November 28, 2025 • 11 mins
We are back in your ears this weekend to bring you another hit of good news. This time, we’re looking back on the feel-good stories that have made us smile the most this year, with TDA’s 2025 Good News Awards.
Hosts: Emma Gillespie and Billi FitzSimons
Producer: Orla Maher
Want to support The Daily Aus? That's so kind! The best way to do that is to click ‘follow’ on Spotify or Apple and to leave us a five-star review. We would be so grateful.
The Daily Aus is a media company focused on delivering accessible and digestible news to young people. We are completely independent.
Want more from TDA?
Subscribe to The Daily Aus newsletter
Subscribe to The Daily Aus’ YouTube Channel
Have feedback for us?
We’re always looking for new ways to improve what we do. If you’ve got feedback, we’re all ears. Tell us here.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Ikea Black Friday sale is here. Ikia Family members
can save up to forty percent of selected products and
fifty percent off main dishes. Hello Swedish Meatballs. Sale ends Monday,
Ikia make it happen. Terms and conditions and exclusions apply already.
And this is the Daily This is the Daily Loss.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is the Daily os.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Oh, now it makes sense.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Good morning, and welcome to the Daily Ods. It's Saturday,
the twenty ninth of November. I'm Emma Gillespie, I'm belief
it Simon's. We are back in your ears this weekend
to bring you another hit of good news. But this
time we're looking back at the feel good stories that
have made us smile the most this year with tda's
twenty twenty five Good News.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Awards, the inaugural tda's Good News Awards. What a moment
this is. It is a pleasure to be with you
for it. I can't wait to get into it. And
we're starting off with the Good News Award for Science,
your favorite topic, one of.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
My favorite topics. It has to be said, it also
has to be acknowledged, this is one of the most
competitive categories when it comes to good news. Hawk eyed
good News readers and listeners. If you're in the daily
newsletter often you will know that science good news generates
a lot of content for us at the Daily Ohs,
and there are always amazing things happening in the world
of science. But I think this year we have to
(01:24):
give the award to medical discoveries because it's been another
massive year for health and biology. We're talking breakthrough treatments
for cancer, rabies, HIV, malaria, Alzheimer's, just to name a few.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Quick question, what was the judging process of these awards?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
The judging process was very rigorous. We went through a
full board of unqualified judge singular me.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I was going to say, and it was you amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And I think what is particularly exciting about this space
of science is it's where we see the power of
AI for good because they think. What I have noticed
from all of the good news stories that we have
reported on this year when it comes to science, is
that AI is behind lots of these discoveries.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, exactly, And it's nice to talk about the innovations
and the exciting side of AI in a world where
maybe there are some scarier conversations going on. But one
example of AI being used for good is in the UK,
where the National Health Service has been trialing an AI
system at its stroke centers which interprets brain scans quickly
and allows doctors to make treatment decisions faster. Are the
(02:38):
quick examples of AI in medicine. There's a study with
really promising findings about using it to predict early signs
of brain cancer recurrence. A pilot program is up and
running in Scotland which is using AI to improve skin
cancer diagnosis in remote areas. And in that case, technology
is actually analyzing images of skin lesions and flagging potential
(02:58):
risks for further medical review.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And I know Australian researchers have also been doing amazing
things this year. I think I'm right in saying that
one of the Nobel Prizes was actually one by an
Australian scientist I believe from Melbourne. But putting that aside, well,
this is also going back to Melbourne. On a related note,
tell us about the team at the Peter Doherty Institute
(03:21):
for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Well, this is an amazing team that's been working on
a new treatment for HIV that uses mRNA technology. So
similar to COVID vaccines and the findings have been so
promising so far that the team thought they were too
good to be true. But it's real and it means
we are now closer to a cure for HIV than ever.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Just let that sync in and a big shout out
to Oussie researchers.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, I missed that one this year. A big win
for the Aussis. And speaking of Ozzi's we Love Sport, Yeah,
we love sport. It is time to look at the
category of sport for these Good News Awards.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yeap and look, I might be biased, Billy, but I
think there was a very clear winner here, Mitch Brown.
