Rabbi Harold Kushner tells Anne Strainchamps that people need to believe their lives are meaningful and that we can make a significant contribution by our everyday actions.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Patricia Smith is an African American who's the four-time champion of the National Poetry Slam.
Kelly Lambert tells Anne Strainchamps about her brain research into how using both hands on crafts projects can be as beneficial to the body as taking psychoactive medication.
Mawi Asgedom fled the civil war in Ethiopia and spent part of his childhood in a refugee camp in Sudan, but ended up giving the commencement address at his Harvard graduation.
How did religion ever get started in the first place? We talked to renowned sociologist Robert Bellah shortly before he died. He said religion isn't about belief in God. Its origins go back to the rituals of our ancient ancestors, and ultimately to play.
The French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, was presented with a Freedom on Expression award from the PEN American Center this week. Six high-profile writers boycotted the awards ceremony at PEN's big annual gala. Hundreds more protested, while others gave the magazine's editors a standing ovation. The chariman of the PEN World Voices Festival is Colm Toibin, the celebrated Irish novelist. Toibin shares his thoughs on the controversy.
Many things can evoke a memory. Like a smell. Or a touch. When Mamek Khadem wanted to evoke the memory of her native Iran during the Islamic revolution in 1979, she did it with music.
Jason Zinoman talks to Jim Fleming about his book, "Shock Value: How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Invented Modern Horror."
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