What It Takes®
By Academy of Achievement
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Category: Society & Culture
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Subscribers: 219
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Episodes: 228
Description
Revealing, intimate conversations with visionaries and leaders in the arts, science, technology, public service, sports and business. These engaging personal stories are drawn from interviews with the American Academy of Achievement, and offer insights you’ll want to apply to your own life.
| Episode | Date |
|---|---|
|
Cindy Sherman: Illusions of Identity
|
Apr 13, 2026 |
|
Tara VanDerveer: A Vision for Victory
|
Nov 27, 2025 |
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Billie Jean King: Racquet Revolutionary
|
Oct 27, 2025 |
|
Jane Goodall In Memoriam: A Dedicated Pursuit
|
Oct 02, 2025 |
|
Lotte Bjerre Knudsen: Shivering with Curiosity
|
Jun 29, 2025 |
|
Gustavo Dudamel: The Power of Music
|
Feb 22, 2025 |
|
BestOf(2024)_Johnny Cash: True To His Own Voice
|
Sep 28, 2024 |
|
In Memoriam_James Earl Jones: The Voice of Triumph
|
Sep 10, 2024 |
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In Memoriam_Edna O'Brien: Love, Loss and Literature
|
Jul 30, 2024 |
|
Pete Townshend: Who I Am
|
Jul 20, 2024 |
|
Willie Mays: For the Love of the Game_In Memoriam
|
Jun 21, 2024 |
|
Jeff Koons: Contemporary Art Phenomenon
|
Feb 12, 2024 |
|
Best of (Nobel Prize Edition) - Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman: The Vaccine Revolution
|
Oct 02, 2023 |
|
Best Of - Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
|
May 02, 2023 |
|
T.J. Stiles and David Blight: The Epic Life
|
Mar 27, 2023 |
|
Best of - Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding: Jazz Invention
|
Mar 03, 2023 |
|
Best Of - Neil Sheehan and David Halberstam: Truth Seekers
|
Jan 27, 2023 |
|
Best Of - Maya Angelou (Part 2): In the Spirit of Martin
|
Jan 16, 2023 |
|
Best Of - Nora Ephron: Unstoppable Wit
|
Dec 26, 2022 |
|
Best of - John Irving: A Literary Life
|
Dec 05, 2022 |
|
Gordon Lightfoot: If You Could Read My Mind
|
Nov 21, 2022 |
|
Roger Daltrey: Rock Icon
|
Oct 31, 2022 |
|
Best of - Milton Friedman: Champion of Capitalism
|
Oct 17, 2022 |
|
Best of - Sonia Sotomayor: Power of Words
|
Sep 19, 2022 |
|
Mike Wallace and Art Buchwald: Blues Brothers
|
Sep 05, 2022 |
|
Best Of - B.B. King: King of the Blues
|
Aug 22, 2022 |
|
Best of - David McCullough, Stephen Ambrose and David Herbert Donald: Time Travelers
|
Aug 09, 2022 |
|
Best of - Bill Russell: Giant of a Man
|
Aug 03, 2022 |
|
Best of - John Hume and David Trimble: A Vision of Peace
|
Aug 01, 2022 |
|
Best of - Frank McCourt: Teacher Man
|
Jul 18, 2022 |
|
Best of - Steve Jobs and Tony Fadell: Inventing the Future
|
Jul 04, 2022 |
|
Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman: The Vaccine Revolution
|
Jun 20, 2022 |
|
Best of - Lauryn Hill: Family, Faith & Hip-Hop
|
May 30, 2022 |
|
Best of - Daniel Inouye and Norman Mineta: In Defense of Liberty
|
May 09, 2022 |
|
Best of - Naomi Judd: Dream Chaser
|
May 02, 2022 |
|
Andrea Ghez and Donna Strickland: Frontiers of Knowledge
|
Apr 25, 2022 |
|
Best of - Edward Teller: Destroyer of Worlds
|
Apr 11, 2022 |
|
General C.Q. Brown and Lt. Col. James Harvey: Wings of Freedom