The Good News Sport Award has to go to him,
who became the first openly bisexual man in the AFL's
one hundred and twenty nine year history. Mitch actually approached
TDA and said that he was ready to share his
story with the world. It came after a string of
(04:25):
homophobic incidents. He took something really dark and used it
as motivation for good. This story was a huge moment
for Australian sport. Of course, it was amazing for us
to be part of that. Sam's incredible interview with Mitch,
But it was kind of the reaction that followed that
really gave me so much faith in humanity. There was
this outpouring of love for Mitch from both the AFL
(04:48):
queer communities and just Ossie's on the Internet and out
and about stories of him getting stopped in the street
and people sharing their stories with him and how he'd
empowered them. It was just so inspiring, and seeing Mitch
grow into this advocate and role model for so many
has just been a joy.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It was such a massive moment. And in the months
since that interview, since TDA did that interview, I have
seen so many people continue to talk about it. So
it wasn't just a moment. It's something that I think
truly will be part of history and we will continue
to talk about for years to come. And it was
(05:25):
such a privilege for TDA to be part of his.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Journey exactly Billy very well said, and speaking of Ozzie Legends,
I do want to give our Ossie Entertainment Good News
Award to magda's Advanski. She was inducted into the TV
week Logy Awards Hall of Fame earlier in the year
in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Australian television. What's
another award for Magda? But she deserves it.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh and I'm pretty sure she actually sent us a
message in for these awards, just kidding. She couldn't quite
make it.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
We'll having some technical difficulties. We won't be able to
play does personalized thank you acceptance message.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
We do love Magda though, if you're listening.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
But okay, we are going to keep the good times
coming with this next award, which is for the best
climate good news story of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
This one goes to Global Renewables, which overtook coal as
the world's biggest generator of electricity for the first time ever.
This year, SOLA grew by a record thirty one percent.
Win generation grew by eight percent in the first half
of the year. That's according to data by the energy
think tank Ember and renewable energies generated more power than
(06:36):
coal and outpaced total demand for the very first time.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Okay, we're going to take a moment for the strange
and the wonderful. Which headline is getting your award for
the weirdest good news moment of twenty twenty five?
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Well, thank you so much for asking Billy. This one
goes to four hikers who were rescued from a trail
in the US in September. They got lost while seeing
a quote debilitating psychedelic mushroom high the Flow.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
The four men texted authorities while they were lost on
a trail in the Hudson Valley in New York State.
This high elevation area with steep cliff's very scary. It
could have turned out to be a tragic ending, but
like all good news stories, it was a happy ending
because thankfully they were located by the incredible work of
some local forest rangers who transported them to safety.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
I was not expecting mushrooms to come up in this podcast.
We've spent most of this year in Australia talking about
a different kind of mushroom.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Well, I thought it was time to do a bit
of lighter pr for the musher mushroom have had a
PR issue this year.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Okay, moving on, last, but not least, the overall best
news story of twenty twenty five. Drum roll, please Emma
take us away.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
This one was a no brainer, Billy. It's a story
out of South Australia. It captured hearts around the world.
Congratulations to our best in show that the Sausage Dog.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh my god, I do remember this.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Valerie was rescued after five hundred and twenty nine days
lost on Kangaroo Island. Rescue crews worked so hard for
a year and a half to reunite Valerie with her family,
and just when it seemed like hope was lost, we
got the amazing news that not only was she alive,
but she had been found fit and well. Kangala Wildlife
(08:25):
Rescue shared the good news in April, saying quote, we're
absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe
and able to begin her transition back to her loving parents,
Josh and Georgia Billy. It was such an inspiring story
that Valerie, Josh and Georgia were featured for a recent
episode of Australian Story on the ABC.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was like a miracle. Literally, it was like a miracle.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
Hello, listens, give me that.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
We are just so grateful, just so grateful for everyone
and how they treated and how lovely they were.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Where you going, Valerie going home? Mummy's not gone without leap.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
It was a bit of emotion, wasn't it. I had
no idea that they did an Australian story, or that
that is wild.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Thirty minutes of Valerie joy, highs and lows. It's a
roller coaster of emotions.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
If you haven't seen the footage of Valerie walking through
Kangaroo Island completely lost, I highly recommend it is just insane.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
She's very lost, so lost, but now so found.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
It's so found, Emma, what a note to end on.
