Recent Programs

  • Adults Learning to Read
    About half of American adults read at or below a 6th-grade level. What challenges do they face – at work, in health care, when helping children with schoolwork? And how does the profusion of low-information voters affect our democracy?
  • The Lost Cause
    Are we still living with the racial divide left over from the Civil War? Has it resurfaced today in the rise of white nationalism, election denial and the surge of anti-immigrant sentiment?
  • Protecting the Public
    This is the intriguing story of how, in some venues, public safety is being expanded to include not just police and fire services but also social workers and other professionals.
  • The Rights of Civilians
    Can the rule of law protect innocent men, women and children? Learn about the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The prosecutor seeks indictments of both Hamas and Israeli leaders. And hear the history of war crimes tribunals.
  • The Diet-Climate Connection
    Agriculture is a huge emitter of greenhouse gases associated with climate change. Medical experts recommend that our diets emphasize many of the same tasty foods that scientists regard as most climate-friendly.
  • Helping Prisoners to Heal
    More than a million Americans are locked in jails and prisons. Helping them recover from earlier trauma can safeguard society. Hear the stories of ex-prisoners who've begun to heal, through the inspired work of Robin Casarjian.

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

  • Winter may be ending, but frozen foods can help reduce climate change

    “Frozen produce could play an important role in helping consumers cut food waste at home [and thus reduce food emitting greenhouse gases in landfills]. Typically, produce is frozen at its peak ripeness, meaning consumers don’t need to sacrifice quality or flavor,” writes Stacey Snelling, professor in the Dept. of Health Studies at American University.