Episode 19

Happy Good News - Oct 2021 Roundup

The Problem Busters have a quick chat through some positive news articles from October.

About the show:

Problem Busters is a show that explores solutions to the biggest and the smallest of problems. Hosts Jonathan Goodwin and Oliver Happy discuss making the world a better place with guests from far and wide.

This show's reading list:

  • Most plans for new coal plants scrapped since Paris agreement: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/14/most-plans-for-new-coal-plants-scrapped-since-paris-agreement
  • Firm raises $15m to bring back woolly mammoth from extinction: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/sep/13/firm-bring-back-woolly-mammoth-from-extinction
  • Sep: Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea has been billed as the world’s first major net-zero carbon football match. https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/sport/climate-crisis-the-football-clubs-making-net-zero-more-competitive/
  • One of London’s busiest streets goes car-free (a section of the Strand): https://www.positive.news/society/one-of-the-busiest-streets-in-london-goes-car-free/
  • Renaming Revolution: the campaign to change the language of maternity care: https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/wellbeing/the-campaign-to-change-the-language-around-maternity-care/
  • Magnetic male contraceptive invented.https://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2021/07/29/magnetic-male-contraceptive-birth-control/
  • Food market in Vancouver https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/rescued-food-market-vancouver-sells-food-saved-from-landfills-at-pay-what-you-feel-prices/
  • Berlin campaign to ban cars https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/06/berlins-car-ban-campaign-its-about-how-we-want-to-live-breathe-and-play
  • Fossil Found by Kids in New Zealand Turns Out to Be 27 Million-Year-old Giant Penguin https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/giant-pengiun-fossil-found-in-new-zealand-by-kids-unites-ancient-genus/
  • How India’s Air Pollution is Being Turned into Stylish Floor Tiles https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/indian-entrepreneur-invents-cheap-air-purifier-and-sends-the-waste-to-be-made-into-tiles/
  • Ireland pilots basic income for creatives. https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/basic-income-scheme-for-artists-art-workers-to-be-piloted-in-2022-1.4698533
  • Plyscrapers in Sweden: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/oct/14/skelleftea-swedish-plywood-eco-town-20-storey-wooden-skyscraper-worlds-tallest

Logo and concept by Christy O'Connor

Cover art credit: Sven Scheuermeier on Unsplash

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Problem Busters
Problem Busters
Highlighting people with ideas

About your hosts

Profile picture for Oliver Happy

Oliver Happy


Oliver works in tech and builds things that help improve people’s lives. He hosts indie podcasts Old Fox Young Fox, Problem Busters and Gone Workabout. Oliver is a Kiwi, travels a lot, eats a lot and loves sharing good ideas. He is determined to leave the world in a better state than he found it.
Profile picture for Jon Goodwin

Jon Goodwin

Jon Goodwin works in financial tech implementing clever solutions that help simplify business processes every day. His passions include science, engineering and dreaming up solutions to common problems. In his spare time he is a multimedia producer & friendly co-host of two podcasts the Bouyon Boys and Problem Busters.