>> O'CONNELL: I'M SUE O'CONNELL, IN FOR JIM BRAUDE.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON:" TO TOSS OR NOT TO TOSS?

THAT'S THE QUESTION ON MANY MINDS, MINE INCLUDED, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT YOU SHOULD RECYCLE, WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T, AND WHAT HAS THE MOST IMPACT.

THEN, AUTHOR MICHELLE FIGUEROA ON HER NEW CHILDREN'S BOOK LOOKING TO SPREAD POSITIVITY IN A WORLD THAT NEEDS MUCH MORE OF IT.

♪♪ >> O'CONNELL: ARE YOU RECYCLING EVERYTHING YOU CAN?

AND EVEN IF YOU ARE, IS IT MAKING ANY DIFFERENCE?

JUNK MAIL, SURE, THAT'S EASY TO TOSS IN THE BIN.

BUT THE EXTRA EFFORT TO WASH OUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS CAN BE A LOT, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY BELIEVE A LOT OF OUR PLASTIC RECYCLING ISN'T GETTING RE-USED ANYWAY.

SO, IF YOU'RE REALLY LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WHAT CAN YOU DO?

FROM THE EASY STEPS, TO THE TOUGHER ONES?

I'M JOINED BY STEVE BOKANSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION, AND CLAIRE GALKOWSKI, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE 18-TOWN SOUTH SHORE RECYCLING COOPERATIVE, WHO RECENTLY WROTE ABOUT JUST THIS ISSUE IN "COMMONWEALTH MAGAZINE," AIMING TO FIGHT THE MYTH THAT WE'RE HELPLESS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST WASTE.

>> O'Connell: WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON HEEMPLET WE'RE INHERE.WE'RE IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

I WANT TO SHOW THE STATISTICS FROM THE E.P.A., THE DATA ON THE U.S.

PLASTIC RECYCLING RATE.

IN 2018, THE RATE WAS 8.7.

AND HERE WE ARE IN 2021, AND IT HAS DROPPED TO 6%.

SO BASICALLY FROM 9% TO 6%.

AND I WANT TO KNOW, CLAIRE, WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON ARE WE JUST USING MORE PLASTICS, SO IT IS HARDER TO RECYCLE, SO THERE ARE MORE, OR ARE WE GETTING A LITTLE FATIGUED?

>> WELL, THERE ARE A FEW THINGS ABOUT THAT NUMBER THAT ARE MISLEADING.

THAT NUMBER ENCOMPASSES ALL PLASTICS.

NOT JUST THE BOTTLES AND CANS AND RIGID CONTAINERS THAT YOU PUT IN YOUR RECYCLING BIN, HOPEFULLY.

WE USE AN AWFUL LOT OF PLASTICS.

IF YOU STAND AND LOOK AROUND, YOU'LL SEE PLASTIC LAMINANT ON SURFACES, YOUR COMPUTER CASING IS PLASTIC.

YOUR MATTRESS IS PLASTIC.

EVERYTHING WE TOUCH, PRACTICALLY, IS PLASTIC.

SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS FIGURE INTO THAT LOW RECYCLING RATE.

AND IT'S LIKELY THAT THERE ARE MORE AND MORE OF THOSE UNRECYCLABLE ITEMS GOING INTO, UM, THE MARKET.

BUT, THE BOTTLES AND CANS AND CONTAINERS, UM, NUMBERS ONE, TWO, AND FIVE, ESPECIALLY, ARE EMINENTLY RECYCLABLE, AND THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE IS CONSUMERS AREN'T PUTTING THEM IN THEIR RECYCLING BIN.

IF THEY DO GO INTO YOUR RECYCLING BIN AND THEY'RE PROPERLY PREPARED, THEY WILL GET RECYCLED.

I'M SURE THERE ARE A FEW LOSSES ALONG THE WAY, AND THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY IS ALWAYS STRIVING TO IMPROVE THEIR CAPTURE RATES BECAUSE IT IS IN THEIR FINANCIAL INTERESTS, TOO.

BUT, YES, IF YOU PUT THE RIGHT THING IN YOUR BIN, THAT'S NOT FILLED WITH SALAD DRESSING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, THEN IT WILL GET RECYCLED.

>> O'Connell: CLAIRE, YOU'RE BACKGROUND THERE BEHIND YOU IS ONE OF THE HANDY DANDY CHARTS OF WHAT WE SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE PUTTING IN OUR MUNICIPAL RECYCLING BINS.

