Rick Rescorla was a soldier, a security chief, and above all, a protector. From the battlefields of Vietnam to the towering offices of the World Trade Center, his life was defined by courage and foresight.

Bessie Virginia Blount was more than a nurse; she was an innovator who changed the way medicine and rehabilitation intersected with ingenuity. Born in 1914, Blount devoted her life to helping war veterans regain independence after life-altering injuries

In the early morning of September 16, 1976, a trolleybus carrying dozens of passengers plunged into the frigid waters of Yerevan Lake. Among the witnesses was Shavarsh Karapetyan, a world-champion fin swimmer who didn’t hesitate for a second.

In 1955, Lamar Smith, a World War I veteran and civil rights activist in Mississippi, was murdered in broad daylight for helping African Americans exercise their right to vote. Despite dozens of witnesses, no one was ever convicted for his death.

Before he became a beloved actor, Steve Buscemi wore a very different uniform. In the 1980s, he served as a New York City firefighter, answering calls from Ladder Company 55 in Manhattan’s Little Italy. When tragedy struck on September 11, 2001, Buscemi quietly returned to his old firehouse, working alongside his fellow firefighters in the ruins of Ground Zero.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we honor Katherine Johnson, the brilliant mathematician whose calculations helped launch America into space and bring astronauts safely home.

In this inspiring episode of Secret Heroes, we explore the extraordinary life of Madam C.J. Walker—America’s first self-made female millionaire. Born Sarah Breedlove in 1867 to formerly enslaved parents, she rose from poverty and hardship to build a haircare empire that empowered Black women across the country.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we shine a light on Charlotte Friend, a pioneering virologist whose groundbreaking research changed the course of cancer science.

Best known for isolating and synthesizing human growth hormone, Dr. Li's research at the University of California, Berkeley, paved the way for critical advances in endocrinology and treatments for growth disorders.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the extraordinary but little-known legacy of Maurice Hilleman, the microbiologist whose work revolutionized modern medicine—and yet most people have never heard his name.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the forgotten story of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis — a 19th-century physician who saved countless lives with one simple idea: handwashing.

They never set out to change history—they just wanted to be married. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we honor Mildred and Richard Loving, an unassuming couple from Virginia whose love defied the law.

Before he was a celebrated author and historian, Joseph Medicine Crow was a warrior—one who would become the last war chief of the Crow Nation. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we journey through the extraordinary life of a man who bridged centuries of tradition and modernity.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we honor Dr. Virginia Apgar, the pioneering anesthesiologist who created the Apgar Score, a fast, life-saving assessment that transformed childbirth care forever.

Stetson Kennedy may have worn a journalist’s hat, but his mission was more dangerous than most wartime spies. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the incredible true story of how Kennedy infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan in the 1940s, risking his life to expose their secrets from within.

Despite facing discrimination as a woman in science, her contributions laid the foundation for modern paleontology. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the story of Mary Anning, the unsung pioneer whose findings challenged the scientific world and left a legacy written in stone.

In this episode of Secret Heroes, we explore Blackwell’s groundbreaking journey, her fight for equality in healthcare, and her lasting impact on the medical world. In a time when women were barred from the medical profession, Elizabeth Blackwell defied the odds to become the first woman in America to earn a medical degree.

Before he became a Revolutionary War general, Henry Knox was just a Boston bookseller with a passion for military strategy. But when war broke out, his knowledge and determination proved invaluable. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the daring expedition that made him legendary—hauling 60 tons of artillery across frozen rivers and snow-covered mountains to break the British siege of Boston.

Adlai Stevenson, a man of eloquence and principle, was more than a two-time presidential candidate. As a U.N. ambassador during some of the most turbulent moments of the Cold War, Stevenson wielded diplomacy as his greatest weapon. In this episode of Secret Heroes, we uncover the life of the man who famously challenged the Soviets during the Cuban Missile Crisis, yet remained a champion of peace and international cooperation.

Meet Dr. Denis Mukwege, a Congolese gynecologist and surgeon hailed as "The Man Who Mends Women." In this episode, we explore his extraordinary life and career, dedicated to treating survivors of sexual violence in war-torn regions. From his groundbreaking work at Panzi Hospital to his relentless advocacy for justice and peace, Dr. Mukwege has become a global symbol of resilience and hope.