Beginning in 1951, radio pioneer Edward R. Murrow asked Americans from all walks of life to write essays about their most fundamental and closely held beliefs. Half a century later, NPR, Atlantic Public Media and This I Believe, Inc. are partnering to recreate 'This I Believe' on the air and online.
August 7, 2006 ·
Betsy Chalmers was only 22 when her husband was convicted of a crime and sent to prison. After spending almost three decades apart from him, NPR listener Betsy Chalmers believes in remaining faithful.
July 31, 2006 ·
For years, Quique Aviles was two people: one who was a successful poet, and one who was a crack addict. Now he believes his art and the connections it gives him to other people can help save his life.
July 24, 2006 ·
Tony Hawk has turned what many consider a childhood activity into a professional career. For Hawk, skateboarding is not only a job, it's a means of expression and a foundation for personal belief.
July 17, 2006 ·
Ying Ying Yu has a maturity beyond her years. The 14-year-old immigrant from China believes she has a duty to honor the sacrifices made by her parents, her ancestors, her teachers and her homeland.
July 10, 2006 ·
Her Latina heritage encouraged her to trust her dreams. Her business degree taught her rational analysis. Now Sacramento public radio listener Cynthia Sommer believes intuition is her best asset.
July 3, 2006 ·
Nobel Prize-winning chemist Roald Hoffmann believes the middle is a good place to be. It reminds the Cornell professor of the choices we can make in life and helps him see the possibility for change.
June 26, 2006 ·
With movies like A Beautiful Mind and Apollo 13 to his credit, Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer could rest on his laurels. But that's not for him. Grazer believes in disrupting his comfort zone.
June 19, 2006 ·
Loudon Wainwright III has been writing songs for more than 30 years. He believes in the mystery that inspires the creation of a new song. But it's not something Wainwright wants to think about too much.
June 12, 2006 ·
As a young prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials, Whitney R. Harris saw the worst of "man's inhumanity to man." Now in his 90s, Harris believes we honor God by giving respect, mercy and peace to one other.
June 5, 2006 ·
Arkansas professor Michael Mullane believes the rule of law must be upheld -- even in times of threat and crisis. As fragile as it can be, Mullane says we are all protected by and accountable to the law.
May 29, 2006 ·
Denver restaurant critic Jason Sheehan has a passion for barbecue with all the homemade fixings on the side. He believes barbecue unites and comforts, as a cuisine of both solace and celebration.
May 22, 2006 ·
As a child, Jane Hamill thought Barbie was the ultimate in cool. Now a fashion designer in Chicago, Hamill realizes her belief in a doll was a belief in her own skills, creativity and ability to succeed.
May 15, 2006 ·
New York City Finance Commissioner Martha Stark believes in numbers. Whether they are lotto tickets, school grades or municipal tax revenues, she says numbers shape our lives more than we realize.
May 8, 2006 ·
Elvia Bautista was devastated when her younger brother was killed in a gang shooting. Now, she believes in remembering all the victims of gang violence even when doing so may endanger her own safety.
May 1, 2006 ·
Returning home from a tour of duty in the Vietnam War, Miles Goodwin was touched by the compassion of a 10-year-old girl. Now, the lawyer and NPR listener also believes in giving kindness to strangers.
"In this brief space, a banker or a butcher, a painter or a social worker... will write about the rules they live by, the things they have found to be the basic values in their lives."