|
Mar 28, 2022 |
|
Best of - Coach John Wooden: Character for Life
|
Mar 21, 2022 |
|
Best of - Lynsey Addario: Portraits of Love and War
|
Mar 14, 2022 |
|
Best of - Andrew Young: My Life, My Destiny
|
Feb 28, 2022 |
|
Best of - Rosa Parks and Judge Frank Johnson: Standing Up for Freedom
|
Feb 14, 2022 |
|
Tenley Albright: Miracles on Ice
|
Jan 31, 2022 |
|
E.O. Wilson, Richard Evans Schultes and Wade Davis: Pl(ants) of the Gods
|
Jan 17, 2022 |
|
Best of - Sidney Poitier: Trailblazing Screen Legend
|
Jan 08, 2022 |
|
Best of - Archbishop Desmond Tutu: The Power of Faith
|
Dec 27, 2021 |
|
Edna O’Brien: Love, Loss and Literature
|
Dec 13, 2021 |
|
Best of - Steven Spielberg and Janusz Kaminski: Images of the Imagination
|
Dec 06, 2021 |
|
Best of - Stephen Sondheim: Maestro of Broadway
|
Nov 29, 2021 |
|
Best of - Carole King and Hal David: More Than Beautiful
|
Nov 22, 2021 |
|
Zahi Hawass and Kent Weeks: Golden Age of the Pharaohs
|
Nov 08, 2021 |
|
Best of - General Colin Powell: My American Journey
|
Oct 25, 2021 |
|
Best of - Johnny Cash: True To His Own Voice
|
Oct 18, 2021 |
|
Denton Cooley, Willem Kolff and William DeVries: King of Hearts
|
Oct 04, 2021 |
|
Best of - George Lucas: The Force Will Be With You
|
Sep 20, 2021 |
|
Christiane Amanpour: Life on the Front Line
|
Sep 06, 2021 |
|
Hamid Karzai: Chaos Rules
|
Aug 23, 2021 |
|
Best of - James Michener: Master Storyteller
|
Aug 16, 2021 |
|
Robert Ballard: Modern-Day Captain Nemo
|
Aug 02, 2021 |
|
Nadine Gordimer, Athol Fugard and Elie Wiesel: Messengers of Humanity
|
Jul 19, 2021 |
|
Best of - Sir Roger Bannister: The Mile of the Century
|
Jul 12, 2021 |
|
Twyla Tharp and Justin Peck: High Priests of Creative Movement
|
Jun 28, 2021 |
|
Best of - Mike (Coach K) Krzyzewski: Inspiring Greatness
|
Jun 14, 2021 |
|
Richard Leakey and Donald Johanson: The Quest for Humankind
|
May 31, 2021 |
|
Best of - Bill Russell: Giant of a Man
|
May 17, 2021 |
|
Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Robert Zemeckis: The Magic of Film
|
May 03, 2021 |
|
Best Of - Willie Mays: For the Love of the Game
|
Apr 26, 2021 |
|
Carol Guzy: Visual Storyteller
|
Apr 12, 2021 |
|
Sal Khan: The World's Teacher
|
Mar 29, 2021 |
|
Larry Ellison and Ted Turner: Prophets of Innovation
|
Mar 15, 2021 |
|
John Mather, Saul Perlmutter and Adam Riess: Masters of the Universe
|
Mar 01, 2021 |
|
Audra McDonald: Trusting Your Own Power
|
Feb 15, 2021 |
|
Best of - August Wilson and Lloyd Richards: The Voice of Genius
|
Feb 08, 2021 |
|
Larry King: The King of Talk
|
Feb 01, 2021 |
|
Best of - Hank Aaron: Field of Dreams
|
Jan 23, 2021 |
|
Neil Sheehan and David Halberstam: Truth Seekers
|
Jan 18, 2021 |
|
Best of - Benazir Bhutto: Paying the Ultimate Price
|
Jan 11, 2021 |
|
Trevor Nunn: A Love Letter to Theater
|
Dec 28, 2020 |
|
Judy Collins: Amazing Grace
|
Dec 14, 2020 |
|
Shelby Foote, Arthur Golden and Carol Shields: Literary Pursuits
|
Dec 01, 2020 |
|
Wayne Thiebaud and Fritz Scholder: Palette of American Life
|
Nov 14, 2020 |
|
Willie Brown: The Political Life
|
Nov 02, 2020 |
|
David McCullough, Stephen Ambrose and David Herbert Donald: Time Travelers
|
Oct 19, 2020 |
|
Best of - Louise Glück: Revenge Against Circumstance
|
Oct 09, 2020 |
|
Sandra Day O’Connor, Erma Bombeck and Hilary Swank: The Power Within
