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Kermit the Frog's Advice to 2025 Grads - CNN 5 Good Things - Podcast on CNN Audio

Krista Bo 00:00:00 Hey there, if you're new here, welcome, happy to have you. And to our day ones, you know the drill. Five reasons to smile coming right up. Doug Ruch 00:00:09 Here's what I've learned on this mission: now I judge people by their heart. Krista Bo 00:00:13 'We'll meet the man on a cross-country kindness tour, using the time he has left for good. Plus, the Golden Girls reboot you probably weren't expecting, but it's one conservationists are cheering for. From CNN, I'm Krista Bo, and this is Five Good Things. Krista Bo 00:00:32 So back in March, the senior class at Marshall Fundamental High School in the Altadena, California area was called into the auditorium unexpectedly by their teachers. Tova Rosenbaum 00:00:41 They said there was a surprise and none of us knew anything about it. The teachers knew and they were like, it's going to be exciting. You're going to like it. And everyone's like, okay. So everyone went into it knowing there was something fun, but no one knew what it was. Steve Carrell Announcement 00:00:53 Attention all seniors! This is Steve Carrell with a very special announcement. I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice's Kids. And Alice's kids wanted me to let you know that they would be paying for all of your prom tickets. Krista Bo 00:01:16 'Seventeen-year-old Tova Rosenbaum said that was one of the first times since the LA wildfires that she saw her class light up with excitement. And she was stoked to see who delivered the message. Tova Rosenbaum 00:01:27 My senior quote actually was a Michael Scott quote. It was, "the only time I set the bar lowest for limbo." Like I love "The Office." And so especially with that in mind, seeing Steve Carell, it was amazing. Krista Bo 00:01:41 The nonprofit's offer stands for about 800 seniors across six high schools in the Altadena area, all of them impacted by the devastating Eaton wildfire in January. The group helps students in need across the country, paying for things like prom tickets, field trips, summer camps, and school supplies when money's tight. Ron Fitsimmons 00:02:00 And so now all those kids this weekend will be attending their prom for free. The whole thing will be in that neighborhood of about $175,000 and it's worth every dime. Krista Bo 00:02:12 That's Alice's Kids founder and executive director, Ron Fitsimmons. Ron Fitsimmons 00:02:16 We started getting offers of assistance from nail salons, limo services, a company in New Jersey that sent 200 new prom dresses to one of the high schools, so it just snowballed. Krista Bo 00:02:32 And for this group of seniors, those gestures couldn't have come at a better time. Alessandro Diclaudio 00:02:36 So we were, obviously we were displaced and we're living in an apartment now, but we really just have sought as a way to start anew. Krista Bo 00:02:45 '18-Year-old Alessandro Diclaudio says he's rocking a maroon velvet jacket and taking his girlfriend to the prom. Alessandro Diclaudio 00:02:52 I think they gave us a kind of sense of normality in all the chaos. We get to go to prom as normal teenagers and go and celebrate the end of our high school careers. Krista Bo 00:03:04 He's most excited for the mosh pits. And he'll see his classmate Tova tearing it up on the dance floor tonight too. She says this prom feels like a full circle moment, a joyful way to close a tough chapter. Tova Rosenbaum 00:03:15 It shows that no matter what happens, everyone can still come together and celebrate. It shows the true definition of resilience. And that's really, I think, the way that people heal, when they can celebrate through the hard times and spend time with people they love. Krista Bo 00:03:30 So not only is it prom season, it's that time of year for commencements, where words of wisdom get bestowed on the next generation at college campuses all across the country. And this year's speaker at the University of Maryland in College Park was a Muppet. Kermit the Frog 00:03:44 You're all here to listen to a frog in a very tiny cap and gown give a commencement speech on what's actually turned out to be a pretty beautiful evening. Krista Bo 00:03:57 'Quite possibly the most famous amphibian of all time, Kermit the Frog, got to address the class of 2025. And the Kermencement was all live-streamed by the university. Kermit the Frog 00:04:07 I am honored to share some words of wisdom about three things that are close to my heart. Finding your people, taking the leap, and making connections. Krista Bo 00:04:20 This was Kermit's first commencement speech in nearly 30 years. And how fitting that it took place at the school where the late Muppets creator Jim Henson got his degree. Kermit the Frog 00:04:29 'But it was Jim who taught me about finding your people. And if you're with your people, then you