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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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.
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Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco
Producer: Eryn Mathewson
Showrunner: Faiz Jamil
Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin
Editorial Support: Demetrius Pipkin, Jeff Winter
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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 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 freetravelprogram 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
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