In general, being impulsive is not a good thing. But people who risk their lives for strangers don’t think before they act. They just act. The three Americans who took down armed gunmen on a train to Paris said their military training was not as important as their instinct to help. Many studies have been done on intuitive thinking and reflective thinking. Researchers learned that it’s possible to develop a person’s automatic response to help along with a willingness to act without thinking about the consequences. Listen to hear more about the key to being a hero.
Story Length: 5:09
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January 27, 2022
2:59
Justus Rosenberg, a beloved literature professor, died at age 100 in October 2021. Rosenberg’s death was an opportunity for his friends to remember and share his life story, which included helping to rescue artists and intellectuals from the Nazis as a teenager during World War II. Rosenberg escaped being sent to a Polish labor camp and fought alongside Americans on D-Day before teaching at Bard College for almost 60 years. Listen to hear what Rosenberg had to say about his work during WWII and to learn how he impacted his many students.
Read MoreDecember 3, 2019
6:47
A filmmaker has brought an American heroine to life. The movie Harriet tells the story of Harriet Tubman, an escaped slave who risked her life many times to lead hundreds of her fellow slaves to freedom. The filmmaker wanted to show Tubman’s superhero qualities, along with her humanity, to make a legendary historical figure seem more real. Listen to hear the filmmaker explain why she was drawn to Harriet Tubman and how a hero from the 1800s can still inspire us today.
Read MoreJanuary 13, 2015
3:09
France and the world community were stunned when Islamic radicals carried out two attacks in Paris last week. One attack was on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo for its anti-Islamic cartoons, the other on a Jewish grocery store. The terrorists killed 17 people. The attack on journalists was a first, but targeting Jews isn’t new in France. Listen to learn more about the attacks and the response of the French and Jewish communities.
Read MoreSeptember 11, 2013
7:22
What is heroism? Explore this question through a discussion with author Conn Iggulden, who wrote a book about heroes throughout time. From Florence Nightingale to Harry Houdini to the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93, heroes of all different kinds have shown admirable bravery. This story discusses the courage and grace that makes heroes of ordinary people.
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