Humankind on Public Radio

In this documentary, we visit with a community of Americans who have embraced the peaceful path of the Sufis—an Islamic tradition known for inspiring poetry and a gentle universal appeal. Included in this program are remarks by the widely-revered Sufi master, M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen along with comments by his students who try to practice Sufi […]

Sid Caesar was one of American television’s first real superstars, a sensational comedian who delighted sixty million viewers in the nineteen-fifties with his live weekly programs “Your Show of Shows” and “Caesar’s Hour.” And he assembled a stable of zany writers and performers including future stars Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner and […]

With her husband Tom, a social worker, author Eileen Flanagan has raised two healthy, energized teenagers at their home in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. And for Eileen, bringing up a family has offered her a rich fount of life lessons about patience, knowing when to let go, and just appreciating the wonder and […]

The problem of American gun violence has been mired for decades in a bitter political stalemate. For some, it’s a solemn constitutional question. Or it’s about the influence of gun manufacturers and their powerful lobby. Or it’s about lifestyle in communities with a tradition of hunting. Or it may be just about the primal need […]

Stricken blind and deaf by a fever at infancy, Helen Keller once described herself as “an optimist in spite of all.” This truly inspiring biography recounts how Keller emerged from solitary confinement in silent darkness to become one of the 20th century’s greatest women and greatest human spirits. Includes readings from her autobiographical reflections and […]

How exactly can we build a future based on understanding and connection among people of diverse backgrounds— rather than prejudice, misinformation and suspicion that are the fuel for violence? According to the late journalist John Wallach, the answer is to instill this awareness at a young age. He went on to found a truly daring […]

How exactly can we build a future based on understanding and connection among people of diverse backgrounds— rather than prejudice, misinformation and suspicion that are the fuel for violence? According to the late journalist John Wallach, the answer is to instill this awareness at a young age. He went on to found a truly daring […]

This documentary includes our interview with John Lewis, remarkable civil rights leader and the “conscience of Congress.” Mr . Lewis died at age 80 on July 17, 2020. In a country founded of the people, by the people and for the people: What does it mean to be an actively engaged citizen? How can we stimulate […]

America’s founders recognized that without a king, the fledgling nation would need an informed citizenry—or their bold experiment in democracy would fail. So in early America, the government subsidized newspapers, established the postal system to facilitate information flow and drew up plans for public education. But now in the digital age, does the demise of […]

A staggering 10 percent of all children in America have a parent who is incarcerated or under the supervision of the criminal justice system. Thus more than seven million kids face the social stigma, the developmental problems and the greater risk of getting into trouble themselves. In this, our second segment, we learn about current […]

Barbara Cervone, a lifelong educator who started a network of small schools and later became a grantmaker involved in investing hundreds of millions of dollars in public schools, undertook a new venture in 2001. She founded What Kids Can Do as a national effort to amplify the voices of young people, especially those marginalized by […]

Have you had to care for an aging parent or loved one who has grown sick or disabled? How did it change your life and the person you cared for? In this episode of Humankind with David Freudberg, we’ll meet Connie Goldman, former host of NPR’s All Things Considered and author of The Gifts of Caregiving: Stories of […]

Some people give no charity at all. But of Americans who do, the average family donation is 2-3% per year. This program examines how people arrive at the amount of their charitable contributions, where the money is contributed to, and what holds donors back from giving more, especially if they could afford to without hardship.

The energy from one uranium molecule, used to fuel nuclear power, is a million times greater than that from one molecule of coal, commonly used in electricity generation. And because nuclear energy facilities emit less global warming pollution (although they do emit some), a debate has emerged over whether to expand nuclear power to counteract […]

The energy from one uranium molecule, used to fuel nuclear power, is a million times greater than that from one molecule of coal, commonly used in electricity generation. And because nuclear energy facilities emit less global warming pollution (although they do emit some), a debate has emerged over whether to expand nuclear power to counteract […]