Jan. 6, 2026

If Chickens Can Do It

If Chickens Can Do It
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If Chickens Can Do It

A case for optimism.
In the prelude to the new season of Something Shifted, Sean Loots speaks to astrophysicist-turned-journalist and author of "The Bright Side" Sumit Paul-Choudhury, about the science and psychology of optimism.

Drawing on stories from Ernest Shackleton's 1915 Arctic expedition, to Sean's "Joy Jar", and the research behind optimistic chickens, Sumit shares how he became an optimist after experiencing great loss. Youtube · Instagram · Website · 3-2-1 Shift Newsletter

00:00 - Intro

01:22 - The Joy Jar

03:30 - Sumit Paul-Choudhury

09:33 - Ernest Shackleton's Arctic Expedition

14:35 - Zoe's progress

15:25 - Optimistic Chickens

17:38 - Optimism and Humans