Discover Inspiring Stories

Why does Minneapolis celebrate a giant pencil every year? In this episode of On Our Minds: Road Trip, hosts Zack and Helena head to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” to explore one of the city’s most delightfully weird traditions: the Giant Pencil Festival on Lake of the Isles. From dancing pencil costumes to a dramatic annual “sharpening” ceremony, this story highlights how creativity, humor, and community spirit turn a fallen tree into a beloved public art celebration. Plus, the h

Alexander Esquivel, an undocumented migrant from El Salvador who has lived in the U.S. for nearly 20 years, recounts his experience being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for two months in 2025.

Earlier this year, the federal government removed exhibits showing slavery and George Washington’s treatment of enslaved people at the President’s House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Community leaders quickly pushed back, both in person with activism and in court.

On Our Minds. Hosts Zack and Helena explore what “community” really means—from hometown sports teams and small-town festivals to unexpected spaces that bring people together.

his episode of On Our Minds Road Trip takes us to Columbia, Missouri, where drag performers are building community, creating joy, and challenging stereotypes.

For six-hundred years we have lived under the misconception that Columbus discovered America. What he did was stumble on a land already occupied by many people and many nations. In the center of that land were a people who call themselves Oyate: "the People." This is their story, in their words.

A documentary based on the stories of Lars Stavig, who immigrated to the U.S. in 1876, and his brother Knut, who stayed behind in Norway. The two exchanged more than 150 letters spanning more than five decades from 1881 to 1938, the Stavig Letters give voice and reality to the immigrant experience from the perspectives of both countries.

Three historic houses and the pioneering South Dakotans who called them home. The Berdahl-Rolvaag House, Minnehaha County; the Pickler Mansion, Faulkton; and the Mellette House, Watertown.

On this episode of Dakota Life, travel the path of Custer's 1874 expedition to the Black Hills, see a wrangler's view of the Custer State Park buffalo roundup, learn about a gardening project aimed at beating diabetes on the Standing Rock Reservation, hear a green power success story from Aberdeen, and enjoy a holiday heritage meal, Scandinavian style.

Lawrence Welk was born to Russian immigrant parents in Strasburg, North Dakota, where he developed a strong work ethic and love for music on the family farmstead. After touring the midwest for years, he was scouted by ABC in 1955 to create the "The Lawrence Welk Show," which still runs on public television stations. This biographical documentary explores the life and legacy of Lawrence Welk.

This is the compelling story of a country's fear, a great sadness, and, ultimately, heroism. It is the story of the Japanese-Americans in the war years of the 1940's.

Before Lincoln Park was known for its multimillion-dollar homes, the neighborhood was the beating heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, and the base of operations for a band of Puerto Rican revolutionaries known as the Young Lords. Audio-narrated descriptions of key visual elements are available.

A Stitch in Time follows the journey of America's oldest colonial militia flag, from the First Company of Bristol County Militia in the 1690s to the present day, as it undergoes delicate conservation under the eye of an expert textile conservator.

Passion for Snow highlights the role of people from Dartmouth College, Hanover NH and Northern New England in developing all aspects of the modern ski industry since 1910, including initiating early alpine ski racing to leading the 10th Mountain Division in WWII to creating the Olympics, most ski resorts and all aspects of the greater ski industry.

The history of the Montiers, a trailblazing Philadelphia family who were among the first African-American landowners in Pennsylvania.

From KUED comes a powerful five-part-series on the five American Indian Tribes of the Great Basin Region we now know as Utah. This episode examines the Paiute indigenous peoples that have called Utah home for centuries.

We explore the experiences of several Las Vegas veterans during the Vietnam War era. Their stories cover their enlistment, basic training, combat and the aftermath of their military experience.

Vegas PBS' "The Test" follows the development of the atomic bomb during the mid-1950s. Join us as we go behind the scenes to visit those small communities that were affected by nuclear fallout and reveal the turbulent struggles of Nevada’s Atomic backyard.

Discover the momentous events that defined the African American experience in Las Vegas throughout the Civil Rights era. These events altered the city’s history and changed thousands of lives. Our story introduces individuals who are connected to these events, and to each other.

A tall, sparking goddess from Paris. A small, flashy, desert town in the West. Las Vegas and its showgirl were an odd but perfect match. Theirs was a complicated relationship that helped lead Las Vegas to become the Entertainment Capital of the World. "The Showgirl: A Las Vegas Icon" reveals the Las Vegas showgirl’s fascinating story.