The Pass It On.com Podcast

Listen to the wonderful story of how the love of skating on ice led to the invention of the Zamboni. From the first time humans thought to strap bones on their feet to skate on ice to the multiple attempts at creating a frozen surface good enough to use as a skating rink, to the athletic and popularity of Sonja Henie to how Frank Zamboni created the Zamboni as we know it today.

Listen to the amazing story of Larry Doby and others who achieved amazing feats of athleticism, inventiveness and fame but came in second place. Even though they were mostly forgotten by the general public, their stories and inspiring accomplishments are still worth remembering today.

In rural Sierra Leone, where distance often stands between children and their dreams, Mustapha's journey from shoeless schoolboy to education pioneer began with a two-mile walk to school. Decades later, he's still moving forward. Knowledge... Pass It On.

Listen to our latest podcast featuring the story of how the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was created & how it became a testament to the talent, dedication and passion of hundreds of women who played. They shattered stereotypes, captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on the history of American sport. Their story serves as a powerful reminder of the pioneering spirit that...

What if the most powerful love story in American history was written on a battlefield? Today, we're traveling back to the Civil War—an era of unimaginable courage, sacrifice, and against all odds… incredible love. Get ready to meet Sullivan and Sarah Bellew, and a letter that will absolutely take your breath away.

At 16, Allie Newman's life changed overnight when she was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. What followed was a grueling 12-month battle involving intensive chemotherapy, a hip replacement, total femur and knee replacement. After beating cancer once, she faced a devastating relapse requiring the removal of most of one lung. Now cancer-free for seven years, Allie has graduated college, traveled the worl...

Among history's greatest composers—Bach, Handel, Mozart—one name stands apart: Ludwig van Beethoven. This is the story of a musical genius who faced an unthinkable fate. Just as he reached the height of his craft, Beethoven began losing his hearing. Instead of surrendering to his imparement he vowed to "seize fate by the throat" and composed his most transcendent work—a symphony so powerful it con...

In the mid-1800s, Milton Wright was a devoted preacher traveling the Midwest while his college-educated wife Susan nurtured their children's curiosity at home. When Milton brought home a simple toy—made of bamboo, cork, paper, and a rubber band—he couldn't have imagined it would spark a revolution. His sons, nicknamed Ulam and Bubz, became obsessed with the mechanics of flight. Despite dropping ou...

Meet a young woman whose life changed forever at 18 when a routine medical procedure left her paralyzed from the waist down. While most teenagers were preparing for college and planning their futures, Mallory Weggemann was learning to navigate a world that had suddenly become unrecognizable. In the depths of despair she discovered an unexpected truth... that the words her father whispered to her e...

Meet a boy who in 1906 would revolutionize how the entire world shares stories. While other teenagers were content with farm chores and simple pleasures, one extraordinary young man was dreaming up technologies that wouldn't become reality for decades. Born into a world without electricity or plumbing, Philo Farnsworth would go on to become the inventor of television. Learn how Philo took his curi...

Journey back to 1900 to meet a woman who defied every expectation of her time. While high society ladies sipped tea in elegant parlors, one extraordinary woman was braving blizzards, bandits, and wild animals in the rugged Montana wilderness. Born into slavery and freed at age 30, Mary Fields would go on to become the first African-American woman to deliver U.S. mail—earning her legendary status a...

What if I told you that one of history's most influential scientists was once labeled 'unteachable' and 'talentless' by his teachers? Listen to the remarkable story of Ernst Mach—a name you might recognize from supersonic flight as in "Mach 1 speed"—whose journey from academic failure to scientific genius is truly extraordinary. As a shy Austrian teenager in the 1850s, Ernst Mach struggled with cl...

In this second part of our two-part series with Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal, we dive deep into the practical side of building resilience. If you missed part one, she introduced us to life's challenging "three C's" (challenge, change, and complexity) and shared her powerful insight that we all have the ability to overcome because resilience lives within each of us. Today, we're exploring her five tran...

