CNN 5 Things 5 Good Things: How a Boat Full of Goats Saved an Island
Nov 8, 2025
Grassroots efforts are making a real difference as neighbors help feed those relying on SNAP benefits. New research highlights the cognitive benefits of daily walks, encouraging healthier habits. A former prisoner's life was transformed by a forbidden book, leading him to launch a project bringing libraries to prisons. In a creative initiative, goats are being utilized to clear invasive plants on a Tennessee island. Lastly, a stray dog named Sergeant Bo now stands proud as Nashville's first school therapy dog and the 2025 Hero Dog of the Year.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Steps Affect Alzheimer's Biology
- Walking 3,000–7,500 steps daily linked to delayed cognitive decline by 3–7 years in a Nature Medicine study.
- Physical activity correlated with reduced tau protein buildup, suggesting exercise affects Alzheimer's biology.
Book In Solitary Changed A Life
- Reginald Dwayne Betts described how a smuggled poetry book in solitary sparked his transformation into a poet and lawyer.
- He founded Freedom Reads and has opened over 500 libraries in prisons to expand access to literature.
Goats Restored A Tennessee Island
- Chattanooga Audubon used goats ferried by boat to McClellan Island to clear invasive plants and fertilize the land.
- Six goats cleared about five acres over months and may join a permanent forest management program.
