Ali. A small sub-section of superstars resist TV, like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington. The rest? They can’t wait for HBO, Netflix or another streaming platform to ring up their agent. You can blame iconic shows like “The Shield,” “The Wire,” “The Sopranos” and “Breaking Bad’ for changing the TV landscape for the better. So much better. Monica Schipper/FilmMagic. Getty Images. Those shows featured film-quality production, exquisite storylines and performances that matured from season to season. They changed both TV and the way we consider small-screen originals. Other industry changes helped shift TV into the cultural driver’s seat. TV originals no longer demand 20-plus episodes from an actor’s work schedule. A series may wrap in anywhere from six to 12 installments, freeing up superstars to tackle film and TV projects. Plus, Kevin Spacey, currently blacklisted for sexual abuse allegations, helped change this dynamic for actors everywhere. The two-time Oscar winner agreed to star in one of Netflix’s first major originals, the 2013 series “House of Cards.” He rolled the professional dice and won. Now, most stars are happy to follow the path he blazed. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. Another reason TV often laps film? Hollywood’s chronic fear factor. Studios know the pandemic helped sever the bond between consumer and movie theater. They saw how many Americans stayed home to watch original fare on streaming platforms, a pattern still in place despite the pandemic’s end. They’re desperate to keep the theatrical experience alive and profitable. Risk-averse executives crave the sugar rush of sequels, prequels and reboots. The bigger and louder, the better. And the bigger box office receipts, more than likely. The top 10 box office winners in 2024 are all sequels, prequels, reboots and re-imaginings. Plus, film budgets have grown so large that any attempt at nuance, creativity or eclectic storytelling is pushed aside. It’s lowest common denominator storytelling, and it must drive Cox crazy. He’s not alone. Modern TV also offers advantages that movies can’t replicate. No matter how good an actor or film may be, there’s a three-hour window at best to tell the story. Now, think of how Bryan Cranston approaches his iconic Walter White character in later “Breaking Bad” seasons. He’s literally had years to grow into the role, to find new shadings to bring to his antihero. Movie sequels could offer something similar, but they often defer to bigger! Louder! Faster! model. The irony behind Cox’s statement? When he broke into the business with films like 1986’s “Manhunter,” actors longed to leave TV for film. Permanently. Mel Gibson (right) directs actor Brian Cox in the film ‘Braveheart’, 1995. (Photo by Richard Blanshard/Getty Images) That’s how Bruce Willis treated his breakout 1980s series, “Moonlighting.” The affable star couldn’t wait to leave the small screen behind once “Die Hard” hit it big. Bye, bye, TV. Willis, who retired for health reasons two years ago, never looked back. Nor did other former TV stars like Clint Eastwood, Will Smith and George Clooney. TV was where young actors worked before getting called up to the big leagues. Hollywood movies. Now, actors understand they won’t necessarily be challenged by film projects. When “Top Gun: Maverick” alum Glen Powell’s star began to rise guess what happened next? Hollywood gave him roles in a remake “Backdraft” and “Twisters,” a reboot of the 1990s hit. He’ll probably be itching to hear a TV pitch or two before long. Hugh Grant’s recent career revival allowed him to play an orange-faced little person in 2023’s “Wonka.” On the small screen, his devastating turn in Max’s “The Undoing,” playing a philandering doctor accused of murder, likely gave him far more professional satisfaction. Cox is an actor’s actor, a veteran who understands both the business and a hunger to create something memorable on screen. Now, he understands that’s more likely to happen on a TV show. * * * Christian Toto is an award-winning journalist, movie critic and editor of HollywoodInToto.com. He previously served as associate editor with Breitbart News’ Big Hollywood. Follow him at @HollywoodInToto. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire. WATCH THE TRAILER FOR ‘AM I RACIST?’ — A MATT WALSH COMEDY ON DEI

