podcast
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.

We tell you how a hiker in Alaska survived a 700-pound boulder falling on his back. This café in a war-torn country serves cuteness with its coffee. Clownfish are learning how to survive climate change, one centimeter at a time. The horses in this program are helping men struggling with addiction to get back on their feet. Plus, how a Little Mermaid-loving toddler healed as a baby with help from under the sea
Jun 7, 2025
This rock band hopes their new tour gives big concert venues a run for their money. The most memorable part of these teens’ prom happened after the dance, when they stumbled upon a house on fire. The treatment to save his son had a hefty price tag, so this dad picked up an oar and started rowing to raise money. This club in New York City helps older adults combat loneliness. Plus, which city is the happiest in the US?
May 31, 2025
“The Office” star teamed up with a nonprofit to offer free prom tickets to students impacted by the Eaton fire in Los Angeles. Kermit the Frog delivered a commencement speech at the University of Maryland. With months to live, this man is hitting the road to give back in all 50 states. A mini pony escaped from a rescue farm, and where she ended up next is pretty heartwarming. Plus, “The Golden Girls” reboot no one saw coming – and this time, they’ve got shells and siblings.
May 24, 2025
A woman who hadn’t used CPR in 40 years didn’t hesitate when it mattered most. In Staten Island, a deli manager is giving kids with good grades way more than sugar highs. A newer organ transplant approach could mean less pain, quicker recovery and more donors. CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes us inside the labs and the lives reshaped by cutting-edge transplant science. The FDA just greenlit a test that could change how millions detect cancer.
May 17, 2025
The world met the first American pope this week, but a second-grade conclave in Georgia stole hearts first. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world – CNN National Correspondent Erica Hill shares how engineers plan to keep it that way. An abandoned Shih Tzu became the star of a senior center in Texas. Meet the 2025 National Teacher of the Year. Plus, in honor of Mother’s Day, we collected some of your favorite “mom advice.”
May 10, 2025
When disaster struck in California, these young robotics engineers refused to quit, and their hard work paid off. A primatologist weighs in on the viral 100 men vs. silverback gorilla debate. After losing a loved one to drunk driving, the Montana Bar Fairies helped pass a new state law. An Australian miniature dachshund survived over a year in the wild. Plus, could we grow food in space?
May 3, 2025
The host of CNN’s "Searching for Spain" shares why Americans should try to live life like the Spaniards do. A rare record collector reunites a woman with a Voice-o-Graph she recorded 70 years ago. How this record-setting rodent is saving lives with his sense of smell. From deception to acceptance, a female magician's decades-long journey into the world's most prestigious magic club. Plus, scientists may have found the first signs of life on a planet outside our solar system.
Apr 26, 2025
A doctor in Florida is using art to honor his cancer patients’ recovery. A ranch dog rescues a lost toddler in the Arizona desert. A new museum in south Jersey lets visitors dig for fossils on a mass extinction site. Thanks to a young fan, a first-time author’s book is now a best seller. Plus, this public safety power couple retires after a combined 72 years in service.
Apr 19, 2025
An NHL star makes history and for a good cause. Two tortoises become first-time parents in their late nineties. Scientists say they’ve revived the extinct dire wolf and used the same tech to help save a critically endangered one. Going offline is a requirement to join this social club. Plus, a frat reunites a woman with her dog 300 miles away.
Apr 12, 2025
Chicks of America’s favorite bald eagle couple have been named. How a school superintendent in PA gets stringed instruments in students’ hands for free. A teen heart transplant recipient's push for organ donation awareness. These 90-somethings found a new way to fight loneliness and stay connected. Plus, lost wedding photos took an incredible journey back home.
Apr 5, 2025