Forget meet-cutes: How lasting love can blossom in unexpected places

Forget the typical meet-cute; this episode features individuals whose paths crossed in extraordinarily unique circumstances. Alex and Sue Tatham met each other on the globally televised dating show "Blind Date" in the UK, leading to a wedding watched by millions. Heather and Tony are Disney enthu…

ARFID makes food feel dangerous. A woman found relief after a psilocybin trip

Imagine being afraid of a pickle. Or a banana. Or a nub of bread. That’s daily life for people with ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). It's an eating disorder not driven by weight or body image, but by fear, sensory overwhelm, or low appetite. People with this condition experience …

Lola leaves home: Following a nine-year-old exchange student’s adventure

How brave can a nine-year-old be? We follow Lola Fraisse from Kidderminster, England, as she leaves home for six months to live with a host family in Lüneburg, Germany. She learns a new language, new rules, and new ways to see herself. Along the way, Lola grows her confidence, builds friendships, …

A marathon swimmer and ultrarunner: surviving cancer, breaking records

After cancer, one woman swam farther than anyone ever had in a lake. Another ran 104 marathons in 104 days on a carbon-fiber running blade. Marathon swimmer Sarah Thomas returned to the water following aggressive breast cancer and went on to complete multiple record-setting open-water swims.  And…

What two suicide attempt survivors want you to know about staying alive

Meet two men who survived suicide attempts, and built lives around helping others imagine a future beyond despair.  Kevin Hines, one of the few to survive a jump from the Golden Gate Bridge, reflects on the instant regret, the long recovery, and the tools he uses when “brain pain” returns - record…

From The Pitt to NASA to FBI profilers: The experts who make movies and TV feel real

TV shows and movies set in places like field offices, courtrooms and hospitals entertain us, sure... But they also tell us something - about crime, medicine, danger, and heroism. So who makes sure they don’t get it wrong?  Meet three entertainment consultants whose real jobs exist far beyond the s…

Temple Grandin, Kerry Magro, and the power of autistic thinking

Meet two influential voices in autism advocacy whose lives and work have reshaped how the world understands neurodiversity.  Dr. Temple Grandin - a scientist, author, and animal behavior expert - reflects on growing up autistic, thinking in pictures, and building a career by leaning into the way h…

The surprising ways we ritual

Some rituals are spiritual. Some are silly. Some are inherited, and some are self-made. Casper ter Kuile, author of The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices, walks us through how we create all sorts of meaningful, grounding rituals. And you'll hear clips from past t…

What two mothers who relinquished custody want you to understand

What happens when a mother can’t raise her children? Not out of neglect, but because systems, partners, and survival leave her no real choice? This episode challenges the assumptions we place on “non-custodial mothers.” Rebekah Spicuglia explains how immigration rules, economic pressure, and unequ…

The PEZ Factor(y)! Inside the sweetest obsession

Step into the technicolor world of PEZ! We tour the Connecticut factory where more than 12 million tiny candies are pressed each day, guided by archivist Shawn Peterson, whose personal collection helped shape the Visitor Center. Meet Brian Trauman, the Guinness World Record holder whose thousands…