Country music star Lainey Wilson opened up about what she called the “dark days” she went through before her music career finally took off. Speaking to the Associated Press, the 32-year-old country singer talked about living in a bumper-pull camper trailer off her mentor’s studio for three years and freezing during the winters before one of her songs hit number one, 13 years after moving to Nashville to make her dream a reality. “It’s been a journey,” Wilson said. “I’ve been in Nashville for 13 years and I tell people I’m like, it feels like I got there yesterday, but I also feel like I’ve been there my whole life.” “I had always heard that Nashville was a 10-year town,” she added. “And I believe ‘Things a Man Oughta Know’ went No. 1, like, 10 years and a day after being there.” “I should have had moments where I should have packed it up and went home,” Wilson continued. “I should have went back to Louisiana. But I never had those feelings. I think there’s something really beautiful about being naive. And, since I was a little girl, I’ve always had stars in my eyes.” Speaking to “Good Morning America” in 2022, Wilson said returning to that parking lot where she lived in a trailer brought her a “sense of hopefulness,” but also a “little sadness.” “There were a lot of dark days for me,” Wilson said at the time. “I was very lonely. I didn’t know hardly anybody in town.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. “The winters were cold. I had to sleep in three or four jackets, three pairs of socks just to stay warm,” she added. “When I look back, honestly, if I had known it was going to be this hard, I don’t know if I would go and do it again. And that sounds crazy, but it has been hard, but this is my only option.” On Friday, she released her fifth studio album, titled “Whirlwind,” and said she’s gone through a lot after making that trip from her small hometown of Baskin, Louisiana, to becoming a country star. In February, she took home her first Grammy. “The word that I could use to describe the last couple of years is ‘whirlwind,'” Wilson told the AP. “I feel like my life has changed a whole lot. But I still feel like the same old girl trying to keep one foot on the ground.” “And so, I think it’s just about grasping on to those things that truly make me, me and the artist where I can tell stories to relate to folks.” The country singer previously told Fox News that she’s convinced all the adversity she went through was just part of her “story.” “And I think the Lord kind of wanted me to live a little bit more life, so I could have more stories to tell, so I could relate to more people,” Wilson said. “That’s what it’s about when you kind of zoom out and you think about all of this. It’s important to remember and realize, why are we doing this? And what are we doing this for?” “It’s just because we all want to feel something. And, I think, because of that rejection, I think people can relate to some of my stories,” she added.

Jamie Lee Curtis blasted the paparazzi’s “intrusion” on the set of her and Lindsay Lohan’s highly-anticipated sequel to Disney’s 2003 hit “Freaky Friday.” On Thursday, the 65-year-old actress released a photo of her own from the set after several paparazzi snaps were published showing part of the story for the mother-daughter body-switching film “Freakier Friday,” Deadline reported. “OK. Because other outlets have posted it, I am going to take advantage of the intrusion of a paparazzi picture into the creative process of filmmaking,” Curtis shared in her post on Facebook. “We have tried so hard to keep our story a secret and private until it’s time for release but once in a while an image comes out, and it doesn’t tell you anything about the story or about what’s going on with the characters but it does show the joy and fun that we had making #FREAKIERFRIDAY and we know it will be the experience that you will have in the theaters next year,” she added. “Yes, you heard me… The theaters,” Curtis continued. “The place we all go and enjoy a shared experience in the dark while munching popcorn and candy and laughing together and sometimes crying together.” On Friday, the “Halloween” star shared that production had officially wrapped on the sequel and both stars of the original movie have talked about how grateful they were to get to work together again, with Curtis calling Lohan the “ULTIMATE movie daughter,” the outlet noted. Lohan also shared the news and how excited she was to have gotten to make the film with Curtis, the outlet reported. Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. “I’m so grateful to have made this film, a story of family, mothers and their children and a film filled with love, laughter and a ton of heart!” the 38-year-old actress wrote. “It has been a pleasure to work with my dear friend @jamieleecurtis who brings so much joy to our set everyday and she has made this all the more special!” The 2003 “Freaky Friday” movie was a reboot of the original 1976 Disney film with Jodie Foster playing the daughter who switched places with her mom, played by Barbara Harris. It was based on Mary Rodgers’s 1972 novel of the same name. “An overworked mother and her daughter did not get along,” a description of the movie on IMDb reads. “When they switch bodies, each is forced to adapt to the other’s life for one freaky Friday.” The 2003 movie, with a reported $26 million budget, was a huge success after earning $160 million at the worldwide box office, Yahoo Entertainment noted. A description on IMDb about the 2025 sequel reads, “Years after Tess and Anna endured an identity crisis, Anna now has a daughter and a soon-to-be stepdaughter. … As they navigate the challenges that come when two families merge, Tess and Anna discover that lightning might strike twice.”

