The Foolish Optimist with Amy McDonald
By Amy McDonald
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Category: Politics
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Episodes: 85
Description
I’m Amy McDonald, and I am on the hunt for the next generation of leaders, both in the ballot boxes and the teams behind them. On The Foolish Optimist, you’ll find interviews with candidates running for office in the 2025 and 2026 elections and beyond. But we also speak with civilians working behind the scenes to make elections go. You’ll find tidbits on how to communicate effectively, how neuroscience fits into campaigns, and what you can do with your current skills to help get quality candidates elected.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
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The Foolish Optimist: Ronnie Murchinson Rivera, Florida’s 6th Congressional District
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Jul 29, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Victoria Broderick for Tennessee’s 4th CD
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Jul 24, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Mike Cortese for TN 4th Congressional District
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Jul 22, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dr Mariah Lancaster running in Massachusetts 6th Congressional District
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Jul 15, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Michael Potter for Indiana’s 47th State House District
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Jul 08, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Craig Swallow for Mass 9th Congressional District
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Jul 01, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Adam with the Abolish Ice Pledge
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Jun 29, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Hartzell for KC
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Jun 24, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jen Wiles for NC House 75
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Jun 17, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Shavonne Hedgepeth for Maryland's 4th Congressional District
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Jun 10, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Chuck For Queens
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Jun 03, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Effie Philips Staley, New York's 17th Congressional District
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May 27, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Hanieh Jodat, political strategist
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May 25, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Alani for Montana, US Senate
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May 20, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Voices of Resistance, Los Angeles
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May 18, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Sylvia Wright for South Carolina
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May 13, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Lux for Montana's Second Congressional District
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May 06, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Russell Cleveland for Montana 1
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May 04, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Alex with Integrity Alabama
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May 01, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Vance Bostic NY 8 Congressional District
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Apr 29, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Heidi Schmidt for Maryland State Delegate 31
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Apr 22, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Salaam Bhatti for Virginia's 1st District
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Apr 15, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Mike DeCillis for New York's 11th Congressional District
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Apr 08, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kelly of the Civic Road Show
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Apr 06, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Bri Woodson, Georgia’s 12th Congressional District
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Mar 25, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Christopher Ajluni Arizona’s 1st CD
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Mar 20, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jeromie Whalen Massachusetts 1
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Mar 18, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Melissa Bird, Oregon’s 4th Congressional District.
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Mar 11, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Maura Keller for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional District
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Mar 04, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dylan Blaha for Illinois’ 13th CD
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Mar 02, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Tenille Taggart, Salt Lake County Council
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Feb 25, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: William Marks for Texas CD 25
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Feb 18, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kat Weiland for West Virginia State House
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Feb 11, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Blythe Potter for Indiana Secretary of State
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Feb 04, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Ashley Bell Running for NC’s 10th Congressional District
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Jan 28, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Bryan Maxwell for US Senate in Illinois
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Jan 26, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Candice Duvieihl, Alabama’s Fifth District
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Jan 21, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Hallie Shoffner running for US Senate in Arkansas
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Jan 14, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Robert Hunter Running in Alabama State HD 28
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Jan 12, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Leila for Iowa
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Jan 07, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kyah Creekmore for NC’s 5th Congressional District
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Jan 05, 2026 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Alex Hawkins running in Michigan’s 55th State House District
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Dec 17, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Valentina Mendoza for NJ 7th Congressional District
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Dec 10, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Esther Kim Varet, running in CA 40th Congressional District
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Dec 03, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Lexy Doherty for GA’s 10th Congressional District
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Nov 26, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dana Owens President of the Jackson County Dems
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Nov 24, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Matt Menter for Maryland Delegate
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Nov 19, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Itay Balely from the LGBTQ Victory Insitute
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Nov 17, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Emily Morgul for Texas
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Nov 12, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Fight Against Fascism Organization
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Nov 10, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Joey Marschall, Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District
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Nov 05, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dee Elder
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Nov 03, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Hunter Miranda for California’s 47th Congressional District
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Oct 29, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Ishpal Sidhu aka What the Ish
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Oct 26, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Daniel Byron running in PA’s 9th Congressional District
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Oct 22, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist, Anthony DeRibas running in Florida’s 16th District
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Oct 15, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Andres Castro for Georgia
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Oct 08, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kathleen Hayek, Chairwoman of the Delaware County Dems
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Oct 06, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: J'Kwan Fulmore running for Fayetteville City Council
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Oct 01, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Matthew Glover running in State House District 12 in Alabama
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Sep 29, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Drew Williams running in Kentucky’s 1st Congressional District
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Sep 24, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Robert Arnold, Writer
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Sep 22, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jordan Wood, Candidate for US Senate in Maine
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Sep 17, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Josh Taveras, candidate in New York State’s 2nd Congressional District
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Sep 10, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kyle I PhD
|
Sep 08, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: N'Kiyla 'Jasmine' Thomas Candidate for US Senate from Oklahoma
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Sep 03, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Loren Colin, candidate for California's 34th Congressional District
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Aug 27, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Steve Schwab, candidate for Texas State House 44
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Aug 20, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Behind the candidates with Joyce Takako
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Aug 18, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Elijah King
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Aug 13, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dani Sterbinsky
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Aug 06, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Marla Bautista, Communications
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Aug 04, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Brian Del Vecchio
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Jul 30, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Alexandria Braswell
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Jul 23, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jump Shepherd
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Jul 16, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Kelly Brown
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Jul 09, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Mike Swanson
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Jul 02, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Robert People
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Jun 25, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Dakarai Larriett
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Jun 18, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: JD Mazuera Arias
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Jun 11, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jeremy Devito
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Jun 04, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Christ Kallas
|
May 25, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Jonathan Bonner
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May 25, 2025 |
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The Foolish Optimist: Bernard Taylor
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May 25, 2025 |
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Introducing the Foolish Optimist
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May 21, 2025 |