Ever Widening Circles: It's Still An Amazing World

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  • Innovation
      • All Innovation
          • Image: view from across the street from Skwatchays LodgeHow a Vancouver Hotel Is Supporting First Nations ArtistsHow can a hotel support the art and culture of a community? When it comes to doing good business that's good for the world, Skwachàys Lodge has created a model for supporting Indigenous artists while giving people a world-class vacation in Vancouver!
          • Image: Young monks wearing orange robes crossing the road with umbrellasCould Your Water Bottle Become a Monk’s Robes?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.  
          • Image: Man throwing a fishing net at sunsetFrom Fish to Fashion: When A Fishing Net Becomes A Hat!What if we looked at the life cycle of every item we purchased and thought "Where did this come from? What will happen when I'm done with it?" This company has figured out how to solve a problem for a community of fishermen and save wildlife by giving some of the ocean's most harmful pollution a new, more fashionable, life.
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      • Technology
          • Image: Older gentleman stands in front of his barber shopWhen Is a Haircut More Than a Haircut?Where do you go where you're welcomed like a true friend? COVID-19 has made these places really stand out, like our salons, for instance. But even with closed doors, some of these barbers and hairdressers are finding ways to keep that connection going. Here's a fun look at why!
          • Image: Dozens of bras on a clothesline in a fieldThe 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!
          • Image: little boy inspecting a leafBecome an Instant Backyard Scientist with iNaturalist! What if you could go on a safari and get up close and personal with hundreds of plants animals, no plane ticket, no fancy guide, and no money required? Now, all of us can experience our own backyards with a little more wonder thanks to this amazing app!
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      • Education
          • Image: Two coffee cups sitting in front of a cactusThe Conspiracy Chronicles: Having Difficult Conversations, July 2020How do we keep difficult conversations productive? Here are some tips you can use and a great organization, Listen First, to explore!
          • Image: Intern standing outside in the snow with greens from their greenhouse!The Joy of Sharing! New Wisdom On An Age-Old CycleWhether you're just starting out on your journey or you've become a master of your craft, you can be a part of a cycle that goes back millennia. What is this ancient cycle and how can it apply to our lives today? Let's head to the hills of Colorado and find out!
          • Image: Tilden Middle School Students in front of a poster that says "be the I in kind"Helping Students Find Confidence by Helping Others!Could there be a simple way to change the lives of young people around the world? They may be on to something at Tilden Middle School—helping their students build confidence, empathy, and kindness towards other people in just a single day. Here's how it works! (And how it can benefit you, too!) 
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      • Business
          • Image: A loaf of bread being gently held out in a towelWhy Good Business is like Good Bread!Why do we love a good loaf of bread so much? For 130 years a little bakery in Ireland has stood the test of time, answering this question for generations. The answer is a lesson we can pass on to other corners of our life as well!
          • Image: Checklist with a penThe Secret Power of ChecklistsThe fastest way to start reducing your stress and increasing productivity doesn't require any expensive new planners or apps. All you need to start working with the accuracy skill of a doctor or an astronaut is a piece of paper and a pen!
          • Image: Dave Jacka in his wheelchair in front of his planeStart Small, Dream Big: The Secret to Accomplishing Life-Changing GoalsHow do we achieve even our loftiest goals? At 19 years old, Dave Jacka was left with only 6% of his physical function after a motorcycle accident. 25 years later, he became the first pilot with quadriplegia to fly around Australia solo! The story of how he got there has insights for us all!
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      • Life Hacks
          • Image: Older gentleman stands in front of his barber shopWhen Is a Haircut More Than a Haircut?Where do you go where you're welcomed like a true friend? COVID-19 has made these places really stand out, like our salons, for instance. But even with closed doors, some of these barbers and hairdressers are finding ways to keep that connection going. Here's a fun look at why!
          • Image: Woman meditating by a mountain pond with a big sky before her.The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 
          • Image: people riding a roller coaster!Who Makes Roller Coasters?How does someone start making roller coasters?! If your life isn't turning out to be a positive and creative thrill yet, hang on to your hat. You could be just one interesting experience away from that if you have the courage to try some things you don't know much about! Check this out.
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  • Thought Leaders
      • All Thought Leaders
          • HawaiiSafeguarding Hawaii’s Future by Connecting with the Past!What if there were a new place to look for a sense of security in these times of turmoil and uncertainty, and it did not involve inventing something new or forcing ourselves forward? Instead, what if the answer to our thriving, right now, lies with remembering how our ancestors thrived!? Here's how they're doing it in Hawaii.
