This I Believe

As a teenager, Seeta Sistla dabbled with perfume but found the floral scents to be overpowering for her. But, after watching her father lovingly care for her ill mother, she has come to see that the perfume he anoints his wife with is a powerful statement of his love.

As a writer, Silas House doesn't like to use the word "love" too much. But, when it comes to his dogs, House knows that they embody love in every sense of the word—the giving and receiving of affection, practicing kindness and patience, and enjoying every single moment.

Many people have a favorite Thanksgiving dish. It’s not turkey or pumpkin pie for Jocelyn Fong, but something that combines American tradition with her father’s Chinese heritage. Fong believes her simple dish helps her connect with her mix of cultures.

Iraq War veteran Michael J. Whitehead shares some of the lessons he learned on the battlefield in Iraq, about the strength of the Iraqi people, and the importance of leaving the country in better shape than he found it.

When citizens in Michael Seifert’s Texas border town couldn’t get respect from local elected officials, they didn’t get angry. They got organized. Seifert and his neighbors discovered that voting was the best tool they had to improve their community.

When Clint Morehead was still in medical school, he often spent upwards of 10 hours a day studying at the library. More important than the aesthetics of the space around him, Morehead finds that libraries provide a valuable place to go—inside himself.

Korinthia Klein’s grandfather was her biggest fan when she was a young music student. When she finally learned his favorite song, Klein had only one chance to play it for him. She believes it was more than a musical gift. It was one of love and comfort. Hundreds of additional This I Believe episodes can be found at thisibelieve.org.

Massachusetts teenager Kamaal Majeed believes being content with himself and defining his own life are more important than adhering to any racial stereotypes that his peers may try to force upon him. More This I Believe episodes can be found at thisibelieve.org.

What kind of world are we leaving younger generations? Manhattan teenager Josh Rittenberg says all parents worry about their children’s futures. But he believes he and his peers will see a better world. More This I Believe episodes at thisibelieve.org.

We know them. We depend on them. We call them out on cold, rainy nights. Now, college professor Sarah Adams tells us why her life philosophy is built around being cool to the pizza delivery dude. More This I Believe episodes at thisibelieve.org.

When Mary Courtwright was young, she used to think courage was a quality that people were born with. But over time, as she has had to make tough life choices, she has found that courage is something quiet and steadfast, always there to help her make decisions.

Curt Columbus feels that our increasing reliance on technology is making us more isolated and less interactive with each other. By regularly visiting with neighbors, Columbus believes these small conversations and connections are the key to a vibrant democratic society. More episodes at thisibelieve.org.

Winter Prosapio and her family endured a series of medical and financial troubles that left them feeling broken and bruised. Ms. Prosapio called on an old family saying that gave her the strength to get through hard times.

As the former highest-ranking official in California's elementary and secondary public school system, Delaine Eastin believes that investing in children's education is not just the right thing to do, but also a patriotic necessity. More episodes at thisibelieve.org.

As a Naval aviator, Congressman, and parent, John McCain was guided by a belief in honor, faith, and service. They are values he tried to model for his children and future generations of Americans. He died on August 25, 2018. More episodes in this series can be found at thisibelieve.org.

Once a poster-child for yuppie success with all the trimmings, Kathy Holwadel's world fell apart just when she thought she had it all. She got a divorce, her mother died, her son went to jail, and she quit her fancy career. But oddly enough, it all seemed to make sense.

As a young boy, Kevin Myers felt outraged at being treated unfairly because of his life circumstances. However, his mother taught him an important lesson in forgiving others that he still carries with him today.

As a young immigrant to the United States, Yasmina Shaush feels the weight of several generations who have high expectations for her. Ms. Shaush has come to believe that the beauty of America is the opportunity for success through hard work and determination. More episodes at thisibelieve.org.

Delia Motavalli has grown up watching movies about fairy tales and princesses. But after she received a piece of advice from her mother, Delia has come to realize her own definition of "happily ever after." More episodes at thisibelieve.org.

When Dale Long asked himself the large life question, "Why are we here?," he wasn't always sure of the answer. But one night of stargazing with his children brought him clarity on his place in the universe.