This I Believe: New England: Recent Episodes
The Public's Radio
After almost 15 years on The Public’s Radio, This I Believe - New England draws to a close this week. Frederic Reamer shares these final thoughts on the series.
After almost 15 years on The Public’s Radio, This I Believe - New England draws to a close this week. Frederic Reamer shares these final thoughts on the series.
Years ago famed sociologist Erving Goffman wrote about a concept he dubbed "impression management.
Years ago famed sociologist Erving Goffman wrote about a concept he dubbed "impression management.
Life is full of contradictions and inconsistencies, often in those moments when we yearn for clarity.
Life is full of contradictions and inconsistencies, often in those moments when we yearn for clarity.
Several years ago, political scientist Robert Putnam wrote a compelling book with the intriguing title Bowling Alone.
Several years ago, political scientist Robert Putnam wrote a compelling book with the intriguing title Bowling Alone.
So many of us are facing hard truths about racism in our country – both its painful legacy and its disturbing contemporary manifestations.
Perhaps it’s a truism, but it sure does seem that the older we get, the more we appreciate life’s fragility and are better able to feel gratitude for whatever good fortune comes our way.
The famed photographer Robert Frank once said, “The eye should learn to listen before it looks.
It’s a truism that adolescence poses all manner of challenges, not the least among them sorting out one’s identity.
It’s a truism that adolescence poses all manner of challenges, not the least among them sorting out one’s identity.
There is no doubt that all of us are coping with unprecedented challenges as we live amidst the swirl of health care challenges, social unrest, political turmoil, and glaring inequities.
Forgiveness is complicated, especially when we’ve been mistreated badly. Perhaps we think we should be able to rise above our anger and resentment and utter those simple words, “I forgive you.”
Forgiveness is complicated, especially when we’ve been mistreated badly. Perhaps we think we should be able to rise above our anger and resentment and utter those simple words, “I forgive you.”
All of us have memories, some joyful, some painful, and some that are, well, mainly complicated.
All of us have memories, some joyful, some painful, and some that are, well, mainly complicated.
Raise your hand if a book has changed your life, moved you to tears, or taken you to places you never imagined visiting.
Perhaps all of us are exhausted emotionally by the painful, steady stream of news about conflict in our world.
Perhaps all of us are exhausted emotionally by the painful, steady stream of news about conflict in our world.
For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced our appreciation of basic human connection.
How many of us have spent years driving and walking through familiar local neighborhoods without pausing to think about the rich and complex history that preceded their current configuration?
How many of us have spent years driving and walking through familiar local neighborhoods without pausing to think about the rich and complex history that preceded their current configuration?
Many of us have known friends and loved ones whose minds and mental faculties have slipped away as some form of dementia has tightened its unrelenting grip.
Our contemporary world seems saturated with complex black and white issues, especially our conversations about Black Lives Matter and other race-related challenges.
Our contemporary world seems saturated with complex black and white issues, especially our conversations about Black Lives Matter and other race-related challenges.
Many of us, no doubt, have been wondering during the past year whether there are any blessings to be found underneath the complex layers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many of us, no doubt, have been wondering during the past year whether there are any blessings to be found underneath the complex layers of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his novel A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway wrote “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.
In his novel A Farewell to Arms, Ernest Hemingway wrote “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong at the broken places.
Life is filled with all manner of challenges -- some small, some medium, and then there are the ones we don’t like to think about.
Life is filled with all manner of challenges -- some small, some medium, and then there are the ones we don’t like to think about.
We’re living in a time when the concepts of culture and community have taken on new meaning, especially in the midst of intense national discourse about race, ethnicity, and diversity.
There is so much to worry about in our world today: political turmoil, civil unrest, a pandemic, climate change.
There is so much to worry about in our world today: political turmoil, civil unrest, a pandemic, climate change.
Our nation’s history is replete with inspiring and poignant examples of self-sacrifice on behalf of the commonweal.
Our nation’s history is replete with inspiring and poignant examples of self-sacrifice on behalf of the commonweal.
For many of us, our recent transition to a new year was filled with a complicated mix of relief, sorrow, gratitude, and hopefulness about what lies ahead.
For many of us, our recent transition to a new year was filled with a complicated mix of relief, sorrow, gratitude, and hopefulness about what lies ahead.
There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has left so many of us feeling stuck with stay-at-home admonitions, frustrated by social- and physical-distancing protocols, and mired in sameness and more sameness.
There’s no question that the COVID-19 pandemic has left so many of us feeling stuck with stay-at-home admonitions, frustrated by social- and physical-distancing protocols, and mired in sameness and more sameness.
Let’s start with the obvious: The coronavirus has changed all of our lives in so many profound and unbidden ways.
Along with so many parts of our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated theater and arts venues that are at the heart of our community.
Along with so many parts of our lives, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated theater and arts venues that are at the heart of our community.
Here’s the headline: Journalism in the United States is at a crossroads, and that’s not hyperbole.
Here’s the headline: Journalism in the United States is at a crossroads, and that’s not hyperbole.
Who hasn’t noticed that life sometimes brings us its share of uninvited disappointments – some trivial, some truly profound?