Director Tim Burton said he’s not interested in dabbling in superhero films again despite being considered by many to be a pioneer of the genre. The 65-year-old celeb is best known for his gothic and horror films, but he’s also recognized for being the creative force behind “Batman” (1989). That movie is thought to be the first in a long line of superhero films that was a gateway for Marvel and DC. “I was lucky because at that time, the word ‘franchise’ didn’t exist,” Burton told Variety of working on the movie. “So ‘Batman’ felt slightly experimental at the time. … It deviated from what the perception [of a superhero movie] might be.” He went on to explain how he didn’t experience “pressure” from the studio because he was far removed from them. “So you didn’t hear that kind of studio feedback, and being in England, it was even further removed. We really just got to focus on the film and not really think about those things that now they think about even before you do it,” Burton explained. The filmmaker also discussed the idea of doing a sequel. “I wasn’t really interested in doing a sequel, but I liked Penguin and Catwoman so I got reenergized by the whole thing,” he said. “And that was when we started hearing the word franchise and where the studio started going, ‘What’s the black stuff coming out of the Penguin’s mouth?’ It was the first time the cold wind of that kind of thing came upon me.” When asked if he’d do a superhero movie in the future, the Academy Award nominee said probably not. “I would say no. Like I said, I come at things from different points of view, so I would never say never to anything. But, at the moment, it’s not something I’d be interested in.” Tickets for “Am I Racist?” are on sale NOW! Buy here for a theater near you. In a recent interview with GQ, “Batman” star Michael Keaton credited Burton with helping create the superhero film genre as it now stands despite pushback from comic book fans at the time. “Tim deserves enormous credit. He changed everything,” Keaton said. “I can’t necessarily say this, but there’s a strong possibility there is no Marvel Universe, there is no DC Universe, without Tim Burton. He was doubted and questioned.”

Episode Description This week’s solutions news: Do you ever feel drained just looking at your social calendar? While socializing is so important for our health and longevity, it can leave us feeling exhausted at times. Arielle shares some expert tips on how to keep being social without draining all your energy. Then, Karissa has great news for crafty folks everywhere! She explains the vital role arts and crafts play in our overall well-being, and why you might want to pick up a creative hobby, asap. 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:// Transcript Theme music  Arielle  Hello and welcome to the Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup. I’m Arielle.  Karissa  And I’m Karissa and we’re working hard to put solutions in view and optimism and movement.  Arielle  Hello everyone! Happy Friday!  Karissa  Yeah, happy Friday. We made it through the week!  Arielle  Mhm! And we’re back with another episode of our pod to share the solutions from the Optimist Daily this week. So, how’s it going, Karissa?  Karissa  Going pretty well, it’s been a very nice week. I was feeling pretty refreshed from my trip last weekend to Lake Tahoe, which was gorgeous.  Arielle  Oh, nice.  Karissa  Did some hiking and swimming. And it was just a very nice time, but I think I either picked up something there or from my family members having a little bit of some viral infections going on. So, I was a little bit under the weather. So that was a little bit of a downer, but it’s okay. I am feeling not too horrible (laughs).  Arielle  Okay! (Laughs). Karissa  But not too great (laughs). Arielle  Yeah, yeah. You probably wanna take it easy this weekend then.  Karissa  Yeah, definitely. I’ll get some much-needed rest. What about you, Arielle? What’s going on on your side of the world?  Arielle  Yeah, it’s been a little bit colder again. So, I’m sad about that. But last weekend I also had quite a social time. I had friends who like…  Karissa  Mm-hmm.  Arielle  …kind of had a surprise visit to Amsterdam, and I know them from my time living in Costa Rica.  Karissa  Oh, okay!  Arielle  So, I haven’t seen either of them in years. Well, one of them I saw last year, but the other one I hadn’t seen in maybe three years. Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  Yeah, it was kind of serendipitous, but I was already feeling pretty socially drained before I found out that they were coming.   Karissa  Ahhh.  Arielle  And so I had to make some decisions. I luckily have very understanding friends, and I told one of them that I had planned to go to a party with like… months ago we had planned to go to this party, but I told him: I’m so sorry. I feel like I need a little bit of me-time, and some of the friends that I’ve had for a while, who I also haven’t seen in…  Karissa  Mm-hmm.  Arielle  …years are going to be here this weekend, so I just need to budget my energy, I suppose you could say.  Karissa  Totally. Arielle  But that does kind of bring me to my solution of the week. If you don’t mind…   Karissa  Yeah, go for it Arielle!  