          • Image: Black & white image of Lizzo performingHave You Heard of Lizzo? Here’s Her Secret to SuccessAre you trying to achieve a goal? Is it taking longer than you thought it was? Here's the motivation you need to keep pushing forward from one of the world's most influential stars: Lizzo!
          • Image: view from across the street from Skwatchays LodgeHow a Vancouver Hotel Is Supporting First Nations ArtistsHow can a hotel support the art and culture of a community? When it comes to doing good business that's good for the world, Skwachàys Lodge has created a model for supporting Indigenous artists while giving people a world-class vacation in Vancouver!
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      • Conspiracy of Goodness
          • Image: Dozens of bras on a clothesline in a fieldThe 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!
          • Image: Principal Linda Cliatt-WaymanBringing the Wisdom of Mothers to the Racial DivideHow do we pick up the pieces and move forward to a better world, together? Dr. Lynda sat down with the brilliant Principal Linda Cliatt-Wayman to talk about how her work turning around some of the most dangerous schools in America can inform how we start the conversations we need to have to create a better future from this moment in history.
          • Image: Two coffee cups sitting in front of a cactusThe Conspiracy Chronicles: Having Difficult Conversations, July 2020How do we keep difficult conversations productive? Here are some tips you can use and a great organization, Listen First, to explore!
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      • TED Talks
          • Source: Three older women smiling walking in a neighborhood with GirlTrek. One is giving a thumbs up, the others are wavingDoes Walking Have the Power to Save Lives and Uplift Communities?Have you noticed that the first steps to solving our biggest problems are often right there in front of us, so clear that they're invisible? GirlTrek is turning the simple act of walking around the block into a revolutionary way to save lives and improve the safety of communities! Here's how. 
          • Image: Doctor sitting next to a hospital bed, wearing blue scrubs and a Mickey Mouse patterned head cap, interacting with a young girl who's sticking her tongue out. Feeling is joyful!The Inspiring Craft That’s Saving Doctors’ Lives! There is a "medicine" available to all of us that parents have been delivering in whispers to their children before they close their eyes at night. It's totally free, as old as human existence, and has proven time and time again to be what we're built on! Now, it's being used to save our healthcare workers' lives!
          • Image: Little Lady enjoying the sun!Why Is My Cat So Dang Weird?!The midnight racing, the pre-pounce butt-wiggle... these are just a small sampling of the odd things that cats do. But you don't need to be a crazy cat lady to appreciate these sometimes-ferocious little furballs! Let's start by nipping at the evolutionary excuses your cat has for being, well, the weirdest!
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      • Education Enrichment
          • Image: little boy inspecting a leafBecome an Instant Backyard Scientist with iNaturalist! What if you could go on a safari and get up close and personal with hundreds of plants animals, no plane ticket, no fancy guide, and no money required? Now, all of us can experience our own backyards with a little more wonder thanks to this amazing app!
          • Image: Stem with aphids on itWhat Are These Walking Jellybeans Doing on Your Plants?Most people would overlook these candy pooping, clone birthing, walking jellybeans, but you are not most people! These little gals will have you turning over more leaves, getting more excited about the world, and letting curiosity be your guide!
          • Image: Woman hugs large dog with a smile on his faceHow Dogs Are Helping Us Detect Cancer!A group of highly trained dogs is learning to smell some of the hardest to detect forms of cancer! So, what are we learning from these super-sniffers?
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      • Happiness & Hope
          • Image: Beluga peering at a childs hand on aquarium glassA True Tale of Finding a Best Friend in a Beluga WhaleCan an unlikely friendship help save an entire species? When an aquarium trainer met her counterpoint in a friendly beluga whale, a bond was formed that can teach us more than we ever dreamed possible. Let's dive into a real-life story that will have you heading to the nearest aquarium in search of a new best friend!
          • 47286866_2047910151899003_1941249287065174016_oHow this 70-Year-Old Racer Changed the Sport of BMX!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! 
          • Image: Thomas Weller with his truckNow THIS is How You Start a Chain of KindnessNot all heroes wear capes; some don a straw cap, grab a can of gas and jump into their car with their dog to do what they can. Meet a hero who has been keeping the chain of small acts of kindness going for 53 years! You may just find yourself inspired, too!
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      • Humor
          • Image: Little Lady enjoying the sun!Why Is My Cat So Dang Weird?!The midnight racing, the pre-pounce butt-wiggle... these are just a small sampling of the odd things that cats do. But you don't need to be a crazy cat lady to appreciate these sometimes-ferocious little furballs! Let's start by nipping at the evolutionary excuses your cat has for being, well, the weirdest!
          • Image: microphoneHow Comedians Are Changing the Way We Approach DepressionWhat can some of the world's funniest people do when they open up about mental health? Comedians like Sarah Silverman, Wayne Brady, Chris Gethard, and Rainn Wilson are helping us better support the ones we love and ourselves!
          • Image: Beau Miles running with a shovel during his mile an hour dayHow to Finish Your To-Do List and Run a Marathon in One Day!Could you check off your entire to-do list in one day? It's not just possible, you can do it while having fun, doing what you love, and taking time to reflect! Here's how!