STEVE, I'M GOING TO GET YOU IN THIS CONVERSATION IN A SECOND, BUT I WANT TO STICK WITH CLAIRE TO TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH EFFORT WE NEED TO PUT INTO THE THINGS THAT GO INTO OUR BIN BEFORE WE TAKE IT OUT TO THE CURB OR WHEREVER IT ENDS UP GOING.

SHOULD WE BE WASHING EVERYTHING OUT, EVEN SODA BOTTLES?

AND SHOULD WE BE PUTTING THE CAPS ON THEM OR THE CAPS OFF THEM?

WHAT IS THE RIGHT PROTOCOL FOR GETTING OUR MATERIALS IN THE BEST POSSIBLE CONDITION TO MAKE THEM MORE LIKELY TO GET RECYCLED?

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE STERILE.

JUST A QUICK RINSE OR EMPTY OUT ANY LIQUIDS THAT ARE IN THERE.

THEY DON'T WANT ANY OF THE FOOD.

THEY CAN'T MAKE PLASTIC OUT OF SALAD DRESSING OR KETCHUP.

PUT A LITTLE BIT OF WATER IN, PUT THE CAP ON, SHAKE IT OUT, IF IT IS STUFF THAT IS STUCK TO THE SIDES, AND EMPTY IT OUT, OF COURSE.

CAP ON AND PUT IT BACK.

THE REASON YOU WANT TO PUT THE CAP BACK ON IS THE CAPS ARE MADE OF POLYPROPELENE, AND THAT HAS VALUE, AND THEY'RE TWO SMALL TO GO TO A RECYCLING MACHINE BECAUSE THEY'LL END UP IN THE TRASH.

BUT IF THEY'RE ON THE BOTTLE, THEY GO THROUGH THIS SORTING PROCESS, AND THEY'RE SEPARATED AT THE NEXT STEP.

BECAUSE ONE OF THEM -- THE BOTTLE PLASTIC SINKS, AND THE CAP PLASTIC FLOATS -- OR VICE VERSA, I'M NOT SURE WHICH, BUT IT IS VERY SIMPLE FOR THOSE TWO COMPONENTS TO BE SEPARATED.

>> O'Connell: STEVE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BOTTLES, AND ALMOST ALMOST EVERY BEVERAGE COMES IN SOME SORT OF BOTTLE.

AND THE BOTTLES HAVE GONE THROUGH QUITE THE TRANSFORMATION, EVEN FROM WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ADULT, MUCH LESS A LITTLE KID.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT THE BEVERAGE INDUSTRY IS DOING?

ARE YOU FOCUSING MORE NOW ON MAKING THE PACKAGING MORE RECYCLABLE?

AND ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT WAYS TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PLASTICS THAT WE'RE USING?

>> FIRST OF ALL, SUE, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THE BOTTLES THAT YOU'LL FIND YOUR FAVORITE BEVERAGES IN ARE MADE FROM P.E.T., AND THEY'RE 100% RECYCLABLE, INCLUDING THE CAPS, AND THEY WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY.

WE DIDN'T -- OUR BOTTLERS AND DISTRIBUTORS DIDN'T JUST COME UP WITH SOME PLASTIC THAT IS THE CHEAPEST OR THE EASIEST TO MAKE.

WE CAME UP WITH A PLASTIC CONTAINER THAT IS 100% RECYCLABLE.

SO FOR THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON, WE HOPE EVERYONE THROWS A COUPLE OF THOSE EXTRA BOTTLES INTO THEIR RECYCLING BIN.

>> O'Connell: WHAT'S YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH -- I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I WAS DOING AN EVENT AND ONE OF THE YOUNGER VOLUNTEERS SAID TO ME THAT THEY WERE SHOCKED THAT IT COST MONEY TO RECYCLE THINGS.

THEY HAD WANTED TO HAVE A REALLY, REALLY -- AND THEY WERE RIGHT -- AN ELABORATE RECYCLING PROGRAM, BUT WE HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHAT THAT WOULD ADD TO THE BUDGET.

STEVE, WHAT IS THE COST PARAMETERS -- NOT SPECIFICS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT HOW ARE THE MANUFACTURERS DEALING WITH THE COSTS ABOUT PRODUCING, ACQUIRING THE PLASTIC THAT CAN BE RECYCLED.

MY PEN COMES FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC.

HOW IS THAT WORKING WHEN IT FITS TO YOUR BUSINESS MODEL OF ACTUALLY HAVING TO MAKE A PROFIT FOR THE BUSINESSES THAT YOU'RE RUNNING?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

AND THERE IS MORE AND MORE DEMAND FOR P.E.T.