Arielle  Alright! So, I picked the article that’s titled ‘How to keep being social (without feeling so drained): tips from a psychologist’. And I picked this topic because I think that a lot of us can relate to it. How do we keep being social without feeling completely drained afterwards? Do you ever get that feeling?  Karissa  Ohh yeah, totally. It’s sometimes hard to set those boundaries. It just takes a long time to recover from being social for so many days in a row and I feel like I kind of have some introverted tendencies. So, I feel like I definitely need that time to recharge.  Arielle  Yeah. Honestly, socializing does leave some of us feeling super wiped out, so let’s break down why this happens.   Karissa  Yeah!  Arielle  The expert that we are referencing here in this article is psychologist Dr. Perpetua Neo, and she says that one big reason socializing is so draining sometimes is over connectivity. Because we’re constantly plugged in, whether it’s emails, social media text, it’s literally non-stop. So, Dr. Neo says that all of this switching between activities takes a toll on our energy levels, and she puts it like this: The energy cost of switching your attention all the time trumps whatever dopamine boost you get from receiving another ‘like’.  Karissa  So, we’re basically draining our batteries before we even start socializing with people.  Arielle  Yeah, exactly. And that brings us to another point. Everyone has their own social rhythm, and Dr. Neo suggests that some people can socialize for hours and be fine, while others are done basically after an hour. So, it’s all about knowing your limits. And she even advises tweaking your social interactions based on your energy levels.  Karissa  So, if you’re more of a social sprinter than a marathoner, maybe go for shorter hangouts?  Arielle  Yeah, precisely. And if you’re not into big crowds, then just don’t force it.   Karissa  Mhm.  Arielle  Dr. Neo says it’s totally fine to prefer smaller and more intimate gatherings. And she encourages people to embrace their social style rather than trying to be something they’re not. And when I read this, it actually brought me a lot of relief because sometimes I feel like I should be enjoying those really big parties more. But honestly, I’m more of a one-on-one coffee date type of person.  Karissa  I feel like I… Well, I can go either way, because I feel like it kind of also depends on who you’re with, who you’re socializing with   Arielle  Mhm, yeah.  Karissa  Because, you know, some of my closer friends, like, I definitely prefer that one-on-one time, but maybe someone I’m not as close with that would be in like a bit of a bigger group or something, so it definitely depends, because I would like to think a lot of my connections are pretty close. So, I do like a good one-on-one, but I see the value in both.  Arielle  I guess I see what you’re saying. I do have like one or two times a year when I go all out. Like if I’m going to a music festival, then I kind of also emotionally prepare for that (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah (laughs) totally.   Arielle  And yeah, another thing to look out for is emotional labor. So, I guess this kind of goes hand in hand with the one-on-one conversations because depending on who you’re with, it could feel like you’re always the one listening to their problems.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  So, Dr. Neo recommends setting some boundaries and asking yourself if this person deserves your energy because it’s also about managing your emotional resources so you don’t end up totally exhausted.  Karissa  Yeah, I know. I’m definitely guilty of overcommitting to some heavy conversations with people which, like, I like to be there for my friends, but it does get draining. And you know, sometimes you do have to limit yourself or step away from that.  Arielle  Yeah, exactly. And… I mean, that’s part of being a good friend as well, being there for the hard conversations. But you also have to protect yourself. And actually, I think there’s an article that we wrote a while back that’s linked in this current article that I’m summarizing right now, but it’s about venting without draining your friends.  Karissa  Mm-hmm.  Arielle  Because I think there’s like a mindful way that you can do that.    Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  Anyway, moving on to the next point.   Sometimes the stress isn’t just from socializing, it could be all the life stuff… because life gets busy!  Karissa  Mhmm.   Arielle  And that can make social plans feel more like a chore if you’re already exhausted from other things. So, Dr. Neo says that being upfront with your friends about your energy levels is the best way to go. So, if you’re not feeling up for something, it’s okay to say so. So, kind of like how I was with my friends this past weekend.  Karissa  That’s a really good idea because it’s all about honesty, and if you’re burnt out, it’s better to let people know that you’re burnt out than push through and end up resenting it and just feeling even more drained.  Arielle  I will say that it also depends on who you’re talking to or who you’ve arranged these plans for, that you’re canceling with. Also on that point, if I get to… if I get to a point in a friendship where I feel like, really uncomfortable about canceling and like really, really guilty, then I also kind of take that into consideration when I’m maybe assessing whether I want to spend more time with this person. Because maybe they’re doing something that makes me uncomfortable to tell them how I’m really feeling.   