5 Good News Stories - happiness and fun

Caloroga Shark Media / Happiness Good News Lab

Every day the news feels heavy. 5 Good News Stories is your daily antidote — five short, uplifting stories about human kindness, scientific breakthroughs, unexpected heroes, and moments that remind you the world isn't as broken as the headlines suggest. Hosted by John McDermott, each episode is under 10 minutes and designed to start your morning right or reset your afternoon. If you're looking for a positive news podcast, a feel-good daily listen, or just five minutes of happiness — this is your show. New episode every day. Follow wherever you listen to podcasts.

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614 episodes
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Episodes614

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January 4 · 3 min
The Grinch pulls over speeders, hands out onions
A retired deputy sheriff dressed as the Grinch offers speeding drivers a choice between a ticket or an onion; European scientists restore vision in macular degeneration patients using an electronic eye implant and augmented reality glasses; a woman...
January 1 · 4 min
Hedgehog Haven, rescuing over 500 hedgehogs
Johnny Mac presents five heartwarming stories. A European study shows that multilingualism may slow aging. In St. Paul, Zach and Isabel, both recovering from traumatic brain injuries, found love seven years later. Andy and Sharon converted their home...
Dec 30, 2025 · 4 min
The $30,000 Pokeman Card
Johnny Mac presents five uplifting news stories from Britain and beyond: A 63-year-old army veteran named Nick, suffering from COPD, arthritis, and PTSD, received a major surprise when a cleaning company owner cleared his overgrown backyard and raised...
Dec 28, 2025 · 3 min
Good News - Pig who lived in a car gets sanctuary
Judi Mack shares five uplifting stories: Caritas converts a Popemobile into a pediatric clinic for children in Gaza; AI technology aids in coral reef restoration on the Great Barrier Reef; a civil election in Virginia ends with a beloved teacher...
Dec 27, 2025 · 4 min
Man in Alabama orders hamburgers from Nova Scotia
In a heartwarming twist, a couple in Nova Scotia received $40 and an apology letter from Alabama after a mistaken burger order. Bumblebees learned to associate Morse code with rewards, showcasing their remarkable cognitive abilities. A quick-thinking...
Dec 23, 2025 · 4 min
What to leave Santa Claus under the tree this year
Thousands participated in the San Diego Santa Run, with the event setting a new record. In Honolulu, Christmas-themed pop-up bars offer festive drinks and decor, while New Jersey braces cold temperatures. Massachusetts nonprofit Operation Service...
Dec 22, 2025 · 3 min
Santa and Mrs. Claus give blood
Johnny Mac shares five uplifting news stories. An 88-year-old Army veteran in Detroit receives over $1.5 million through a GoFundMe campaign for his retirement. In Tennessee, a deer causes holiday havoc in a Christmas shop. In Switzerland, a charity...
Dec 21, 2025 · 4 min
Santa Claus stops off to put out a fire
Santa detours from a holiday parade to help firefighters put out a blaze, and later brings cheer to children at Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore. Baltimore Ravens linebacker Quan Smith and teammates treat kids to a holiday shopping spree....
Dec 20, 2025 · 5 min
The Grinchiest Grinch at the Christmas Parade
Johnny Mac shares five uplifting Christmas stories, including: McDonald's pulling a generative AI ad after negative feedback; The Guardian testing if AI can recommend thoughtful gifts; Santa's scheduled HAM radio event at the University of Scranton;...
Dec 19, 2025 · 4 min
Elvis the Elf's surprise appearance at the school play about Elves
Johnny Mac shares five uplifting news stories. A nine-year-old named Oscar hilariously starred as 'Elvis' instead of 'Elvis the Elf' in his school play, delighting the audience. A severely injured and disabled puppy named Dennis finds a loving forever...
Dec 18, 2025 · 5 min
137 T-Shirts during a Half Marathon