ALL OF THE TIME.

CURRENTLY P.E.T.

IS BEING USED FOR CARPETS, FOR CLOTHING, SHOE WEAR, ALL TYPES OF APPAREL AND MANY, MANY OTHER USES.

FOR THE BOTTLERS, THE MAJOR BRANDS HAVE SET GOALS FOR USING MORE AND MORE PSYCHED RECYCLED CONTENT IN THE FUTURE.

AND FOR THAT DEMAND, WE NEED MORE AND MORE SUPPLY.

SO WE'RE LOOKING AT WAYS TO GET MORE OF THE PLASTIC BOTTLES BACK BECAUSE, AGAIN, THEY'RE BEING USED BY MANY, MANY DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES, AND THAT LEADS TO A DEMAND -- A SUPPLY ISSUE WHEN THE DEMAND GETS A LITTLE STRONGER.

>> O'Connell: CLAIRE, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF REPORTING OVER THE YEARS ABOUT WHERE OUR RECYCLING GOES AFTER IT LEAVES OUR FRONT, OUR BINS.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN NEWS REPORTS ABOUT CHINA REJECTING OUR PLASTICS RECYCLING BECAUSE IT WAS DIRTY OR THEY HAD TOO MUCH OF IT.

THERE HAVE BEEN CONCERNS THAT IT GOES SOMEWHERE AND DOESN'T GET RECYCLED, IT JUST ENDS UP IN A LANDFILL OR WORSE.

WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE AREAS THAT YOU MANAGE ABOUT WHERE THE RECYCLING IS GOING AFTER IT GETS PICKED UP?

>> WELL, CERTAINLY UP UNTIL 2018, WHEN CHINA EMBARGOED OUR TRASH, WHICH IT KIND OF WAS GETTING TO BE TRASH, THINGS WERE GETTING PRETTY SLOPPY.

THE RECYCLERS WERE ABLE TO BE PAID FOR A LOAD THAT HAD, YOU KNOW, THIS, THAT THAT, AND THE OTHER THING IN IT, WHETHER IT WAS RECYCLABLE OR NOT.

AND, YES, A LOT OF IT WAS NOT THE TUBES AND THINGS THAT CHINA WAS LOOKING FOR.

SO THOSE THINGS DID END BY THE WAYSIDE, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA CRACKED DOWN.

THE BUSINESSES IN CHINA ARE HURTING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BRING THE STUFF IN NOW.

BUT WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IS THAT OUR DOMESTIC CAPACITY HAS BEEN INCREASING A LOT.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF INVESTMENTS MADE BY THE RECYCLING INDUSTRY, TO OUR PROCESSING CAPACITY, AND WE USE A LOT OF THIS STUFF NOW HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THAT HAD BEEN ERODING OVER THE PREVIOUS DECADE OR TWO BECAUSE SO MUCH OF IT WAS GOING OVERSEAS.

THERE WAS A HUGE APPETITE IT FOR IT OVER THERE.

AND WE LOST A LOT OF PAPER RECYCLING RIGHT HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS.

AND NOW WE'RE STARTING TO SEE IT COMING BACK.

AND WE ALSO SEE DEMAND SURGE BECAUSE, LIKE STEVE SAID, COMPANIES ARE TRYING TO MEET CONSUMERS DEMAND FOR MORE RECYCLED CONTENT, BUT IT IS REALLY HARD TO MAKE THAT BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR MATERIAL IS JUST NOT PUT IN THE RECYCLING BIN.

WE'RE LOSING ABOUT 70% OF OUR MATERIAL TO THE TRASH.

AND TO LITTER, WHICH IS A CRYING SHAME BECAUSE THE STUFF IS REALLY VALUABLE.

>> O'Connell: CLAIRE, SO WHAT IS THE MESSAGE TO PEOPLE?

HOW DO YOU GET FOLKS TO ACTUALLY RECYCLE AT THIS POINT?

IT'S NOT ABOUT -- MAYBE IT IS -- EDUCATION.

WE ALL KNOW WHEN WE THROW A BOTTLE IN THE TRASH, IT IS GOING TO A LANDFILL UNLESS SOMEBODY COMES BY AND IT IS RETURNABLE AND WANTS TO GET THE RETURN FEE ON IT.

BUT WHAT'S THE MESSAGE TO PEOPLE TO REALLY START TO DIG IN AND RECYCLE THE PLASTIC THAT WE HAVE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS, DON'T BUY IT IF YOU DON'T NEED IT IS.