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      • Philosophy
          • Image: "Be Kind" written in chalk on a sidewalkLeon Logothetis is Proving the Kindness of Strangers is Alive and Well!Is it possible to travel the country only relying on the kindness of strangers? The person we're highlighting in this piece proves it is! Take a look at the impact this has on peoples lives and how we can all tap into the kindness all around us.
          • Image: Louisa on Chuck's chestMicro-Preemie Turns 21: A Success Story for Everyone!When life gets difficult there's always something we can learn and use for the rest of our lives. 21 years ago, Dr. Lynda (EWC'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.
          • Image: A famous, wild roller coaster at dusk in GermanyIs Happiness Truly Our End Goal?Most of us are running around looking to hold on to this thing called happiness, but these seem to be fleeting moments. Should we be focusing on something else instead? Listen to writer Emily Esfahani Smith's eye opening insight in her TED Talk!
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  • Nature
      • All Nature
          • Image: Stand of Orange Pore FungiYour World: Made Possible By Giant FungiWhat does a 420 million-year-old giant fungus have to do with life on Earth as we know it today? Much more than you might think! (You might have to thank its early cousins for making our lives possible!)
          • Image: Close up of a dog nose with eyes looking upYour Dog is Traveling Through Time… With Their Nose! From finding missing people, sniffing out bombs, and even detecting health problems, dogs' remarkable sense of smell continues to impress. But what's actually going on inside those beloved noses?
          • Image: Crow looking at cameraYou’re Probably More Like a Crow than You ThoughtThese birds probably live near you, but have you ever noticed just how intelligent they are? No? Well, you’re in for a treat.
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      • Animals
          • Image: Beluga peering at a childs hand on aquarium glassA True Tale of Finding a Best Friend in a Beluga WhaleCan an unlikely friendship help save an entire species? When an aquarium trainer met her counterpoint in a friendly beluga whale, a bond was formed that can teach us more than we ever dreamed possible. Let's dive into a real-life story that will have you heading to the nearest aquarium in search of a new best friend!
          • Image: Eel (technically an Anguilla marmorata)Do You Know Where Baby Eels Come From? Neither Does Science!There are a lot of mysteries about the world around us, but one you probably never thought you'd ponder is the mating lives of eels! EELS? Yes, these slippery friends have stumped scientists and philosophers for centuries, and this mystery reminds us all of the wonderful quirks of our world!
          • Image: X-ray of hands making a heart shapeWhy Don’t Beetles Have Bones? (And Why Do You?)The perfect combination of strong, flexible, and light, our skeletons do a lot more than hold us up! But how did we end up with this skeletal wonder that makes us so different from bugs and beetles? Well, the answer is a great reminder of how a few little detours on the path of life can lead us in entirely different directions! 
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      • Environment
          • Image: different varieties and colorsSaving Our Future by Looking to the PastWhen 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! 
          • Image: Young monks wearing orange robes crossing the road with umbrellasCould Your Water Bottle Become a Monk’s Robes?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.  
          • Image: White Egret onWhere There’s a Weevil, There’s a Way!Here's a story that shows what's possible when we use our strengths to solve big problems. When a Texas lake and way of life were threatened by an invasive species, scientists, community members, and weevils teamed up to save their beloved waters!
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      • Conservation & Sustainability
          • HawaiiSafeguarding Hawaii’s Future by Connecting with the Past!What if there were a new place to look for a sense of security in these times of turmoil and uncertainty, and it did not involve inventing something new or forcing ourselves forward? Instead, what if the answer to our thriving, right now, lies with remembering how our ancestors thrived!? Here's how they're doing it in Hawaii.
          • Image: Beluga peering at a childs hand on aquarium glassA True Tale of Finding a Best Friend in a Beluga WhaleCan an unlikely friendship help save an entire species? When an aquarium trainer met her counterpoint in a friendly beluga whale, a bond was formed that can teach us more than we ever dreamed possible. Let's dive into a real-life story that will have you heading to the nearest aquarium in search of a new best friend!
          • Image: Young monks wearing orange robes crossing the road with umbrellasCould Your Water Bottle Become a Monk’s Robes?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.  
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  • Creativity
      • All Creativity
          • Image: Young child laying in the grass with paper airplanes all around himTurn Your Utility Bill into Endless Fun with This World-Record HolderTurn your utility bill into a swooshing supply of endless fun! John Collins, a man who flew one of his folded paper creations hundreds of feet through the air, smashing the world record, shows us the world of wonder we can all find in a few simple creases. 
          • Image: Bisa Butler Quilt "Sisters, 2020"Stitching Together History: The Incredible Work of Bisa ButlerMost of us want to be more tomorrow than we are today; to know more, to love more, to see more that expands what we think is possible. Even if you aren't an "art" person, the extraordinary, life-sized work of Bisa Butler will leave you in awe of the history and future of humanity.