That's it for the train training five Good News Awards.
Who knows if we'll do it again. Let us know
what you're thinking.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
If you want it again, let us know if you
don't go else I was gonna say, also, let us know.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
We're open to all feedback, but we prefer good feedback.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Thank you so much for taking us through that, m
and thank you so much for listening to this episode
of The Daily Oz on your se Saturday. We'll be
back tomorrow with another.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Special feep Dave.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You'll have to tune in to see what it is,
but until then, have a great Saturday.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bungelung Calcottin woman from Gadigol Country. The Daily oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the
first peoples of these countries, both past and present.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
The wait is over, guys. Black Friday at Ikea is
now on Ikea Family members can save up to forty
percent of selected products in store and online, and if
you're heading in store, he's a little bonus. There's also
fifty percent off main dishes in the Swedish restaurant. Who
can resist? I know, I can't. They're famous Swedish meatballs.
(10:54):
If you're not already an Ikea family member, you can
join free online right now. That is up to four
twenty percent off selected products and a tasty fifty percent
off lunch while you shop. The Ica Black Friday sale
ends Monday, December first, Ikea Make It Happen Terms, conditions
and exclusions apply
The Ikea Black Friday sale is here. Ikia Family members
can save up to forty percent of selected products and
fifty percent off main dishes. Hello Swedish Meatballs. Sale ends Monday,
Ikia make it happen. Terms and conditions and exclusions apply already.
And this is the Daily This is the Daily Loss.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is the Daily os.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Oh, now it makes sense.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Good morning, and welcome to the Daily Ods. It's Saturday,
the twenty ninth of November. I'm Emma Gillespie, I'm belief
it Simon's. We are back in your ears this weekend
to bring you another hit of good news. But this
time we're looking back at the feel good stories that
have made us smile the most this year with tda's
twenty twenty five Good News.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Awards, the inaugural tda's Good News Awards. What a moment
this is. It is a pleasure to be with you
for it. I can't wait to get into it. And
we're starting off with the Good News Award for Science,
your favorite topic, one of.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
My favorite topics. It has to be said, it also
has to be acknowledged, this is one of the most
competitive categories when it comes to good news. Hawk eyed
good News readers and listeners. If you're in the daily
newsletter often you will know that science good news generates
a lot of content for us at the Daily Ohs,
and there are always amazing things happening in the world
of science. But I think this year we have to
(01:24):
give the award to medical discoveries because it's been another
massive year for health and biology. We're talking breakthrough treatments
for cancer, rabies, HIV, malaria, Alzheimer's, just to name a few.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Quick question, what was the judging process of these awards?
Speaker 4 (01:41):
The judging process was very rigorous. We went through a
full board of unqualified judge singular me.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I was going to say, and it was you amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
And I think what is particularly exciting about this space
of science is it's where we see the power of
AI for good because they think. What I have noticed
from all of the good news stories that we have
reported on this year when it comes to science, is
that AI is behind lots of these discoveries.