IF YOU CAN REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR REFILLABLE CONTAINER, THAT IS THE BEST THING YOU CAN POSSIBLY DO.

IT'S A TOUGH SELL BECAUSE PEOPLE LOVE CONVENIENCE.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF WE HAD MORE CONVENIENT PLACES WHEN WE'RE OUT OF OUR HOUSES TO PUT THE STUFF.

AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TOWNS DON'T OFFER PUBLIC SPACE RECYCLING, AND EVEN IF THEY DO, THEY'RE A MESS BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE THEY'RE THROWING THINGS.

THEY CHUCK IT INTO THE NEAREST CONTAINER THEY CAN FIND.

THAT'S WHY A BOTTLE BILL IS SOMETHING.

AND I DON'T THINK STEVE IS KIND OF WITH ME ON THIS ONE.

[LAUGHTER] >> O'Connell: I WANT TO ASK YOU, STEVE, WHAT'S THE NEXT STAGE FOR BEVERAGE COMPANIES?

WE'VE WATCHED THE PLASTICS THAT ARE USED BECOME LIGHTER, WHICH IS GOOD FOR EVERYBODY.

IT IS GOOD FOR THE TRANSPORTATION.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE BOTTLE SPACE ON THE SHELVES.

IT'S GOOD ALL AROUND.

WHAT'S THE NEXT GEN FOR BEVERAGES?

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE THEM IN IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK YOU'LL CONTINUE TO SEE PLASTIC BEING USED, AGAIN, IF THE CONTAINER IS 100% RECYCLABLE, THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT REALLY THE CONTAINER THAT IS THE ISSUE.

BUT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO GET MORE OF THOSE BOTTLES BACK.

THAT'S WHY WE LAUNCHED THE MASS RECYCLING PROGRAM HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS IN 2012, AND AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, THE AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION LAUNCHED THE "EVERY BOTTLE BACK" INITIATIVE IN 2019.

THAT IS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS, TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO BETTER JOB RECYCLING, AND TO HELP SUPPORT INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

SO THOSE ARE SORT OF THE MAIN STEPS THAT WE'RE TAKING.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT THINGS, THINGS LIKE EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY, AND DONE RIGHT, WE THINK THAT CAN DERIVE MANY BENEFITS.

>> O'Connell: CLAIRE, IS THE TAKE-AWAY NESS TAKE TAKE-AWAY MESSAGE IS IT IS BETTER TO DO SOMETHING THAN NOTHING.

IF YOU'RE STRESSING OUT ABOUT IT, IT IS BETTER TO PUT IT IN THE RECYCLING RATHER THAN JUST THROW IT AWAY?

>> NO, NO.

THAT'S THE HOLE WE'RE TRYING TO CLIMB OUT OF NOW.

CERTAINLY SINCE CHINA STOPPED ACCEPTING OUR STUFF, IT HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUE.

WE CAN'T RECYCLE ALL PLASTICS.

THE ONLY PLASTICS WE CAN RECYCLE IS RIGID PLASTIC CONTAINERS.

recyclesmartma.com HAS BASIC GUIDELINES.

BAGS WILL TANGLE THINGS UP, AND FOOD AND LIQUIDS WERE MESS THINGS UP, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUMMERTIME, PEW!

AND CLOTHING -- THE RECYCLE BIN IS NOT WHERE YOU PUT YOUR CLOTHING FOR RECYCLING.

THERE ARE DONATION BINS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

CLOTHES HANGERS -- >> O'Connell: IT IS NOT A BARREL FILLED WITH WISHES.

JUST BECAUSE YOU WANT TO RECYCLE IT, IT IS GOING TO MAGICALLY GET RECYCLED.

>> IT IS NOT RECYCLING WHEN YOU PUT IT OUT ON THE CURB.

IT IS RECYCLING WHEN IT BECOMES A NEW PRODUCT.

AND IF IT CAN'T BECOME A NEW PRODUCT, IT IS TAKING A LONG TRIP TO THE LANDFILL.

>> O'Connell: THANK YOU, STEVE, AND CLAIRE.

I APPRECIATE YOU GETTING THIS OUT TO FOLKS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

IT IS EVERY.

IT IS ON TOP OF THE BIN.

YOU CAN READ IT THERE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, SUE.

WHETHER IT'S THE CLIMATE CRISIS, INFLATION, OR CHALLENGES TO U.S. DEMOCRACY, THERE ISN'T A TON OF HAPPY NEWS LEAPING FROM THE HEADLINES THESE DAYS.

