The food brands cutting artificial dyes, a new student loan scheme, and the “Love on the Spectrum” boot camp

Summary

Nice News Today – June 23, 2025

Hosted by Case Kenny

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Introduction

In the inaugural episode of Nice News Today, hosted by Case Kenny, listeners are treated to a diverse array of positive stories ranging from significant changes in the food industry to inspiring personal triumphs. This episode, released on June 23, 2025, delves into the efforts of major food brands eliminating artificial dyes, the innovative inspiration behind Netflix's hit show Love on the Spectrum, a groundbreaking student loan scheme, and heroic endeavors to aid animals affected by the war in Ukraine.

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1. Food Brands Cutting Artificial Dyes

One of the standout stories in this episode highlights the commendable steps taken by two major food corporations, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, to eliminate artificial food dyes from their products.

• Kraft Heinz Announcement:

  Last Tuesday, Kraft Heinz announced its commitment to remove artificial dyes from all its U.S. products by the end of 2027. This initiative encompasses beloved items such as Crystal Light, Kool Aid, Jello, and Jet Puffed marshmallows. Additionally, the company pledged not to launch any new products containing artificial dyes moving forward. Importantly, Kraft Heinz emphasized that the majority of their existing products already utilize natural colors or none at all. For instance, they had previously eliminated artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors from Kraft Mac and Cheese in 2016, and Heinz ketchup has never contained artificial dyes.

  Notable Quote:

  "Above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable and great tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don't take lightly."
  — Kraft Heinz's North America President [01:20]

• General Mills Follow-Up:

  Following Kraft Heinz's lead, General Mills announced on the same day its plans to remove a category of color additives from all cereals and K-12 school foods by the following summer. This move signifies a growing trend towards natural dyes and colorings within the mainstream food industry, catering to consumer demand for healthier and more natural ingredients.

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2. MI6 Appoints First Female Chief

In a historic move, MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency akin to the CIA, has appointed Blaze Metroelli as its first female chief in its 116-year history. Metroelli, who joined the service in 1999, expressed her pride and honor upon her appointment.

Notable Quote:

"I'm proud and honored to be named chief."
— Blaze Metroelli [02:30]

While the appointment may sound reminiscent of the glamorous world depicted in James Bond films, the BBC clarified in a recent report that MI6 agents, including those under Metroelli's leadership, do not possess a "license to kill," ensuring the agency's operations remain grounded in reality.

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3. Inspiration Behind Netflix's Love on the Spectrum

Love on the Spectrum, a beloved reality series on Netflix, finds part of its inspiration in the dedicated work of UCLA psychologist Elizabeth Logison. The show, which showcases adults on the autism spectrum seeking love, offers a heartwarming and drama-free alternative to traditional dating shows.

• Elizabeth Logison's Contribution:

  As detailed in a recent New York Times article, Logison dedicated years to researching romance among individuals with autism. In 2018, after securing necessary funding, she developed a specialized dating course for people on the spectrum. This initiative caught the attention of two filmmakers working on a new dating show concept. Recognizing Logison's expertise, the filmmakers collaborated with her to create a day-long boot camp, which ultimately influenced the Australian version of Love on the Spectrum. Logison also assisted in selecting potential cast members for the U.S. version, bridging the gap between academic research and mainstream media.

Recommendation:

Case Kenny highly recommends watching Love on the Spectrum to fully appreciate the positive and authentic portrayal of its participants.

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4. Innovative Student Loan Scheme: Hawaii Renewable Learning Fund

Addressing the daunting issue of student debt in America, where nearly 43 million individuals collectively owe $1.77 trillion, some colleges are pioneering creative solutions to alleviate financial burdens on students.

• Hawaii Renewable Learning Fund:

  The University of Hawaii's College of Engineering has introduced the Hawaii Renewable Learning Fund, a zero-interest loan program tailored for low-income students. Here's how the program operates:

  • Loan Structure: Eligible students receive loans to cover educational expenses not met by grants and scholarships.
  • Repayment Terms: Graduates earning over $50,000 annually repay only the principal amount through fixed monthly payments, with no interest accrued.
  • Deferment Option: If graduates do not meet the income threshold, they can apply for deferment, postponing repayments until their financial situation improves.
  • Sustainability: Monthly repayments are reinvested into the fund, ensuring that future students can benefit from the same support.

  This model not only reduces the immediate financial stress on students but also creates a sustainable funding source for ongoing educational assistance.

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5. Brady Cullen's Inspiring Baseball Triumph

A heartwarming story featured in this episode revolves around Brady Cullen, a 16-year-old from Massachusetts, whose resilience shone through his battle with a brain tumor.

