Episode Description: In this week’s episode of The Optimist Daily’s Weekly Roundup, Arielle and Karissa return from a fall break with a fresh wave of uplifting stories, diving right into two standout solutions of the week. First: the “bike bus” phenomenon turning school mornings into joyful, community-powered parades across the world. Next: surprising new research revealing how art gallery visits (and even looking at reproductions) can measurably lower stress and inflammation. Plus, find out a little more about Swim Sista Swim, Hands United, Move Over Bob, and Amy Howlett-Johnson, our featured Changemakers these last couple weeks. And meet this week’s inspiring Local Changemakers: Shower The People and Bounty & Soul. It’s a hopeful, human-focused episode full of community, creativity, and small changes driving meaningful impact. 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:// 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 in movement.  Arielle  All right, so we are back from our little fall break, and we have so many cool solutions from The Optimist Daily to share with you guys.  Karissa  We took a fall break indeed, but we were working hard behind the scenes to get solutions out there. And we, of course, shared them in our free daily newsletter. And if you want that newsletter, you can sign up on our website! The link will be in our show notes.  Arielle  You can also follow us on socials if that’s more your thing. We are @OptimistDaily on almost everything. The only difference is on X, where we are @OdeToOptimism.  Karissa  And we want to give a big thank you to our Emissaries, who are our financial supporters. Thanks for helping us bring our mission to life! And if you want to become an Emissary, you can also find out how to do that in the show notes.  Arielle  But we also really love everyone who’s just listening to this podcast, sharing it, forwarding the newsletter to loved ones and friends, and interacting with us on social media. All of that non-financial support really goes a long way as well.   So, Karissa, how have you been?  Karissa  I’ve been great over here! It’s been perfect weather for kind of hunkering down and doing some work. I’m excited to be back here today and share what’s been going on. How about you, Arielle?  Arielle  I’ve also been doing a lot of work with the Local Changemakers series. So that’s been really, really fun, to be able to talk to the organizations and the people behind all of these on-the-ground solutions. And I feel invigorated after taking a little bit of a break from the pod. So, I’m basically in the same boat.  Karissa  Amazing.  Arielle  But with that in mind, instead of doing our I’m an Optimist, But… we are just going to highlight some of the changemakers that have been featured while we’ve been gone.  Karissa  Swim Sista Swim is an organization changing how Black women see themselves in the water by offering swim lessons in culturally safe and affirming spaces. And this was started by a woman in the UK named Carol Burrell. So that one was awesome to share.  Arielle  Another change maker that we highlighted was Hands United, a nonprofit led by Selena Ponce, empowering Deaf immigrant families across 30 states with everything from free ASL classes to even legal support.  Karissa  And we also highlighted Move Over Bob, which is a media lifestyle brand that not only produces a magazine focusing on women in the trades, but it’s building a movement to increase female participation and leadership in a very male-dominated field. Move Over Bob is being led by Kate Glantz and Angie Cacace so shout out to them.  Arielle  Another kind of construction-focused changemaker is Amy Howlett-Johnson, who revived a nonprofit organization called Kit Carson Rural Development, which is located in a small Colorado town, Kit Carson, and she’s bringing affordable housing and development to a community of less than 300 people.  Karissa  So many cool changemakers that we were able to spotlight on the Optimist Daily! This week we are featuring Shower the People and Bounty and Soul.  Arielle  But we won’t be sharing too much on the pod about what their work is. We’re hoping that you’re going to go over to the website and check it out for yourselves!  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  With all of that said and done, shall we move on to our solutions of the week?  Karissa  Yeah, what made you optimistic?  Arielle  Okay, so my solution has to do with the morning commute to school, which is not everyone’s favorite errand… neither parent nor child. I remember my school days, dragging myself out of bed most mornings and just wishing I could sleep for another couple hours (laughs). The solution that I’m talking about is: How a small idea on two wheels grew into a community kids can’t wait to join.   While a lot of kids are getting in cars or waiting for the bus in the morning, on Fridays, hundreds of families in Montclair, New Jersey, are doing something else entirely. They’re rolling through the neighborhood together on bikes.  Karissa  Yeah, and it’s not just a handful of them. We’re talking hundreds, right?  Arielle  Yeah, it’s not an exaggeration! But… There weren’t always hundreds of kids there. It wasn’t always such a big turnout. It actually began with just five families riding together because it didn’t feel safe or particularly fun to go alone.   Now it’s turned into this weekly tradition where as many as 400 riders show up. Parents, kids, neighbors, everyone drifting into the street like they’ve been waiting for this all week. One of the founders, Jessica Tillyer, said it took off simply because people wanted safety and connection. Riding alone felt isolating, and we all know loneliness has been a problem for so many lately. But riding together felt joyful and protective. And once people experienced it, they wanted to keep showing up.   Karissa  Aw, there’s something about being part of a group that makes the whole idea of biking to school feel not just safer, but kind of special.  