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YouTubers Teach People How To Eat On $1 A Day; Quilen Blackwell Named 2025 CNN Hero Of The Year; How To Survive Holiday Gatherings. Aired 8:30-9a ET
Aired December 24, 2025 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:33:55]
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Issues surrounding affordability hitting so many Americans. Now some YouTubers are gaining popularity online for teaching people how to be frugal by eating on $1 a day.
CNN's Elle Reeve reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BROOKE SOUTHERLAND, YOUTUBER: Today's video is more broke meals, meals to make when you're broke.
ELLE REEVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These YouTuber sisters are a different kind of momfluencer.
EMILY ANDERSON, YOUTUBER: We're going into the Dollar General market first.
REEVE (voice-over): Making super low budget food videos for people who are broke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They have a clearance event? What?
REEVE (voice-over): How to eat on a dollar a day, a week of meals for $10.
These videos are in demand as a growing number of people are struggling to afford rising food, power, and rent bills.
SOUTHERLAND: It doesn't look like inflation's going anywhere, except up.
REEVE (voice-over): Since last year, eggs are up more than 16 percent, coffee 14 percent and beef 11 percent.
SOUTHERLAND: Oh, my gosh, that is $43.
REEVE (voice-over): There are fears tariffs could raise food prices more in the future. Electricity prices have grown more than twice as fast as the cost of living. And Central Services, a food bank here in Morristown, Tennessee, says it's seen 22 percent more new families this year than last.
[08:35:07]
Brooke Southerland and Emily Anderson have expertise in how to make something from nothing because they did it as kids.
ANDERSON: Most of the time growing up, it felt like it was me and Brooke against the world. I'm going to try not to cry.
REEVE (voice-over): Southerland says she wanted to start making these videos after their older sister died.
SOUTHERLAND: When my sister passed away, me and my mother were going through her purse, and I got this little card out and it was from the food bank, and it said her next available date to pick up a box of food.
She had never told anybody that she was struggling like that. And that just made me sad that she thought she couldn't talk to family about her food insecurity.
REEVE (voice-over): The sisters say they want viewers to feel less shame about having to make tough choices.
ANDERSON: You all taking one, take away the extra pack of franks, hot dogs.
SOUTHERLAND: And get a bit.
There are some viewers that think that vegetables are the most important choice. And, to me, that just shows that they have never had to really struggle. Fresh vegetables are really a luxury in some instances, and that -- it shouldn't be that way at all.
REEVE: Sometimes, you have to go to a whole bunch of Dollar Generals?
SOUTHERLAND: Yes, everybody in our area wants to save money, and they take everything off the shelves before we can get to it.
No.
REEVE: How many hours a week do you think you put into this?
SOUTHERLAND: Eight, 10 hours.
REEVE (voice-over): We talked to more than a dozen people in downtown Morristown. Everyone was mad about prices.
LINDA BRADLEY, TENNESSEE RESIDENT: Sometimes, things is four times what they was a year ago. A roast I used to get for $12, $15 is $35. It's awful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everything just keeps going up.
TONY MAYES, TENNESSEE RESIDENT: I used to spend $40 a week now. Now it's $140 or something like that. I just don't think it's going to go down for a long time. They're not concerned with people like us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They said these tariffs that they have got on, it's going to bring prices down. They're not, because it's going to have to charge more to make up for them having to pay to bring it in. I just see everything's going downhill.
REEVE (on camera): Did you vote for Trump this last time?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I didn't. I didn't see no choice of a good president. No choice, I'm not choosing. Maybe we will get somebody good in the office and it'll change, not before I'm gone, though.
(LAUGHTER)
REEVE (voice-over): For Southerland, she says she wants to keep the conversation positive. And to do that, she bans certain words from her Facebook page.
SOUTHERLAND: The banned words I can give you a list as long as my leg, Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative, tariffs, Trump, Biden.
REEVE: So I was looking for videos kind of like yours on TikTok, and the nasty comment I saw the most -- and maybe that's just my algorithm -- was: "Well, this is what you voted for. That's what you get."
Did you get -- do you see stuff like that?
SOUTHERLAND: Yes, the politicians are politicians, and they're doing a job. They're making money.
But we are here together. We are real people. And we need to help each other get through this, get through these hard times, because they're not seeing us on a personal level. But we can see each other on a personal level.
REEVE (voice-over): Elle Reeve, CNN, Morristown, Tennesee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: All right. We now have our 2025 CNN hero of the year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER AND LAURA COATES, HOSTS: The 2025 CNN Hero of the Year is --.
