Recent Programs

  • The Lost Cause (Pts 1 & 2)
    Are we still living with the racial divide left over from the Civil War? Has it resurfaced today in the rise of white supremacism and election denialism?
  • The Rights of Civilians
    Can the rule of law protect innocent men, women and children? Learn about the International Criminal Court in The Hague, which has opened an investigation into Russia's ruthless invasion of Ukraine. And hear the history of earlier tribunals.
  • Aging in Community
    70 million Baby Boomers are now entering their retirement years. For the first time in history, there will be more older adults than children. On this special project from Humankind public radio, you’ll hear stories of transition and dignity — and meet people who are showing the way.
  • Judicial Independence
    Have our courts – intended by America’s founders to be an independent arbiter of justice – turned into another political battlefield? Are today’s judges mere “politicians in robes”? This public radio documentary series looks at the challenges and proposed solutions.
  • The Power of Nonviolence
    The Power of Nonviolence seeks deep solutions to this vexing problem. We turn to wisdom teachings across our great spiritual traditions for guidance—and inspiration—on how the lasting wounds can be healed.
  • John Lewis’ Mission
    Known as the “conscience of Congress” and a civil rights icon, John Lewis died in July 2020 at age 80. The son of humble Alabama sharecroppers, John Lewis spoke from the stage on live national television at the massive March on Washington by the Lincoln Memorial in August 1963 – the day Rev. Martin Luther…

Staff Picks

  • Resilient Nurses
    A no-holds-barred look at the stressful conditions in which many nurses work: the long hours, the emotional toll, the rapid pace, and the way that technology and institutional practices can make it hard to form a caring bond with patients.
  • Simple Relaxation Exercise
    A 15-minute stress reduction session to calm the body and mind.
  • Libraries Reimagined
    In 2019 Americans visited the library more often than they went to a movie or attended a sporting event. But far from institutions of the past, libraries today are rapidly evolving, ensuring free access to knowledge and protecting democracy.

Producer’s Note

  • Watch “Time Out of Joint”

    Time Out of Joint (a phrase from Hamlet) is a new documentary film that captures the unlikely encounter between inmates in a New York prison and the wise words of Shakespeare. You can view it here. Presented by the gifted public radio producer and filmmaker Steve Rowland, we visit a class behind bars convened by Rehabilitation through the Arts, a program associated with sharply reduced recidivism. Drawing on classical Shakespeare, as well as versions from Nigeria and American rap, this powerful film explores whether there is goodness in people who are incarcerated, and the human capacity for remorse, change and forgiveness.