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

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 daily, Hillary and her co-founder, Sam Luu, set out to challenge the status quo and prove that feeding people shouldn’t be “too complicated.” What began during the pandemic has grown into a movement that partners with studios and fills plates instead of dumpsters. In this episode, Hillary shares how small shifts behind the scenes can lead to big change on the streets.