As the cautionary saying goes, “History repeats itself.” In the case of its radio series from NPR, however, repetition is a good thing.

NPR’s This I Believe, a national project that presents America's core beliefs and values through the voices of its most famous citizens and everyday Americans, airs on more than 600 public radio stations, including WFYI. Each week, NPR features a three-minute essay read by its author and introduced by award-winning producer Jay Allison on NPR's newsmagazines Morning Edition (5 to 9 am on 90.1 FM HD1) or All Things Considered (4 to 6 pm on 90.1 FM HD1), among the most listened-to programs in radio.

I believe that our greatest strength in dealing with the world is the openness of our society and the welcoming nature of our people. A good stay in our country is the best public diplomacy tool we have. – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell

This I Believe is based on the popular 1950s radio show of the same name, hosted by iconic journalist Edward R. Murrow. The original series featured well-known essayists, including Presidents Harry Truman and Herbert Hoover, Eleanor Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Jackie Robinson and Albert Einstein, as well as poets, cab drivers, corporate leaders, and hundreds of people willing to share the guiding principles by which they lived. Their words brought comfort and inspiration to a country worried about the Cold War, McCarthyism and racial division. The program had an estimated audience of 39 million listeners and spawned a weekly column in 85 leading newspapers and four internationally best-selling books.

The producers hope the project will extend beyond the nation’s airwaves through outreach that will encourage Americans to engage one another in open, honest communication. “Our goal is to create a safe, respectful space where Americans from all walks of life can participate in a dialogue with the potential to inform, inspire and transform,” says producer Dan Gediman. This I Believe is an ambitious undertaking to document the beliefs and values of today’s citizens and to remind people about the original series’ essays from “the Greatest Generation.” The earlier series aired over 1,000 essays and created a comprehensive portrait of the 1950s.