BUT, IT IS OUT THERE.

AND MY NEXT GUEST IS TRYING WITH ALL HER MIGHT TO MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE PROMINENT, CHRONICLING AS MUCH AS SHE CAN ON HER INSTAGRAM PAGE, "GOOD NEWS MOVEMENT."

AND NOW, SHE HAS A CHILDREN'S BOOK BASED ON THE SAME IDEA.

IT'S CALLED "A GOOD THING HAPPENED TODAY."

AND SHE EVEN MANAGED TO GET A COPY TO THE PRINCESS OF WALES WHEN SHE WAS IN TOWN, FOR A GIFT TO THE ROYAL KIDS.

AUTHOR MICHELLE FIGUEROA JOINS ME NOW.

>> O'Connell: MICHELLE, WELCOME.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> O'Connell: WHAT A HAPPY DAY.

WE HAVE A HAPPY DAY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I HAVE, I THINK, ONE OF THE BEST JOBS, WHICH IS CONSTANTLY RECEIVING EVERY MINUTE GOOD NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

AND THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE OF GOOD NEWS.

THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR, THERE IS NEVER A SHORTAGE.

>> O'Connell: THAT'S A FUNNY THING, A LOT OF FOLKS WILL ASK ME IN THIS BUSINESS, HOW DO I STAY POSITIVE?

I ALWAYS POINT OUT, AS TERRIBLE AS THINGS ARE SOMETIMES AND OFTEN, WE'RE ACTUALLY IN THE BEST POSSIBLE POSITION WE'VE EVER BEEN IN HUMANITY, RIGHT?

PEOPLE ARE HEALTHIER, PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER.

THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD NEWS, AND IN OUR EVERYDAY NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIONS, GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.

TALK ABOUT "A GOOD THING HAPPENED TODAY," AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO AND SHARE WITH OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> ALL OF THE STORIES IN THIS BOOK ARE REAL-LIFE STORIES THAT WERE FEATURED ON GOOD NEWS MOVEMENT ON INSTAGRAM.

AND THEY'RE STORIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHAT CONNECTS ALL THESE STORIES ARE PEOPLE DOING GOOD.

EVEN IN THE MOST DIRE OF CIRCUMSTANCES, PEOPLE SAY, THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES, MICHELLE, DON'T YOU THINK IT IS NAIVE TO ONLY LOOK AT THE GOOD?

WELL, THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD NEWS.

AND I FEEL LIKE WE COULD HAVE A DISTORTED SENSE OF REALITY IF WE ONLY WATCH THE NEWS AND ONLY SEE THE BAD.

I WANT TO SHARE WITH KIDS THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD NEWS IN THE WORLD.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN PUERTO RICO, THERE WAS THE DEVASTATING HURRICANE MARIA, AND KIDS GOT TOGETHER AND WERE PAINTING STRANGERS' HOMES AND PLANTING TREES.

IT IS A REFERENCE BOOK, LIKE HOW CAN I CHANGE THE WORLD?

IT CAN BE KIND OF A DAUNTING QUESTION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS.

SO HOPEFULLY THIS GIVES THEM A LITTLE BIT OF GUIDANCE.

>> O'Connell: I WANT TO GIVE FOLKS A TASTE OF YOUR INSTAGRAM PAGE.

AND YOU DIRECTED AND PRODUCED THIS VIDEO ABOUT A SURFING PROGRAM IN RHODE ISLAND FOR KIDS WHO HAVE A WIDE RANGE OF DISABILITIES AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> IT MAKES ME HAPPY, I GET TO MEET NEW DOCTORS AND THEY, LIKE, BECOME MY FRIENDS.

>> MY SON HAS WILLIAMS SYNDROME, ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

HE IS NON-VERBAL.

>> WE'RE USING SURFING AS A VEHICLE, BUT WHAT WE'RE REALLY TEACHING THESE KIDS IS HOW TO FALL OFF AND STAND BACK UP AGAIN.

>> O'Connell: IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO LOOK AT THAT AND NOT SMILE.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT A WONDERFUL HMAN, THIS ONE SURFER.

ONE PERSON GOT TOGETHER ALL THESE VOLUNTEERS, AND THE GREATEST THING IS I ARRIVED AT THE BEACH, AND I HAVE VOL VOLUNTEER CAMERAMEN.

THERE WERE FOUR CAMERAMEN WANTING TO SHOOT, SAYING I DON'T WANT TO CHARGE YOU.

>> O'Connell: TALK TO ME ABOUT THE BALANCE.

