Best CNN Hero Podcasts (2026)

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It's What Everyone Needs To Do: A Conversation with Hillary Cohen, a Top Five 2025 CNN Hero 26:09

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10d ago26:09

26:09

Recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2025, Hillary Cohen is the co-founder of Every Day Action, a nonprofit tackling food waste and hunger by redirecting unused gourmet meals from Hollywood sets to people in need across Southern California. After years working as an assistant director and witnessing staggering amounts of food thrown away…

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The Greatest Novelist of our Time 1:02:50

7d ago1:02:50

1:02:50

Ann sits down with author, screenwriter and podcaster Andrew Klavan and talks writing, Hollywood and how Christianity improved his work. Among his fabulous, brilliant books, specifically recommended by Ann: After That, the Dark (Cameron Winter Mysteries, 5) A Woman Underground (Cameron Winter Mysteries, 4) The House of Love and Death (Cameron Winte…

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One Nation Under the Influence 1:07:53

13d ago1:07:53

1:07:53

Kevin Sabet, an American drug policy scholar, is the only person appointed to the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in both Republican (George W. Bush) and Democratic (Barack Obama and Bill Clinton) administrations. He was also an assistant professor adjunct at Yale University Medical School’s Institution for Social and Policy Stud…

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Talk To Almost Anyone: A Conversation with Tim Wilson 1:25:00

5d ago1:25:00

1:25:00

Tim Wilson is the founder and host of People in Fundraising, the podcast spotlighting the people who fuel the nonprofit sector. With more than two decades in prospect development across higher education and healthcare—including leadership roles at Harvard Business School, Intermountain Healthcare, and now Weber State University—Tim brings deep expe…

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You Never Had It So Good 23:03

15d ago23:03

23:03

Your five stories for the week: Western Women don't know just how good they have it (But they will!) H1B Visa fraud Finally, something useful from TSA The Fraud that is the Minnesota Somali "Community" Fake Hate and OutrageBy Ricochet

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You See Their Joy: A Conversation with Tim Woodward, A Top Five 2025 CNN Hero 35:12

21d ago35:12

35:12

Recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2025, Tim Woodward is the Executive Director and a founding force behind Animal Rescue Corps, the national nonprofit created in 2010 to confront large-scale animal cruelty wherever it occurs. What began with a small team determined to fill a devastating gap in animal protection has grown into a nation…

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Thomas Massie, Hero 37:06

1M ago37:06

37:06

Ann caught up with Thomas Massie (R - KY04) shortly after his bill to release the Epstein Files was passed and signed by the President. In this interview, he explains how he’ll know if the DOJ is withholding documents and why he wants the FBI’s 302 forms, and he defends the ONLY member of congress to vote against his bill — all moments before he de…

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We Want More Dogs, All The Dogs: A Conversation with Heidi Carman, A Top Five 2025 CNN Hero 29:12

28d ago29:12

29:12

Recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2025, Heidi Carman is the founder and Executive Director of First Responder Therapy Dogs, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the emotional well-being of first responders. What began with Heidi and her own dog visiting local fire stations in California has grown into a national effort reaching firefig…

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World AIDS Day _ Philip Emeagwali _ December 1, 2006 2:19

29d ago2:19

2:19

World AIDS Day _ Philip Emeagwali _ December 1, 2006 by Philip EmeagwaliBy Philip Emeagwali

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_How I Invented a New Internet_ _ Philip Emeagwali _ Famous Physicists _ Inventions and Discoveries 8:22

1M ago8:22

8:22

_How I Invented a New Internet_ _ Philip Emeagwali _ Famous Physicists _ Inventions and Discoveries by Philip EmeagwaliBy Philip Emeagwali

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Heather Mac Donald On the Slow Suicide of the West 1:05:55

1M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

Germany’s Hitlerian side comes out in attacks on the AfD (Alternative for Germany) Heroic white male colonizers! America’s youth as ungrateful parasites on Western Culture. The male drive to create. Trump’s cuts to universities’ federal research budgets at risk of eliminating next 4 million studies on racism. Why isn’t “diversity” good for Africa? …

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Center on the Victims 24:40

1M ago24:40

24:40

Your big stories of the week: Massie wins massively Shocker from upstate New York: Incompetent girl cop SF Mayor botches appointment in DEI disaster Football violence off the field Update on Louvre robbery suspects Exceptional suckuppery from Michael WolffBy Ricochet

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They Let Themselves Be Free: A Conversation with Debra Des Vignes, A Top Five 2025 CNN Hero 37:00

1M ago37:00

37:00

Recognized as one of the Top Five CNN Heroes of 2025, Debra Des Vignes is the founder and Executive Director of the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop (IPWW), a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of incarcerated individuals through the power of creative writing. Launched in 2018 after her decade-long career as a crime reporter, IPWW began a…

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Rapists and Their Democratic Enablers 24:56

2M ago24:56

24:56

Your stories of the week: How Washington State Democrats sentencing "reforms" led to the release of a rapist and murderer. Ann's thoughts on the Epstein files and the so-called "dog that didn't bark."By Ricochet

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Friendly, Fabulous Foodbankers: A Conversation with Julie Yurko 51:10

1M ago51:10

51:10

Julie Yurko is President & CEO of Northern Illinois Food Bank, where she leads a neighbor-centric transformation of the charitable food system to deliver dignified, equitable access across 13 counties. A respected nonprofit leader and past president of Apra International, she serves on the boards of the Global FoodBanking Network, Better Business B…

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New York, NY: A Helluva Town 31:32