          • Image: Wooden Boat in the WaterTravel through Time While Reconnecting with Your RootsWhat stories do you surround yourself with? Here's how to start to travel through time by just appreciating the life you’ve built around you!
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      • Art
          • Image: Young child laying in the grass with paper airplanes all around himTurn Your Utility Bill into Endless Fun with This World-Record HolderTurn your utility bill into a swooshing supply of endless fun! John Collins, a man who flew one of his folded paper creations hundreds of feet through the air, smashing the world record, shows us the world of wonder we can all find in a few simple creases. 
          • Image: view from across the street from Skwatchays LodgeHow a Vancouver Hotel Is Supporting First Nations ArtistsHow can a hotel support the art and culture of a community? When it comes to doing good business that's good for the world, Skwachàys Lodge has created a model for supporting Indigenous artists while giving people a world-class vacation in Vancouver!
          • Image: Bisa Butler Quilt "Sisters, 2020"Stitching Together History: The Incredible Work of Bisa ButlerMost of us want to be more tomorrow than we are today; to know more, to love more, to see more that expands what we think is possible. Even if you aren't an "art" person, the extraordinary, life-sized work of Bisa Butler will leave you in awe of the history and future of humanity.
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      • Dance
          • Image: Shemika Charles shimmying under an SUVCelebrating 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!
          • Image: Shaheem Sanchez tuttingMeet the Dancer Combining Sign Language & Hip HopShaheem Sanchez lost his hearing as a child, but now as a professional dancer, teacher, and advocate he is on a mission to make ASL dance a movement. His work points to possibilities all around us, probably hiding in plain sight, if we can just eliminate our assumptions.
          • Image: Cinco Dancers with a beautiful, flowing gownThe Fascinating Story Behind Why We Dance!We seem to be born to do it and it may even be a key to our success as a species! So why was it that dancing became engrained in the fabric of being human? This video clues us in on how dance has shaped human life throughout our evolution. And we can't help but ask: could dance actually help us through difficult times now?
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      • Music
          • Image: Black & white image of Lizzo performingHave You Heard of Lizzo? Here’s Her Secret to SuccessAre you trying to achieve a goal? Is it taking longer than you thought it was? Here's the motivation you need to keep pushing forward from one of the world's most influential stars: Lizzo!
          • Image: Musicians singing and playing guitar on stageThe 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?
          • Image: singers on stage of an operaThe Magic of Opera from Subway to Stage!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!
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      • Design
          • Image: Young child laying in the grass with paper airplanes all around himTurn Your Utility Bill into Endless Fun with This World-Record HolderTurn your utility bill into a swooshing supply of endless fun! John Collins, a man who flew one of his folded paper creations hundreds of feet through the air, smashing the world record, shows us the world of wonder we can all find in a few simple creases. 
          • Image: Bisa Butler Quilt "Sisters, 2020"Stitching Together History: The Incredible Work of Bisa ButlerMost of us want to be more tomorrow than we are today; to know more, to love more, to see more that expands what we think is possible. Even if you aren't an "art" person, the extraordinary, life-sized work of Bisa Butler will leave you in awe of the history and future of humanity.
          • Image: Wooden Boat in the WaterTravel through Time While Reconnecting with Your RootsWhat stories do you surround yourself with? Here's how to start to travel through time by just appreciating the life you’ve built around you!
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      • Photography
          • Image: Young people together in schoolWhat if Mass Media was Used for Good?There’s more power in positive media than just making us feel good! Sharing stories that celebrate progress around the world has the ability to change lives. Check out this collective of creators redefining the way we tell the stories about some of our world’s biggest issues, and the people working to alleviate them.
          • ispyblackbackground“I SPY”: The Books that Still Catch Our Eye!Have you ever been captivated by the magic of an "I SPY" book? Let us introduce you to Walter Wick, the photographer behind these imaginative works of art!
          • Lewis HineCan the Photos You Share Really Make a Difference?Do your shares on social media really mean anything? We're taking a look in the history books to see how sharing photographs has changed the world before, and how you can have a hand in making a difference today!
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  • Science
      • All Science
          • Image: Eel (technically an Anguilla marmorata)Do You Know Where Baby Eels Come From? Neither Does Science!There are a lot of mysteries about the world around us, but one you probably never thought you'd ponder is the mating lives of eels! EELS? Yes, these slippery friends have stumped scientists and philosophers for centuries, and this mystery reminds us all of the wonderful quirks of our world!
