CNN 5 Good Things

CNN 5 Good Things

How about a break — for your ears? At CNN, we know the news can be a lot to take in. So each week, 5 Good Things offers you a respite from the heavy headlines and intense news cycle. Treat yourself to something fun and uplifting every Saturday as we share the bright side of life from all over the globe.

Episodes

May 2, 2026 15 mins
This stallion season manager is celebrating a second chance at life at the 152nd Kentucky Derby. How one man is keeping a promise to his late grandmother ⁠at full speed.⁠ A family-owned supermarket is taking a page from NPR’s book with its own version of “Tiny Desk concerts.” This ancient "miracle tree" could solve a very modern pollution problem. Plus, meet ⁠the oncologist⁠ bringing life-saving care to places that don’t have it. L...
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A dad is teaching young boys in his community hard and soft skills for adulthood. A potentially game-changing treatment could help fight one of the deadliest cancers. The answer to the world’s plastic problem could be floating around in the ocean. Meet the woman shattering the glass ceiling in European sports. And just days after an attempted school shooting, students found a way to thank a hero at prom.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Goo...
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On one of the biggest stages in music, history was made. A "Heated Rivalry" lookalike contest turned into a real-life rom com. These ecosystem engineers are already hard at work helping combat climate change. This technology allowed a blind man to train and race for a marathon differently. Plus, why basketball fans love the G.O.A.T. debate.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Pr...
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Some singles are skipping swiping and letting their friends take the lead on their love life. Two first responders thousands of miles apart are now connected forever by a life-saving choice. Two brothers in the Bay Area started a school program that helps families and the planet. A lost border collie was rescued after a hiking trip gone wrong. Plus, one of the most memorable phone numbers in music is being used in a new way.  Sign...
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She once worked at this hospital as a janitor – now she’s returning for her residency. The Artemis II mission is historic – hear how an 8-year-old became a part of it. Scientists are seeing a phenomenon for the first time in the wild, and it’s offering new clues about how species can adapt to climate change. A major study examines the role spirituality and religion play in addiction recovery. And a high school freshman made it onto...
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The countdown to the inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League’s season starts. These critical pollinators are making a major comeback. Trauma doctors say the first patient in the world to receive this treatment wouldn’t be here today without it. What started as an idea behind bars turned into a service for people in need in Philadelphia. Plus, a show that still hits home 20 years later.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things new...
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A group of dads in London are learning a new skill to connect with their daughters and each other. Two pay phones nearly 3,000 miles apart are bridging a generational gap. A new breakthrough device is helping patients manage Parkinson’s disease in a more personalized way. After a devastating tragedy, a high school boys' hockey team in Rhode Island finished their season in a way that feels like a movie. Plus, a sweet update on the w...
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A legendary US Paralympian adds to her medal collection. CNN trekked deep into Thailand’s jungles to follow the surprising journey of a young tiger that’s giving conservationists hope. How the singer behind the hit song from “K-Pop Demon Hunters” reinvented herself after rejection. A car salesman found a way to stand out at his job, and his videos have gone viral. Plus, college students nationwide are training puppies with a purpos...
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He’s a software engineer by day – but in his free time, he cleans up trash in the San Francisco Bay area. A heartbreaking moment in a hospital room led to a ripple effect of kindness for six siblings in foster care. This app helps foster kids understand their rights. Mother-daughter divers made a surprising discovery in the Great Barrier Reef. A 77-year-old man with a motorcycle says now is the best time to chase a world record.  ...
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February 28, 2026 14 mins
A goldendoodle left at an airport gets lifted up by local heroes. A Texas swim team makes major waves for a beloved custodian. Giant tortoises return to the Galápagos after nearly 200 years. Parents are dialing back screen time with retro tech. Plus, Team USA’s women’s hockey Olympic champs are hearing from their biggest fans – thanks to a hotline.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Pola...
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An act of kindness led to a friendship between a Nigerian immigrant and a 92-year-old veteran. Police in rural England caught their suspect, thanks to a herd of llamas. This 77-year-old museum curator learned a new language to reach young art lovers. We’ll break down some of the greatness you might have missed this week from Milano Cortina Games. Plus, could this fun winter sport make an Olympic comeback?  Sign up for the CNN 5 Go...
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A man with Alzheimer's marries his wife of nearly 40 years a second time. The Buddhist monks completed their 2,300-mile “Walk of Peace” and left us with a mindfulness ritual we could all try. This engineer aims to give breast cancer survivors their bodies back. This Nebraskan quit her job to row across the Atlantic by herself and set a race record. Plus, from the ice to the slopes, the incredible Olympic moments from this week.  S...
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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 teena...
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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 CN...
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January 24, 2026 14 mins
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 li...
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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: Kri...
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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 Polan...
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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 ...
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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 –...
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December 20, 2025 14 mins
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? Si...
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