#35 Finding Beauty in the Chaos of 2020

#35 Finding Beauty in the Chaos of 2020

Author: Texas Monthly December 16, 2020 Duration: 48:15
This year was full of ups and downs and in the final episode of 2020 the hosts look back at a few things that brought them joy and hope in a tumultuous time. Chelsea talks about finding time to get through her reading list–all 63 books and counting! Andrew discusses an article he found on the history of people coming together during tough times along with the research behind facing issues head on. Owen explains how poetry helped him stay steady this year and invites Sean Petrie of Typewriter Rodeo to sum up 2020 in a spontaneous poem.

There's a particular kind of conversation that feels like a deep breath of fresh air, and that's what you'll find within Good Newscast. Created as part of the Texas Optimism Project and brought to you by Texas Monthly, this series moves beyond simple good news to examine how a hopeful perspective is built and sustained. Hosts Owen Egerton, Chelsea Francis, and Andrew Roush guide these discussions with a genuine curiosity, treating optimism not as a naive outlook but as a practical tool for engaging with the world. Their episodes are less about headlines and more about the underlying ideas-the thought-starters and personal stories-that can reshape a day or even a mindset. Tuning into this podcast feels like joining a thoughtful, warm dialogue among friends who are genuinely interested in where hope comes from and how it manifests in everyday life, from small personal interactions to broader cultural shifts. Sponsored by Frost Bank, the show deliberately focuses on the constructive, the uplifting, and the possible, offering a necessary counterbalance in a noisy media landscape. It’s a space designed not to ignore complexity, but to explore how we navigate it with a sense of purpose and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 35

Good Newscast (Sponsored by Frost)
Podcast Episodes
#24: Welcome to Season 2.0 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:37
Owen, Chelsea, and Andrew discuss the different ways in which technology can be a force for good in our everyday lives.
#23: One Year of Optimism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:01
Owen, Andrew and Arely close out the season with a look at their favorite stories from past shows.
#22: Options for Optimism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:01
Owen shows us a new 3D printed house that is helping the homeless, Arely tells us a story of hope about a man whose wrongful conviction was overturned through DNA, and Andrew reveals a conduit to Santa at a Deli in San A…
#21: An Exercise in Radical Compassion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:02
Owen applauds the first all-woman space walk, Andrew has a story of empathy for an orangutan that broadens to a discussion about humanity, and Arely shows how a compassionate coach's fearless act saved two lives at a hig…
#20: Sweet, Sweet Optimism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:11
Owen brings in a humanely sourced chocolate bar to share how sweet it is to be an informed buyer. Andrew spotlights a delicious new kind of apple, and Arely reminds us: dogs, bruh.
#19: The Emerging Pattern of Optimism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:35
In episode 19, Owen finds hope along the path to ending homelessness, Andrew shows us a wildlife bridge where animals can wave at cars in safety, and Arely tells us of a local news network that inspired statewide action…
#18: Small Steps, Big Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:29
Behind big ideas are sometimes a series of small ones. Owen, Andrew and Arely talk about the simplicity of good deeds that can lead to positive change. Stories about a courageous activist, a haircut for the homeless and…
#17: Flamin' Hot Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:45
So what do you get when you combine Flamin' Hot Cheetos, chicken sandwiches and a typewriter that used to work for Penthouse magazine? Well, it's nothing short of amazing. Special guest Jodi Egerton from Typrwriter Rodeo…
#16: International Optimism [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:09
In episode 16, Owen praises the equalizing power of the see-saw, Arely shows us how easy it can be to help alleviate grim conditions at the border, and Andrew finds a Korean precedent for protest in Hong Kong.
#15: An Existential News Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:40
Owen, Andrew and Arely marvel as a 101-year-old author makes her debut. Andrew weighs wildflowers against re-wilding woodlands, and Arely spotlights a class where you learn math skills, then apply them while building hou…