CNN 5 Good Things

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