Jenny Mac shares uplifting stories, starting with private chef Maddie Goldberg who now turns leftover ingredients into meals for a Toronto food bank. Next, Cassie's foundation, Broken Biscuits, which supports disabled dogs through a specially designed...
Dec 17, 2025 · 6 min
The best and WORST times to travel by car this Christmas season
Johnny Mac shares five good news Christmas stories, focusing on Delta Airlines rewarding random acts of kindness with holiday medallion cards that can be redeemed for gifts and collectibles. The script also provides travel tips, including the best and...
Dec 16, 2025 · 4 min
John Oliver's Record-Breaking Bob Ross Auction
00:10 Rediscovered Bach Pieces Performed After 300 Years 01:15 John Oliver's Record-Breaking Bob Ross Auction 02:01 Eco-Friendly Artisans in Mumbai 02:24 The Search for Bradford Bear 03:21 Woman Found Alive in Coffin in Thailand 04:17 Conclusion and...
Dec 15, 2025 · 4 min
Santa's favorite and LEAST favorite Christmas songs
West Virginia has been ranked as the most excited state for Christmas 2025, based on Google search data. Carter, a college sophomore, and his family are collecting handwritten cards for hospital and nursing home patients in honor of his late...
Dec 14, 2025 · 4 min
Police round up one of Santa's reindeer
Grapevine, Texas, has been named the Best Christmas Town in America, drawing 2 million visitors annually with its festive celebrations. Hershey Park's Christmas Candy Lane won USA Today's award for best theme park holiday event. Country Living's 25...
Dec 13, 2025 · 5 min
Christmas Stories - Santa to visit Green Bay's Lambeau Field
Highlights include: Compton's 70th annual Christmas parade featuring Grand Marshall The Game; Santa's photo opportunity at Green Bay's Lambeau Field; recommended holiday books like 'Winter Street' by Ellen Hilderbrand and 'The Christmas Orphans Club'...
Dec 12, 2025 · 3 min
The Christmas tree made from 100,000 balloons
Johnny Mack shares five Christmas-themed good news stories. An English hotel features a unique Christmas tree made from 100,000 balloons, designed by artist Naomi to raise money for charity. In London, an AI-generated Christmas mural baffles viewers...
Dec 11, 2025 · 4 min
A new way to defrost your car!
The return of an 18th-century painting of St. Francis to a Mexican church after it was stolen 15 years ago; a new method for defrosting car windshields developed by Virginia Tech researchers; a heartfelt story of a husband arranging annual daffodil...
Dec 10, 2025 · 4 min
Tony Pork sets skateboard record
A false alarm about monkeys in Newark, a study showing the health benefits of casual walking for seniors, the artistic transformation of Austrian power lines, a plastic-eating robotic fish developed by the University of Surrey, and a skateboarding pig...
Dec 9, 2025 · 4 min
Race Your Pumpkin While Dressed Like Top Gun
The script presents five uplifting news stories: a British woman rescues a stray cat in Abu Dhabi, the North Atlantic right whale population sees a small increase, a new implant helps restore vision in patients with age-related macular degeneration,...

5 Good News Stories - happiness and fun

Support the show

The Grinch pulls over speeders, hands out onions

Hedgehog Haven, rescuing over 500 hedgehogs

The $30,000 Pokeman Card

Good News - Pig who lived in a car gets sanctuary

Man in Alabama orders hamburgers from Nova Scotia

What to leave Santa Claus under the tree this year

Santa and Mrs. Claus give blood

Santa Claus stops off to put out a fire

The Grinchiest Grinch at the Christmas Parade

Elvis the Elf's surprise appearance at the school play about Elves

137 T-Shirts during a Half Marathon

The best and WORST times to travel by car this Christmas season

John Oliver's Record-Breaking Bob Ross Auction

Santa's favorite and LEAST favorite Christmas songs

Police round up one of Santa's reindeer

Christmas Stories - Santa to visit Green Bay's Lambeau Field

The Christmas tree made from 100,000 balloons

A new way to defrost your car!

Tony Pork sets skateboard record

Race Your Pumpkin While Dressed Like Top Gun