Stay ConnectedStarting August 8, 2026 all new episodes can be found over in the CNN 5 Things feed. Search “CNN 5 Things” wherever you get your podcasts.
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.
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Students at a Kentucky high school that wouldn’t have been interested in band before now play in the state’s first mariachi band. Nora Langdon is considered one of the best senior powerlifters in the world and wants to inspire others to keep exercising. An Arizona woman is named a CNN Hero for supporting Native American foster youth and families. A team of student engineers in Zurich have developed a robotic fish that can help scientists study ocean ecosystems in a new way. Plus, how astronauts can vote in space.
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A woman went on a 700-mile bike ride to raise awareness about substance abuse after her brother died from fentanyl poisoning. Scientists have figured out a way to turn banana waste into denim and clean energy for rural communities in Pakistan. A stay-at-home mom in Michigan dresses up like a clown to pick up trash and her neighbors love her message. The San Diego Zoo is celebrating the birth of an endangered tiger cub. Plus, a Chicago man takes a more scenic route to work downtown.
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We’ll highlight some extraordinary accomplishments from Team USA athletes at the Paralympics. A six-year-old boy couldn’t wait to tell everyone at a hospital in Ohio that he was getting a new heart. Hear what some football teams are doing that could help protect players from concussions. Patients with the most common and deadly form of brain cancer can soon seek more affordable treatment. Plus, how a school in Wisconsin made their students feel like movie stars on their first day back.
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Two male flamingos coupled up and achieved a rare feat: successfully hatching an egg together. An MLB catcher made some kids’ days by showing up to play wiffle ball. The FDA just cleared a new device that could stop severe bleeding in seconds and potentially save countless lives. The world’s oldest man celebrated his birthday this week. Plus, eight marching bands from HBCUs showcased their skills at the 10th annual National Battle of the Bands.
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TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year invented a potential treatment for skin cancer. A mother delivered her baby on the side of a highway in Colorado with help from 911. Scientists developed a new light-absorbing material that can turn everyday objects into solar panels. Thousands of people showed up to an open casting call in New Jersey for Happy Gilmore 2. Plus, the city that has so many street cats, adoring locals have set up a museum dedicated to them.
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Our latest CNN Hero is an orchestra conductor, who’s helping more than 300 refugees and immigrants find purpose and hope through music. Dogs are spreading seeds at an urban nature reserve in the UK. Scientists are floating a new theory about how Egypt’s oldest pyramid may have been built. A 12-year-old boy in Massachusetts got his ice cream stand shut down, so the community stepped up to help him raise money for his brother’s special needs hockey team. And, a new village in Tanzania for vulnerable young people will be built using a 3D printer and soil.
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A community in South Carolina rallied together to make sure every single animal at a local shelter had a foster home as Tropical Storm Debby approached. You could see new wild fruits in the grocery store soon since researchers cracked an ancient mystery about thorny plants like roses. A family in Massachusetts going through a tough time was surprised by an act of kindness and a heartfelt note. As the Paris Olympics comes to a close, some exceptional athletes share what it feels like to live out their dreams. Plus, a giant statue of a New York City critter will tower over a park on the west side.
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TikTok thinks these two employees at a New York car dealership deserve Emmys for their viral parodies of the sitcom “The Office.” Recent studies highlight how dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented, diagnosed and treated. New York City wants to form a new ‘rat pack.’ A history buff took a chance and bought a piece of tent that supposedly belonged to George Washington—and he was shocked it was the real deal. Plus, two US women’s sports teams have a rapper and a former NFL player as some of their biggest fans at the Olympics.
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The Summer Olympics happening now in Paris marks a new milestone for gender equality in sports. A Parisian amateur chef whips up free meals and viral videos to help feed people living on the streets. Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton used AI to reclaim her voice after a degenerative disease took away her ability to speak. A high school cross country team gives shelter dogs some exercise while they train. Plus, a taco stand in Mexico City earned one of the most prestigious culinary honors.
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Payton McGriff is one of CNN’s Heroes for her work providing girls in Togo with the uniforms and supplies they need to transform their lives with education. Boston commutes got a little more whimsical after two friends lobbied for some googly eyes on the city’s trains. Breakdancing is making its Olympic debut this summer – meet the athlete that’s representing Team USA. Two stay-at-home moms in Virginia turned their love for flowers into a project that spreads joy and prevents waste. Plus, the planet Venus recently got to jam out to one of hip-hop’s greats.
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