          • Image: X-ray of hands making a heart shapeWhy Don’t Beetles Have Bones? (And Why Do You?)The perfect combination of strong, flexible, and light, our skeletons do a lot more than hold us up! But how did we end up with this skeletal wonder that makes us so different from bugs and beetles? Well, the answer is a great reminder of how a few little detours on the path of life can lead us in entirely different directions! 
          • Image: Tree root growing through bricks in Central Park, New York CityHow Soil Is Telling Us a New Story About Ourselves!What can soil tell us about the lives of our ancestors? When one of the greatest archaeological finds of our time was unearthed right in the middle of New York City,  history opened up. By studying soil samples extracted from hundreds of people previously lost to history, this scientist is piecing together an ancestry that was nearly lost! 
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      • Health
          • Source: Three older women smiling walking in a neighborhood with GirlTrek. One is giving a thumbs up, the others are wavingDoes Walking Have the Power to Save Lives and Uplift Communities?Have you noticed that the first steps to solving our biggest problems are often right there in front of us, so clear that they're invisible? GirlTrek is turning the simple act of walking around the block into a revolutionary way to save lives and improve the safety of communities! Here's how. 
          • Image: Doctor sitting next to a hospital bed, wearing blue scrubs and a Mickey Mouse patterned head cap, interacting with a young girl who's sticking her tongue out. Feeling is joyful!The Inspiring Craft That’s Saving Doctors’ Lives! There is a "medicine" available to all of us that parents have been delivering in whispers to their children before they close their eyes at night. It's totally free, as old as human existence, and has proven time and time again to be what we're built on! Now, it's being used to save our healthcare workers' lives!
          • Image: Woman meditating by a mountain pond with a big sky before her.The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 
        • Close
      • Space
          • Image: Artist Representation of Kepler Space TelescopeHow to Become a Planet Hunter & Other Important Life LessonsHave you ever had a moment that changed the trajectory of your life? For Anne Datillo, a moment of curiosity took her from college student to Planet Hunter! Whether or not we're reaching for the stars, her story has some wisdom we can all learn from!
          • Image: On 1-2 April Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 captured Arp 274 (also known as NGC 5679). Arp 274 is a system of three galaxies that appear to be partially overlapping in the image, although they may be at somewhat different distances.Where Do Those Psychedelic Images of Space Come From?You've probably seen those psychedelic images from space; colorful clouds of swirling dust, galaxies colliding, and stars being born. But where do those images come from? How are they made? And does space seriously look like that?!
          • Image: NASA Image of baby stars forming in a space dust cloudFrom Bunnies to Solar Systems: The Magic of Dust!What do the dust bunnies under your nightstand have in common with our solar system? Turns out, the answer to that is all about the wonder of connections! Read on and all around you will seem a mystery unfolding.
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      • Psychology
          • Image: Doctor sitting next to a hospital bed, wearing blue scrubs and a Mickey Mouse patterned head cap, interacting with a young girl who's sticking her tongue out. Feeling is joyful!The Inspiring Craft That’s Saving Doctors’ Lives! There is a "medicine" available to all of us that parents have been delivering in whispers to their children before they close their eyes at night. It's totally free, as old as human existence, and has proven time and time again to be what we're built on! Now, it's being used to save our healthcare workers' lives!
          • Image: Woman meditating by a mountain pond with a big sky before her.The Simplest Way to Train Your Brain! This routine has been shown to boost our memory, combat depression and anxiety, and reduce pain—all without expensive equipment, special skills, medications, or taking hours out of our day. But is meditation really a practical addition to our busy lives? One of our favorite creators puts it to the test. 
          • Image: child wearing a kitchen pot on their head, peeking around the corner with a camera lens as a telescopeFinding Kids’ Hidden Talents! Are They Rascals or Geniuses?Could kids' (or even your) most annoying traits actually be a huge strength just waiting to be nurtured? Thought leader Josh Shipp takes us through how to support our kid's unrefined skillset—and keep our own sanity, as well!
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  • Culture
      • All Culture
          • HawaiiSafeguarding Hawaii’s Future by Connecting with the Past!What if there were a new place to look for a sense of security in these times of turmoil and uncertainty, and it did not involve inventing something new or forcing ourselves forward? Instead, what if the answer to our thriving, right now, lies with remembering how our ancestors thrived!? Here's how they're doing it in Hawaii.
          • Image: Black & white image of Lizzo performingHave You Heard of Lizzo? Here’s Her Secret to SuccessAre you trying to achieve a goal? Is it taking longer than you thought it was? Here's the motivation you need to keep pushing forward from one of the world's most influential stars: Lizzo!
          • Image: view from across the street from Skwatchays LodgeHow a Vancouver Hotel Is Supporting First Nations ArtistsHow can a hotel support the art and culture of a community? When it comes to doing good business that's good for the world, Skwachàys Lodge has created a model for supporting Indigenous artists while giving people a world-class vacation in Vancouver!
