This I Believe
110 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 4 years ago - ★★★★ - 243 ratingsInspiring, uplifting, and educational, This I Believe features people from all walks of life sharing the stories behind their core beliefs. Since 2005, this program has been heard weekly on public radio and used in thousands of classrooms worldwide. It has also spawned nine books, including the NY Times bestseller "This I Believe." Hundreds of past episodes are archived at thisibelieve.org.
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Episodes
Will Thomas: The Birthright of Human Dignity
June 08, 2020 16:09 - 8 minutes - 7.69 MBWill Thomas had planned to give up on America and move to Haiti after putting up with decades of bigotry and injustice toward African Americans. Then he decided to give the country one more chance, moving his family to an all-white town in Vermont.
Elvia Bautista: Remembering All the Boys
May 25, 2020 13:26 - 4 minutes - 4.31 MBElvia Bautista was devastated when her brother was killed in a gang shooting. Now, she believes in remembering all the victims of gang violence even when doing so may endanger her own safety.
Lauren LeBlanc: Evolution
May 09, 2020 01:17 - 5 minutes - 5.31 MBWhen she was young, Lauren LeBlanc had grand dreams of living in New York and singing on Broadway. Instead, she became a mom and schoolteacher in suburbia. While it’s not the life she once imagined, LeBlanc now knows she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Fred D'Aguiar: Dance is Life
May 01, 2020 22:07 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MBAlthough he makes his living with words, poet Fred D'Aguiar is enthralled by dance: from the physicality of the art, to its powers to inspire and heal. D’Aguiar believes dance can be a source for peace, if we all join in and move to the global groove.
Amelia Baxter-Stoltzfus: Returning to What's Natural
April 20, 2020 14:21 - 5 minutes - 4.75 MBHigh school student Amelia Baxter-Stoltzfus believes in the freedom offered by semi-permanent hair dye. As much as she likes trying a new look, Baxter-Stolzfus knows there are some things worth coming back to, no matter how much her life may change.
Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton: Finding Freedom in Forgiveness
April 13, 2020 18:57 - 6 minutes - 5.97 MBJennifer Thompson-Cannino was certain that Ronald Cotton was the man who raped her in 1984. But she was wrong. After 11 years in jail, DNA evidence proved Cotton’s innocence. Now, the two have a friendship based on their belief in forgiveness.
Mary Cook: The Hardest Work You Will Ever Do
April 06, 2020 15:15 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MBAs a hospice volunteer, Mary Cook shares in the grief of others. But it was her own loss that taught her how to heal. She believes that recovering from grief requires not a battle, but surrender.
Josh Rittenberg: Tomorrow Will Be A Better Day
March 30, 2020 16:41 - 5 minutes - 5.39 MBWhat kind of world are we leaving younger generations? Manhattan teenager Josh Rittenberg says all parents worry about their children’s futures. But he believes he and his peers will see a better world.
Anthony Fauci: A Goal Of Service To Humankind
March 25, 2020 00:48 - 5 minutes - 5.34 MBDr. 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.
Carol Fixman: I Can Make a Difference
February 03, 2020 04:47 - 4 minutes - 4.95 MBCarol Fixman's parents taught her the importance of taking action to find solutions to life's problems. And at the end of her mother's life, Ms. Fixman put this advice to work and found that she didn't have to change the world in order to make a big difference.
Terri Maue: Dad's Legacy
January 16, 2020 01:06 - 5 minutes - 3.64 MBWhen Terri Maue's father was near his death, his family was at his side, asking what they could do for him. It was then that he uttered the words that have become a deep-seated belief for Ms. Maue.
Pamela Rothbard: My Legacy of Playing Games
December 31, 2019 19:00 - 4 minutes - 2.52 MBPlaying cards or board games has been an important part of Pamela Rothbard's life since she was a child who was allowed to stay up past bedtime and play with the adults. Now, as a parent, playing games with her own children gives her family an opportunity to do something together and share in each other's lives.
Steve Banko: A ‘Silent Night’ That Brought Healing
December 24, 2019 13:40 - 5 minutes - 4.71 MBLying in a hospital with shrapnel and burn wounds from a Vietnam War battle, Steve Banko wasn’t sure he wanted to live. But the sounds of Christmas music helped give him reason to believe otherwise.
Lisa Dunlap: It's Better to Give...and Receive
December 18, 2019 00:55 - 4 minutes - 4.87 MBLike many of us, Lisa Dunlap had always heard the adage that it's better to give than to receive. But having been on the receiving end of many acts of kindness, Ms. Dunlap has come to believe that while it is indeed good to give, it's also good to receive.
Bill Reinert: Now That's Service
December 09, 2019 13:00 - 5 minutes - 5.32 MBBill Reinert has been in the position of both giving and receiving customer service. He now believes that making the effort to serve the people in our lives the best that we can is a rewarding practice, whether in business or at home.
William Shutkin: Energized By Paradox
December 02, 2019 20:33 - 4 minutes - 5.18 MBThere are many ways to look at any given situation in life. William Shutkin has thought a lot about these paradoxes in our lives and how we can either be paralyzed or energized by them.
Emily Echols: Baking by Sense and Memory
November 24, 2019 21:50 - 4 minutes - 2.88 MBWith each pecan pie and batch of molasses cookies, Emily Echols hones the baking skills she learned from her elders. Ms. Echols believes baking is an expression of love for her family.
Jim Snitker: We Also Served
November 11, 2019 22:19 - 5 minutes - 2.65 MBJim Snitker knew in high school that he wanted to serve his country by joining the military. And, while he served for 20 years in the U.S. Army, he never saw active combat. But Mr. Snitker believes that he and other Cold War veterans who trained and waited also served their country.
Michelle Lee: The Art of Giving Thanks
November 05, 2019 23:05 - 4 minutes - 2.42 MBNo gift, dinner invitation, or gesture of friendship escapes Michelle Lee’s notice. As a dedicated thank-you-note writer, Lee believes expressing gratitude is more than a social grace. It helps her fully appreciate the love and support she receives daily.
Anna Whites: Finding Home
October 28, 2019 20:38 - 4 minutes - 2.26 MBGrowing up, Anna Whites moved many times, living in exotic places all around the world, but she never quite felt that she belonged in any one place. Later, when she married a man from eastern Kentucky, she found a place—and a people—where she finally knew she was home.
Jason Howard: Touching the Divine
October 16, 2019 15:14 - 4 minutes - 2.65 MBWhen Jason Howard was young, he spent many afternoons listening to his father's record collection on an RCA turntable. That was the beginning of Howard's lifelong belief that music and art are connected to the divine.
Karin Round: Opening the Door of Mercy
October 07, 2019 21:08 - 3 minutes - 2.64 MBKarin Round lives at the end of an interstate off-ramp in suburban Boston, and she often finds wayward travelers on her doorstep asking for assistance. In spite of the potential dangers, Round believes it’s important to open her door and help those in need.
Zac Broken Rope: Fry Bread
October 01, 2019 14:47 - 5 minutes - 3.19 MBZac Broken Rope has German ancestors on his mother's side of the family and a Native American heritage on his father's. But he grew up feeling that he didn't belong to either culture—until a family member taught him a lesson about his identity.
Sena Jeter Naslund: A Life in Literature
September 24, 2019 21:42 - 6 minutes - 3.61 MBSena Jeter Naslund knew at an early age that she loved literature. But when making a career choice, she felt she should do something good for humanity, not simply indulge her passions. One moment in a college classroom changed her perspective, though, and she realized that literature does bring good into the world.
Tori Murden McClure: Demons and Dust
September 16, 2019 17:24 - 5 minutes - 3.15 MBA childhood experience on a playground taught Tori Murden McClure a lesson about the importance of love and friendship that has stuck with her through the years and helped inspire her life's work.
Janet Jayne: The Blessings of Step
September 09, 2019 21:57 - 5 minutes - 3.15 MBJanet Jayne has been a "step-something" for most of her life—a step-daughter, a step-sister, a step-mother. And while she recognizes the struggles that are often a part of "blending" families, she also celebrates the love that brings new families together.
Steve Porter: The 50-Percent Theory of Life
September 04, 2019 01:08 - 4 minutes - 2.5 MBA favorite team makes the World Series while a marriage ends in divorce. Surviving life’s ups and downs led Steve Porter to believe that the good times and bad ultimately balance out.
Sherri Ellerman: One
August 26, 2019 19:53 - 4 minutes - 3.18 MBAs a child, Sherri Ellerman recalls her mother being worried about her age and living in fear of growing older. However, when her mother died at the age of 36, Ellerman realized that it isn't the number of days or months or years of life that matter. What matters is the one life we have to live.
Patrick Cleveland: Rings of Hope
August 19, 2019 13:59 - 5 minutes - 3.76 MBOn August 29, 2005, Dr. Patrick Cleveland's life changed forever when Hurricane Katrina came barreling through his home. But a so-called coincidence confirmed for him the knowledge that his life has a purpose.
Wiliam Holston: Servitude
August 12, 2019 16:15 - 3 minutes - 2.72 MBAs an attorney, William Holston made it a priority to volunteer his legal services to help refugees who were seeking religious and political asylum in the U.S. One particular client helped Holston see that service to others is a privilege—and a path to greatness.
Jay Hasheider: Appreciating the Moment
August 05, 2019 05:00 - 5 minutes - 3.51 MBIt was a sad day when Jay Hasheider helped his son pack and get ready to move away to college. But one moment of joy amidst the sadness was a gift for both father and son.
Stark Podcast
July 29, 2019 14:26 - 4 minutes - 2.21 MBIf you think a Manhattan consulting job is stressful, try farming. Tim Stark has done both. He believes a reasonable amount of stress brings out his best qualities. It also produces tasty tomatoes.
Rebecca Haynes: Embracing the Local Community
July 17, 2019 00:32 - 4 minutes - 3.38 MBRebecca Haynes, a former park ranger, believes that her life is made better by being part of a local community and a local environment, whether in a small town, a big city, or the wilds of the Sonoran Desert.