COATES : Quilen Blackwell.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Nice smile. Quilen Blackwell, bringing new life to empty lots on Chicago's South Side. His nonprofit, Southside Blooms, turns vacant lots into eco friendly flower farms, employing 25 local young people to grow, harvest, arrange and sell flowers at the groups nonprofit flower shop. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUILEN BLACKWELL, 2025 CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: And this is like a big win for the hood. You know I love the hood. I love it so much. You know, we get a bad rap, but you know, we're going to -- we're going to shine. Shine the path. There's a lot of amazing things going on in the inner cities that is going to surprise a lot of people. And I'm really thankful for all the young men and women who've been a part of our work, because they're the stars. I don't -- truth be told, I don't know how to make a centerpiece. I don't know how to make a bouquet.
COOPER: I don't know either.
(LAUGHTER)
BERMAN: Here with us now, Quilen Blackwell.
You know what makes a good centerpiece?
This --
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Exactly.
SARA SIDNER, CNN ANCHOR: Don't need no flowers. You can just use the award.
BERMAN: Congratulations. How's it feel?
[08:40:00]
BLACKWELL: It feels great. You know, like this really isn't about me. It's about, you know, our team, our communities. But, yeah, we're very humbled and honored to, you know, be -- get this type of recognition.
SIDNER: I do want to ask you about this because there are you talked about being the hood. You talked about sort of these blighted areas that you've these dark stereotypes, these, these negative stereotypes about people who live in those areas. And this gives such a different perspective as to what people are capable of. I mean, it's quite beautiful. What was your relationship with the guys, the kids that you're -- you're sort of getting into being both gardeners and florists.
BLACKWELL: Yah. So I'm not originally from Chicago. I'm originally from Madison, Wisconsin, and I was really like, you know, compelled, you know, through my faith and, you know, my love for the people to, you know, put myself in an environment that, you know, wasn't native to how I grew up. So, I really had to, you know, forge those relationships with our young people. And you know, a lot of it was just trying to help them to, you know, meet their needs and help them to you know, affirm their dignity so that they can have the freedom to live their lives how they see fit.
BOLDUAN: Quilen, talk about the flowers. I -- we all, everyone, everyone loves flowers. But it might not be the first thing people think of to like. I see, I see blight, I see a vacant lot. Let's fill it with flowers.
What was it about it? Why choose flowers instead of, I don't know, something else? You could grow some other installation. You could put in a vacant lot.
BLACKWELL: Well, we actually did try a lot of different things. We landed on flowers because, you know, when you look at the floral industry, it's about $35 billion a year industry. But 80 percent of the flowers that you see in the United States actually come from overseas. So, for us this is really about trying to establish a new anchor industry in the inner city.
BOLDUAN: This is so cool. The way you -- the work you put into even the thought process behind it. Keep going. I'm so sorry.
BLACKWELL: Yeah. So, you know, like for us, this is bigger than just trying to create a youth program or even a successful business. Like we really do want to reestablish industry, not just in Chicago, but across inner cities, across America. And, you know, we just kind of figured, like, hey, all that wealth that's currently being exported overseas, why not have that reside right here in our inner cities? Like, what could that do for our community. So --
BERMAN: So just talk to us about some of the young people you're working with. What are they like? What are they into? What do they think of flowers?
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: It depends which one you ask. But many of them didn't expect it. Like, you know, obviously, you know, floristry isn't really a thing, you know, for like a lot of our youth, so, you know, we've got a wide range of reactions, you know, some, some of our kids like Deontay, for example, you know, you know, he kind of throws girly and feminine, you know, but you know, he really needed the money. So he's willing to try it. And you know, he's flourishing. Very, very practical guy.
You know, and then we have, like, you know, other youth who you know, see it as a way to advance some of their own dreams. So, we've had kids come who are like first generation college students. And this was like more of a means to an end.
We had kids who just needed a way to be able to take care of their families, help provide incomes for their household. So, yeah, there's a litany of responses that, you know, we've had from our youth.
SIDNER: This is the whole teaching a man to fish. Exactly. You know, thought process. And that's exactly what you're doing. You talked about potentially expanding this to other cities. What's the plan?
BLACKWELL: Yeah. So, you know, our goal, especially going into 2026, is to really lay the foundation to expand nationwide. You know, the plan is to start recruiting other groups across the country, that, you know, are interested in having a Southside Blooms. Obviously, Chicago is not the only city that faces the same issues that we face. So, you know, you go to our website, SouthsideBlooms.com and, you know, we actually have a landing page set up, you know, for people who are interested in having a Southside Blooms in their city.