2M ago31:32

31:32

Five Stories for this week: Mamdani wins; Too many reasons to hate Andrew Cuomo NY AG vs VDare "Cultural Enrichments" from France and the UK NYC's future: Substance Abuse Counselor Killing Under the Influence Karl Rove's GOP Advice: George Bush, Part IIIBy Ricochet

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Challenge and Opportunity: A Conversation with Leaders in Healthcare Philanthropy 27:18

2M ago27:18

27:18

In this special episode, we bring together some of the most influential voices in healthcare philanthropy—Nancy Bussani, Executive Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer for CommonSpirit Health and President of the CommonSpirit Health Foundation; Julie Cox, Vice President of Development at LifeBridge Health; John Drake, President of the BSW …

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Jon Levine: Brilliant Free Beacon Reporter 1:09:46

2M ago1:09:46

1:09:46

On Tucker, Candace, Mamdani, Cuomo, Charlie Kirk, ICE raids, Muslim immigrants, left-wing churches, and canceling liberals. Jon Levine articles in the Free BeaconBy Ricochet

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Always Something More To Learn: A Conversation with Lindsey Nadeau 1:11:48

2M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

Lindsey Nadeau is Vice President of Philanthropy Insight at UNICEF USA, where she leads data-driven strategy and enterprise systems that deepen donor engagement and accelerate revenue growth. A nationally recognized voice in prospect development, she also serves as President-Elect of Apra International. In this episode, we follow Lindsey’s journey …

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Oh, SNAP! Bet on it, Diabla! 24:23

2M ago24:23

24:23

Your Five Stories (and a bonus!) for the week: ODNI helps capture "La Diabla" NYC's bad choices for mayor NBA gambling arrests - there has to be more Lack of will is everything Robotics at Amazon SNAP benefits in danger for NovemberBy Ricochet

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The Appeal of Amy Wax 1:15:24

3M ago1:15:24

1:15:24

The New York Times has taken a sudden interest in the cancelation of people for their speech - just for tiny little things like hooting over the public execution of Charlie Kirk. E.g. from the Times: “Hundreds of people have been doxxed, fired or threatened for social media posts that were perceived as callous or celebratory in the wake of Kirk’s d…

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Until We Get It Right: A Conversation with Christy Coleman 2:00:53

2M ago2:00:53

2:00:53

Christy Coleman is the Executive Director of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, where she leads institutional efforts to reinterpret early American history and engage the public in complex national narratives. A nationally recognized museum leader, she was raised within the historically significant community of Williamsburg and played a significant…

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Things That Never Happen 29:22

3M ago29:22

29:22

Ann's Five Stories of the Week: PBS and things that never happen Police body cams (and things that never happen!) NYT covers asylum changes Mamdani and rent stabilized housing Celebrating Columbus Week with the Senate Majority LeaderBy Ricochet

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Aimee Boorman: Coaching Simone Biles beyond medals and perfection 58:43

3M ago58:43

58:43

Amy Boorman is a decorated and globally respected gymnastics coach, whose career included twelve years coaching the sport's all-time greatest, Simone Biles. She was named USA Gymnastics Coach of the Year four times and US Olympic Committee Coach of the Year in 2016. She was head coach of the US Women's Gymnastics Team at the Rio Olympic Games and c…

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Ignoble Awards 35:03

3M ago35:03

35:03

Ann's Five Stories of the Week: Too much peace for the Nobel Peace Prize and Underwater Basketweaving reigns at the MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grants." Kamala Harris' "Unreasonable Conversation." Drama Queen Librarian makes bank Proof they're trying to kill Republicans State of American Healthcare in one tragic story…

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The Ambivalent Transsexual 56:05

3M ago56:05

56:05

By Ricochet

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Right Out Of The Gate: A Conversation with Bill TeDesco 1:09:24

3M ago1:09:24

1:09:24

Bill TeDesco is the founder of DonorSearch, the leading provider of fundraising intelligence solutions in the nonprofit world. Raised in Pennsylvania, he studied Landscape Architecture and then earned a Master of Public Administration from Penn State before beginning his career in technology and then moving into a key development role at the Fund f…

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NYT: Prize Worthy and Cringe Worthy 37:33

3M ago37:33

37:33

This week's Five Stories highlights two New York Times pieces from Katherine Rosman that are Pulitzer worthy: The Billionaire, the Psychodelics and the Best-Selling Memoir 'I Have Cancer.' the TikTok Star Said. Then Came the Torrent of Hate Plus three less than praise worthy pieces: The Times discovers tariffs... ... and cancel culture.…

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Buying Spells on Etsy 27:22

3M ago27:22

27:22

Your five-ish stories of the week: Megyn Kelly, Jezebel, and buying spells on Etsy to curse Charlie Kirk Stop blaming the internet What's a successful life? "They're going to put me on the Tee Vee!" The UN Communications Network PlotBy Ricochet

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That Kid From Iowa: A Conversation with Brent Grinna 59:16

3M ago59:16

59:16

Brent Grinna is the founder and President of EverTrue, a platform reimagining how nonprofits connect with their supporters. Raised on a farm in Iowa, he went on to Brown University, where he captained the varsity football team and chaired the senior class gift campaign, before moving into the private equity and then earning his MBA at Harvard Busin…

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The Permanently Suspended Anthony Cumia 55:29

4M ago55:29

55:29

Recorded days after the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Ann sat down with Anthony Cumia of Compound Media (and WABC 77) where they talked about the shooting, transgenders, speaking on college campuses and carrying a concealed weapon. Book by Anthony: Permanently Suspended: The Rise and Fall... and Rise Again of Radio's Most Notorious Shock Jock…

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No Laughing Matter 24:13

4M ago24:13

24:13

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is still reverberating through the news and the culture: Disney suspends Jimmy Kimmel over a "joke."By Ricochet