Why you have to be optimistic

When the world is on fire, it’s difficult to stay hopeful. But our future depends on it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Jenny Lawton, fact-checked by Melissa Hirsch, engineered by David Tatasciore, and hosted by Jonquilyn Hill. Photo by Hasan Tacan/Anadolu via Getty Images. If you have a question, give us a call at 1-800-618-8545 or email [email protected]. Listen to Explain It to Me ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 12, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

Why you have to be optimistic

0:00 29:36

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Speaking to Politics Mike Politics shape our world. The issues being decided in the halls of government every day have real and lasting impact on all our lives, but discussing politics is extremely unpleasant. It is very difficult today to have a calm, adult conversation about politics. Are the people screaming on TV, the radio, and online really who “we” are? Are they really representative of mainstream America or are they just really aggressive and loud? I believe the adults just got tired of it and walked away, but their silence is not consent. This podcast is the test of that theory. If you see fit to tune in, I will present news of the day, analysis and commentary while doing my best to check my feelings at the door and let you, the listeners, decide what it means to you. No ominous music, no angry rants, just a relaxed conversation and positive vibe. Politics, for reasonable people.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Today, Explained?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this Today, Explained episode published?

This episode was published on April 12, 2026.

Can I download this Today, Explained episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!