BOLDUAN: I love it. And with CNN Heroes, you get a big boost in heading that direction. I mean, congratulations.
BLACKWELL: Thank you. Appreciate it.
BOLDUAN: It's so great to celebrate something so good.
SIDNER: I love it so much.
BLACKWELL: Awesome.
BOLDUAN: Quilen Blackwell, CNN's Hero of the Year, thank you so much.
BLACKWELL: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: Ahead, your how-to guide to handle holiday etiquette this year.
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[08:48:23]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: We are at the Food Network test kitchen for the CNN original series --
BOLDUAN: "TONY SHALHOUB: BREAKING BREAD."
BERMAN: And we are making plantain coffee cake with Chef Camari Mick.
CAMARI MICK, CHEF: So, we're going to make our coffee cake with a creaming method. That means we're going to take our butter and our sugar, and we're going to paddle that together. A little vanilla extract to help round out the flavor.
TONY SHALHOUB, HOST, "BREAKING BREAD": Nice.
MICK: And we're going to kick it up a notch. One by one, Tony --
SIDNER: Yes, one by one.
MICK: -- can we add our eggs?
BOLDUAN: One by one.
MICK: One by one.
SHALHOUB: OK. One by one.
MICK: We're going to mix our dries together. So, our flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
BOLDUAN: This is a whisk.
BERMAN: OK.
BOLDUAN: And this is whisking.
SHALHOUB: And next we're going to have some whiskey.
BOLDUAN: Thank you. Finally, Tony, finally. Tony, according to our sources, you are one of 10 children.
SHALHOUB: I am on the second youngest of 10.
BOLDUAN: How much bread was consumed in that household?
SHALHOUB: You know, it's -- a lot. We had -- you know, our kitchen, we had kind of a banquette where we all sat around, and my mother would shoot them across the table like this. It was -- yes.
BOLDUAN: Was that where you get your flowering techniques?
SHALHOUB: That's right, yes.
MICK: This is yogurt. This is going to add a little bit of acid to it, and you're going to have a really lovely proof and a very spongy cake. So, our secret ingredient, our plantain.
BOLDUAN: I have been saying it wrong.
MICK: Yes.
BOLDUAN: All along.
SHALHOUB: Me too.
MICK: It's OK.
BOLDUAN: It's not plantain.
MICK: No, no, no, no. It's not mountain. It's plantain.
BERMAN: Why plantains?
MICK: So, this is very popular throughout the whole Caribbean diaspora.
[08:50:00]
Honestly, the African diaspora. It's the nostalgia of it all that comes in play for me.
Let's grab that pan, and we can set our cake.
BERMAN: What is this here? This is --
MICK: So, we have a little bit of sourdough streusel. Since we are talking bread, I wanted to incorporate sourdough into the streusel itself. So, we have a little bit of sourdough discard and sourdough breadcrumbs to give it a little bit more texture. And then, we can generously top that streusel on.
BOLDUAN: I'm going to do it.
SHALHOUB: Lovely.
BERMAN: Oh, wow.
MICK: Yes. Beautiful. So, we're going to bake this at 350 for 35 minutes until it's nice and golden brown on the top. And after 35 minutes.
SHALHOUB: Oh, my.
MICK: Nice and healthy, golden brown.
BERMAN: So, this is a breakfast bread, we would say.
MICK: You can have pastries at any time of the day.
BOLDUAN: Wait, this is a perfect opportunity to talk about how prominently your mustache plays in this series.
SHALHOUB: I'm constantly wiping food off.
BERMAN: It's really good, by the way.
BOLDUAN: Cheers.
SHALHOUB: You don't even have to eat this, you can just smelling it --
BERMAN: It smells so good.
SHALHOUB: Oh, my God.
BERMAN: Hey, Tony, I have to say, you're the lucky one because three hours from now, you can have it again right from the mustache.
SHALHOUB: That's right.
BOLDUAN: Cheers. To you, chef, and cheers to your new original series.
SHALHOUB: Oh, thank you so much. I really appreciate that.
BOLDUAN: For real, this is so good, chef.
MICK: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIDNER: The holidays bring families together in the most beautiful of ways, don't they, John? But family gatherings can also bring a little stress. A little -- a little conflict. Case in point, the American psychological association did a survey in
2023 which found 89 percent of U.S. adults feel stressed during the holiday season and 41 percent reported being more stressed out than other times of year. Since we are living in a very politically divided world, it's worth taking a moment to discuss how we might survive the holidays.
He's smiling because he's part of the problem.
Let us ask lifestyle and etiquette expert Elaine Swann. She is the founder of the Swann School of Protocol and author of "Elaine Swann's Book of Modern Etiquette".
Okay, so let's just start here. I just insulted John, which was completely unacceptable.
BERMAN: So, what's the right way for me to respond forcefully.
SIDNER: When somebody is rude?
ELAINE SWANN, ETIQUETTE EXPERT: When someone is rude. Yeah, I say call them out. Don't let people get away with it. Polite does not equal pushover.
So, when someone is rude, say to them, you know what? That wasn't nice. That was really hurtful. And I tell you, that will be the one thing that will just pull them all the way together and let them know that what they said hurt you. I think this is the thing that we have to do is call people out instead of being bulldozed over during the holiday season.
BERMAN: I like you.
SWANN: Yes.
SIDNER: Okay, so do it what? What do you do with. Sometimes you're at a gathering and you have an uncle and aunt not naming any names here. Who says something to you like. Oh, I see you gained a little weight.
SWANN: Yes.
SIDNER: Or, I don't know. Youve never done that. I know you're not that crazy. Or they say something like, I can't believe you voted for that fool. And they start something and they start.
What do you do?
SWANN: Yeah. So, this is where I think it's really important. Especially this with the climate that we're having right now, it is important people think don't talk politics. But I believe it's absolutely acceptable to talk about your beliefs, to help people, to understand why what's important to you. But we cannot punch down at people. That's the thing that we don't want to do.
So, when the person says, "I can't believe you voted for that person," you can say, well, tell me, why did you vote? What was important to you? Put them on the spot and help them explain what it is. And if it's a bunch of nonsense, do that, smile -- just smile and nod and say thank you for sharing, and that's it.
BERMAN: So, every once in a while, I get invited places. It happens. It happens like it's a rare thing, but you get invited to a dinner, you get invited to a Thanksgiving. The host will say, don't bring anything. Just bring yourself. You seem skeptical, I can tell.
SWANN: Well, here's the thing. The host does not want you to infringe on their meal, so do not bring anything meal related. Aha! But what you do is you bring something host related, you know, of course you know, you have the bottle of wine or what-have-you.
But there are so many wonderful things that you can get for host. Everything from really cute kitchen towels to some sort of fun gadget to a wine opener or a set of wine glasses, things like that. But when they say don't bring anything, they really mean, I've got the meal plan. Stay in your lane.
SIDNER: What about when the dinner or lunch or whatever you're eating? Brunch is over and they're like, don't worry about this. Go, go, go, go. Enjoy the football game. Enjoy this. Don't worry about the cleanup. Yes, but there are dishes piled.
SWANN: Their dishes piled. That means the host has staked their territory and they do not want you there.
SIDNER: Really?
SWANN: Yes, absolutely. Yes, absolutely. And this is the thing we eat, and we feel like we have to give something back. But you have to keep in mind that a host, this is what they do, this is what they love. And to them, to see their guest being comfortable in their home and enjoying themselves, that is more meaningful to any host than to see their guests being put to work.
[08:55:07]
BERMAN: When you are the host at a time like this, like a high pressure, high stakes big moment, what's your responsibility when everyone sits down to make the mood, put the mood in the right place?
SWANN: So, your responsibility is to do just that, to set the tone. And so you set the tone through your lighting, through the decor that's in your house, through the smells. You can use candles and things like that. So, it's your responsibility to set the tone in the home and keep things in check.
So, let's say, for example, the conversation starts to get a little bit about -- a little bit out of hand. This is when as the host, you come prepared with ways to change the subject. Oh, so and so how was your vacation this year? Or how's that new job? Or ask somebody a question about themselves because people love talking about themselves.
BERMAN: Yeah. SWANN: So ask them about themselves.
SIDNER: That makes sense. The key is to pivot, John.
SWANN: Yes.
SIDNER: It's the pivot.
SWANN: Do the -- do the political pivot in your home and you're good to go.
SIDNER: Elaine Swann, it was a pleasure having you. Thank you very much.
SWANN: My pleasure.
SIDNER: Yes.
BOLDUAN: Wishing you a very happy holidays.
A new hour of CNN starts in just moments.