• Brady's Journey:

  During his radiation treatment, Brady maintained an unwavering commitment to his education and baseball practice, rarely missing a day. His perseverance paid off when he was able to throw out the first pitch at his team's first playoff game following treatment. His presence and encouragement from the sidelines were pivotal in leading his team to secure their first state championship since 2012.

  Notable Quote:

  "It really was a special moment that I will remember forever. I looked out on the field and took it all in and said, you know what? We did it. This was the most insane moment of my life. I just think someone better write a movie on it. It's a tale for all of time."
  — Brady Cullen [06:45]

  Case Kenny echoes Brady's sentiment, expressing hope that his story will inspire filmmakers to bring such uplifting tales to a broader audience.

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6. Architectural Digest’s Top Countries for Design Lovers in 2025

For enthusiasts of design, Architectural Digest has released its coveted list of the best countries to live in for 2025, tailored specifically for design aficionados. While the list is unordered, the selected nations are celebrated for their unique contributions to architecture, interior design, and overall aesthetic appeal.

Top Countries:

• Switzerland
• Japan
• United States
• Sweden
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Denmark
• France
• Singapore
• Italy
• South Korea
• Finland
• Thailand
• Brazil
• Mexico

Case Kenny remarks on the expansive and diverse list, suggesting it might be time for listeners to update their travel bucket lists to experience these design-centric cultures firsthand.

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7. Spotlight: Colleen Lambo’s Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine

Concluding the episode is a spotlight on Colleen Lambo, a dedicated veterinary surgeon who has undertaken two missions to war-torn Ukraine to aid animals adversely affected by the ongoing conflict.

• Colleen's Mission:

  Organized by the charity Worldwide Vets, Colleen's efforts have been instrumental in addressing the surge of stray animals and the plight of pets left behind by displaced families. During her missions, she:

  • Spay/Neuter Operations: Successfully spayed and neutered over a thousand animals, mitigating the growing stray population.
  • Critical Care: Provided essential medical care to numerous animals in need, including tending to a stork with a broken wing.

  Notable Quote:

  "The most meaningful aspect of my work in Ukraine has been the gratitude I feel from the wider community. Everyone I've encountered has been kind and generous."
  — Colleen Lambo [08:15]

  Colleen's humanitarian work not only alleviates the suffering of countless animals but also fosters a sense of community and compassion amidst the chaos of conflict.

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Conclusion

Nice News Today wraps up its first episode by encouraging listeners to subscribe and share these uplifting stories. For those seeking daily doses of positivity, the podcast invites visits to nicenews.com to sign up for a free daily newsletter. Host Case Kenny leaves listeners with an inspiring reminder:

"Keep spreading your light. And remember, there's more than enough good out there to go around. Have a great day."

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Transcript

[Case Kenney]

Good morning. Welcome to the very first episode of Nice news today, your 10 minute roundup of the week's most positive News. It is June 23rd and today I'm diving into the news that two major food corporations are cutting artificial food dyes from their products, as well as the dating boot camp that partially inspired Netflix's hit show Love on the Spectrum, a loan scheme aimed at helping college students and the heroic saving animals affected by the war in Ukraine. I'm your host, Case Kenney. Let's uncover some good together.

[Co-host]

One of.

[Case Kenney]

The big stories on the positive news scene lately has been the announcements from both Kraft Heinz and General Mills that they're cutting certain food colorings from their products. Last Tuesday, Kraft Heinz said they're going to remove artificial dyes from their US products before the end of 2027, a move that includes popular grocery items Crystal Light, Kool Aid, Jello and Jet Puffed marshmallows. They also said they won't release any new products that contain artificial dyes starting now. The company assured customers that the grand majority of their products already use natural colors or none at all. For example, all artificial colors, preservatives and flavors were removed from the iconic Kraft Mac and Cheese boxes back in 2016, and Heinz ketchup has never been artificially dyed. Kraft Heinz's North America president said in a statement that quote, above all, we are focused on providing nutritious, affordable and great tasting food for Americans and this is a privilege we don't take lightly. End quote. Following suit, General Mills issued a similar announcement on the same day, sharing their plans to remove a class of color additives from all cereals and K through 12 school foods by next summer, this is great news. Seems like the movement toward natural dyes and colorings is gaining momentum in the mainstream. Fans of British spy movies or the TV show Killing Eve will get a kick out of this one. MI6, the British foreign intelligence agency comparable to the CIA, has appointed a woman to the helm for the first time in its 116 year history. Blaze Metroelli joined the service in 1999 and said she's proud and honored to be named chief, which is the only publicly named member of the secretive organization. And that certainly sounds very James Bond esque, but the BBC confirmed in a recent report that Metro Welly's agents do not in fact, have a license to kill.

[Co-host]

If you haven't yet watched Netflix's Love.

