Choose The Good Day

Choose The Good Day

From If Only by Brenda McGregor

March 24, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

Carol Rieg discusses treating optimism as a decision rather than a personality trait.

If your inner voice defaults to doubt, Carol Rieg brings a radically practical alternative: treat optimism like a decision, not a personality trait. We sit down with Carol, a philanthropic strategist and longtime nonprofit leader whose career spans Capitol Hill advocacy, the Future City STEM competition, corporate social responsibility, and NASA. Her “if only” isn’t a regret. It’s a challenge to choose the good day and keep moving, even when the path looks messy or the next step feels unfamil...

People in this episode

Host: Brenda McGregor

Guest: Carol Rieg

Topics covered

  • optimism
  • decision making
  • nonprofit leadership
  • philanthropy
  • STEM education

Keywords

  • optimism
  • doubt
  • philanthropic strategist
  • nonprofit
  • career
  • STEM
  • advocacy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NASA

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