I'M PRACTICAL, PRAGMATIC, REALISTIC, AND IN ITEMS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A CHEERLEADER, I COMPLETELY FAILED, BECAUSE I'M ALWAYS POINTING TO THINGS ARE BETTER THAN THEY ALWAYS HAVE BEEN.

IN YOUR BOOK, YOU'RE NOT ERASING THE INCIDENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING, THE REALITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING.

YOU'RE JUST SAYING, LET'S LOOK AT THIS PART.

SO HOW DO YOU DO THE BALANCE, WHEN YOU'RE PUTTING THIS BOOK TOGETHER, WE RAMONA, WHO IS A "NEW YORK TIMES" ILLUSTRATOR, AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE TREMENDOUS -- HOW DO YOU GET THAT BALANCE TOGETHER?

IT IS REAL, BUT LET'S LOOK AT IT.

>> THERE SHOULD BE AN EQUAL BALANCE OF POSITIVE NEWS.

WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE BAD NEWS.

I FIGURED OUT THESE STORIES ARE ONES THAT STOOD OUT FOR ME, THAT RESONATED WITH ME.

LIKE A LITTLE GIRL IN DENMARK, SHE WAS JUST SO FRUSTRATED THAT HER NEIGHBORS WERE LONELY AND SAID, HO CAN HOW CAN I MAKE THEIR DAY?

SO SHE GOT A POSTAL UNIFORM DELIVERED TO HER AND SHE DELIVERED ALL OF THESE FUN LEVELS.

THAT SOMETHING KIDS CAN DO WITH SENIORS WHO ARE SOMETIMES LONELY.

>> O'Connell: WHAT IS THE REACTION TO THE BOOK?

WHAT HAVE PEOPLE BEEN TELLING YOU?

>> IT HAS BEEN SO SWEET GETTING ALL OF THE MESSAGES OF KIDS ENJOYING STORY TIME AND ASKING QUESTIONS.

THE STORY IN KENYA, WHY IS THIS GUY BRINGING WATER TO THE ELEPHANTS?

WHY IS HE SPENDING HOURS?

BECAUSE THERE IS DROUGHT AND CIRCUMSTANCES WE CAN'T CONTROL.

RECENTLY I WAS ASKED BY THE B.B.C., YOU KNOW, THERE IS SO MUCH BAD IN THE WORLD, WE'RE GOING THROUGH TOUGH TIMES, AND HOW CAN YOU SEE THE GOOD?

TOUGH TIMES HAVE ALWAYS HAPPENED.

THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WARS AND NATURAL DISASTERS.

EVEN IN FLORIDA THERE WAS FLOODING, BUT I FEATURED A VIDEO OF A STRANGER SAVING AN ELDER'S LIFE.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, MY NUMBERS ACTUALLY DOUBLED ON MY PAGE FROM HALF A MILLION TO A MILLION FOLLOWERS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF SEARCHING FOR THE LIGHT.

I HOPE THIS BOOK IS KIND OF A PAUSE FROM ALL OF THE MADNESS OF OUR DAY AND MAYBE ALL OF THE RUNNING AROUND FOR KIDS AND THEIR DAY, AND JUST A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THE END OF THE NIGHT TO REFLECT ON WHAT THE WORLD COULD BE.

YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO HEAR MORE OF WHAT IS GOOD WITH THEM AND NOT WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEM.

>> O'Connell: HOW DID YOU GET INTO THIS?

I'VE SEEN YOUR NAME FOR YEARS.

I'VE SEEN YOUR PRESS RELEASES.

I'VE SEEN YOUR EFFORTS TO SPREAD SOME GOOD NEWS IN ALL TIMES.

HOW DID THIS BECOME AN INTEREST OF YOURS?

>> I GOT REJECTED A LOT, AND I WAS FRUSTRATED.

I WOULD FIND THESE WONDERFUL GEMS OF STORIES.

I HAVE A NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WHO IS A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WHO WAS SAVED BY A TEDDY BEAR HIS MOM MADE AND OFFERED TO THE NAZI GUARD AND SAID, HEY, IF YOU DON'T LIBERATE US, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TEDDY BEARS FOR CHRISTMAS.

SO STORIES LIKE THAT, NOBODY WAS PICKING THEM UP.

AND I SAID, THIS CAN'T BE.

AND I JUST MADE AN AMAZON BEST-SELLER BECAUSE MY FOLLOWERS WERE VOTING FOR HIS BOOK.

SO STORIES LIKE THAT, THEY NEED TO BE SHOWN TO THE WORLD.