Karissa  Mhm.  Arielle  It’s all difficult to juggle, and it can get complicated sometimes, but yeah.  Karissa  Yeah, it’s nice when you have those friends that you’re able to be like, you know, I don’t feel up for XY and Z and be able to tell. But like you said, if you’re feeling like you can’t tell them that, then there might be bigger issues at hand. So… (laughs).  Arielle  Yeah, red flag (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, (laughs) totally.  Arielle  And let’s not forget about social media exhaustion. So, for some people, the socializing doesn’t stop when the event ends. It actually just keeps going online. Dr. Neo reminds us that we should be mindful of who we’re interacting with on social media and focus on what actually strengthens your relationships rather than feeling pressure to post everything.  Karissa  Yeah, it’s such a tough one because it’s so easy to get caught up in the scroll, especially when everyone’s posting about the same event you were just at.  Arielle  Yeah, I’m always kind of tempted to, like, check what I’ve been tagged in and things and like what people are posting. But since I don’t have Instagram anymore, that’s not a problem (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, exactly.   Arielle  The thing is socializing doesn’t have to be draining. So, if you feel like you’re resonating with some of these issues, Dr. Neo offers some tips on how to reclaim that social energy. First, you should choose activities that energize you. Not every social event needs to be a big production, a big dinner out or blah blah blah. It could just be a simple walk. Or like we said before, just grabbing a coffee if that’s more your speed.  Karissa  Mm-hmm. Yeah, I love that. It’s all about finding what works for you and not what’s expected.  Arielle  And don’t be afraid to say no to those demanding social events. Dr. Neo also has another tip, and that’s making a ‘to don’t’ list instead of a to-do list.   Karissa  (laughs)  Arielle  And that is a list of things that you realize consistently drain you, and it’s giving yourself permission to skip the stuff that doesn’t bring you joy.  Karissa  I think that’s a very helpful suggestion and it kind of keeps that mental note that, you know, it validates yourself that it’s okay to skip out on things that, you know, don’t make you feel great.  Arielle  Mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s like Mari… Kondo-ing…   Karissa  Yeah (laughs)  Arielle  Is that her name (laughs)? like Mari Kondo-ing your social life? Like, if it doesn’t spark joy, then just don’t do it (laughs)  Karissa  Right, definitely (laughs).  Arielle  And it’s also important to figure out your social energy quotas.   Karissa  Mhm.  Arielle  Dr. Neo talks about categorizing your energy levels. Like ‘basic minimum’ is one category and ‘regular’ is another category. And ‘awesome to have’ is another. And that way you can plan your social calendar according to how much energy you actually have. Karissa  That’s really smart. It’s kind of like budgeting but for your energy.  Arielle  And don’t forget to schedule some me time in there as well. Dr. Neo says just spending time with yourself is crucial for recharging and that way when you do decide to socialize, you can really be present and there to enjoy it.  Karissa  Definitely. I’m all about that me time. And spending time with yourself is, you know, equally as important as socializing with everyone else. So…  Arielle  And me time is really, really crucial, especially during those super social seasons like the holidays. Or… Yeah. In my case, like a big music festival or something.  Karissa  Yeah (laughs)  Arielle  If you know that’s coming up, plan ahead so that you don’t run out of steam. Dr. Neo even stresses including some low-key, chill relaxing social activities during those busy times to keep you connected. But you know, without overextending yourself.  Karissa  Yeah, that’s super solid advice. It’s all about balance, right?  Arielle  The bottom line is socializing doesn’t have to be a drain. By understanding your social needs and setting some smart boundaries, you can actually enjoy your social life without feeling wiped out. And Dr. Neo reminds us that we go further together. So yeah, I guess it’s just a reminder to make those social moments count.  Karissa  Well, I really liked the solution. There were a lot of great tips and it’s something you know, we all go through. So…  Arielle  Yeah, and um, since we were talking about me time, I think some activities that are in your solution could be nice things to think about doing while you’re spending time with yourself!  Karissa  Yeah, totally. I’ll move on over to my solution and talk a little bit more about arts and crafts!  Arielle  Yes!  Karissa  The title of my solution is Creative pursuits: how arts and crafts can boost life satisfaction even more than work. But before I dive in, Arielle, do you engage in any sort of arts and crafts?  Arielle  Well, I’m a big fan of crocheting, but I just recently started.   Karissa  Mhm.   Arielle  And in our team meeting earlier I showed the team…  Both  (Laugh)   Arielle  …the beginning of a cat pod that I’m crocheting, so yeah, crochet is one of my favorite ones. And when I do have the time and I’m not afraid to, like, make a mess that I’ll have to clean up later then watercolor is also a fav. And tomorrow my friend and I are going to do vision boards.  