        • Close
      • Travel
          • Image: Tom Turcich and his dog Savannah on their walk around the worldMeet 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. 
          • Image: toy car on top of a map of the united statesThe Green Book: Why a 1950’s Travel Guide is Important Today!In a time before the internet and GPS, Victor Green connected people all across the United States! He created a revolutionary travel guide that made the tradition of family road trips explode across the country! Here's how the Green Book changed history—and why you've probably never heard of it.
          • Image: Cheese with a daisyDiscover the Weird and Wonderful World of Cheese!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!
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      • Sports
          • 47286866_2047910151899003_1941249287065174016_oHow this 70-Year-Old Racer Changed the Sport of BMX!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! 
          • Image: Shemika Charles shimmying under an SUVCelebrating 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!
          • Image: Harlem Honeys and Bears practicing in the waterYou’re Never Too Old to Dive into Your Dreams!Have you ever seen a 90-year-old do a flip? The team members of the Harlem Honeys and Bears are reminding us that we're never too old to find a passion in life, and certainly never too old to try something new!
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      • Food
          • Image: Aceto kissing a lemon!The Daring Tradition of a Very Special Lemon FarmerThere is a remarkable person teetering on cliff edges to get to the fruit of a tree who has something to teach us all.  Gigino the Lemon Man is 80-years-old and may be the best (and last) person to show us why some traditions can add all the sweetness we need to life. 
          • Image: Cheese with a daisyDiscover the Weird and Wonderful World of Cheese!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!
          • Image: Olives next to a small bowl of olive oilOlive Oil: Our Guide to Celebrating the Timeless ThingsTake a moment to go on a journey with us to savor a flavor you probably have sitting in your kitchen cupboard! Who knew that that perfect opportunity to explore a food tradition that is thousands of years old started with a drizzle of our favorite oil.
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      • History
          • Image: Tree root growing through bricks in Central Park, New York CityHow Soil Is Telling Us a New Story About Ourselves!What can soil tell us about the lives of our ancestors? When one of the greatest archaeological finds of our time was unearthed right in the middle of New York City,  history opened up. By studying soil samples extracted from hundreds of people previously lost to history, this scientist is piecing together an ancestry that was nearly lost! 
          • Image: six different rooms with tiny trinkets in a 1700s doll house!Our Littlest Helpers: The Captivating World of Miniatures!Can you imagine remodeling your entire home in a single day, using only a pair of tweezers to do the heavy lifting? Shrink small but think BIG as we explore the fascinating world of miniatures! These tiny houses are more helpful to people than you may know!
          • Image: toy car on top of a map of the united statesThe Green Book: Why a 1950’s Travel Guide is Important Today!In a time before the internet and GPS, Victor Green connected people all across the United States! He created a revolutionary travel guide that made the tradition of family road trips explode across the country! Here's how the Green Book changed history—and why you've probably never heard of it.
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      • Special Occasion
          • Image: silhouette of bigfootMeet the People at the Festival Hollering Out for Bigfoot!Warm-up your bellowing lungs and get out your hiking boots, because we're going on an adventure to track down the elusive Sasquatch! With the help of a few communities dedicated to celebrating the Big Foot legend, fun and adventure are just around the corner.
          • image: Paper Cutout of the word loveHow Do You Find the Right Words for Your Love?Have you ever felt an emotion you didn't have the words for? This is where the beauty of other languages can step in. When it comes to love, there are a lot of feelings that English sometimes can't quite express, but other languages have captured that magic!
          • Image: People celebrating wildly throwing colorful things in the airWhat We’ve Learned from 5 Years of Curating the WebWant an antidote for the daily news, without completely abandoning ship? We're celebrating 5 years of publishing "the rest of the story" here at Ever Widening Circles! So join us as we point you to some of the amazing topics we've discovered while curating the web for the insights and innovations being missed by most.
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      • Saturdays Around the World
          • Image: Tom Turcich and his dog Savannah on their walk around the worldMeet 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. 
          • Image: Aceto kissing a lemon!The Daring Tradition of a Very Special Lemon FarmerThere is a remarkable person teetering on cliff edges to get to the fruit of a tree who has something to teach us all.  Gigino the Lemon Man is 80-years-old and may be the best (and last) person to show us why some traditions can add all the sweetness we need to life. 
          • Image: young icefish in the Notothenioidei suborderThe Super COOL Way Antarctic Fish are Improving Your Ice Cream! You may have to thank these fish for your favorite smooth, tasty, ice cream treat! The fish? Oh yeah—what these scientists have discovered about how Antarctic fish survive in the freezing waters will make your next trip to the freezer way more exciting!
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Liesl Ulrich-Verderber