AND I WAS FRUSTRATED, AND I HAD AN EAR INFECTION -- >> O'Connell: AND YOU'RE A FREE LANCE NEWSCASTER?

>> YES.

AND EVERYBODY WAS REJECTING ME.

AND IT WAS GOOD BECAUSE I REALIZED THERE WAS A GAP THAT WASN'T BEING FILLED.

I SAID, I'M A JOURNALIST, AND I'M GOING TO CREATE THIS GOOD NEWS PAGE.

AND IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE IT SNOWBALLED.

EVEN BEFORE HARRY AND MEGHAN FEATURED BY PAGE, FOLLOWERS WERE SUPPORTING ME AND I'M VERY GREAT GRATEFUL.

>> O'Connell: PEOPLE SAY PEOPLE DON'T TELL GOOD STORIES BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T WATCH IT.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THE NEWS DIRECTORS WHO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS NO NEWS ALMOST BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY DO A FEATURE ON SOMETHING THAT IS HEART-WARMING OR MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD?

>> NEWS, IN ITS ESSENCE, IS A BUSINESS.

I THINK PEOPLE WERE NERVOUS TO CHANGE THE EQUATION AND MESS WITH WHAT HAD BEEN WORKING.

BUT NOW, I MEAN, IN LESS THAN FOUR YEARS, MY PAGE HAS 4.5 MILLION FOLLOWERS, WHICH I LOOKED UP IS THE POPULATION OF NEW ZEALAND, JUST RANDOMLY.

AND NOW THE "TODAY SHOW" AIRS OUR STUFF PRETTY MUCH WEEKLY.

AND SO NOW A LOT OF GOOD NEWS VERTICALS ARE BEING CREATED BY THESE LEGACY NETWORKS WHO AT FIRST SCOFFED AT MY PITCHES.

AND NOW THEY'RE USING MY CONTENT.

SO I'M SO GLAD I'M MAKING AT LEAST A LITTLE BIT OF AN IMPACT, AND PEOPLE ARE SEEING MORE GOOD NEWS IN THEIR FEEDS.

AND GOOD NEWS BREEDS GOOD NEWS.

PEOPLE WHEN THEY SAY IT, THEY WANT TO REPLICATE IT.

AND THAT'S THE SAME WITH THE BOOK.

I'M SO GLAD I HAVE SOMETHING TANGIBLE BECAUSE ONLINE IS GREAT, BUT ACTUALLY SEEING MY HARD WORK IN BOOK FORM IS REALLY GRATIFYING.

>> O'Connell: AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE TREMENDOUS.

ONE OF THE KEYS TO CHILDREN'S BOOK, AND I'VE READ A LOT OF IT THEM, ARE THE GIFTS THAT ARE IN IT FOR THE ADULTS.

YOU WANT TO SEE SOME EASTER EGGS, AS THEY CALL THEM FOR US, AND THE ILLUSTRATIONS ARE TREMENDOUS.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE A HOW-TO BOOK FOR YOUR KIDS.

THE BOOK IS JUST OUT.

I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THAT HARD QUESTION: WHAT'S NEXT?

>> ANOTHER BOOK.

>> O'Connell: AND WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER BOOK ON ICE?

>> I'M OPEN TO ALL FORMATS AND SHARING THE GOOD IN ANY WAY I CAN.

I STARTED A KINDNESS TOUR ACROSS THE U.S., AND GOING TO DIFFERENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.

AND THAT CONSISTS OF MY READING, AND YOU ASK THE KIDS, WHAT IS THE GOOD NEWS, AND IT IS REALLY ADORABLE.

YOU HAVE 5 AND 6-YEAR-OLDS TELLING STORIES, LIKE MY DOG LET ME PET HIM.

AND I HAVE A KINDNESS CURRICULUM, WHERE I GO THROUGH REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES OF HOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

>> O'Connell: IT IS A GOOD MEDITATION.

THE BOOK IS "A GOOD THING HAPPENED TODAY."

AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY RAM RAMONA GALLISSKI.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT, BUT COME BACK TOMORROW, U.S. ATTORNEY FOR MASSACHUSETTS RACHAEL ROLLINS WILL JOIN JIM ON HOW SHE IS ATTACKING ANTI-SEMITISM AND RACISM IN THE STATE.

THAT AND MORE AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

♪♪ Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org >> SO, YOU KNOW HOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT, MAYBE HAVING SOME BEERS WITH SOME FRIENDS, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY SOMETHING AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY SURE IF IT'S TRUE?

