Happiness & Hope

Need a pick-me-up? These feel-good tales of people changing the world for the better will restore your confidence in humanity and put a spring in your step.

Image: A boat creating a circular wave behind it in the ocean, representing how preventing things is much easier than dealing with their fallout.

How Forward Thinking Prevents Disaster

Have you ever heard the famous Ben Franklin saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?" And yet, our society is entirely reactive to existing problems, struggling to get the public interested in preventing tragedy before it strikes. Here's why that is, and what we can do to take more preemptive action both for the world and in our own lives.

5 min read

Image: Artist Andrew Meyers painting the portrait of George Wurtzel that's made of nails.

What if Art Was Meant to be Touched?

Ever wanted to touch the art in a museum? Artists like these fellows are encouraging all of us to! Here's a touching story about the power that tactile art can have across many communities.

Image: Weeds growing in the cracks of a sidewalk, and a pair of floral patterned rain boots.

Stop and Smell the…Weeds? A Reminder that Wonder is All Around You!

Weeds are seen as pests, but what if we thought of them as miraculous, instead? Is it possible that we have been wrongfully hating weeds for years, seeing their ability to grow anywhere as a great nuisance instead of a remarkable feat?

5 min read

Micro-Preemie Turns 21: Twelve Lessons to Use when Tragedy Strikes

When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (The Goodness Exchange's founder) gave birth to a 1 pound baby when she was just into the 5th month of her pregnancy. She picked up a few pearls of wisdom in the years that followed—here are 12.

48 min listen

10 Stories That Will Make You Feel Grateful Right Now with Michael Shields (Episode #110)

This episode will feel like "food for the soul" because it is chock full of quick insights and 10 recommendations for places to head to next if you want your hope in the future rekindled. My guest, Michael Shields, is also a podcaster, and like me, he speaks with amazing people every week who fill him with delight and wonder. So today, we are swapping stories about 10 of our guests (4-5 from each of us) who come to mind immediately when we think about ingenious ideas and helpful perspectives.

5 min read

Image: An older and and a younger hand reach out to touch a red rose

How a High School in a Nursing Home is Changing Lives

What if we saw this new wave of people reaching retirement as a new generation of mentors? Connecting youth and older adults has remarkable benefits for everyone! Here's how one program is helping lead the way for what's possible.

5 min read

Gifts That Do Good: The 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Need ideas for holiday gifts that give back? Each item in the Goodness Exchange Holiday Gift Guide benefits a cause close to your heart. From grandma to baby, and the little dog too, we’ve got something for everyone. And, you can feel great knowing that you used your purchasing power to choose gifts that keep giving back well after the new year. Happy shopping!

61 min listen

Misery or Mindfulness? Choosing Your Perspective Wisely with Dr. Srikumar Rao (Episode #107)

Turns out, we don’t have to solve any of our problems through struggle, trial, and error. No, there are pieces of wisdom out there that are as true today as they were 2,000 years ago. And today’s guest, Dr. Srikumar Rao, has done the work of gathering those pieces of insight and making them relevant to modern life. Dr. Rao is a sought-after speaker around the globe because the perspectives he shares have the power to help us make enormous leaps in our personal wisdom and use those leaps to rise above the chaos.

Image: A group of children in their trick or treat for UNICEF costumes. A witch, princess, vampire, and three superheroes.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Teaches Kids How to do Good

To make the innocent childhood joy of trick-or-treating even more meaningful, some kids are combining this fun holiday with helping the world's neediest children by trick-or-treating with orange UNICEF collection boxes alongside their treat bags.

A Dentist/Mother’s Advice on Halloween Candy

Halloween is coming! So, what does a dentist say you should do with all that candy?

65 min listen

Don’t Look for Connection in Nature, Listen for It with Liz McKenzie (Episode #105)

If there are times when a moment of delightful joy or wonder would save the day for you, then our guest today has a message that will be a gift that keeps on giving. Liz McKenzie is an expert in giving us all access to the quiet, small wonders - usually just steps away - in a window sill, balcony, our own backyard, or a nearby park. No vacations are necessary to “get out into nature” and feel its calming warmth. It’s all around us all the time, and listening for it might be the greatest joy of all.

Image: A man riding a bicycle on a road that is nestled among some beautiful green hills

Riding 8,000 Kilometers for a Great Cause

Two Canadian cyclists are riding 8,000-kilometers across Canada with an important mission. These awesome riders have Parkinson’s disease and during their Spinning Wheels Tour, they are empowering others with Parkinson’s to get on their bikes and rediscover freedom and joy.

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