Never Too Small to Make a Big Difference.
Georgia “Tiny” Broadwick was the first woman to jump from an airplane using a parachute.
Watching paragliders and skydivers these days is thrilling. They float and control their gossamer sails like giant birds. Imagine the first parachutes and the thrills they evoked in crowds who had never seen a human drop from the sky. Read Story
THINK BIG
The Long Shot.
Hunter Woodhall won state in the 400 meters with a blistering time of 47.64 seconds — without legs.
The Olympics always produces some of the most memorable images of the year, and the 2024 Paris event was no different. Read Story
CONFIDENCE
Miracle or Magician?
Whoever created the Loretto stairs in Santa Fe was a master craftsman. To do it in 1878 with nothing but hand tools is awe-inspiring.
The Loretto Chapel, in the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico, is built from warm earthen adobe, with a small nave and, above it, a choir loft. But at the beginning, the two weren’t connected. Read Story
CREATE BEAUTY, ANONYMOUSLY
Go Fast, Go Long.
Carroll Shelby left his name on racetracks and cars all over the world. But it was at Le Mans, teamed up with family carmaker Ford, that Shelby ran the race he’ll be remembered for.
At age 7, Carroll Shelby moved to Dallas, Texas. He was the son of working-class parents, balanced precariously on the poverty line. He had a leaky heart valve that reminded him that life could end any day. Might as well live it pedal to the metal. Read Story
DRIVE
The Most Recognizable Voice in the World.
James Earl Jones put away the villainous Darth Vader to enjoy a character more like his real self: the kind Mr. Mertle in Sandlot.
The young James Earl Jones suffered from a debilitating stutter. Shy and self-conscious, young James was encouraged to try theater as a way to overcome it. Perhaps the teacher saw his future potential, but more likely, she saw a boy who needed a little confidence. Read Story
LIFT YOUR VOICE
Everyone Needs a Good Teacher. Even Einstein.
Ernst Mach, the forgotten professor who influenced Einstein and developed a method for measuring aircraft velocity.
Many of us can point to a teacher who directed our talents toward a career, a fulfilling hobby, a better way to understand ourselves. Read Story
TEACH
Reforesting the Amazon, 100 Million Trees at a Time.
How skydiving legend Luigi Cani’s daring stunt is aimed at breathing new life into our world.
The Earth is one giant, living organism, and we have the privilege of calling it home. We enjoy the beauty of blue skies, the shade of magnificent trees, the lulling motion of waves. Read Story
JUMP FOR GOOD
Climb Higher, Leave Behind what Ails you.
Dr. Rick Nielsen, entrepreneur and founder of Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine in Utah, has climbed Kilimanjaro 10 times. His wife, Jodi, has summited the mountain twice. They have returned to that mountain so others can feel the pain, and the exhilaration of freedom.
Elevation 19,341 feet. Hike the world’s highest freestanding mountain, and you will feel every step. The journey takes an average of five to six days. Read Story
BE FREE
The Agony, the Ecstasy, and the Redemption that Olympic Competition Brings.
Derek Redmond, the 400-meter record holder from Great Britain, delivered one of the most inspiring moments in athletic history at the Barcelona games in 2012.
Track pits athletes against each other in the oldest of sports: running. Long-distance runners learn how to pace their gaits, while sprinters focus on getting every ounce of energy moving in a straight line for a short distance. Read Story
BE THERE
Wax On, Wax Off: The Pat Morita Story.
Known primarily for his role as Mr. Miyagi, Pat Morita is a mentor and a big-hearted friend who endured a difficult childhood to become a voice against racism.
Pat Morita nearly missed the opportunity that defined his professional career. He was working on and off as a stand-up comedian, barely making ends meet after a successful role in “Happy Days.” When he showed up to audition for Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid,” producer Jerry Weintraub couldn’t see the actor beyond his comedic roles and dismissed him. Read Story
BE HAPPY
Simone Biles Springs Her Way Into History.
The sprite athlete with the eternal smile is vaulting her way back into the Olympics after overcoming a bad case of the “twisties.”
When Simone Biles takes flight, it’s impossible to imagine anything weighing her down. Her ability to toss her body in the most difficult moves in gymnastics has made her one of the greatest gymnasts in the sport's history. Read Story
COME BACK
In the Aftermath of Disaster, Rebuild.
Julie and Ron Lynam lost their dream home in a forest fire, so they got to work dreaming and building again—a StoryCorps story.
The Colorado mountains elicit the peace, tranquility and sense of wonder that inspires songs. It’s the perfect place to retire from a job, although perhaps not from work. Read Story
NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS
A Good Father Goes a Long Way.
Ron Howard’s father made a few suggestions to Andy Griffith. The result is an endearing father-and-son relationship that millions still watch today.
Living in Hollywood is a challenge. Growing up a child actor almost guarantees a life of dysfunction. Without a strong father, Howard could have taken the path of least resistance. Read Story
PARENTING
Will Rogers: A Man of and for the People.
Our world has always relied on storytellers with a little humor to set us straight in our pride and loosen our collars when conversations get heated. Read Story
WIT AND WISDOM
Cooking With Sharks.
Julia Child began her culinary career in the U.S. military. Too tall to enlist in the Women’s Army Corps, she was assigned a research position where she cooked up shark repellant to coat sailors’ life jackets. Read Story