Who hasn’t noticed that life sometimes brings us its share of uninvited disappointments – some trivial, some truly profound?
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the rules governing our daily lives.
As we march through our lives, it seems inevitable that we’ll look in the rearview mirror and reflect on our complex journeys.
As we march through our lives, it seems inevitable that we’ll look in the rearview mirror and reflect on our complex journeys.
Let’s start with the obvious: The COVID-19 pandemic has turned all of our lives upside down.
Let’s start with the obvious: The COVID-19 pandemic has turned all of our lives upside down.
Every life is bound to have its moments of despair and sorrow, amidst the joy and merriment.
Every life is bound to have its moments of despair and sorrow, amidst the joy and merriment.
Our contemporary world seems saturated with complex black and white issues, especially our conversations about Black Lives Matter and other race-related challenges.
Our contemporary world seems saturated with complex black and white issues, especially our conversations about Black Lives Matter and other race-related challenges.
Perhaps it’s a truism, but it sure does seem that the older we get, the more we appreciate life’s fragility and are better able to feel gratitude for whatever good fortune comes our way.
Perhaps it’s a truism, but it sure does seem that the older we get, the more we appreciate life’s fragility and are better able to feel gratitude for whatever good fortune comes our way.
How many of us have been tempted to rush to judgment when we come upon displays of ugly behavior, whether on the smartphone or television screen, during radio broadcasts, or up close and personal in our daily encounters?
How many of us have been tempted to rush to judgment when we come upon displays of ugly behavior, whether on the smartphone or television screen, during radio broadcasts, or up close and personal in our daily encounters?
For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced our appreciation of basic human connection.
For many of us, the COVID-19 pandemic has enhanced our appreciation of basic human connection.
So many of us are facing hard truths about racism in our country – both its painful legacy and its disturbing contemporary manifestations.
So many of us are facing hard truths about racism in our country – both its painful legacy and its disturbing contemporary manifestations.
There is no doubt that all of us are coping with unprecedented challenges as we live amidst the swirl of health care challenges, social unrest, political turmoil, and glaring inequities.
There is no doubt that all of us are coping with unprecedented challenges as we live amidst the swirl of health care challenges, social unrest, political turmoil, and glaring inequities.
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the rules governing our daily lives.
It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the rules governing our daily lives.
We’re living in a time when the concepts of culture and community have taken on new meaning, especially in the midst of intense national discourse about race, ethnicity, and diversity.
We’re living in a time when the concepts of culture and community have taken on new meaning, especially in the midst of intense national discourse about race, ethnicity, and diversity.
Let’s start with the obvious: The coronavirus has changed all of our lives in so many profound and unbidden ways. Don’t all of us have a new-found appreciation of life’s fragility and tenuousness? And, yet, amidst this pervasive challenge many of us have managed to find precious, if all too rare, moments of beauty. Let’s listen to John Minahan’s wise and timely insights.
Let’s start with the obvious: The coronavirus has changed all of our lives in so many profound and unbidden ways. Don’t all of us have a new-found appreciation of life’s fragility and tenuousness? And, yet, amidst this pervasive challenge many of us have managed to find precious, if all too rare, moments of beauty. Let’s listen to John Minahan’s wise and timely insights.
Perhaps most of us have spent some time anticipating our own deaths, our own mortality.
Gravestones can host profound messages that convey so much about the stories of our lives.
Gravestones can host profound messages that convey so much about the stories of our lives.
It’s no secret that many people struggle in life: job-related problems, relationship challenges, mental health issues, financial uncertainty.
It’s no secret that many people struggle in life: job-related problems, relationship challenges, mental health issues, financial uncertainty.
Many of us have known friends and loved ones whose minds and mental faculties have slipped away as some form of dementia has tightened its unrelenting grip.
Many of us have known friends and loved ones whose minds and mental faculties have slipped away as some form of dementia has tightened its unrelenting grip.
In his novel Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin writes these evocative words: “Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.
In his novel Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin writes these evocative words: “Perhaps home is not a place but simply an irrevocable condition.
Raise your hand if a book has changed your life, moved you to tears, or taken you to places you never imagined visiting.
Raise your hand if a book has changed your life, moved you to tears, or taken you to places you never imagined visiting.
The famed photographer Robert Frank once said, “The eye should learn to listen before it looks.
The famed photographer Robert Frank once said, “The eye should learn to listen before it looks.
Imagine yourself as a high school English teacher trying to inspire your students to grapple with the complex nuances embedded in Shakespearean literature.
Imagine yourself as a high school English teacher trying to inspire your students to grapple with the complex nuances embedded in Shakespearean literature.
For thirty-six years I kicked myself for blowing a chance to see my musical muse in concert.
For thirty-six years I kicked myself for blowing a chance to see my musical muse in concert.
Back in the New York City subways, after two years in Niger, blacks no longer looked the same.
Back in the New York City subways, after two years in Niger, blacks no longer looked the same.
Here we are, right smack in the heart of another New England winter. For some, this stretch of months with early sunsets is filled with dread -- frosty...
Here we are, right smack in the heart of another New England winter. For some, this stretch of months with early sunsets is filled with dread -- frosty...