Kind World

In 2014, Melissa Turner went above and beyond the bond of sisterhood to become a surrogate for her identical twin, Jen. Five years since the birth of Jen's own twin girls, the sisters have experienced tremendous joy and unimaginable tragedy.

José Bou went from solitary confinement to college professor and youth mentor.

A young man fled his country for the U.S. after his life was threatened. He lost everything and spiraled into a deep depression. That's when a family stepped up to help him rebuild his life.

When David Pradel was going through a hard time, Nate Edwards was there to help. But David didn't know that Nate was suffering from depression, too.

Six years ago, Dylan Siegel thought of a way to help his friend living with a rare liver disease. Now, his idea is funding life-changing scientific research.

After a chance meeting on an airplane, school volunteer LynnEllen was inspired to help Timothy feel closer to home during his first deployment to Afghanistan. The letters he received were as unexpected as their meeting.

A couple forced into homelessness finds shelter and community in a tiny house village built by volunteers.

When Chef Rebecca Kelly-Manders met Quintin Storey, she knew he was perfect for her new culinary program catering to a special population: people with felony convictions. It's a population Rebecca and Quintin know intimately. They're both felons.

In "The Rhythm Within," we spoke to Jonathan Mande and Jorge Perez-Albela about how they developed a close bond through drumming. Here are some additional highlights from our conversation with them at the WBUR studios.

A boy from the Democratic Republic of Congo moves to Boston with his family after living through harrowing civil unrest. As he struggles in his new reality, a drumming teacher steps in and helps him find his identity.

Sara Cunningham struggled when her son told her he was gay. Now she volunteers as a stand-in mom at same-sex weddings when the biological parents refuse to attend.

A woman with a rare disease and her husband decide to expand their little family by adopting boys who all share the same rare disease she does.

Growing up in a violent and chaotic home almost pushed Aaron Stark to commit a mass shooting. He says the simple acts of kindness from his friends stopped him from making a horrible mistake.

A Syrian man is stuck at an airport terminal for months and a determined stranger makes it her mission to help him get out.

Kind World is a show about transformative acts of kindness. We've got stories that will inspire you, lift your spirit, and stories that may even make you tear up a little. Our new season begins April 16. Subscribe now and don't miss an episode.

Reporter Shirley Wang tells the story of her father, Lin Wang, a cat-litter scientist who befriended NBA Hall-of-Famer Charles Barkley.

Coach Kevin Motsinger was one of many North Carolinians displaced by Hurricane Florence earlier this year. Despite his own devastating losses, the 45-year-old high school football coach focused on rebuilding his small, rural town.

Iowa basketball player Jordan Bohannon had the perfect opportunity to break an existing free throw record and solidify his name in Iowa sports history. He decided to sacrifice it all for the sake of one family.

Community worker Cathy Heying realized that cars are the lifeline for many people with financial struggles. She decided to dedicate herself to helping others get that lifeline back.

A bereaved grandfather was looking for cards of his deceased son, who used to play in the MLB. When he reached out to an avid baseball card collector for help, he got way more than he ever expected.

When Jenn Carson found out her father was a serial killer, she thought she was doomed to follow a dark path. But then she met a teacher who could see "the goodness" in her.

Lenny White always wanted a job that would bring him purpose. After becoming a barber, he realized his trims could offer so much more to men with dementia.

Drew Bell knew he wanted to be in his high school's marching band even though he couldn't walk. A friend's act of kindness, and sacrifice, helped him do just that.

Baby Aubree was born nearly three months early and was diagnosed with a rare chromosomal disorder. One of her therapists helped her mother record songs to play to Aubree when her parents are away.

Much like addressing racism, covering a tattoo can be more complicated than getting the original.