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!9 minutes
[ Science ]
How a Fictional Character Changed Real Science Forever
By Sam Burns
Could the TV shows you watched when you were younger influence who you are today? Researchers have been looking into this since a certain popular fictional character hit the mainstream and sparked a movement that changed the world of science forever!
[ Podcast ]
Institutionalizing Hopes and Dreams For Children with Linda Cliatt-Wayman
By Dr. Lynda
Today’s episode is with the retired principal, book author, and thought leader, Linda Cliatt-Wayman. Linda Cliatt-Wayman is a renowned education leader with an unwavering belief in the potential of all children.
6 minutes
[ Culture ]
When 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!
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.
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!
28 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Bringing the Wisdom of Mothers to the Racial Divide
By Dr. Lynda
How 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.
8 minutes
[ Creativity ]
The Caveman Leaving Hidden Wonders in New Mexico!
By Sam Burns
Can a man who digs elaborate caves for a hobby help us all find the work that feeds our soul? By encasing us in awe and wonder with his secret oasis carved throughout the hills of New Mexico, Ra Paulette might just point you down the right path!
10 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Now THIS is How You Start a Chain of Kindness
By Sam Burns
Not 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!
11 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
How to Transform Your Weaknesses into Your Secrets to Success!
By Sam Burns
What if the secret to getting the full potential out of your life, your productivity, and your gifts started with your weaknesses? It seems like an odd place to start, but this TED talk will have you looking at your weaknesses in an entirely new light in less than 10 minutes!
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!
6 minutes
[ Creativity ]
Over 400 Years of Wisdom All in One Page!
By Sam Burns
What does a piece of paper have to do with human nature? Well, why not ask the craftsmen who have been mastering the craft of papermaking for generations! (Who knew we held the key to happiness in our hands so often?)
22 minutes
[ Nature ]
Into the Wild World of Mushroom Hunting—the Perfect Social Distancing Activity!
By Sam Burns
Have you ever looked at a mushroom and wondered, can I eat that? Well, before you decide to take a bite, you might want to meet a few of the guides on today’s adventures. They’ll have you excited to grab your basket and start foraging!
6 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Why Some Doctors Are Using VR Instead of Anesthesia!
By Sam Burns
Could virtual reality be a form of medicine? For patients who are using VR to help manage their pain and discomfort during minor surgery, it already is! Take a look at the amazing way this technology, originally popular for gaming, is getting a new life in hospitals.
7 minutes
[ Culture ]
You’re Never Too Old to Dive into Your Dreams!
By Sam Burns
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!
17 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Ask Yourself These Three Questions and They Can Change Your Life!
What if three questions could help us live happier lives filled with more joy and meaning? The answers to these questions have the power to change the way we interact with our loved ones, do our work, and live a more fulfilled existence together!
8 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Why is This Busker Giving All of His Money Away?
By Sam Burns
Can a street performer change the way we think about helping our neighbor? Well, in the subways of New York City, one musician’s experiment in kindness has spread to a global movement to do good with whatever talents we have!
10 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
How You Can Use Your Own Hobbies to Positively Impact Others!
By Sam Burns
What can you do for hours that makes the stress of the world melt away? For Ed Nicholson, the answer was fly fishing, and now his passion is helping veterans combat the effects of PTSD. Check out his story and you might be inspired to help people in your own way!
10 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Start Small, Dream Big: The Secret to Accomplishing Life-Changing Goals
How 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!
10 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
The Joy of Sharing! New Wisdom On An Age-Old Cycle
By Sam Burns
Whether 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!
8 minutes
[ Creativity ]
What if Art Was Meant to be Touched?
By Sam Burns
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.
9 minutes
[ Culture ]
Medical Device to Fashion Statement: The Amazing History of Glasses
In the past few decades, glasses have become a fashion statement and form of expression. But how did they make the transition from a medical device to a stylish accessory? And can we transform prosthetics, wheelchairs, and hearing aids in the same creative and widely accepted way?
13 minutes
[ Culture ]
Bike Angels: Competitive Problem-Solving at Its Extreme!
What happens when we use fun to inspire people to help the world in their own way? New York City tried out this experiment with their Citi Bike Bike Angels program and the results were, well, unexpectedly enthusiastic!
17 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Meet the Tattoo Artist On an Inspiring Mission to Remove Hate
By Sam Burns
Do you have all the same strongly held views you had 20 years ago? Probably not. But what if the uncomfortable signs of your former self were permanently part of you in the form of tattoos? Thankfully, there are tattoo artists like Billy Joe White spreading positivity in the world by helping people grow from their racist pasts.
23 minutes
[ Culture ]
Is Going Zero Waste Really Possible?
Have you seen those people who can fit a year’s worth of garbage into a mason jar? Is that even possible? Meet a family that tried to live zero waste for a month and see how it went!
20 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Meet the Man Behind Books Young People Actually Want to Read!
By Sam Burns
Could there really be a simple way to encourage youth to read more? See how the author, Jason Reynolds, is making it happen by telling stories that connect to the experiences of today’s young adults.
15 minutes
[ Culture ]
How Do You Become a World Champion Pizza Spinner?
Pizza spinning is mesmerizing, but what if you added fire, multiple flying doughs, and the occasional behind-the-back spin? That’s how world champion spinner Justin Wadstein does it! Get ready—you’ve never seen dough spun quite like this before.
11 minutes
[ Innovation ]
Can You Fit a 2-Acre Garden in a Shipping Container?
By Sam Burns
How do we increase access to fresh, nutritious foods in places lacking the land to grow it? Square Roots may be bringing us towards the solution by growing the equivalent of a 2-acre garden inside a shipping container!
20 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Kid President Returns to Keep Us Celebrating!
By Sam Burns
If you’re searching for a glimmer of light on the web and proof our future is good hands, don’t fret: Kid President is back and taking us on a road trip to meet other awesome kids around the United States!
20 minutes
[ Thought Leaders ]
Fighting ALS One Pickle at a Time!
By Sam Burns
When life throws us unexpected bad news, what do we do? The story of what Arthur Cohen turned his ALS diagnosis into may help you recognize your own tools to find your way through whatever pickle you may be facing!