Advertise on podcast: CNN 5 Good Things

The Milan Cortina Winter Games have begun, and some athletes have already made history.  We tell you how one state went from the bottom to the top for fourth grade reading and math. A project born out of a family’s loss hopes to save lives by publishing letters written by strangers with reasons to stay. This shellfish was extinct for over 200 years in Dublin Bay until now – and the reason it’s back might surprise you. Plus, a teenage boy is being called a hero after a family kayaking trip turned dangerous.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson, Joshan Chana Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Samantha Lindell   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This album started as a family project and turned into a Grammy nomination. The internet rallied behind a 92-year-old woman still working to make ends meet. An FDA-cleared brain treatment is offering hope to people with depression who’ve tried everything else. Meet the crew tasked with fighting and preventing wildfire disasters in Los Angeles. Plus, these divers rescued a ray and what happened next shocked them. Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Cindy Von Quednow, Hyan de Freitas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the only pig kidney recipients in the world just made medical history, again. Cursive is making a comeback nationwide, but these middle schoolers were ahead of the curve. A group of Buddhist monks are walking across the US with an inspiring message. We tell you about a TikTok trend that’s encouraging to cut down on screen time. Plus, as Hollywood spotlights table tennis, an American phenom shares how the sport changed her life.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Kameryn Griesser, Melani Bonilla, and Andy Buck  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What started as a random video turned into a movement for women in perimenopause and beyond. A teen is using her own traumatic experience to educate schools and her peers about the dangers of deepfakes. Barbie just got more inclusive. If your dog perks up when you talk, new research might explain why. Plus, how bereaved parents continued their child’s legacy.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson, Joshan Chana  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A health and fitness expert shares how to make healthy habits stick long after January. A chef’s intuition saved a longtime customer who stopped showing up. This highway is made of recycled tires. Meet the Catholic priest preaching in unexpected places. Plus, a specialized court helps veterans heal through recovery, mentorship, and second chances.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Demetrius Pipkin, Jeff Winter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We catch up with a woman who performed a butterfly wing transplant and hear about a breakthrough tracking tool that’s giving scientists an unprecedented look at the species. Nearly a year after devastating wildfires, small but powerful signs of recovery are beginning to reshape parts of Los Angeles. What began as a comedy show turned into a life-saving moment, and the start of an unexpected friendship. We check in on the gratitude trend that resonated far beyond one school’s hallway. Plus, after receiving a new heart, one athlete is still pushing limits and setting ambitious goals for the year ahead.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The free travel program that helps American students discover unfamiliar parts of the US is expanding in a big way. This nature reserve in Tennessee is seeing new growth, thanks to goats. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta recaps the hopeful progress made this year on the procedure that could save countless lives. This year’s CNN Hero of the Year is proving flowers can be powerful in more ways than one. This state has a drunk driving problem – this nonprofit took steps to try to change that, and other states are taking notice.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Happiness Factory brings holiday cheer to people who need it most. An elementary school in Fort Worth, Texas couldn’t afford their annual Christmas gifts for its students, until TikTok made the magic happen. These sisters live far away from each other, but this holiday tradition brings them back together. This group believes Santa comes in every color. Plus, how many mistletoe-kissing couples does it take to make history? Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Dianna Hill, Liberty Smith, Sophie Garnett  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Mexico is now the first in the nation to offer a key financial lifeline for parents. In DC, a Metro bus driver made a powerful impression on a young rider. A group of nuns in Wisconsin and a Native tribe worked together in a way that hasn’t been done before in the US.  A dog who was missing for five years is now home for the holidays. Plus, this new league held its first draft – meet some of the powerhouse players.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Chelsea Bailey, Jo Parker, Elliott Proctor  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A prison and a ministry hosted its first-ever daddy–daughter dance. One creator’s mission to spread kindness turned into a financial lifeline for an 88-year-old working veteran. Two Brooklyn teens saw a broken system and built a tool thousands are using. New research suggests your teenage brain might have stuck around way past high school. Plus, these fun monthly sessions make boring tasks way more bearable. Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Samantha Lindell, Jo Parker, Elliott Proctor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A wild turkey is thriving in the last place you’d expect – and the locals are obsessed. Hear what Nebraska’s first kid governor’s platform is. Beachcombers in western Australia found two letters in a bottle written by World War I soldiers. The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree gets a magical second life you might not expect. Plus, the 2025 CNN Hero of the Year will be announced soon – meet the finalists and cast your votes.   Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Chip Grabow, Mia Blackman, Christie O’Reilly, Kathleen Toner, Meg Dunn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This student-led choir grew out of a pro-democracy movement in Tunisia. If your mind races the night before a big moment, try these tips from David Beckham’s sleep coach. These newlyweds from Illinois found love in a YMCA pool. A partnership showed up in a warm way for the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota. Plus, everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving story will hit a heartwarming milestone.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: McKenna Ewen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear why this school in Ohio has students speaking up. From painting to songwriting, this veteran helps others heal. A Sydney-based scientist is leading the fight to restore the largest living structure on the planet. The “Tall Tour” and its attendees reach new heights. Plus, this couple fell in love in 1941 – today, they’re world record holders.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Jasmine Amjad and Meghan Dunn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

People step up nationwide to help feed their neighbors who rely on SNAP benefits. New research shows why you should go on walks more often. A forbidden book changed this former prisoner's life – now he's on a mission to bring libraries to prisons nationwide. Find out how goats are helping restore a Tennessee island. Plus, the 2025 Hero Dog of the Year was a stray three years ago.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meet the blind athletes calling balls and strikes — and pushing to make baseball a Paralympic sport. In Texas, one man’s costume giveaway is helping families in need dress up for Halloween. A US Air Force sergeant reunites with her beloved K-9 partner. In Minnesota, a young girl makes a miraculous recovery just in time for her 13th birthday. Plus, an 80-year-old triathlete made history. Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.    Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin  Editorial Support: Randi Kaye, Nicole Bozorgmir, Deborah Brunswick, Madeline Stix Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices