My Unsung Hero

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: Four years after his mother's death, Brad returned to the Manhattan diner where he'd last seen her and found unexpected comfort in a group of strangers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Eric Johnson recalls the final weeks of his husband Dennis’s life after a lung cancer diagnosis. A compassionate nurse offers clear guidance about dying, helping the couple face uncertainty and recognize the meaning of Dennis’s last moments. Eric shares the intimate experience of holding Dennis, expressing love, and discovering how preparation can bring peace to profound loss.

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: When a group of girls were bullying Jennifer in middle school, someone unexpected stepped in and changed the way she saw the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rika Matsuda, a Japanese politics and Mandarin student at National Taiwan University, recalls a childhood bicycle crash that led to an unforgettable encounter with a stranger. While waiting for her grandfather, he comforted her by teaching her to fold an origami crane. Seven years later, a hidden message inside the crane brings new meaning to the moment and inspires Rika’s commitment to kindness.

At 16, Reed Norwood falls asleep at the wheel and becomes trapped beneath his burning truck with serious injuries. As flames close in, an anonymous trucker arrives with fire extinguishers and holds them back long enough for help to come. The mysterious rescue shapes Reed’s recovery and inspires a lifetime of service as a Colorado fire captain.

At 11, Teyu Chou arrives from Taiwan unable to speak English and struggles with loneliness and anxiety at school. A compassionate classmate begins meeting him in the library, using picture cards and steady encouragement to help him find his voice. Years later, Teyu reflects on the friendship that changed his life.

Gary Knight, an award-winning photojournalist, educator, and founder of the Seven Foundation, recounts a terrifying cycling crash on a remote Scottish road. Three passing motorcyclists, newly trained paramedics, stop to treat his injuries and stay by his side until help arrives. He reflects on his closest brush with death, the isolation of being hurt, and the kindness of strangers.

Tracy Zito, an everyday listener and mother, tells a harrowing near-drowning tale about her child at a Lake Michigan beach. She describes losing sight of her son to a powerful current, her desperate struggle in the surf, and a stranger who rushed in to take the boy and bring them safely ashore. The story centers on surprise, relief, and deep gratitude.

Kate Rogan, a former Peace Corps volunteer who returned to El Salvador decades later, shares a moving travel story. She recounts receiving an unexpected act of kindness on a canceled flight after her mother’s death. The conversation highlights cross-cultural bonds, compassion from strangers, and the lasting ties she maintained with friends abroad.

Jake Berry, a man from Manchester, New Hampshire, shares a college-night story about friends who rushed to help during a medical emergency. He recounts learning about the crisis, strangers who drove him home over an hour, the relief of being reunited, and how that night forged lasting bonds and gratitude.