A podcast for People Who Want to See the Good in the World.
Please Follow or Subscribe
Apple Podcasts
SpotifyWe believe that by sharing good news, we can make a real difference in the world. When we focus on the positive, we are more likely to feel hopeful and optimistic about the future. We are also more likely to take action to create positive change in our own lives and in the world around us.
Also available here:
Most recent episode:
The Great News Podcast is your source for positive news, inspiring stories, and good news from around the world. We skip the doom and gloom of mainstream media to focus on scientific breakthroughs, environmental wins, and the inspiring news that proves the world is getting better. Join Andrew McGivern for a dose of optimism and uplifting stories that will change your perspective on human progress.
It is easy to find the
Keep looking for the good in the world, because it is not only there – its everywhere.
The Great News Podcast is brought to you by the Daily Quote, the podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way.
Today, we’re looking at how the empty space in our cities is being turned into a powerhouse of clean energy.
Plus, we’ll explore breakthroughs in repairing the brain, a $20 medical device set to disrupt an entire industry, and why your kitchen pantry might hold the secret to stopping dangerous mosquitoes.
Our lead story today focuses on a global shift to turn ”stranded assets”, specifically, the massive amounts of asphalt used for parking lots, into solar farms.
In a bold legislative move, South Korea has passed a national law requiring all parking lots with more than 80 spaces to install solar canopies and carports. This applies to both new and existing lots, aiming to stabilize the local grid while protecting cars from rain and sun.
Meanwhile, in France, the Senate passed a policy requiring similar canopies for large lots, which could generate energy equivalent to 10 nuclear reactors. In the U.S., California’s Senate Bill 49 is looking to provide tax incentives for these ”miniature power plants,” with estimates suggesting that covering just 400 square miles of parking lots could power 6.5 million homes.
If you like the Great News Podcast, you’ll love the Great News Letter, because the Great News Podcast is great, but the Great News Letter is greater. Link is in the show notes.
Next, we have a double-header of breakthroughs in neurological repair.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified two drug molecules that can restart the brain's natural repair process in Multiple Sclerosis by promoting the regrowth of myelin, the protective nerve coating the disease destroys.
Simultaneously, a study from the University of Zurich and USC found that stem cell-derived brain cells transplanted after a stroke can actually rebuild damaged connections and restore coordination. These cells didn't just survive; they matured into functioning neurons and triggered a broader healing response across the injured brain.
In the world of affordable healthcare, a group called Founders Inc. has reinvented the hearing aid by studying the mechanics of the human ear. While a standard hearing aid can cost an astronomical $4,700,this new version is being brought to market for just $20, potentially making life-changing technology accessible to millions for the first time.
Finally, scientists at Yale have discovered that garlic acts as a powerful birth control for mosquitoes. A natural compound called diallyl disulfide blocks the mating and egg-laying process in species that spread diseases like Zika and yellow fever. Interestingly, it's not the smell that deters them, but a specific taste receptor in their tiny organs that triggers an avoidance behavior.
It's time for the speed round, where we squeeze in even more positivity:
- The Health Power of Humming
- Bottling the Sun
- Lifestyle choices beat genetics
- Microbiome Brain Boost
- Cleaner Air = Better Surgery Outcomes
- Broccoli vs. Cancer
And my favorite quote of the day from the Daily Quote podcast this week is from Walt Whitman, who once said,
”Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant”
Listen to an inspiring quote every single day by following the Daily Quote in your podcast app.
I'm Andrew McGivern, and until next time, keep looking for the good in the world, because it’s not only there, it’s everywhere.
Bad things are happening around the world. Tune into mainstream media to hear all about it.
But there are GREAT things happening too. And that is all you’ll hear on the GEAT NEWS Podcast.
More Great Episodes
The Great News Podcast is your source for positive news, inspiring stories, and good news from around the world. We skip the doom and gloom of mainstream media to focus on scientific breakthroughs, environmental wins, and the inspiring news that proves the world is getting better. Join Andrew McGivern for a dose of optimism and uplifting stories that will change your perspective on human progress.
It is easy to find the
Keep looking for the good in the world, because it is not only there – its everywhere.
Here are the latest great news stories from greatnewspodcast.com, brought to you by the Daily Quote, a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way.
I'm Andrew McGivern, and this is the Great News Podcast.
First up, our lead story:
A new weapon in the fight against superbugs.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a ”smart living drug” that can hunt down and destroy deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in a single day. Instead of traditional antibiotics, which are becoming less effective, they used ”SimCells” (short for simple cells).
Moving on to a major development in brain health: common vaccines might be doing more than just preventing infections.
A large-scale meta-analysis of 45 studies suggests that shingles vaccines and antiviral drugs are associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia.
Next, let's look at a breakthrough for the planet.
Researchers at UNSW have redesigned hydrogen fuel cells to solve a critical flaw that has long blocked their commercial use.
Finally, a team of medical biologists in the Czech Republic is testing a revolutionary ”personalized” cancer therapy that turns a patient's own tumor into a vaccine.
Speed Round:
- AI Power Boost: Engineers at UC San Diego developed a new hybrid piezoelectric chipfor AI data centers that is 96.2% efficient and delivers four times more current, potentially slashing energy losses in the age of AI.
- Italian firms are deploying humanoid robot welders to shipyards. Equipped with ”Physical AI,” these robots will work alongside humans to handle repetitive, dangerous tasks, improving safety and production quality.
- Scientists at Harvard’s Wyss Institute have created ”Neurobots”—tiny living robots made from frog cells that have their own integrated nervous systems.
- An online supermarket in Belgium is testing the Clevon 1, a fully driverless delivery robot. It navigates narrow city streets to bring groceries directly to customers' doors via a 5G connection.
- A new study suggests that microplastics in the environment may be overestimated because standard lab gloves (nitrile and latex) can shed particles that look identical to plastic under a microscope.
- Scientists discovered that depleting the gut microbiome in aged mice actually reversed aspects of brain aging, improving memory and vascular density, suggesting that targeting ”microbial inflammation” could be a non-invasive way to promote cognitive resilience.
That’s it for today’s episode of Great News. Until next time, I'm Andrew McGivern. Keep looking for the good in the world, because it's not only there, it’s everywhere.
