CNN 5 Good Things

Meet the Traveling Piano Man spreading joy across the US through music. People with memory loss disorders are getting sound prescriptions. The youngest-ever World Chess Champion returns home to a hero’s welcome. A beloved local Santa in New York passed away, but his son is carrying on his legacy. Plus, could mouse sperm orbiting Earth be the future of humanity? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new, rare exhibit is bringing a 150-million-year-old dinosaur to life. Women will get the chance to play pro baseball again. A catastrophe on a couple’s wedding day turned into a beautiful memory. How a Dutch recycling company is tackling footwear waste. Plus, the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year and Young Wonders have been chosen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A treasured gothic architectural gem reopens to the public five years after a fire. Bike Buses put a fresh spin on the commute to school for kids and parents across the US. A 11-year old lead the charge for cleaner air in Connecticut classrooms. A woman saved her twin sister’s life in a rare organ transplant. AI is helping farmers speed up crop breeding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A choir helps people with Alzheimer's and dementia find joy and purpose. A formerly unhoused New Yorker helps feed people on the city’s streets. People from all over North Carolina came together to feed Hurricane Helene survivors on Thanksgiving. A coffee shop in Massachusetts went viral for giving away free coffee on one groovy condition. Plus, there’s still time to vote for the CNN Hero of the Year – we highlight the honorees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A 17-year-old girl won a prestigious award this week advocating for the rights of girls in Afghanistan. Scientists have discovered the world's largest stretch of coral. A TV legend is getting her own stamp next year. A society of magicians wants to welcome back a member who tricked them. Plus, this 31-year-old woman smashed the record for hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A legendary freedom fighter is honored for her military service 160 years later. We tell you why a 19-month-old bloodhound is the ultimate hero. A library book is finally returned over five decades late. A tall, stinky flower draws a huge crowd in Australia. Plus, the official Moo Deng anthem just dropped, just as another baby pygmy hippo makes her debut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kids in South Carolina got an important civics lesson at their local library. Against all odds, an athlete with a terminal cancer diagnosis completed one of the most grueling races in the world. Classic music lovers are inspired by newly-discovered music an iconic composer left behind. A nonprofit is training giant rats in uniform to sniff out illegal wildlife contraband. Plus, an beloved character just turned 50! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A teen from Georgia is named America's Top Young Scientist for his invention. A beloved school custodian got an amazing retirement gift from her colleagues. A start-up in Ireland is revolutionizing how cancer patients experience treatment. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders can soon traverse a new trail across a big state. Plus, a woman didn’t think twice about donating one of her organs to save her wife’s life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An 18-year-old mountain climber became the youngest ever to summit the world's highest peaks. The slime in your home could be the key to helping fight climate change – send these scientists a picture. Food insecurity is a problem for some Los Angeles residents, so this nonprofit is crop swapping. A cello-playing robot made musical history. Plus, an 81-year-old makes finishing the New York City Marathon look easy – he shares some tips ahead of Sunday's race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special episode of CNN 5 Good Things, hear about the people who are making the world a better place. We’re highlighting the Top 5 CNN Heroes of 2024 and the good work they do. Click here to learn more about their stories and to vote for the 2024 CNN Hero of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

An off duty lifeguard rescued a 17-year-old lost at sea. Some people experiencing homelessness in California now have a place they can call their own. How a crossword editor is using his love for puzzles to aid his stroke recovery. Dog Tag Bakery helps veterans rediscover their identity with a fellowship program. Plus, the good work a street veterinarian has been able to do since being named the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's the happiest moment of your life? A filmmaker wants to know. How a breast cancer survivor is supporting women battling the disease. The longest running contest of its kind dares amateur filmmakers to create very short horror films. A New Jersey based arts foundation honors the past and future of the Cherokee Nation. Plus, a Canadian native makes history on the ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We’ll tell you about a dad who trekked almost 20 miles during Hurricane Helene to walk his daughter down the aisle. A Kentucky doctor shows us how trees might help prevent chronic disease. Mozart fans have new music, thanks to a recent discovery. A 75-year-old poet gets a big surprise — and shares why he writes about kindness and joy. Plus, we learn why dolphins “smile” when they play together. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We're following Pesto, a baby penguin that's turning heads and charming hearts in Australia. One man is running coast to coast to honor a veteran's last wish. Leaf peeping season is here, and Virginia state parks are making it easier for colorblind visitors to enjoy it. A Miss Universe contestant breaks through an age-old barrier. Plus, this performer is taking the mascot experience to a whole new level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some new research might convince you to try dabbling in arts and crafts. Scientists have learned that the swirls in Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night” painting don't appear to be random. A pet cat wandered almost 1,000 miles back home. Why conservationists brought huge elephant sculptures to New York City. Plus, school is back in session, we’re revisiting why some parents of elementary school kids in upstate New York like getting calls from the principal’s office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices