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Kathy Dahlen: The Elusive Yet Holy Core

Mon, Nov 23 Listen

In a college anatomy class, public radio listener Kathy Dahlen learned the intricacies of physiology. She found her study of blood, bone and tissue gave her a deeper appreciation of the body and the soul.

Barry Bingham, Sr.: A Good And Useful Life

Fri, Nov 20 Listen

From the 1950s series, Louisville, Kentucky, newspaper publisher Barry Bingham, Sr., believes being a mature adult means accepting a full share of responsibility in life, and finding strength in God’s help and guidance.

Mrs. John G. Lee: Devotion To The Common Good

Fri, Nov 13

From the 1950s series, League of Women Voters president Mrs. John G. Lee tells how star-gazing with her father eventually led to her desire to help make the world a better place for humankind, and honor the worth and dignity of each individual.

Studs Terkel: Community In Action

Mon, Nov 9 Listen

Studs Terkel lived through and chronicled much of modern American history. He believes the positive changes brought by activist movements of the 20th Century came from people working together.

Lucius D. Clay: Guarding The Gift Of Freedom

Fri, Nov 6 Listen

From the 1950s series, General Lucius D. Clay believes freedom is a privilege given by God, and one that must be carefully guarded by all citizens. And he calls upon Americans to make this country one that provides equal opportunities for all.

Benjamin Carson: There Is No Job More Important Than Parenting

Mon, Nov 2 Listen

Even as a child, Benjamin Carson wanted to be a doctor. Now a renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, Carson believes he owes his success to his mother, a domestic who received only a third-grade education.

Robbins Milbank: Thy Will Be Done

Fri, Oct 30 Listen

West coast advertising executive Robbins Milbank knew great success and great sorrow in his life. In good times and bad, Milbank says he found strength in his belief in the Lord’s Prayer—and the connection it gave him to God.

Greg Chapman: A Journey Toward Acceptance And Love

Mon, Oct 26 Listen

For much of his life, Greg Chapman felt less than fully human. But when he stopped judging himself against other people’s beliefs, Chapman found a new acceptance of himself and a stronger bond with God.

Bobby Doerr: I Don’t Play To The Grandstand

Fri, Oct 23 Listen

Baseball Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr believes in what he calls “doing good in order to deserve good.” The former Red Sox second baseman says he’d rather do things that help his teammates and his family succeed instead of simply benefiting himself.

Cecilia Munoz: A Little Outrage Can Take You a Long Way

Mon, Oct 19 Listen

For Cecilia Munoz, a childhood memory of anger has inspired a career in activism. She believes that early outrage fuels her work on behalf Hispanic immigrants for the National Council of La Raza.

Rebecca West: Goodness Doesn’t Just Happen

Fri, Oct 16 Listen

In her life and her writings, Dame Rebecca West says she tries to live out her beliefs in freedom, the rule of law, the importance of God and the exercise of religion as a way to connect to God.

Bill Gates: Unleashing The Power Of Creativity And Intelligence

Mon, Oct 12 Listen

Bill Gates founded Microsoft on the dream of putting a computer in every home and office. He says he built his company on the belief that technology, creativity and intelligence can change the world.

Martha Graham: An Athlete Of God

Fri, Oct 9 Listen

Legendary choreographer Martha Graham believes that dancing—like living—may look easy, but actually requires years of constant practice to achieve a sense of one's own being and a satisfaction of spirit.

Ted Gup: In Praise of the ‘Wobblies’

Mon, Oct 5 Listen

For years, journalist Ted Gup wasn’t sure what he believed, and he felt uncomfortable in the company of people who freely shared their firm beliefs. Now he accepts his own uncertainty as a good thing.

William O. Douglas: My Father’s Evening Star

Fri, Oct 2 Listen

Former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas encourages a return to the faith of his father's generation. He believes spiritual values, not material ones, can guide America through troubling times.

Rick Moody: The Joy And Enthusiasm Of Reading

Mon, Sep 28 Listen

Rick Moody has built a life in words: in writing them for his books like “The Ice Storm,” and in reading them. He believes there is unlimited joy in opening a new book and delving into its story.

Julie Adams: No Dream Is Impossible

Fri, Sep 25 Listen

As a young girl growing up in Arkansas, Julie Adams longed to be an actress. Even though the odds were against her, she believed in the inner voice that encouraged her towards her dream – and it ultimately helped her find success in movies and television.

Gloria Steinem: A Balance Between Nature And Nurture

Mon, Sep 21 Listen

In debating nature versus nurture, Gloria Steinem believes we are asking the wrong question. She says we are an unpredictable mix of both, a mix that creates endless possibilities for a better future.

Will Thomas: The Birthright Of Human Dignity

Fri, Sep 18 Listen

In his novel, “The Seeking,” Will Thomas detailed his family’s experience of moving to an all-white New England town. His essay explores how his own bigotry once shaped his beliefs.

Ruth Kamps: Living Life with ‘Grace and Elegant Treeness’

Mon, Sep 14 Listen

After being transplanted from a vibrant city life to the isolation of a small town, retired school teacher Ruth Kamps found solace in nature and inspiration in the pine tree growing outside her kitchen window.

Julien Bryan: Friendship Is A Passport

Fri, Sep 11 Listen

Julien Bryan traveled the globe making movies about the world’s cultures. In spending time with people, Bryan came to believe that despite differences in politics and religion, we all share a desire for adequate food and shelter, honest work, justice, freedom and dignity.

Deirdre Sullivan: Always Go to the Funeral

Mon, Sep 7 Listen

As a child Deirdre Sullivan’s father told her to always pay her respects at funerals. Now, the Brooklyn attorney believes those simple acts of human kindness are as important as the grand heroic gestures.

James Carey: The Proud People Of A Proud Country

Fri, Sep 4 Listen

Labor leader James Carey is inspired by the words etched at the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses.” He believes that citizens find their strength when they work together in a spirit of honesty, faith, and freedom.

Jackie Lantry: The Power Of Love To Transform And To Heal

Mon, Aug 31 Listen

Several years ago, Jackie Lantry found herself in a Chinese hotel room with a terrified young boy. Today, her adopted son Luke is a happy member of her Massachusetts family thanks to the power of love.

Margaret Sanger: When Children Are Wanted

Fri, Aug 28 Listen

As a nurse, Margaret Sanger believed it was important to work not just for herself, but for greater good in the world. As a social activist, Sanger believed that all children should be wanted before they are conceived.

Anthony Fauci: A Goal Of Service To Humankind

Mon, Aug 24 Listen

Dr. Anthony Fauci says he was destined to help people with HIV-AIDS. His work at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is fueled by his belief in personal responsibility to humankind.

George Mardikian: Why I Close My Restaurant

Fri, Aug 21 Listen

San Francisco restaurateur George Mardikian tells of his immigration from Eastern Europe to the United States, and explains how he tries to repay the warm embrace Americans have given him.

Azar Nafisi: The Mysterious Connections that Link Us Together

Mon, Aug 17 Listen

How do we open ourselves to the connections that can unite us even across racial, political or religious differences? Iranian-born writer Azar Nafisi finds the answer in a classic of American literature.

Bernard Baruch: Thought For Tomorrow

Fri, Aug 14 Listen

Financier and elder statesman Bernard Baruch found his beliefs shaken by the advent of the hydrogen bomb. But by believing in reason, Baruch is able to feel hope for the future.

Anne Heywood: Do You Know Your Special Talent?

Fri, Aug 7 Listen

As an military wife, Anne Heywood lived in many different places and had more than 30 jobs. When she finally settled down in New York City, Heywood started a business to help other people change careers because she believed there was a right job for everyone.

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