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.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/5-good-news-stories-happiness-and-fun--5747537/support.

Listen in podnod RSS feed Show website

614 episodes
Updated Yesterday

Support the show

Support the podcast!

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Episodes614

Newest first

Nov 8, 2025 · 4 min
Alligator hits up The Tiki Bar
A three-year-old girl named Opal, born deaf, can now hear after undergoing breakthrough gene therapy and receiving a cochlear implant in 2023. Bat populations in Wisconsin are recovering from a fungal epidemic, with increased sightings reported....
Nov 6, 2025 · 4 min
The Cows that like jazz
A jazz band, the Dixie Beats, performed for cows at a farm, potentially increasing milk production by 4%. Second, scientists in Spain discovered a 600-year-old vulture nest containing ancient straw sandals and other human artifacts. Third, a pub owner...
Nov 4, 2025 · 3 min
Only YOU can return the stolen Smokey the Bear sign
The first story highlights 'The Dad Letter Project,' where a woman shares her father's heartfelt letters with the world. In Portland, a mental health-focused first responder team, the Portland Street Response, has effectively handled 40,000 calls...
Nov 2, 2025 · 6 min
Netflix holiday movie lineup 2025
Five uplifting Christmas-themed stories. Highlights include a new overnight Christmas train from Rome to Munich, the 25th-anniversary concert film of Christina Aguilera's holiday album, the Suffolk Tractor Light Parade in the UK, a debate over naming...
Nov 1, 2025 · 4 min
Should you keep the Ketchup in the refrigerator? Heinz has ruled!
A pet owner discovers her cat nursing a baby rabbit, Christie, who has Stargardt disease, prepares to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, a water lily pad weight stacking competition takes place across botanical gardens, Officer Steven Harris spends his own...
Oct 30, 2025 · 3 min
Why you need to go see the Parthenon in the next few days!
A rare capture of a Calico lobster off Massachusetts, the use of coyote statues to deter geese and crows at a California school, the Parthenon in Athens being free of scaffolding for the first time in 200 years, a California Highway Patrol stopping a...
Oct 29, 2025 · 4 min
Why Spain haunted black cat adoptions
Johnny Mac presents five uplifting and interesting Halloween stories. In Mansfield, Ohio, the reformatory's Blood Prison event transitions to Christmas Incarceration in December. Catalonia, Spain temporarily halts black cat adoptions to prevent...
Oct 28, 2025 · 3 min
Giant Escaped Iguana
Johnny Mak presents five uplifting news stories. Stories include 2,000 dachshunds attending the UK's largest dog meetup, a Chicago man reuniting with his dog after 10 years thanks to a microchip, a 22-year-old setting a Guinness World Record for her...
Oct 27, 2025 · 5 min
Top Halloween costumes for pets
Johnny Mac shares five uplifting Halloween stories, starting with Brandon's victory at the Safeway World Championship pumpkin weigh-off with a 2,346-pound pumpkin. A family in Louisville, Kentucky continues a tradition of festive decorations and has...
Oct 26, 2025 · 4 min
Why Starbucks Holiday Menu 2025 won't include THIS drink!
The new trend this year is minimalist Moss Ball Christmas trees. Fallout Boy released a rock version of 'It Feels Like Christmas' from the Muppet Christmas Carol, and the film will have a sing-along show in London's West End. Brad Paisley announced...
Oct 25, 2025 · 4 min
Woman gets calls about her missing cat. There is no cat. There IS a t-shirt.
The first story involves a woman receiving calls about a missing cat, Turbo, due to her phone number being mistakenly printed on a t-shirt. In Arkansas, emergency services helped free a raccoon's head from a soup can. In New York, a milk spill caused...
Oct 23, 2025 · 3 min
Fake Sammy Hagar Arrested
A man impersonating musician Sammy Hagar was arrested for attempting to open bank accounts under the star's name. A high school girl's volleyball team raised funds to buy a car for their dedicated custodian. A Ski Resort in Vermont uses sheep and...
Oct 22, 2025 · 5 min
The Jack-o-Lantern Whopper AND Halloween Advent Calendars?
Topics include the introduction of Halloween advent calendars starting from 13 nights of fright and various Halloween-themed products and promotions. Burger King offers a 'Monster Menu' with items like the Jack-o-Lantern Whopper, vampire nuggets, and...
Oct 21, 2025 · 4 min
The Top Dog Names of 2025
In this episode, Johnny Mac covers five uplifting stories: 1) Chewy's list of the top 400 dog names for 2025, highlighting the top 10 names; 2) Kim's initiative to knit goods for a NICU during the pandemic, aiding families in a meaningful way; 3) A...
Oct 20, 2025 · 4 min
Songs to add to your Halloween Playlist
Fanta offers limited edition Halloween-themed cans featuring characters like Chucky, Freddy Fasbe, Michael Meyers, and The Grabber. Heidi Klum, renowned for her elaborate costumes, provides a preview of her 2023 Halloween costume. Gator Land in...
Oct 19, 2025 · 5 min
Finding Mr. Christmas
Lego Christmas sets for 2025, including a giant family Christmas tree, a Star Wars-themed gingerbread AT-AT, and various other festive products. The story then shifts to the Christmas Angels initiative started by Christie and Shannon Barton, which has...
Oct 18, 2025 · 5 min
A self-driving Waymo car is pulled over for making an illegal U-turn
1) Amelia from Philadelphia becomes the first American to win gold in the Cheese Monger Olympics in France. 2) Rico, a dog rescued from a Portuguese pound, now helps track lost pets and animals in England. 3) Marcus, a 12-year-old, returns a 60th home...
Oct 17, 2025 · 6 min
Survey Says grown-ups want Adult-o-ween
Grace Goul, a quarter-finalist in the Face of Halloween 2025 competition, is competing to raise funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation. Philadelphia hosts multiple dog costume contests benefiting local animal shelters, while Cincinnati's Corgi...
Oct 16, 2025 · 3 min
Butterfly's Broken Wing Repaired PLUS The World's Tallest Donkey
Johnny Mac presents five uplifting news stories. A butterfly with a broken wing undergoes a successful emergency wing transplant at Sweet Briar Nature Center. An antique dealer in Scotland finds a stained glass window potentially tied to King Robert...
Oct 15, 2025 · 7 min
Good News - it's The Favorite Halloween Candy in each state
Johnny Mac presents five feel-good Halloween stories. He starts by discussing popular Halloween candies in various states, highlighting favorites like Candy Corn in Mississippi and Reese's in Nevada. He then mentions that Count von Count from Sesame...

5 Good News Stories - happiness and fun

Support the show

Alligator hits up The Tiki Bar

The Cows that like jazz

Only YOU can return the stolen Smokey the Bear sign

Netflix holiday movie lineup 2025

Should you keep the Ketchup in the refrigerator? Heinz has ruled!

Why you need to go see the Parthenon in the next few days!

Why Spain haunted black cat adoptions

Giant Escaped Iguana

Top Halloween costumes for pets

Why Starbucks Holiday Menu 2025 won't include THIS drink!

Woman gets calls about her missing cat. There is no cat. There IS a t-shirt.

Fake Sammy Hagar Arrested

The Jack-o-Lantern Whopper AND Halloween Advent Calendars?

The Top Dog Names of 2025

Songs to add to your Halloween Playlist

Finding Mr. Christmas

A self-driving Waymo car is pulled over for making an illegal U-turn

Survey Says grown-ups want Adult-o-ween

Butterfly's Broken Wing Repaired PLUS The World's Tallest Donkey

Good News - it's The Favorite Halloween Candy in each state