Optimist Economy Retcon on Season One (+ Executive Orderpalooza)
Oct 21, 2025
Reflecting on a year of tackling tough news, the hosts share how their journey began with a simple phone call and evolved into meaningful conversations. Personal life changes sparked engaged listener responses, while navigating the challenges of maintaining optimism became crucial. They discuss the incorporation of a nonprofit and tease future projects, including a potential book. Fun segments dive into quirky proposals, from mandatory civic service to consumer protections, and they wrap up with gratitude for their listeners who supported them along the way.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Podcast As An Antidote To Despair
- The podcast was created to resist despair and keep attention on a better economic future.
- Catherine Edwards and Robin Rauzi used weekly episodes to practice focusing on solutions despite constant bad news.
Friends Learned Facts On Road Trips
- Robin described friends listening on a road trip and citing facts she learned from the podcast in conversation.
- That moment showed the hosts' aim: give listeners usable facts to bring into everyday discussions.
Listener Responses Revealed Real-World Friction
- After the paid family leave episode many listeners immediately texted about Catherine's pregnancy reveal.
- They also received detailed voicemails from a payroll worker explaining state-level paid leave implementation headaches.