Karissa  Ooh, fun.   Arielle  Does that count?  Karissa  I think so! I mean, you definitely have to tap into your creative side for that.  Arielle  So yeah, vision boards, collaging. Yeah, I like to think that I’m an active participant in arts and crafty things.  Karissa  Very nice.   Arielle  Yeah. How about you?   Karissa  Oh, yeah. I’ve always really been a huge fan of arts and crafts. I can remember, like being younger. And, you know, my eyes lighting up at the sight of, you know, glue and jewels and feathers, like on the table and stuff or…   Arielle  (Laughs)  Karissa  Or just even like coloring something. And I think, like the first thing that I ever wanted to be was an artist. And I don’t… I’m not like that artistic (laughs).  Arielle  But you… (laughs) you have fun with it.  Karissa  Yeah, I am artistic. But I wouldn’t consider myself, you know, like a high-level artist or anything.   Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  But yeah, I’ve always really enjoyed crafts. In recent years all my craft bins of things have come together and made an entire dresser filled, which is very nice.  Arielle  Ohh wow.  Karissa  And there’s still some stuff under my bed.   Both  (Laugh)  Karissa  And so, yeah, I definitely do lots of arts and crafts, and I guess it’s always been such a big part of my life, but I haven’t really realized it until recent years. How much I really love it. And I always kind of describe it as my old lady hobbies I guess (laughs), but not even! Because a lot of people do love arts and crafts, and as we’re seeing in this solution, it’s actually a key to well-being.  Arielle  Yes.   Karissa  You know, in a society where productivity and work are often considered the markers of success, it’s encouraging to learn that creative hobbies may hold the key to a happier, more fulfilled life. And recent research has shown that arts and crafts such as painting, knitting, photography and everything we were just talking about can have a significant impact on our overall life satisfaction. Sometimes even more than work.   Arielle  Great! That’s great news.  Karissa  Yeah, so this emerging evidence suggests that fostering creativity could be a powerful tool for improving public health and enhancing individual well-being. Artsy activities like painting, ceramics and photography have long been known to provide therapeutic advantages, particularly in clinical settings.   However, Dr. Helen Keyes of Anglia Ruskin University and her colleagues adopted a broader approach, looking at how these activities affect the overall population. Their findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, offer new light on the power of arts and crafts to improve our happiness and sense of purpose. And Dr. Keyes says it’s quite an affordable, accessible and ultimately popular thing for people to do. And that’s key. You’re not going to be shoving something down people’s throats that they don’t want to do. And these activities are appealing and accessible, making them a viable choice for improving public health.  Arielle  How did they research this topic? Because I feel like arts and crafts is such a… a broad thing to study.  Karissa  The study looked at data from more than 7000 people aged 16 and above who took part in the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ‘Taking Part’ survey between April 2019 and March 2020, and the participants were asked to score several elements of their well-being on a 10 point scale and to indicate if they had participated in any arts and crafts activities in the previous year.   And the findings that they got from this were very compelling. Thirty-seven percent of individuals engaged in some type of creative activity. Those who did so consistently reported better levels of enjoyment, life satisfaction and a sense of purpose in life than those who did not engage in such activities. And these findings remain true even after controlling for other factors such as age, gender, economic position and overall health. The study found that participating in arts and crafts increased happiness in a way that was comparable to the natural increase in well-being that occurred over the course of 20 years. And, more strikingly, the sense of purpose in life was more strongly associated with crafting than with employment.  Arielle  That’s a really interesting finding, especially because in our culture we really associate work with our, you know, just life satisfaction in general and how we see ourselves.  Karissa  Yeah, totally. It’s definitely like a startling, in kind of a good way, conclusion that crafting offered a greater sense of purpose than employment. But this could be because not everyone finds their job rewarding, and I think that’s like pretty common and stuff like our purpose in life isn’t necessarily for working, but creative hobbies can provide a sense of mastery, control and self-expression, whereas we might not be getting that in our work, which is totally okay. But it’s very interesting to find.  Arielle  So, did this study find that certain types of arts and crafts were better in promoting well-being?  