Speaker 4 (02:14):
Yeah, exactly, And it's nice to talk about the innovations
and the exciting side of AI in a world where
maybe there are some scarier conversations going on. But one
example of AI being used for good is in the UK,
where the National Health Service has been trialing an AI
system at its stroke centers which interprets brain scans quickly
and allows doctors to make treatment decisions faster. Are the
(02:38):
quick examples of AI in medicine. There's a study with
really promising findings about using it to predict early signs
of brain cancer recurrence. A pilot program is up and
running in Scotland which is using AI to improve skin
cancer diagnosis in remote areas. And in that case, technology
is actually analyzing images of skin lesions and flagging potential
(02:58):
risks for further medical review.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
And I know Australian researchers have also been doing amazing
things this year. I think I'm right in saying that
one of the Nobel Prizes was actually one by an
Australian scientist I believe from Melbourne. But putting that aside, well,
this is also going back to Melbourne. On a related note,
tell us about the team at the Peter Doherty Institute
(03:21):
for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne.
Speaker 4 (03:24):
Well, this is an amazing team that's been working on
a new treatment for HIV that uses mRNA technology. So
similar to COVID vaccines and the findings have been so
promising so far that the team thought they were too
good to be true. But it's real and it means
we are now closer to a cure for HIV than ever.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Just let that sync in and a big shout out
to Oussie researchers.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Wow, I missed that one this year. A big win
for the Aussis. And speaking of Ozzi's we Love Sport, Yeah,
we love sport. It is time to look at the
category of sport for these Good News Awards.
Speaker 4 (04:03):
Yeap and look, I might be biased, Billy, but I
think there was a very clear winner here, Mitch Brown.
The Good News Sport Award has to go to him,
who became the first openly bisexual man in the AFL's
one hundred and twenty nine year history. Mitch actually approached
TDA and said that he was ready to share his
story with the world. It came after a string of
(04:25):
homophobic incidents. He took something really dark and used it
as motivation for good. This story was a huge moment
for Australian sport. Of course, it was amazing for us
to be part of that. Sam's incredible interview with Mitch,
But it was kind of the reaction that followed that
really gave me so much faith in humanity. There was
this outpouring of love for Mitch from both the AFL
(04:48):
queer communities and just Ossie's on the Internet and out
and about stories of him getting stopped in the street
and people sharing their stories with him and how he'd
empowered them. It was just so inspiring, and seeing Mitch
grow into this advocate and role model for so many
has just been a joy.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
It was such a massive moment. And in the months
since that interview, since TDA did that interview, I have
seen so many people continue to talk about it. So
it wasn't just a moment. It's something that I think
truly will be part of history and we will continue
to talk about for years to come. And it was
(05:25):
such a privilege for TDA to be part of his.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
Journey exactly Billy very well said, and speaking of Ozzie Legends,
I do want to give our Ossie Entertainment Good News
Award to magda's Advanski. She was inducted into the TV
week Logy Awards Hall of Fame earlier in the year
in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Australian television. What's
another award for Magda? But she deserves it.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Oh and I'm pretty sure she actually sent us a
message in for these awards, just kidding. She couldn't quite
make it.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
We'll having some technical difficulties. We won't be able to
play does personalized thank you acceptance message.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
We do love Magda though, if you're listening.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
But okay, we are going to keep the good times
coming with this next award, which is for the best
climate good news story of twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (06:14):
This one goes to Global Renewables, which overtook coal as
the world's biggest generator of electricity for the first time ever.
This year, SOLA grew by a record thirty one percent.
Win generation grew by eight percent in the first half
of the year. That's according to data by the energy
think tank Ember and renewable energies generated more power than
(06:36):
coal and outpaced total demand for the very first time.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Okay, we're going to take a moment for the strange
and the wonderful. Which headline is getting your award for
the weirdest good news moment of twenty twenty five?
Speaker 4 (06:50):
Well, thank you so much for asking Billy. This one
goes to four hikers who were rescued from a trail
in the US in September. They got lost while seeing
a quote debilitating psychedelic mushroom high the Flow.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:05):
The four men texted authorities while they were lost on
a trail in the Hudson Valley in New York State.
This high elevation area with steep cliff's very scary. It
could have turned out to be a tragic ending, but
like all good news stories, it was a happy ending
because thankfully they were located by the incredible work of
some local forest rangers who transported them to safety.
