Filter Articles:
Need a Dose of Optimism These Days?
Subscribe for good news, no politics, and a guide to a better life online!
Sign upWake up to Good News for a Change!
Get the Ever Widening Circles App! Feeling better about the world is as easy as tapping our app on your phone.


Jump to another article!
Surprise Me!4 minutes
[ Culture ]
How This Little Town Survives without Roads or Cars
By Sam Burns
What if you never had to hear the sound of cars outside of your window again? For the residents of this Netherlandish town, that’s reality: most of Giethoorn isn’t accessible by four wheels, but rather by canal boat! Here’s a lovely look at a world without roads.
8 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Human Ingenuity Never Fails: The Town Built Underground!
By Sam Burns
What do you get when you combine resilient people, extreme weather conditions, and a former mining town? In Coober Pedy, residents live, work, grocery shop, and do everything else… underground. This unique and fascinating lifestyle is a great look into how humans can learn to thrive, no matter the challenges we face. They give a whole new meaning to the term “down under”!
5 minutes
[ Culture ]
The Steamy Reasons Finland Is Obsessed with Saunas
Step into the hot, steamy, world of… Finland? Yep! With over 2 million saunas throughout the country, the town of Lapland has piqued our curiosity. So, why is the entire town and country so obsessed with saunas? It’s more than just the health benefits. Here’s a look at community quirks that’ll leave you feeling refreshed!
12 minutes
[ Education ]
Why Grandmas Are Training to Be the Best Solar Engineers
Grandmas around the world are learning a new skill! These “solar mamas” are learning to become solar engineers and bringing light back to their communities that once spent their nights in darkness.
5 minutes
[ Culture ]
Lost Your Faith in Humanity? Find It in This Lost and Found!
Can a story of human compassion be found within a sea of discarded umbrellas? We’re traveling to Tokyo to witness a treasure trove of kindness inside of the world’s most efficient lost and found!
13 minutes
[ Culture ]
What Does Your Closet Say about Your Family History?
Who makes the bullfighter’s jacket? Why does the showgirl sparkle on stage? Join us for a journey around the world to learn why time and fervor are key components in some of the most awe-inspiring fashion traditions!
13 minutes
[ Culture ]
Would You Climb to the Top of the World to Send a Letter to a Loved One?
By Boris Riabov
When was the last time you saw human handwriting on a piece of snail mail? Handwritten letters can be the absolute best, and these people are doing some remarkable things with this lost way of connection!
5 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
The Lovable Psychiatrist Healing Trauma, One Stitch at a Time!
Could knitting be a revolutionary way for us to heal? Well, grab your knitting needles and prepare yourself for a giggle as we stitch sausages instead of sweaters with Madame Tricot, the Knitting Psychiatrist!
5 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
A New “Twist” on Embracing Your Hidden Talents
By Sam Burns
Was there something that you just naturally did as a child that you stopped doing because of the critique or lack of support from others? What if that gift is just waiting to take you to your zone of genius! This unusually flexible guy shows us what’s possible!
5 minutes
[ Nature ]
Saving Our Future by Looking to the Past
When was the last time you turned to your plate and thought about where it all comes from? Food, and the seeds that make it all possible, have an untold history all their own. And this group of Native American farmers is preserving this heritage to ensure we all have food security for generations to come!
5 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Could Your Water Bottle Become a Monk’s Robes?
By Sam Burns
Hundreds of tons of plastic waste have never looked so good! By transforming plastic refuse collected from around the country into a fiber, this monastery in Thailand is helping us rethink the life cycle of our plastic! Could recycling actually just be the beginning of a new exciting journey? Check this out.
10 minutes
[ Culture ]
The World’s First “Rock Star” Isn’t Who You Think!
Who was history’s first rockstar? I’ll give you a hint: he had long flowing hair, refused to bow to convention, made audiences swoon, and even broke a few instruments in his day. He wasn’t from the 1960s, or the 1950s, no, he made his name in the 40s—the 1840s! Any guesses yet?
7 minutes
[ Culture ]
Meet a Man and His Dog Taking a Walk Around the World!
Join a man and his pooch on an epic walk around the globe! When we travel we are reminded of the things that make life worth living: natural wonders, the joy of discovery, and warm conversations with kind strangers. Here’s what can happen when you bring your best pal along for the journey.
5 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
When Two Wheels Save Over Five Thousand Lives!
By Sam Burns
How many people does it take to transform the life of another? Or to change their future completely? Most of us know instinctively that the answer is one. Here’s a story that starts with that 1:1 ratio and ends up at 1:5,000! What could we each be doing? Here’s your inspiration to get creative with what you have.
5 minutes
[ Innovation ]
The Undergarment that Could Save Your Life!
What if something you already wear on your body every day could actually save your life? Well, it’s not that far off! We’re introducing you to a young man who is reinventing the way we look at our undergarments. Meet Julian Rios Cantu, a loving son who is about to change the world of women’s health as we know it—with a brassiere!
6 minutes
[ Culture ]
How this 70-Year-Old Racer Changed the Sport of BMX!
By Sam Burns
Have you ever told yourself that you’re “too old” to do something? Or that you “can’t do that”? Well, here’s one female BMX rider in her 70s who will get you paving your own path to joy throughout your own life!
20 minutes
[ Culture ]
Discover the Weird and Wonderful World of Cheese!
By Sam Burns
Is cheese the great unifying force? Travel the world of this dairy delight with us and you may find your answer! Whether from donkeys in Serbia or with maggots in Italy, cheese around the globe is as diverse and exciting as the cultures it has sustained for generations!
5 minutes
[ Culture ]
Celebrating Culture by Getting Down with the Limbo Queen!
How low can you go? Many of us associate the limbo with a game played at children’s birthday parties, but do you know where it actually came from? Let’s uncover the history behind the limbo, and watch the world’s reigning limbo champion shimmy her way to the top by scooting down mind-blowingly low!
14 minutes
[ Culture ]
The Magic of Opera from Subway to Stage!
By Boris Riabov
How in the world has opera been so popular for so long? What is it about these hours-long performances that have kept people fascinated over centuries? Take a journey with us behind the curtain of this world to discover why you, too, are a fan of the opera!
8 minutes
[ Food ]
Savoring the Flavor of the Moment with Lemon Caviar!
Can the juicy insides of citrus fruit change the way we experience life? We’re pausing to savor the moments that delight, starting with a tiny fruit that has a tasty, sunshiney surprise inside! Take your taste buds on an adventure by discovering the wonder in the caviar of the Finger Lime!
7 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Restoring Sight to the Blind with a $3 Innovation
By Sam Burns
Thought leaders who find ingenious solutions right at the root of problems can be an inspiration to us all. Here’s a doctor who is changing the lives of millions with a few fundamental shifts that drove costs of restoring someone’s sight down from $250 to $3!