won't have to do it alone. Because life is not a solo act. So as you prepare to take this big leap into real life, rather than jumping over someone to get what you want, consider reaching out your hand and taking the leap side-by-side because life is better when we leap together. Krista Bo 00:05:00 He also encouraged students to stay connected, be kind, and keep in touch with your inner child. Kermit the Frog 00:05:05 Life's like a movie. Write your own ending. Keep believing. Keep pretending. You've all done just what you set out to do. And you're just getting started! Krista Bo 00:05:20 He told CNN's Sara Sidner earlier this week, those are the lyrics from a song in the Muppet Movie. Kermit the Frog 00:05:25 It's a reminder that that your life is in your hands and nobody can make you a success except you. Believing in others is easy, but it's believing in yourself and your dreams at that that's the real trick Doug Ruch 00:05:40 I'll go skydiving, I'll go Rocky Mountain climbing, 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu. So that's, that's kind of what I decided I was going to do. And I haven't regretted it, you know. Krista Bo 00:05:54 'That's Doug Ruch. He's from San Antonio, Texas, and those lyrics from Tim McGraw's country hit, "Live Like You Were Dying," really resonate with him. The song is about choosing to make the most of life, even in the face of death, and that's exactly what Doug's been trying to do. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2021. Then earlier this year, the 55-year-old said the cancer spread, advanced to stage four, and he was given about 12 to 18 months to live. Doug Ruch 00:06:21 I was shocked, I was sad for a minute, and I went home, I reflected for a few days, and I really thought about what I've done, what I could have done better. Krista Bo 00:06:34 The news was obviously devastating, but Doug says it didn't take him long to decide to use his last months to give back. Doug Ruch 00:06:43 First, it was just gonna be, let's go help the hurricane victims in North Carolina, help them rebuild. And then I got to thinking, I'm like, well, if I'm gonna help them, why don't I go to California and help the fire victims? And then the more I thought about it, I was like, well, If I'm going to do those two states and they're across the country from each other, why not try and do everything in between and make it an epic road trip and see states that I haven't seen. Krista Bo 00:07:06 'That idea turned into what he's calling the Dying to Serve Tour, where he aims to spend a few days in all 50 states and volunteer - at food pantries, senior centers, wherever he can. Doug Ruch 00:07:16 I'm not picky when I go to these organizations. I'm there to work. You know, the last one in Rapid City, South Dakota, I spent a couple hours making chicken wraps for a special fundraising event they were doing, and pasta salad and things like that. So, you know, when I get there, I'm just like, hey, where do you need me? Krista Bo 00:07:35 So far Doug has driven to 22 states, and he's doing it all by himself. Doug Ruch 00:07:39 I started in Dallas and then I went to Oklahoma, Wichita, Kansas, Pueblo, Colorado, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Krista Bo 00:07:47 And it's been funded almost entirely by donations collected through a GoFundMe campaign, where he's raised over $95,000 so far. And is hoping to raise more to cover lodging, travel, and food expenses. The link is in our show notes if you want to donate. He decided not to undergo any cancer treatment on the tour and says his energy goes up and down. Doug Ruch 00:08:07 I still feel cautiously optimistic that I can complete the other states. I mean, I truly believe that I will be here longer because of my mission. And I think these happy hormones that I'm feeling will hopefully keep me around longer and keep the cancer at bay. Maybe that's just me being optimistic, but you know, I'm six weeks in and I still pretty decent. Krista Bo 00:08:29 Next week, he plans to hit Grand Rapids, Michigan, and then Indianapolis. He hopes he can inspire the people he meets to live well for as long as they can. Doug Ruch 00:08:38 We all have different political beliefs. We have different religions. And at the end of the day, we're all just trying to live our lives. And I've met some people with fantastic hearts that I don't necessarily agree with, but I can agree to disagree. Now I judge people by their heart. Krista Bo 00:08:57 A mini pony escaped from a rescue farm in Pennsylvania, but where she ended up surprised everybody. On April Fool's Day of all days, Penny Parker from Horse Angels Rescue said a mini pony named April made a run for it. Penny Parker 00:09:12 She took off through the woods, over the river through the woods kind of thing, and she was gone. Krista Bo 00:09:17 'She galloped across Chester County, Pennsylvania, crossing roads and intersections like the mini-mayor had the right of way or something. Sergeant Ted Lewis from the Westtown East Goshen Police Department was on patrol at the time, and he said calls were flooding in about a horse on the loose. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:09:33 Since we were kids, we were always told that if you're lost, go find a police officer. And it seems like that's exactly what she did. Krista Bo 00:09:41 Body cam footage shows April trotted right up the police station's driveway. And Sergeant Lewis said he was able to easily clip on a lead, which is like a leash for a horse. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:09:50 Oh she was just a sweetheart. She was calm, friendly, was just leaning up against me and it was like we had been best friends for years. Krista Bo 00:10:00 Penny said the day before she ran away, the horse had just been brought into the rescue by her previous owners. Penny Parker 00:10:06 They were looking to rehome her because she had a growth on her face that was severely infected. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:12 There was a concern that it may have been cancerous. Krista Bo 00:10:15 Sergeant Lewis went from not being much of a horse guy at all, to deciding to adopt her and pay for her surgery. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:21 We know that the rescue needs every dime that they have available because they have a lot of horses with a lot of needs, so we wanted to kind of relieve that burden from the rescue. Penny Parker 00:10:34 To meet someone who saved this horse, found her, and then adopted her. It means the ultimate dream for any rescue. Krista Bo 00:10:43 Now she lives on the Lewis's Mini Farm with a new name, Miss Fanny, a new best friend, Oliver the alpaca, and a clean bill of health. Sgt. Ted Lewis 00:10:51 Something seems to have brought us together and just trotted right into my life. I'm not quite sure what the reason is, but she certainly made our lives better and we're just happier for it. Krista Bo 00:11:04 Up next, the Golden Girls are back with almost as much sass, but this time they come with shells and siblings. Krista Bo 00:11:11 'So a few weeks ago, we told you about Mommy and Abrazo, two nearly 100-year-old Galapagos tortoises who became first-time parents to four female hatchlings at the Philadelphia Zoo. So I'm here to report two adorable updates. Number one, the zoo's director of herpetology, Lauren Augustine, says the public has spoken and the baby girl tortoises have names. Lauren Augustine 00:11:33 And so we gave a couple categories of names, one of which was the Golden Girls, which was a fan favorite. And so our female tortoises are now named Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose. Krista Bo 00:11:45 Number two, these golden girls with shells now have brothers. Lauren Augustine 00:11:48 We now have three male hatchlings that we are monitoring daily and that are doing wonderful. Krista Bo 00:11:55 These new hatchlings are the final eggs from mommy's first clutch, which were incubated at cooler temperatures to produce males. The girls are already on exhibit, and Lauren says they're surprisingly social. Lauren Augustine 00:12:06 They're like the size of your hand. They're very small and adorable, especially if you wanna see them right next to their parents who are 300 to 400 pounds. I would have guessed they would have been a lot more reclusive hiding under the cork bark that we provide them, but actually they're out, they're roaming around, they're basking, they're eating a lot. So they're very gregarious and very active in their habitat. Krista Bo 00:12:29 'And Mommy's living up to her name. Lauren said it's extremely rare for a tortoise to become a first time mom at 97-years-old. But what makes this even more remarkable is what it means for the critically endangered species. Lauren Augustine 00:12:41 And so Mommy being unrepresented and a wild hatched individual, she's considered a founder animal. So her genetics are extremely valuable. And so we're just so thrilled to be able to pass on Mommy's genetics as well as her story for her species. Krista Bo 00:12:58 All right, that's all for now. Join us tomorrow for the next edition of One Thing. Host David Rind speaks to a Medicaid recipient about what Trump's "big, beautiful bill" means for them. Krista Bo 00:13:09 Five Good Things is a production of CNN Audio. This episode was produced by Eryn Mathewson and me, Krista Bo. Our senior producers are Felicia Patinkin, Faiz Jamil, and Dan Bloom. Matt Dempsey is our production manager. Dan Dzula is our technical director, and Steve Lichteig is the executive producer of CNN Audio. We get support from Joey Salvia, Haley Thomas, Alex Manasseri, Robert Mathers, Jon Dianora, Leni Steinhardt, Jamus Andrest, Nichole Pesaru, and Lisa Namarow. And special thanks to Wendy Brundige. And thank you, especially, for listening. Take care. Till next time.