Karissa  This study didn’t look into the impact of specific creative hobbies, but the overarching conclusion is definitely clear: that indulging in any type of creative activity can considerably improve your well-being. Even though the improvement in life satisfaction associated with arts and crafts was modest (approximately 2%) Dr. Keyes stressed that it is still significant at the population level.   And Dr. Keyes says if you’re a National Health Service or you’re a government seeing a 2% increase in the overall well-being of your population is going to be really significant. Because 2% can encompass a lot of people. Yeah, the consequences of this study are definitely substantial because supporting and promoting creative activities may be a cost-effective and accessible method for governments and health organizations seeking to improve national well-being.   And arts and crafts are really a simple method to engage people in activities that greatly improve their quality of life. And this can encompass like everybody of every age in improving their well-being, so… I think the power of arts and crafts is highly underrated and we gotta look into it more (laughs).  Arielle  Yeah, this is a great finding, especially with how much our world struggles with stress and mental health challenges. And yeah, arts, I feel like when we talk about funding arts programs, we’re always talking about like people who are really into fine art or who are performing at a really high level. But that doesn’t mean that we should forget just about like the average person who likes to bedazzle their jean jacket, you know? (Laughs)  Karissa  Yeah, exactly!  Arielle  It doesn’t have to be like a really big production.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. Really encouraging people to express their creative side. Because it can make such a difference. Dr. Keyes and her team’s results provide a really refreshing perspective, which is: often the simplest things can have the greatest impacts, something I love to say all the time.   Arielle  Yeah.   Karissa  So, whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting a new hobby, the message is very clear. Embrace your creativity, it might just result in a happier, more fulfilling existence.  Arielle  Amazing. No, that’s… that’s great. I’m just gonna keep crocheting through the night then (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, keep crocheting. Keep working on that cat pod Arielle! Because it’ll definitely make you very happy (laughs).  Arielle  Yeah. If it’s a success, then maybe I’ll… I’ll make one for you. And send it over to California!  Karissa  (Laughs) True! I would absolutely love that! I was going to mention that earlier. I was like, if it works out… (laughs). I have a cat! But yeah, I think that’s also kind of just one more point. Arts and crafts can be fulfilling in that way too, because you can make things for other people and connect and, you know, socialize without getting drained (laughs).  Arielle  Yeah, exactly (laughs). Well, this was a great roundup of solutions, yet again. We have some other great solutions from this week that you can find on our website Optimistdaily.com and they include:  Karissa  The FCC launches nationwide alert system to protect and serve missing Indigenous people. Power in your pocket: how smartphones are revolutionizing earthquake detection and alerts. How integrated environmental projects balance nature conservation and people’s well-being. And Six ways to combat jet lag naturally, and actually, if you’re finishing up those summer vacations, you might need this.  Arielle  And we also have: Sea Lion film crew helps with ocean floor mapping and species conservation. Three tips for dealing with extreme fatigue when sleep is not an option. Uh… so many times when I’m in this situation (laughs).  Karissa  Yeah, same!  Arielle  How to wash your fruits and veggies like a microbiologist, and Is ‘smart insulin’ the Holy Grail of insulin? Advances in real-time diabetes management.  Karissa  Nice. Lots of good solutions, so go check them out! And if you want to start your day off right, make sure to subscribe to our free daily newsletter to get our solutions straight to your inbox.  Arielle  We also have a lot more on our social channels. You can find us @optimistdaily on all of our platforms. That includes Threads and Pinterest. The only different one is on X. There we are @OdetoOptimism.  Karissa  And we’re a small team of optimists working hard to bring you positive news. If you want to support our mission of putting optimism into the world, click on the link in the show notes to find out how.  Arielle  Support doesn’t always have to be financial. Even just recommending our podcast to a friend, leaving a positive review on Apple or Spotify, or forwarding a link to a loved one, sharing a solution on your socials. Anything like that would be a huge help for us.  Karissa  Well, that’s all we have for today, but I’m looking forward to sharing some more solutions next week with you, Arielle.  Arielle  And I hope our listeners also have a nice and crafty weekend.   Karissa  Or social weekend without being drained! (Laughs).  Arielle  Yeah, precisely (laughs). And yeah, I guess until next week. Bye!  Karissa  Bye!   The post Podcast Transcript August 23, 2024: Stay Social (Without Feelings Drained) and Do Arts and Crafts Have a Bigger Impact on Life Satisfaction than Employment? first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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