COO of Ever Widening Circles, Founder of EWCed

Since 2015, Liesl has been a writer, editor, and the COO at Ever Widening Circles. She is a life-long camera-toting traveler, a global story seeker, and an aspiring—but more often floundering—outdoor enthusiast. She can be found on Instagram @Liesl.UV

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Lynda Ulrich

Founder, CEO

Dr. Lynda is a dentist, artist, global traveler, and philanthropist who looks for potential and shares it with the world.

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Dr. Chuck Verderber

CFO

Dr. Chuck is our CFO--Chief Fun Officer--at Ever Widening Circles. He and Dr. Lynda are dentists in and practice together at Fiddlehead Dental in Northern Vermont.

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Abigayle Fugere

Abi is passionate about warm chocolate chip cookies with a glass of milk, analyzing numbers, and soaking up the sun on the beach.

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Thomas Begley

Outreach Coordinator

Thomas is a young and eager person who enjoys pottery, Vietnamese food, and spending time with his hip parents. A recent college graduate, he works as a waiter in St. Albans and loves to sing at anyone who will listen.

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Renee Laroche-Rheaume

Outreach Coordinator

Renee is a graduate of FIDM, and has held jobs in several industries such as apparel manufacturing, retail, professional office work, and even hospitality! Her creative outlook, wide variety of experiences, and desire to notice the beauty around us make her a great addition to the EWC team!

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Boris Riabov

Guest Contributor

Boris is an independent filmmaker and Russian-American daydreamer extraordinaire: currently, the happiest of campers and guest writer for Ever Widening Circles. The French Press is his kind of morning news, he backpacks with the best of em’ and dies hard for his NY Knicks (scoring more socks into his own dryer). His lack of gardening skills qualify him to farm playlists on Spotify as he stomps his new grounds of Vancouver, B.C.—follow him on ze Instagrams @wordsmysteps.  

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Brittany Nugent

Guest Contributor

Brittany has been writing and creating stories since childhood! She graduated from Holy Family University with a degree in communications, is an avid world traveler (five of the seven continents!), lover of nature, and spends her days working to connect to the world in deeper ways. Have any questions about the awesome world of rocks and crystals? She's your gal.

