Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why fight for a better future if we don't believe one is possible? Why organize, why vote? Dr. Deepika Chopra, the "Optimism Doctor," joins the show to talk about the dangers of cynicism, and to explain how optimism is a more rational and democracy-safeguarding response to this political moment. In her new book, The Power of Real Optimism, Dr. Chopra argues that the outlook is neither a trait nor mindset; it's a learnable set of skills that even the most pessimistic among us can incorporate. And it’s an essential safeguard against the paralyzing, numbing effect our media ecosystem has on our brains.
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BRODO: brodo.com/offline Code: OFFLINE
DELETEME: joindeleteme.com/offline CODE: OFFLINE
QUINCE: quince.com/offline
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
03:46 - Becoming the “Optimism Doctor"
10:07 - The science behind optimism and the brain
14:22 - Ad break
17:12 - What Deepika’s son’s illness taught her about optimism
24:27 - Gallup survey shows Americans are at all time low on future outlook
31:13 - Self-regulation tools to help with overexposure to anxiety-inducing thoughts & news
38:53 - Ad break
40:14 - The optimism quiz
46:00 - Modeling optimism for kids
Is the internet slowly breaking our brains, and if so, what can we do about it? Offline with Jon Favreau is a place where you can take a break from doom-scrolling and tune in to smarter, lighter conversations about the impact of technology & the internet on our collective culture. Intimate interviews between Pod Save America host Jon Favreau and notable guests like Stephen Colbert, Hasan Piker, ContraPoints, Margaret Atwood, and Megan Rapinoe spark curiosity and introspection around the various ways our extremely online existence shapes everything from the ways we live, work, and interact with one another. Together we’ll figure out how to live happier, healthier lives, both on and offline.
Photos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
Crooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us—one that doesn’t just focus on what’s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it’s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
That’s it. End of mission.
Learn more about us at crooked.com
Why fight for a better future if we don't believe one is possible? Why organize, why vote? Dr. Deepika Chopra, the "Optimism Doctor," joins the show to talk about the dangers of cynicism, and to explain how optimism is a more rational and democracy-safeguarding response to this political moment. In her new book, The Power of Real Optimism, Dr. Chopra argues that the outlook is neither a trait nor mindset; it's a learnable set of skills that even the most pessimistic among us can incorporate. And it’s an essential safeguard against the paralyzing, numbing effect our media ecosystem has on our brains.
CHECK OUT THESE DEALS FROM OUR SPONSORS
BRODO: brodo.com/offline Code: OFFLINE
DELETEME: joindeleteme.com/offline CODE: OFFLINE
QUINCE: quince.com/offline
CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro
03:46 - Becoming the “Optimism Doctor"
10:07 - The science behind optimism and the brain
14:22 - Ad break
17:12 - What Deepika’s son’s illness taught her about optimism
24:27 - Gallup survey shows Americans are at all time low on future outlook
31:13 - Self-regulation tools to help with overexposure to anxiety-inducing thoughts & news
38:53 - Ad break
40:14 - The optimism quiz
46:00 - Modeling optimism for kids
Is the internet slowly breaking our brains, and if so, what can we do about it? Offline with Jon Favreau is a place where you can take a break from doom-scrolling and tune in to smarter, lighter conversations about the impact of technology & the internet on our collective culture. Intimate interviews between Pod Save America host Jon Favreau and notable guests like Stephen Colbert, Hasan Piker, ContraPoints, Margaret Atwood, and Megan Rapinoe spark curiosity and introspection around the various ways our extremely online existence shapes everything from the ways we live, work, and interact with one another. Together we’ll figure out how to live happier, healthier lives, both on and offline.
Photos courtesy of AP Photo Archive
Crooked Media believes that we need a better conversation about politics, culture, and the world around us—one that doesn’t just focus on what’s broken, but what we can do to fix it. We are a media network that showcases stories, voices, and opportunities for activism that inform, entertain, and inspire action, because it’s up to all of us to do our part to build a better world.
That’s it. End of mission.
Learn more about us at crooked.com