[Case Kenney]

On the Spectrum or at the very least seen its stars grace your social media feed, let me get you up to speed. Speed as the title might suggest the reality series follows a diverse group of adults on the autism spectrum who are all looking for love. So think the Bachelor, but with a bit less drama and a much more.

[Co-host]

Lovable cast of characters.

[Case Kenney]

But even if you do know the show, what you might not know is that it was partially inspired by the work of a UCLA researcher. As detailed in a recent New York Times article, psychologist Elizabeth Logison spent years trying to secure funding for a study on romance for individuals with autism, and in 2018 she finally got the money to design a course on dating for People on the Spectrum. Around the same time, she was approached by two filmmakers about a new dating show they were creating. Because her work was the only research they could find on the topic, Logison ran a day long boot camp for the show, which ended up being the Australian version of Love on the Spectrum, and then later helped the creators identify potential cast members for the US version. And the rest is reality TV history. And seriously, I'd recommend you give the show a watch if you haven't yet before we dive into more good news.

[Co-host]

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[Case Kenney]

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[Co-host]

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They'll send you premium handpicked pieces that you could try on from the comfort of your own home. You keep what you love, then send back the rest in the prepaid shipping bag. Not sure what you're looking for? You can browse Wantable's limited time themes to find something right for you, but if you do know exactly what's missing in your closet, grab their standard style, Active Sleep and Body or Men's Edit and let your stylist know exactly what you want to see. Get styled with Wantable today and Sorry to break form, but I'm starting this next story with a bit of bad news. The latest stats show that nearly 43 million Americans collectively owe a whopping $1.77 trillion in student loan debt. But now for the good news. Some colleges are finally doing something about the debt burden facing current students, coming up with creative new schemes that reduce financial stress while ensuring schools get paid. One such program is called the Hawaii Renewable Learning Fund, which offers zero interest loans to low income students enrolled at the University of Hawaii's College of Engineering, and here's how it works. Eligible students borrow what they need to cover the cost of school after grants and scholarships. If they make over $50,000 after graduating, they pay back only the loan, no interest, through fixed monthly payments. If they don't hit that income threshold just yet, they can simply apply for a deferment. The renewable part of the program refers to the fact that those monthly payments go directly back into the fund, helping future students access education Sounds like a win win to me. There are already a lot of great baseball movies out there. Field of Dreams, Money Sandlot. But I have a new storyline to pitch and it stars 16 year old Brady Cullen. The Massachusetts teen recently completed radiation treatment for a brain tumor, and during his treatment he never missed a day of school and rarely missed baseball practice. And the radiation was done in time for him to throw out the first pitch at his team's first playoff game. And perhaps powered by Brady's resilience and his cheering from the sidelines, the team went on to win its first state championship since 2012. Here's what he told CBS Boston of the victory Quote it really was a special moment that I will remember forever. I looked out on the field and took it all in and said, you know what? We did it. This was the most insane moment of my life. I just think someone better write a movie on it. It's a tale for all of time. End quote.

[Case Kenney]

I agree with Brady.

[Co-host]

Hopefully Steven Spielberg is listening.

[Case Kenney]

Architectural Digest is the go to place.

[Co-host]

For interior design, landscaping and celeb home tours. But the magazine sometimes treads into the travel world and last week the editors released a list of their top picks for the best countries to live in for 2025. Specifically for design lovers, the editors also specify that the list is in no particular order and here are the countries that made the cut Switzerland, Japan, the U.S. sweden, Germany, the UK, Denmark, France, Singapore, Italy, South Korea, Finland, Thailand, Brazil and Mexico. I don't know about you, but given that, I think it's time for me to update my travel bucket list. Each episode of Nice News Today will close out with the story of an inspiring human making the world a better place. Today I'm spotlighting Colleen Lambo, a veterinary surgeon who has made two trips to war torn Ukraine in order to help the countless pets and stray animals affected by the ongoing ongoing conflict. Nice News interviewed Lambo and she explained that many people have had to leave behind their pets when fleeing Ukraine, which only adds to an already problematic stray population within the first year of war, the number of animals in local shelters rose by 60%. During her two missions to the country, organized by the charity Worldwide Vets, she helped spay and neuter over a thousand animals and provided critical care to many more. She even tended to a stork with a broken wing. Lambeau told Nice News that the most meaningful aspect of her work in Ukraine has been the gratitude she feels from the wider community, sharing that everyone she's encountered has been kind and generous. And that's it for today's episode. If you loved these stories, please consider subscribing wherever you get your podcast and sharing this episode with a friend. If you want more good news, visit nicenews.com to sign up for our free daily newsletter. But until next time, keep spreading your light. And remember, there's more than enough good out there to go around. Have a great day.