Arts & Culture

From artistic collaborations to creative problem solving, the arts have the power to lift us up and transform our future. These stories celebrate art, creativity, and culture in all its forms.

Image: A cat laying on a blanket, looking at the camera. The same type of cat who guards artwork at this Russian museum

These Cats Take Care of This Iconic Museum’s Art!

Does your cat think it rules the house? Does it expect to be treated like royalty? Don't worry, you aren’t alone. These crafty cats in Russia secured a gig from Empress Elizabeth herself, who welcomed a handful of cats to work in the museum keeping it free of mice and rats. These "guardians of the gallery" are "paid" in room and board, and have been protecting the museum for the last 250 years.

What is Humans for Abundance?

Chochi explains what a co-restore is and how to become a part of her organization by donating.

What Will the Future Look Like?

Even a small contribution can change a whole community and environment.

Image: Star Trek star Nichelle Nichols, whose work on the show grew to a diversity campaign within NASA

Boldly Going Where No Black Woman Had Gone Before: How Star Trek Changed NASA

Star Trek's Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura) changed far more than the television game. As one of the only black women on the small screen at the time and with words of encouragement from Martin Luther King Jr., this champion for diversity changed not only the history of science fiction, but the history of space exploration. Her work became undeniable proof that if you can see it, you can be it.

woman wearing yellow and white dress passing on road

Everyone Has Something Unique with Alienor Salmon

Alienor encourages us to find the space and time to discover what lights us up.

57 min listen

Map Out Your Happiness Journey: Dancing Through the Americas with Aliénor Salmon (Episode #80)

If you could do anything you wanted, what would it be? When Alienor Salmon was asked this question, she realized nothing would make her happier than to leave her job at the United Nations and travel through Latin America, learning from locals the dances of every country she visited along the way. On her journey, she saw how we humans constantly prioritize things that do not make us happy. But when we use happiness as a baseline for all our decisions, we can come alive.

Healing PTSD Through Hiking: The First Black Man to Achieve the Triple Crown

After hard times, we all need to find ways to heal. For this veteran, that was hiking. And in his love for the sport, he became the first Black man to achieve the Triple Crown of Hiking, a more than 8,000 mile feat. Now, his mission has grown from healing himself to inspiring others.

Image: prop bread, courtesy of Just Dough It

Matching What You Love with What You Do: Fake Movie Food Artists Show Us How

Think your talents are too random to be useful? Think again! Connect the dots between your unique talents, priorities, and life experiences, so you can find your true niche in life by taking advice from these fake movie food artists!

Image: Jimmy Chin hanging from a rope while climbing a mountain.

What’s Next When You’ve Already Peaked: Surfing with Mountaineer Jimmy Chin

World class mountaineer Jimmy Chin’s usual comfort zone is tens of thousands of feet in the air. He’s conquered mountains, but what remains on his bucket list is to conquer the waves. Today, he’s coming down to sea level to try the big surf and revealing the absolute joy of learning something new.