In this episode, I share why I’ve been off mainstream media (and feel calmer, clearer, and more engaged), how I stay informed on my terms, and what the Tao Te Ching and Stoicism taught me about hope that does the work.

We’ll look at the “doom loop,” why outrage isn’t engagement, and how to channel energy into real life—voting, volunteering, showing up for people you love—without pretending everything’s fine.

Along the way, I unpack a Tao passage that once infuriated me (“You can’t improve the world”) and how it ultimately freed me: the world is imperfect—and we make it better anyway.

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How Not to Be Cynical About the World—and Be Calmer, Happier, and More Hopeful

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