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
BON APPETIT
53 Olympic Gold Medals.
How one athlete overcame a genetic disorder and a tragic accident to become a treasure worth more than gold.
Karissa Trinchera was born prematurely, a start that increased her odds of developing more slowly than typical children. Soon after, doctors discovered she also had Stickler Syndrome, a condition that causes vision, hearing and joint problems. Read Story
BE MORE THAN EXPECTED
All the Right Notes.
Liz Stookey Sunde carries on the cause of love and making us all better human beings through Music to Life. Read Story
THE POWER OF MUSIC
The Enduring Smile of the Mona Lisa Still Calms Us Today.
The mystery and the maternal security of the world’s most famous painting.
A smile is the most universally recognized language of friendship. It crosses cultures and bridges languages. Read Story
SMILE
Milton Wright, Father of Famous Fliers.
The stern man who believed humans were never meant to fly was overcome with emotion when Wilbur took him on his first flight.
The Wright family history is the story of American history. The family tree’s roots reach back through abolitionists, clergymen and ancestors who landed at Plymouth only two decades after the Puritans. Read Story
TAKE FLIGHT
Shakespeare and Love.
The bard speaks of love over 2,500 times in his collected works. He knows a thing or two about the transformative power of our deepest emotion.
“And when love speaks, the voice of all the gods make heaven drowsy with the harmony.” So writes William Shakespeare in “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” Read Story
LOVE
Arthur Brooks, the Professor of Happiness.
Being happy in this life doesn’t come easy for any of us. Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks has discovered timeless ways to find fulfillment and happiness, no matter our situation.
His class on happiness has the longest waiting list in Harvard’s catalog. He recently published a book with Oprah Winfrey. He is in demand on college campuses nearly everywhere. Read Story
BE HAPPY
Steph Curry Keeps Hitting the Shots that Matter.
In his new book for children, the NBA superstar encourages kids to take courage and believe in themselves — something the once-underrated hoop star understands.
Steph Curry knows what it’s like to be overlooked. “Coming up through basketball, I didn’t pass the eye test,” he says. “I was a late bloomer.” Read Story