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Could you feed your neighbors using the air in you Could you feed your neighbors using the air in your lungs and a spear? 🐟⠀ .⠀ In this edition of Saturday’s Around the World, we’re traveling to Hawaii to discover how some islanders are safeguarding their communities.⠀ .⠀ The gorgeous video by National Geographic (@natgeo) in our article teaches us how self-sufficiency can bring people together in more ways than one! 🍽️⠀ .⠀ Follow the link in our bio for the full story!⠀ .⠀ _______________________⠀ Image source: Pixabay
Want to start your day with less fear, more joy, a Want to start your day with less fear, more joy, and hope for a brighter future? ☕🌞⠀ Read Dr. Lynda's internationally #1 bestselling book, "Happiness Is An Option".⠀ .⠀ You'll discover a fresh perspective on internet culture, and finish the last page feeling hopeful and optimistic! ⠀ .⠀ Click the link in our bio to get your copy today!
🍫 Tune in to our newest podcast episode! 🍫⠀ .⠀ Ben Conard from Five North Chocolate (@fivenorthchocolate) is one of the top 10 Biggest Fair Trade Advocates in the World, AND in the top 40 LGBT Leaders under 40!⠀ .⠀ Listen as we chat about his passion for educating consumers to give them the power to make lasting change in the market!⠀ .⠀ This guy is a serious advocate for the #ConspiracyOfGoodness!⠀ Link to the episode is in our bio!
Get ready to rediscover a pastime that has brought Get ready to rediscover a pastime that has brought generations of people endless, simple joy! ⠀ .⠀ You don't even need to go to the store for supplies! All it requires is one little piece of paper. 🧾⠀ .⠀ Glide into our latest article, where Great Big Story (@greatbigstory) and National Geographic (@natgeo) unfold the magic that lies within the timeless paper airplane!⠀ .⠀ The link is in our bio!⠀ .⠀ _______________________⠀ Image source: Pixabay
Join us in Finding Goodness on October 4th! 🌞⠀ ⠀ The Conspiracy of Goodness Summit will highlight outstanding thought leaders such as the brilliant Linda Cliatt-Wayman! Together online, we can all learn to live with less fear, more joy, and hope for a brighter future!⠀ ⠀ Get your tickets and all-access passes at cogsummit.com today!
Is it possible to change the world by befriending Is it possible to change the world by befriending a beluga? ⠀ .⠀ Kelsey Ford, a senior trainer at Georgia Aquarium (@georgiaaquarium) is working with marine life to help expand our knowledge. Little did she know when she started working there, she would discover her best friend in the process! 💙⠀ .⠀ Click the link in our bio to dive into their adorable real-life story, and bring on those happy tears! ⠀ .⠀ _______________________________________________⠀ Image courtesy of Heather Katsoulis // Flickr
When you let yourself shine, we're all in a better When you let yourself shine, we're all in a better place! ⠀ ⠀ #QuoteoftheDay #ShondaRhimes⠀ ⠀ Shonda Rhimes is an American television producer, screenwriter, and author. If you've ever enjoyed Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, or How to Get Away With Murder, you know her work! (And if you haven't seen her TED Talk, "My year of saying yes to everything", yet, WHEW! Google that. You won't regret it.)
Exhausted by the negative news? Rediscover the joy Exhausted by the negative news? Rediscover the joy, wonder, and awe that our world still has to offer! ✨🌎✨⠀ .⠀ Get your tickets to the CONSPIRACY OF GOODNESS Summit! Our line-up of thought leaders will speak at this one-time special online event, and teach us all how to live with less fear, more joy, and a brighter future!⠀ .⠀ Visit www.cogsummit.com to get your tickets today! (LINK IN BIO)
Here's a thought leader that will have you embraci Here's a thought leader that will have you embracing the sloooooow burn! 🎤✨⠀ .⠀ Although she is a monumental star now, Lizzo’s (@lizzobeeating) road to success wasn’t paved with gold.⠀ .⠀ Watch her inspiring interview with CBS Sunday Morning (@cbssundaymorning), and cut yourself a little slack! She'll have you looking at where you are, where you’ve been, and where you’re going with a little more acceptance and a lot more self-love! ❤️⠀ .⠀ Follow the link in our bio to view the full article.⠀ ______________________________________⠀ Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Want to live a life with less fear, more joy, and Want to live a life with less fear, more joy, and a brighter future? ⠀ Dive into Dr. Lynda's internationally bestselling book, "Happiness Is An Option"!⠀ .⠀ You'll discover a fresh perspective on internet culture, and finish the last page feeling hopeful and optimistic! 👍⠀ .⠀ Get your copy today at www.dr-lynda.com/book/happiness⠀ .⠀ Link in bio!
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