The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

By the time Claudette Colvin was 15 years old, she had a well-developed sense of justice. When she was ordered in 1955 to give up her seat to a young white woman in what was considered a “colored” section on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, she refused. Also: today’s stories, including a look at how originalism is influencing today’s Supreme Court, California’s new food waste recycling law, and truth and reconciliation commissions in Gambia. Join the Monitor's Kim Campbell and Clay Collins for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

A new Pew Research Center survey looks at how Americans – 91% of whom believe in God as described in the Bible or a higher power – have thought about life in a difficult year that has also seen destructive wildfires, flooding, and tornadoes. Pew conducted the survey to solicit “views on why terrible things happen.” Also: today’s stories, including a look at China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Rwanda’s intervention in Mozambique, and cybersecurity education in schools. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

It’s that time of year, when Americans settle in for their annual viewing of the Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The story of a man saved from suicide by a guardian angel who shows him how meaningful his life has been, is widely seen as the most inspiring film ever made. Also: today’s stories, including freedom of speech under Taliban rule, a look at how Britain could help solve homelessness, and the use of coca leaves in Colombian cuisine. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

“With the advent of NIL deals,” The Athletic Pulse newsletter writes, “the landscape is fundamentally altered from a business perspective.” Also, today’s stories include settler attacks on Palestinians, the worldwide gig economy, and the 10 best films of 2021. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Lindsey McGinnis for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

What does barbecue taste like after a devastating tornado? In Mayfield, Kentucky, it tastes like brotherly love, prepped with a dry rub of compassion and empathy.

Also: today’s stories, including a look at the James Webb Space Telescope, whether the U.S. can transition away from fossil fuels, and France’s eco-friendly fashion. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Trauma has become a modern buzzword. But decades of research incontrovertibly reveal that most people who experience violent and life-threatening events do not develop post-traumatic stress disorder, a new book reveals. Also: today’s stories, including the warning systems for tornadoes, why young Latvians are coming back home, and how people in Sudan are still fighting for democracy. Join the Monitor's Stephen Humphries and Kim Campbell for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Ever think about pulling up stakes and setting up somewhere new? Some Americans see the unmatched “land of opportunity” label on the United States as fading. Also: today’s stories, including Russia’s thinking on NATO expansion, why record numbers of Americans are single, and a balance of preservation and inclusivity at a tribal college. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Jessica Mendoza for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As journalists, we have an obligation to expose injustices. But at the Monitor we take equally seriously our duty to shed light on the full tapestry of humanity. When we choose to see each other as vibrant, thoughtful individuals, it becomes clear just how interwoven our threads really are. Also: today’s stories, including a look at retail thefts in California, the stories of five Navajo women, and intergenerational living on a college campus. Join the Monitor's Noelle Swan and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Beneath these stories is a larger issue: How do societies balance individual rights with efforts to act for the collective good? In some ways, the entire structure of Western political parties is aligned around the differing answers to this question. Also, today’s stories include vaccine doubts in Germany, the Miss Universe pageant, and a review of West Side Story. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Rita Rose Williams turned a $40 tip to a waitress into more than $9,000 in donations. She didn’t plan it. But Ms. Williams certainly nudged it along. Also: today’s stories, including a look at what’s driving opposition to vaccine mandates, Biden’s democracy summit, and how açaí berries are providing a path to sustainable farming in Brazil. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Noelle Swan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.