PBS News Hour - Brief But Spectacular

When Jasson Howell Sr. was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for heroin distribution, his incarceration upended the lives of his four children. Our Brief But Spectacular team first spoke with the Howell family in 2019. Seven years later, they return to reflect on the toll of that separation, the years they lost and how they've rebuilt their lives together. PBS News is supported by - https://...

For generations, theater programs have given young people a place to find community and discover their voices. For Jasmine Amy Rogers, those experiences helped launch a remarkable career. At just 26 years old, she earned a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut as Betty Boop in "Boop! The Musical." Jasmine shares her Brief But Spectacular take on growing up a theater kid. PBS News is supported by...

Adam Met is best known as the bassist of the multi-platinum band AJR. But offstage, he's a climate scholar, educator and advocate. His recent book, "Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World," explores how connection drives action. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on building fan-based movements. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs....

Playing sports teaches more than just the game, it helps kids build confidence and navigate challenges both on and off the field. Mason Thomas brings that philosophy to Harlem Lacrosse in Compton, California, where he mentors students on and off the field. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on changing the lineup in lacrosse. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fund...

From Michelin-starred kitchens to guest starring on Sesame Street, chef Melissa King has done it all, including breaking records on "Top Chef." She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on food, identity and the family recipes behind her debut book, "Cook Like a King." PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Actor and comedian Lyric Lewis discovered her love of performance through improv. She went on to make history as one of the first Black women in The Groundlings, the Los Angeles troupe celebrating its 50th anniversary. She reflects on finding her authentic voice in comedy and gives her Brief But Spectacular take on why life is a play. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/f...

Wendy Red Star is a multimedia artist who grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Her work spans photography, sculpture, fiber arts and performance to celebrate Native identity and remind us why art matters in how we're remembered. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on channeling identity through art. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted o...

Beka Ntsanwisi is working to empower older women in South Africa, where the average life expectancy is in the early to mid-60s. She started a soccer league with a mission to introduce women over 50 to the sport. Ntsanwisi shares her Brief But Spectacular take on empowering 'soccer grannies.' PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...

Edgar Ramirez is an LA-based artist who transforms street signs. Inspired by the industrial landscape where he grew up, he turns the signs into striking pieces of art that highlight the realities of his community. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on the signs of exploitation. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Julian Shapiro-Barnum is the creator and host of "Recess Therapy," an online series where he talks with kids about everything from friendship to the meaning of life. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on what adults can learn from the clarity and compassion of children. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Journalist Nayeema Raza's new podcast, "Smart Girl Dumb Questions," is all about embracing curiosity and realizing there's no such thing as a dumb question. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on learning from asking the questions we all wonder about. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Freediver and ocean conservationist Hanli Prinsloo has spent her life helping others connect with the ocean and understand our responsibility to care for it. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on protecting what we love. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Minnijean Brown-Trickey is one of the original members of the Little Rock Nine, the teenagers who integrated Central High School after the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education ruling. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on walking like you belong. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tailyr Irvine is a photojournalist from the Flathead Reservation in Montana, whose work focuses on nuanced portrayals of life in Native communities. Her recent project examines the U.S. government–imposed system that defines Native identity through fractional measures of ancestry. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on questions of belonging. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/ne...

Kaitlin Davis is a social worker in Oklahoma who drives close to nine hours round-trip in the flatlands to meet face-to-face with foster children. With a shortage of foster families, especially in rural areas, long-distance placements are stretching a child welfare system that aims to help youth navigate sudden loss. Davis shares her Brief But Spectacular take on building hope for better futures....

At the beginning of this year, the community of Altadena was one of several devastated by wildfires in California. Gina Clayton-Johnson, the founder of Essie Justice Group, lost her home and some irreplaceable family treasures. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on putting the pieces back together. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See a...

Kayla Stuart is a Tennessee-based urban forester who leads the organization Tree CPR to create healthier. stronger communities as climate change escalates. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on the power of trees. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Joseph Martinez is the longtime school principal of Carpenter Community Charter in Los Angeles. Families know him as the principal who literally picks up trash in the morning and dresses up for school plays, but also as the steady hand through fires, immigration fears and lockdown drills. Here's his Brief But Spectacular take on bringing hospitality to education. PBS News is supported by - https:/...

At the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, a new children's library inside the visitors' center is giving kids a place to read and learn during the often long waits to see their loved ones. Tonight, a grandmother and her 10-year-old grandson share their Brief But Spectacular take on connecting through reading. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on...

In this season of gathering around the table, we hear from self-proclaimed proud "AG youth" Anixia Davila from Salinas Valley, California, known as the "salad bowl of the world." Davila shares her Brief But Spectacular take on what she's learned about leadership, responsibility and community through farming. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. Se...

Sometimes, the right learning environment can change everything. For Courtney Irwin, that place was a youth development center in Salinas, California. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on how cooking and community helped her find her way. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For decades, David Kelley has helped people unlock their creativity. A pioneer of design, he founded the Stanford d.school as a place for creative, cross-disciplinary problem solving. He reflects on the journey that shaped his belief that everyone has the capacity to be creative and his Brief But Spectacular take on creativity and design. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/abo...

Dana Vanderford and Fred Theus work together in Los Angeles County's homelessness prevention unit. It uses AI-driven data to identify people at risk of losing their homes and offers support that can help prevent homelessness. They share their Brief But Spectacular take on preventing homelessness before it happens. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Aca...

PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Tiffany Yu is the founder of Diversability and author of "The Anti-Ableist Manifesto." After a childhood accident left her with a permanent disability, Yu dedicated her life to creating communities where people with disabilities of every kind can be seen, supported and celebrated. She gives her Brief But Spectacular take on embracing disability pride. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org...