The last time the Chicago River Swim happened was when Calvin Coolidge was president. These bears in Alaska bulk up for the winter – and for internet glory. A rare surgery brought one man’s world back into focus. New space technology might help fight wildfires. Plus, the 100+ year long streak is over for a family in Texas family.   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: Alexander Rodway

Sep 27, 2025

A superstar takes the stage one last time tonight, marking the end of a historic residency in Puerto Rico. How a free travel program for high school seniors aims to connect a divided US. A 9-year-old sets up a front-yard stand designed to make people smile. A stranger’s kindness turns a homeless teen into a devoted foster dad. Plus, meet the TIME’s Kid of the Year.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Polanco  Producer: Eryn Mathewson  Showrunner: Faiz Jamil  Editorial Support: Felicia Patinkin, Isabel Rosales, Paola Ortiz, Abel Alvarado, Madeline Stix, John Blake

Sep 20, 2025

A new generation is falling in love with a centuries-old game. These women 65 and older clean local ponds by diving for trash (and have a blast doing it). She lost her dad in the Twin Towers – but the FDNY made sure he was still part of her wedding day. A doctor was told he would die, but he found a treatment for his disease everyone else had missed. Plus, the music program that teaches kids jazz and so much more.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo  Producers: Eryn Mathewson and Leying Tang  Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin  Special Thanks: Nadia Kounang

Sep 13, 2025

We start with a back-to-school tradition that might make you want to kiss your mom. Kids with chronic illnesses took charge on a special day, thanks to 16 different law enforcement agencies. This nonprofit helps thousands of injured and neglected animals find forever homes.  A teen gets the quinceañera of a lifetime, with a little help from the internet.  Plus, the celebrity engagement of the summer sparked some sweet inspiration. Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Eryn Mathewson Producers: Ifeoma Dike and Leying Tang  Showrunners: Faiz Jamil & Felicia Patinkin  Special Thanks: Christie O’Reilly

Sep 6, 2025

This nonprofit which feeds thousands of families in need in Florida all started with one man's extra vegetables. Skateboarder Brooke Johnson broke a world record and kept a promise. Artifacts from an ancient sunken city were pulled from the sea in Egypt. A new US coin features a first and a win for disability advocates. Plus, the mystery behind the Peggy Martin rose that survived Hurricane Katrina.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here  Host/Producer: Krista Bo  Showrunners: Faiz Jamil & Felicia Patinkin  Special Thanks: Jessica Jordan, Ryan Bergeron and Christie O’Reilly

Aug 30, 2025

These athletes from all over the world have something in common: an organ transplant and a new shot at greatness. After nearly eight decades and a daughter’s determined search, two siblings reconnect. A 4-year-old called 911 to chat and the police showed up with some sweet surprises. This couple from Wisconsin set a world record at the annual wife-carrying contest. Plus, this town in Sweden put their church on wheels.  Sign up for the CNN 5 Good Things newsletter here.  Host/Producer: Krista Bo Producer: Eryn Mathewson Showrunner: Faiz Jamil Special Thanks: Muhammad Darwish, Max Burnell, Bryce Urbany, Boglarka Kosztolanyi and Jamie Barton

Aug 23, 2025

The “Parody Principal” remixes the morning announcements. New research breaks down the amount of dance moves cockatoos have up their wings. This CNN Hero is feeding thousands with free meals that were going to be thrown out. One musician’s loss sparked a creative solution to help others facing the same thing. Plus, getting your spouse’s attention is an art form at this beloved Iowa State fair contest.  For more feelgood news, sign up for the ⁠CNN 5 Good Things newsletter⁠.

Aug 16, 2025

This club is going viral and helping members relieve stress, one scream at a time. A veteran umpire is making history on the pro baseball field. Meet the world-class chef that’s running a plastic-free restaurant in hopes others will do the same. Thousands in Michigan play their library’s reading game that goes way beyond books. Plus, this isn’t your average summer camp – it’s where wisdom meets curiosity.

Aug 9, 2025

A pilot surprises his grandmother with the flight of a lifetime. The rivers in this nation are so clean, locals utilize them for their commute. This group helps visually impaired people ride bikes through New York City. Creative writing classes are helping incarcerated people process their pasts and imagine new futures. Plus, this remote surgery didn’t just connect two countries – it could close healthcare gaps worldwide.

Aug 2, 2025

The newest member of the Philadelphia Phillies is training to save a veteran's life. This century’s old tradition helps protect one of the world’s most beautiful birds. A documentarian broke a Guinness World Record and captured moments of happiness worldwide. Indigenous youth kayak 310 miles to honor the restoration of a beloved river.  Plus, meet the real-life superhero who has helped thousands of people in need of a pick-me-up.

Jul 26, 2025