Showing results by author "Jay Allison - editor" in All Categories

Elizabeth Deutsch Earle reflects on her original This I Believe Essay, first aired in the 1950s when she was then the youngest contributor to the program, in "Have I Learned Anything Important Since I was Sixteen?" This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from...

Astrophysicist and novelist Alan Lightman explains how the unknown fuels human creativity in "The Power of Mysteries," his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the...

Frederic Reamer finds his belief in justice tested every time he faces criminals and victims at parole board hearings in "The Real Consequences of Justice," his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the...

Harold Hongju Koh describes how the partition of Korea and his role as a human rights official in the State Department shaped his belief in "The Bright Lights of Freedom", for NPR's This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous...

Musician Loudon Wainwright III explains that the joy in writing a song comes from the mystery of its creation, in "How Do You Believe in a Mystery?", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to...

Steve Porter uses his experience on the family farm to explain his "50-Percent Theory of Life" for NPR's This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The...

Professor and attorney Michael Mullane says that we are all protected by and accountable to the law, in "The Rule of Law," his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the...

Poet Joy Harjo reflects on the importance of maintaining her ancestors' connection to the sun, in "Talking with the Sun,"* her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the...

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger explains how wanting children before conception can lead to greater good in the world, in "When Children Are Wanted," her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public...

Andrew Sullivan reflects on what some of America's most fundamental values mean to him in "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness", his contribution to NPR's This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown...

Political commentator Mark Shields expresses his faith in politics and admiration for politicians willing to take an unpopular stand, in "The People Have Spoken", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from...

A daughter's question about their dead cat leads Jamaica Ritcher to realize her beliefs, in "There Is More to Life Than My Life," her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown...

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, musical librettist and producer Oscar Hammerstein explains the importance of declaring your happiness, even in the face of global conflicts and personal disappointments, in "Happy Talk", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I...

Teenager Josh Rittenberg contemplates the past his ancestors overcome and the future his generation faces in "Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day," his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the...

Former Secretary of State, and first generation American, Colin Powell explains the importance of remaining an open and welcoming nation for NPR's This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the...

Miles Goodwin describes the profound impact of a small "Connection Between Strangers" for NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the thought that begins with the series title. The pieces...

Colleen Shaddox explains how music unites her family even during difficult times in "Jazz is the Sound of God Laughing", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing the...

Fashion designer Jane Hamill describes the endless possibilities of clothes and imagination in "A Grown-Up Barbie", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This short audio essay is an excerpt from the audiobook edition of NPR's This I Believe anthology. This I Believe is a National...

Poet Gregory Orr reflects on the power of poetry to help people endure traumatic events and isolation in "The Making of Poems", his contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a National Public Radio program that features Americans, from the famous to the unknown, completing...

In this essay originally aired in the 1950s, deaf and blind author, activist, and lecturer Helen Keller discusses her vision of faith and how it gives her hope for the future of mankind in "The Light of a Brighter Day", her contribution to NPR’s This I Believe series. This I Believe is a...