Quique Aviles: I Will Take My Voice Back
July 07, 2019 23:48 - 4 minutes - 3.35 MBFor years, Quique Aviles was two people: one who was a successful poet, and one who was a crack addict. Now he believes his art and the connections it gives him to other people can help save his life.
Andrew Sullivan: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
July 03, 2019 12:47 - 4 minutes - 2.67 MBAlthough born and raised in England, writer Andrew Sullivan turns to America’s Declaration of Independence to find his beliefs rooted in the principles of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Jody Williams: When Ordinary People Achieve Extraordinary Things
June 24, 2019 15:32 - 4 minutes - 3.87 MBJody Williams believes extraordinary things can happen when ordinary people decide to take action. Her own activism led to a 1997 international treaty banning landmines and to a Nobel Peace Prize.
Jason Sheehan: There Is No Such Thing As Too Much Barbecue
June 19, 2019 15:05 - 4 minutes - 3.8 MBRestaurant critic Jason Sheehan has a passion for barbecue with all the homemade fixings on the side. He believes barbecue unites us, comforts us and is the only thing he can’t get enough of.
Michelle Weldon: A Father Is Born from Many Strangers
June 11, 2019 14:31 - 8 minutes - 6.67 MBAlthough their biological dad has disappeared, Michele Weldon’s three sons have not been fatherless. Weldon believes the men who have stepped-in to act as substitute dads have generously embraced her sons with love and served as valuable role models.
Greg Chapman: A Journey Toward Acceptance and Love
June 03, 2019 21:54 - 4 minutes - 3.27 MBFor 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.
Mary Curran Hackett: Never Give Up
May 28, 2019 14:17 - 5 minutes - 3.85 MBWhen she was young, Mary Curran Hackett's father gave her and her siblings frequent speeches about the importance of perseverance. What surprised her as an adult was how much he lived his "never give up" message toward her when she needed him the most.
Rachel Richardson: The Duke
May 20, 2019 18:34 - 5 minutes - 3.55 MBA chance encounter in a coffee shop introduced writer Rachel Richardson to a man who had many stories to tell. Ms. Richardson came to understand that everyone has a story, and our lives can be enriched by listening to the stories of others.
Kim O'Connell: Mother Tongue
May 14, 2019 14:18 - 5 minutes - 3.87 MBKim O'Connell's mother is Vietnamese, and her father is American. But since she was born and raised in the U.S., her mother insisted that her daughter be "Americanized" and only speak English. Now, Ms. O'Connell believes that learning her mother's native tongue can help her connect to the other half of her heritage.
Chris Porter: Moving Beyond Stereotypes
May 06, 2019 21:35 - 6 minutes - 4.69 MBSeveral years ago, when a patient gave Chris Porter a long stare, he thought the man was judging him because of his race or his profession. In reality, the incident taught Porter himself an important lesson about prejudging people.
Joel Boutin: Less is More
April 24, 2019 01:22 - 7 minutes - 7.1 MBWhen Joel Boutin served in the Peace Corps in Tanzania, he enjoyed living a simple life. After returning to the United States and once again getting caught up in the cultural norms of daily living, he came to realize he would be happier and healthier living more simply in a very tiny house.
Howard White: The Power of Hello
April 16, 2019 00:45 - 4 minutes - 2.87 MBWhen he was a child, Howard White’s mother taught him the importance of greeting people. Now an executive at Nike, White believes everyone he meets deserves to have their presence and their humanity acknowledged. For him that begins with “hello.”
Jennie Kiffmeyer: The Stories We Tell, The Stories We Are
April 09, 2019 15:39 - 5 minutes - 5.6 MBJennie Kiffmeyer is a writer, a storyteller. But on the occasion of her father's death, she realized she didn't know enough of his life—his stories—to fill in the blanks. So Ms. Kiffmeyer believes in writing, both to understand and be understood.
David Westwood: Respect Yourself
March 25, 2019 17:25 - 5 minutes - 3.56 MBAs a father, David Westwood has found that life isn't so complicated when deciding on the very basics of life that need to be taught to our children. For Westwood, one of those basics is that we must learn self-respect before we can gain respect for others.
Frank X. Walker: Creative Solutions To Life's Challenges
March 12, 2019 00:46 - 4 minutes - 2.6 MBPoet Frank X Walker believes artists aren’t the only creative people. He says barbers, cooks, janitors, and kids enrich the world with their creativity as much as the painters, sculptors, and writers.
Madeleine Urbaszewski: Treating Everyone as Family
March 04, 2019 18:09 - 4 minutes - 3.31 MBMadeleine Urbaszewski wasn't born in New Orleans, but she has called it home since moving there in the fourth grade. Because she has experienced warmth and friendliness from the people there, including perfect strangers, Ms. Urbaszewski has come to believe in treating everyone like family.
Brenda Holliday: I Am My Mother's Daughter
February 25, 2019 21:39 - 4 minutes - 3.11 MBAs Brenda Holliday approached the age of 50, she began to see another woman in the mirror—her mother. As she started to recognize her mother's physical features in her own face, she came to believe that in more ways than one, she is her mother's daughter.