The Milan Cortina Winter Games have begun, and some athletes have already made history.  We tell you how one state went from the bottom to the top for fourth grade reading and math. A project born out of a family’s loss hopes to save lives by publishing letters written by strangers with reasons to stay. This shellfish was extinct for over 200 years in Dublin Bay until now – and the reason it’s back might surprise you. Plus, a teenage boy is being called a hero after a family kayaking trip turned dangerous. 

Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco 

Producer: Eryn Mathewson, Joshan Chana

Showrunner: Faiz Jamil 

Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Samantha Lindell  

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This album started as a family project and turned into a Grammy nomination. The internet rallied behind a 92-year-old woman still working to make ends meet. An FDA-cleared brain treatment is offering hope to people with depression who’ve tried everything else. Meet the crew tasked with fighting and preventing wildfire disasters in Los Angeles. Plus, these divers rescued a ray and what happened next shocked them.

Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here. 

Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco 

Showrunner: Faiz Jamil 

Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Cindy Von Quednow, Hyan de Freitas

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One of the only pig kidney recipients in the world just made medical history, again. Cursive is making a comeback nationwide, but these middle schoolers were ahead of the curve. A group of Buddhist monks are walking across the US with an inspiring message. We tell you about a TikTok trend that’s encouraging to cut down on screen time. Plus, as Hollywood spotlights table tennis, an American phenom shares how the sport changed her life. 

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Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco 

Producer: Eryn Mathewson 

Showrunner: Faiz Jamil 

Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Kameryn Griesser, Melani Bonilla, and Andy Buck 

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What started as a random video turned into a movement for women in perimenopause and beyond. A teen is using her own traumatic experience to educate schools and her peers about the dangers of deepfakes. Barbie just got more inclusive. If your dog perks up when you talk, new research might explain why. Plus, how bereaved parents continued their child’s legacy. 

Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here. 

Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco 

Producer: Eryn Mathewson, Joshan Chana 

Showrunner: Faiz Jamil 

Senior Producer: Felicia Patinkin

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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. 

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: 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 

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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

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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 

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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 

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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