Arielle  Exactly. And the kids totally get it. One second grader summed it up perfectly. She said, biking is the best way to get to school because it’s good exercise and it’s healthier for the earth. So that’s kind of the whole mission right there in one sentence.   And here’s the thing, it’s not just happening in Montclair. These “bike buses” are popping up all over the country and around the world. Portland, Barcelona, Melbourne, small towns, big cities… And there’s actually a network called Bike Bus World that tracks all these routes.  Karissa  This is so cool. And this means that it’s no longer just a cute thing one neighborhood does. It’s kind of a movement going on.  Arielle  And a very organic one at that. Some people assume you need a big organization or a special permission to start something like this. But most of these routes begin the same way Montclair did, with a handful of families and a group text.   Of course, once the group grows, there’s a lot more to consider, like safe streets, traffic patterns, and clear communication amongst all participants. Montclair’s organizers tested different routes until they found one that felt right, and they still tweak it when needed, like when other families want to join.   One of the best perks is that kids are actually eager to participate, which I’m sure anyone who’s tried to wake up a sleepy eight-year-old would know is something to celebrate.   Karissa  Yeah, exactly.   Arielle  One parent said his son gets up faster for the bike bus than for the regular bus, and that’s a win for both parents and kids.   There’s also a rhythm to it now. They ride at about 6 miles per hour so younger kids can keep up. But older kids also can split off in a second group to go a little faster, but the whole point is getting there together, not racing.   The real test, though, is winter. It’s dark, it’s cold, and it’s tempting to ditch the bike and take the car. But Montclair does it anyway. They just wear reflective vests; they have bike lights, gloves, hot breakfasts waiting at the end, and they only cancel if the weather is genuinely unsafe.  Karissa  Pretty cool. And I mean, kids probably complain less than adults, don’t they?  Arielle  So true. The kids just want to be outside with their friends, and so the resistance once the cold weather comes is usually from the grown-ups.   Karissa  Yeah.   Arielle  But consistency is at the heart of the whole thing. Every person who has started a bike bus says the same thing. Don’t wait for the perfect plan; just start. Once a week, once a month, whatever works, which is honestly such a good lesson for so many things in life. If you keep showing up, others will join.   Tillyer tells people, don’t ask for permission; don’t worry about what it’s going to take. Find a small group of people, get on your bikes, and ride to school. The magic, she says, is what happens after. The way a normal school day feels different because of how it began.  Karissa  Yeah, and it turns the school commute from an errand into a shared experience, which is a moment of community that would never exist in a car line where there’s just horns honking and impatience, so…  Arielle  Precisely. And it changes the atmosphere too. Kids show up more awake, parents actually talk to each other, and the sidewalks and streets, just for a moment, feel like they belong to people again instead of traffic.  Karissa  This is a small shift with a big impact, and honestly, it’s a good reminder that some of the best solutions can be that simple.  Arielle  Exactly. The solution requires nothing more than a few bikes, some neighbors, and the willingness to ride. And if this keeps expanding, it could even encourage municipalities to work on creating safer bike lanes and further pedestrianizing their urban spaces, which is a big win for everyone.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. If you take a look on The Optimist Daily, we got some great pictures from the organization, and it just looks like a parade going on! It’s super cool; lots of smiles. I’m really glad you shared this one, Arielle.  Arielle  Thank you. I guess it kind of spoke to me because in Amsterdam, everyone rides their bike to school anyway.  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  And it does create a lot of natural chances to bump into people. I see a lot of parents talking, and it does feel like it has its own charm, even in the rain, even in the cold weather.  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  All right. Well, what solution caught your eye this week, Karissa?  Karissa  It is called Why art gallery visits may be one of the healthiest habits you can build. Arielle, do you enjoy visiting art galleries? Because you live in Europe with a lot of access to some iconic art institutions, so I can imagine you might have some experience here.  Arielle  Yes, I do love visiting galleries and museums, but I will say that I loved it most during COVID because it… it was so limited that once you were in the museum, it felt like you were almost alone with the works of art, which is really, really special.  Karissa  Yeah, that is really special. Yeah, I love visiting an art gallery too. And I feel like growing up, because my town is pretty small and far away from art galleries, like the closest big metropolitan area that you could say is San Francisco, which has some great museums there… So, I really, like, wasn’t exposed to going to art galleries until I was in high school-ish when I started taking art history classes. And in college I took a few too and got some more access to art galleries and did my own travels. And so, yeah, there’s just something about standing in front of a piece of art, even if you know nothing about it, that just makes you pause and makes you feel some type of way.   A new study from King’s College London suggests that these moments are doing far more than sparking emotion. Researchers have found measurable evidence that viewing original art can support both mental health and long-term physical well-being.  Arielle  This lines up with so much of what we’ve already explored at The Optimist Daily.  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  Not long ago, we covered doctors who literally prescribe museum visits, and we’ve also reported on research showing that viewing art can boost problem-solving skills. So, these findings, they don’t necessarily surprise me, but I love that research like this continues to validate something art lovers have always known… that it’s super powerful stuff.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. And their findings show that spending even a short amount of time with original artworks may reduce stress, improve emotional balance, and potentially contribute to a longer, healthier life.  Arielle  How did they conduct their study?  Karissa  So, to explore the connection between art and health, researchers invited 50 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 40 to take part in an experiment. One group visited the Courtauld Gallery in London, where they viewed original masterpieces by artists including Vincent Van Gogh and Édouard Manet, and a second group viewed high-quality reproductions in a non-gallery setting. Participants wore sensors that tracked heart rate, skin temperature, and other subtle responses. They also provided saliva samples before and after the experience so researchers could measure changes in stress and inflammation.  Arielle  The human body is so weird and full of surprises… I did not know saliva could be used to measure stress and inflammation (laughs)  Karissa  Yeah, me either (laughs).   Arielle  So, what were the researchers’ findings after the participants viewed the art?  Karissa  The results were pretty striking. Cortisol, better known as the body’s primary stress hormone, fell by 22% among gallery visitors. Those who saw reproduction saw only an 8% drop. And pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are the proteins released by cells that trigger and promote inflammation, decreased by 30% in the gallery group and 28% in the reproduction group. Gallery visitors also showed signs of emotional engagement, including small drops in skin temperature and variation in heart rate patterns. These shifts matter because high cortisol and inflammation are linked to chronic conditions such as anxiety, heart disease, and diabetes.  Arielle  What I love about this is that while the gallery visitors had the biggest improvements, even the people looking at reproductions still saw positive changes. It really reinforces the idea that engaging with art in any setting can be good for us.  Karissa  Yeah, but galleries just really create that immersive environment. So, researchers believe it adds layers of sensory experience with elements that highlight space, scale, texture, and atmosphere. And these aspects work together to deepen the body’s response.  Arielle  Okay, so what if you don’t really know much about the art you’re viewing? I have definitely come across pieces from artists and places and art movements that I haven’t even heard of.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. Me too. And the best part of it is that researchers emphasized that the benefits appeared regardless of art knowledge or emotional intelligence. So, you do not need to understand an artist’s entire catalog or even consider yourself an art person to gain something meaningful from viewing some art.  Arielle  That’s a relief, because not everyone can be an art expert.  Karissa  Yeah.  Arielle  This sounds like a simple and accessible step that anyone can take towards well-being.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. And I love this because the implications of the study reach beyond museum walls. The findings help pave the way for a broader integration of art and well-being, offering a low-cost and accessible option for reducing loneliness, easing depression, and improving life satisfaction.  Arielle  Maybe findings like these will encourage more doctors to prescribe museum visits or even spark efforts to bring more art into places with limited access, like you were saying about your hometown, Karissa.  Karissa  Yeah, exactly. And I will say about my hometown, they’ve been putting a lot of murals around town, which is super cool too, because it’s really making the town more vibrant, and it does make me feel happy to look at them. So, more art is coming.  Arielle  Nice.  Karissa  Turning to art is definitely a powerful solution. And while viewing art may not replace clinical care, of course, it can be a gentle, joyful tool to add to your wellness routine. So, I was really happy to see this finding in The Optimist Daily this week.  Arielle  Really encouraging. And yeah, I wouldn’t say no to more art in public spaces!  Karissa  Yeah, totally. Wow. We also had other great solutions on The Optimist Daily this week that made me super optimistic.  Arielle  They include: Scotland lays out new roadmap to reach net zero by 2045. AI brings faster, life-saving TB screenings to communities with limited healthcare access. Ways to make your Thanksgiving celebration more eco-friendly this year. And Coffee may help calm an irregular heartbeat surprising new research shows. What else do we have, Karissa?  Karissa  Well, we also have How a pop-up apple orchard is turning surplus into joy and helping New Yorkers in need, Why your cat is obsessed with boxes, and what evolution has to do with it. And the Changemakers series continues this week with the two Changemakers we mentioned earlier. So definitely head over to The Optimist Daily and check that out and the rest of the solutions from the week.  Arielle  Well, I hope you have a wonderful weekend, Karissa.  Karissa  Yeah, I hope you do too, Arielle, as well as all of our listeners. And looking forward to being back with more solutions soon.  Arielle  Until then!  Karissa  Bye!      The post Podcast Transcript November 21, 2025— From bike buses to art therapy: The uplifting solutions changing everyday life first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.