Speaker 3 (07:26):
I was not expecting mushrooms to come up in this podcast.
We've spent most of this year in Australia talking about
a different kind of mushroom.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (07:33):
Well, I thought it was time to do a bit
of lighter pr for the musher mushroom have had a
PR issue this year.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Okay, moving on, last, but not least, the overall best
news story of twenty twenty five. Drum roll, please Emma
take us away.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
This one was a no brainer, Billy. It's a story
out of South Australia. It captured hearts around the world.
Congratulations to our best in show that the Sausage Dog.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Oh my god, I do remember this.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Valerie was rescued after five hundred and twenty nine days
lost on Kangaroo Island. Rescue crews worked so hard for
a year and a half to reunite Valerie with her family,
and just when it seemed like hope was lost, we
got the amazing news that not only was she alive,
but she had been found fit and well. Kangala Wildlife
(08:25):
Rescue shared the good news in April, saying quote, we're
absolutely thrilled and deeply relieved that Valerie is finally safe
and able to begin her transition back to her loving parents,
Josh and Georgia Billy. It was such an inspiring story
that Valerie, Josh and Georgia were featured for a recent
episode of Australian Story on the ABC.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was like a miracle. Literally, it was like a miracle.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
Hello, listens, give me that.
Speaker 3 (08:55):
We are just so grateful, just so grateful for everyone
and how they treated and how lovely they were.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Where you going, Valerie going home? Mummy's not gone without leap.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
It was a bit of emotion, wasn't it. I had
no idea that they did an Australian story, or that
that is wild.
Speaker 4 (09:15):
Thirty minutes of Valerie joy, highs and lows. It's a
roller coaster of emotions.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
If you haven't seen the footage of Valerie walking through
Kangaroo Island completely lost, I highly recommend it is just insane.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
She's very lost, so lost, but now so found.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
It's so found, Emma, what a note to end on.
That's it for the train training five Good News Awards.
Who knows if we'll do it again. Let us know
what you're thinking.
Speaker 4 (09:44):
If you want it again, let us know if you
don't go else I was gonna say, also, let us know.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
We're open to all feedback, but we prefer good feedback.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
Thank you so much for taking us through that, m
and thank you so much for listening to this episode
of The Daily Oz on your se Saturday. We'll be
back tomorrow with another.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
Special feep Dave.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
You'll have to tune in to see what it is,
but until then, have a great Saturday.
Speaker 5 (10:11):
My name is Lily Maddon and I'm a proud Arunda
Bungelung Calcottin woman from Gadigol Country. The Daily oz acknowledges
that this podcast is recorded on the lands of the
Gadighl people and pays respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Island and nations. We pay our respects to the
first peoples of these countries, both past and present.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
The wait is over, guys. Black Friday at Ikea is
now on Ikea Family members can save up to forty
percent of selected products in store and online, and if
you're heading in store, he's a little bonus. There's also
fifty percent off main dishes in the Swedish restaurant. Who
can resist? I know, I can't. They're famous Swedish meatballs.
(10:54):
If you're not already an Ikea family member, you can
join free online right now. That is up to four
twenty percent off selected products and a tasty fifty percent
off lunch while you shop. The Ica Black Friday sale
ends Monday, December first, Ikea Make It Happen Terms, conditions
and exclusions apply
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Male Room with Dr. Jesse Mills
As Director of The Men’s Clinic at UCLA, Dr. Jesse Mills has spent his career helping men understand their bodies, their hormones, and their health. Now he’s bringing that expertise to The Male Room — a podcast where data-driven medicine meets common sense. Each episode separates fact from hype, science from snake oil, and gives men the tools to live longer, stronger, and happier lives. With candor, humor, and real-world experience from the exam room and the operating room, Dr. Mills breaks down the latest health headlines, dissects trends, and explains what actually works — and what doesn’t. Smart, straightforward, and entertaining, The Male Room is the show that helps men take charge of their health without the jargon.