Listen to Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal, a world-renowned expert in resilience, mental health, and well-being, share powerful insights about the fundamental human capacity for resilience. Beginning with her personal story of overcoming dyslexia in the 3rd grade, Taryn reveals how resilience is not just something we need—it's actually part of our DNA. Through extensive research interviewing hundreds of...

Most world records celebrate the fastest, strongest, quickest or most extreme human achievements but this episode is about patience, perseverance, and perhaps the most unusual Olympic comeback story in history. Get ready to meet Shizo Kanakuri, an amazing long distance runner from Japan who happens to hold the world record for the longest time ever to complete a marathon. From starting a marathon...

Meet Michael Wunderli, a former high school wrestler turned attorney, who credits the mental toughness he developed on the mat for his success in life. Join us as Michael shares how a pivotal tournament and the wisdom of his coach taught him to face life's challenges head on rather than retreat from them. Michael's inspiring story reminds us that sometimes the greatest gift we can give each other...

From starship captain to real-life astronaut, William Shatner has boldly gone where few have dared. But beneath the Hollywood fame is a man who claims he's just "stumbling along with everybody else." In this episode, discover how the legendary Star Trek (and other amazing shows & plays) actor & musician turned setbacks into comebacks, and at age 90, proved it's never too late to literally reach fo...

Imagine a time when the American stock market was soaring, jazz music booming, and the cinema world revolutionized by "talkies". But amidst this era of optimism, one young boy from Cleveland, Ohio, would find himself facing tragedy and hardship that would forever change his life. Meet Jerry Siegel, a teenager whose summer of innocence was shattered on June 2nd, 1927, when his father's sudden death...

Take a musical journey from the streets of Manchester to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Ohio with Graham Nash. Not content to rest on his laurels after countless awards and honors (including two Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions and an OBE) Graham Nash continues to believe in music's power to change the world. At over 80 years old, he's still writing & performing amazing songs, still inspir...

In our previous episode on Happiness (episode 5), we explored the concept of happiness—what it means and how to cultivate it. Now, we're taking it a step further: What if we could invest in our happiness, putting habits and relationships in place today that will pay dividends down the road? That's exactly what we'll be discussing in this follow-up episode on 'Happiness'. Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, a ha...

In the darkest days of World War II, as Nazi bombers threatened Britain's very existence, an unlikely hero emerged: Tilly Shilling, a motorcycle-racing engineer with a passion for speed and innovation. As Royal Air Force planes fell from the sky—their engines failing at crucial moments—Tilly's ingenuity was put to the ultimate test. Racing against time, she developed a simple yet brilliant solutio...

This episode is dedicated to those educators who go beyond teaching subjects—they inspire, mentor, and change lives. We share the moving story of Mrs. Sargent, a dedicated teacher who left an indelible mark on her students, and the unforgettable influence of Lauren Johnson, whose passion and belief in his students continue to inspire long after the classroom lights have dimmed. Whether you're a st...

Get ready to uncover the secrets of happiness with renowned expert Dr. Arthur Brooks! We're exploring the most popular course in Harvard's history—Positive Psychology. What really drives human happiness? Is it success, money, or something we've overlooked? Join us as Dr. Brooks challenges common assumptions and offers practical wisdom for a better, happier life. From defining happiness to cultivat...

In the shadow of Nazi Germany, two athletes from opposing sides forged an unlikely friendship that would become one of the greatest examples of sportsmanship in Olympic history. This is the story of Jesse Owens and Luz Long - a tale of rivalry, courage, and a bond that transcended race, politics, and war. Their encounter at the 1936 Berlin Olympics not only changed the course of athletic competiti...

Listen to the inspiring story of Cliff Young, an Australian farmer who won the 1983 Sydney-to-Melbourne ultramarathon in record time. Despite being 61 years old and wearing gumboots, Cliff finished the 544-mile race in just five days, 15 hours and four minutes, beating the previous best time by nine hours. What's even more remarkable is that Cliff didn't have any formal training or preparation for...