David

There’s a kind of mystery in sitting calmly, patiently, attentively and tuning into someone else’s personal story and life journey. In this special program, you’ll hear the reflective insights of people who listen for a living: physicians, counselors and clergy.

Are we still living with the racial divide left over from the Civil War? This provocative audio documentary explores the history of a conflict that nearly tore America apart.

As our world faces the spectacle of Russia still harming civilians while it rampages through Ukraine, we re-visit our award-winning series, “The Power of Nonviolence”. The focus is to tell poignant stories about alternatives to military destruction and other violence, and to illustrate that there are more humane and saner ways to resolve conflict — a theme urgently needed now.

In this program, we learn about how people develop different levels of empathy. Daniel Goleman is a former New York Times science reporter specializing in how brain function affects the way we feel and perceive life.

Our program Uncommon Ground, which re-tells an amazing chapter of recent American history when people on opposite sides of the abortion debate actually became friends

We’re excited to let you know about our new podcast! You’ll hear stories of spiritual caregivers (chaplains, medical professionals, social workers and others) who strive to be a peaceful, healing presence on the front lines of many social and personal concerns.

In Justice Denied, our newly released podcast episode, Humankind takes a deep dive into what many regard as the most shameful U.S. Supreme Court ruling ever.

In this episode of Humankind, David Freudberg traveled to a Buddhist Monastery in rural Vermont, to hear the profound wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh, a soft-spoken Vietnamese monk, who tries to cool the fires of global conflict by advocating compassion, loving speech, and deep listening.

When America lost John Lewis, who died last weekend at age 80, part of our nation's moral compass was silenced. Many have learned of his remarkable life story: the child of poor Alabama sharecroppers who -- through deep moral convictions -- came to be known as the "conscience of Congress."

Meet Charlie Starbuck, a volunteer in San Francisco, locally revered for the thousands of street trees he's planted. In this free Humankind episode, we also hear from the organization Charlie works with, Friends of the Urban Forest, as well as the city’s official Urban Forester, an employee at the Department of Public Works.

For medical patients up against a dire prognosis, inmates locked in isolation, survivors of a natural disaster, college students facing an identity crisis and others in distress, the quiet profession of spiritual caregivers can provide an indispensable lifeline.

Hear these free episodes of the Humankind on Public Radio Podcast

Stories of caregivers who foster personal transformation

As we approach Martin Luther King Day – our annual time to honor the tradition of nonviolent social change – I wanted to let you know that our full Humankind public radio series on this theme is now available free online.