THAT HAPPENED TO "CURIOSITY DESK" FAN MATTHEW DALEY.

>> WE NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME WE TOOK A SIP, THE HEAD OF THE BEER WOULD LEAVE A RING ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLASS.

>> AND THAT'S WHEN HIS FRIEND SAID... >> "WELL, THAT'S AN INDICATION THAT THE GLASS IS CLEAN."

>> AND FOR YEARS, DALEY HAS WONDERED WHETHER IT'S TRUE.

IT IS A TOUGH JOB HOSTING "THE CURIOSITY DESK"...

BUT SOMEBODY'S GOT TO DO IT.

TO THE BREWERY!

♪♪ THESE RINGS CLINGING TO THE GLASS, WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOU'RE DRINKING A BEER THAT'S REALLY WELL-BREWED, BECAUSE YOU HAVE PROPER FOAM CREATION AND FOAM STABILITY.

AND THEN, THAT LACING HAPPENS WHEN THAT FOAM CLINGS TO THE SIDE OF THE GLASS.

SO WE'LL HAVE TEN SIPS, TEN RINGS OF LACING.

>> AND TO UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET THAT LACING, YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE SCIENCE BEHIND BEER FOAM.

WHEN BEER IS POURED, CARBON DIOXIDE IS RELEASED, AND FORMS BUBBLES, IN A PROCESS CALLED NUCLEATION.

FOR BUBBLES TO FORM, THEY NEED A PLACE TO DO IT.

AND IT'S APTLY CALLED A NUCLEATION SITE.

SO, JUST LIKE WHEN YOU, SAY, BOIL WATER, AND THOSE BUBBLES START TO FORM ON THE BOTTOM AND THE SIDES OF THE PAN, IT IS THE SIDES AND THE BOTTOM OF A GLASS THAT PROVIDE THE NUCLEATION SITE WHEN THE BEER HITS IT.

AS THE BUBBLES RISE TO THE TOP, THEY COLLECT COMPOUNDS IN THE BEER, INCLUDING A PROTEIN CALLED L.T.P.-1.

NOW, YOU CAN FIND L.T.P.-1 IN MOST FERMENTATION GRAINS.

AS A LIPID, IT IS EXTREMELY HYDROPHOBIC, WHICH MEANS IT HATES WATER, WHICH MAKES UP 95% OF BEER.

SO, IT LATCHES ONTO THE BUBBLES TO TRY TO ESCAPE THE GLASS.

>> AND THAT HELPS CREATE A PROTECTIVE LAYER OVER THAT CO-2 BUBBLE, WHICH CREATES FOAM.

>> WHY IS IT CLINGING TO THE GLASS?

>> THE FOAM IS BEING PROTECTED BY THESE, YOU KNOW, BASIC PROTEINS.

BECAUSE THAT IS NOT DISSIPATING INTO THE ATMOSPHERE, IT'S GOT TO GO SOMEWHERE.

SO, IF IT WAS ALREADY TOUCHING THE GLASS, AS YOU DRINK THE BEER, IT'S GOING TO STAY ON THE GLASS.

>> SO, THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION: WHEN THE BEER LACES, DOES IT ACTUALLY MEAN THAT THE GLASS IS CLEAN?

EXPERIMENT TIME.

>> THIS IS... CHOCK FULL OF OIL.

LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> OKAY.

COAT THE INSIDE THERE, YEAH.

SHOULD WE PUT SOME CHAPSTICK IN, TOO?

>> LET'S DO IT.

>> FOR GOOD MEASURE?

GET A LITTLE CHAPSTICK.

THERE WE GO.

♪♪ >> GREASE OILS WILL BREAK THOSE BUBBLES RIGHT AWAY.

AND SO, YOU WON'T EVEN FORM A HEAD, NEVER MIND GETTING LACING.

A CLEAN GLASS IS IMPERATIVE THAT IT DOESN'T HAVE CHAPSTICK ON IT, OR LIPSTICK, AND THAT IT'S WASHED PROPERLY.

SO, A REALLY WELL-DONE BEER IN A CLEAN GLASS, YOU SHOULD SEE EVERY SINGLE SIP BY THE END OF THE BEER.

>> DON'T FORGET TO LIKE AND SUBSCRIBE, AND PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANTLY, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CURIOUS ABOUT, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, I MIGHT JUST LOOK INTO IT FOR YOU.

I'M EDGAR B. HERWICK III.

STAY CURIOUS OUT THERE.

AHH... LACEY.

>> "THE CURIOSITY DESK" IS