|
Sep 28, 2020 |
|
Best of - Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Justice For All
|
Sep 19, 2020 |
|
Cal Ripken Jr.: The Iron Man
|
Sep 14, 2020 |
|
Joyce Carol Oates and Gore Vidal: Words Become Me
|
Aug 31, 2020 |
|
John Hume and David Trimble: A Vision of Peace
|
Aug 17, 2020 |
|
Best of - Olivia de Havilland: The Last Belle of Cinema
|
Aug 10, 2020 |
|
Pitbull (Armando Christian Pérez): I’m Possible
|
Jul 27, 2020 |
|
Best of - John Lewis: The Spirit of History
|
Jul 19, 2020 |
|
Ron Howard: Imagine Success
|
Jul 13, 2020 |
|
Best of - Maya Angelou: Righteousness and Love
|
Jul 06, 2020 |
|
Orhan Pamuk and Carlos Fuentes: The Art of Fiction
|
Jun 29, 2020 |
|
Bryan Stevenson and John Hope Franklin: Voices of Conscience
|
Jun 15, 2020 |
|
Best of - Coretta Scott King: The Courage to Dream
|
Jun 08, 2020 |
|
Stephen Jay Gould: This View of Life
|
Jun 01, 2020 |
|
Lt. Michael Thornton and Lt. Tommy Norris: Portraits of Valor
|
May 18, 2020 |
|
Julie Taymor: Creativity on the Edge
|
May 04, 2020 |
|
Best Of - Jonas Salk: Vanquisher of Polio
|
Apr 27, 2020 |
|
Gertrude Elion and Baruch Blumberg: Vaccine Hunters
|
Apr 20, 2020 |
|
Best Of - Anthony Fauci: From Aristotle to AIDS
|
Apr 13, 2020 |
|
Milton Friedman: Champion of Capitalism
|
Apr 06, 2020 |
|
James Allison: Immune to Failure
|
Mar 23, 2020 |
|
Daniel Inouye and Norman Mineta: In Defense of Liberty
|
Mar 09, 2020 |
|
Buddy Guy: I’ve Got the Blues
|
Feb 24, 2020 |
|
Lynn Nottage and Suzan-Lori Parks: Drama Queens
|
Feb 10, 2020 |
|
John Lewis: The Spirit of History
|
Jan 27, 2020 |
|
Bill Gates, Sergey Brin and Larry Page: Tech Titans
|
Jan 13, 2020 |
|
Vince Gill: Country Music Icon
|
Dec 30, 2019 |
|
Andrew Lloyd Webber: Theatrical Impresario
|
Dec 16, 2019 |
|
Martine Rothblatt: Transcending Boundaries
|
Dec 02, 2019 |
|
Ian McEwan: Illuminating the Human Condition
|
Nov 18, 2019 |
|
Wole Soyinka: The Literary Lion
|
Nov 04, 2019 |
|
Jennifer Doudna and Feng Zhang: The Code of Life
|
Oct 21, 2019 |
|
Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: The Fairytale Diva
|
Oct 07, 2019 |
|
Amy Tan: Discovering My Voice
|
Sep 23, 2019 |
|
Lord Norman Foster: Building the Future
|
Sep 09, 2019 |
|
Toni Morrison and Harold Prince: Immortal Voices
|
Aug 26, 2019 |
|
Peter Jackson: Master of Film Fantasy
|
Aug 12, 2019 |
|
Sylvia Earle and David Doubilet: The Living Oceans
|
Jul 29, 2019 |
|
Hank Aaron: Field of Dreams
|
Jul 15, 2019 |
|
Anthony Romero: Guardian of Civil Liberties
|
Jul 01, 2019 |
|
Alice Waters: A Love Affair with Food
|
Jun 17, 2019 |
|
General David Petraeus: The Perils of Victory
|
Jun 03, 2019 |
|
Suzanne Farrell: Ballerina of the Century
|
May 20, 2019 |
|
A. Scott Berg: Chronicler of The American Century
|
May 06, 2019 |
|
Jimmy Carter: From Plains to the Presidency
|
Apr 22, 2019 |
|
Peter Gabriel: Genesis of a Rock Star
|
Apr 08, 2019 |
|
Brendan Sullivan: Standing Up to Power
|
Mar 25, 2019 |
|
Susan Butcher: Call of the Wild
|
Mar 11, 2019 |
|
Frances Arnold: A Nobel Vision
|
Feb 25, 2019 |
|
Michael Caine: An Accent on Life
|
Feb 11, 2019 |
|
John Updike: Dreams from My Mother
|
Jan 28, 2019 |
|
Chuck Yeager: The Right Stuff
|
Jan 14, 2019 |
|
Johnny Mathis: Timeless Voice of Romance
|
Dec 31, 2018 |
|
Stephen Sondheim: Maestro of Broadway
|
Dec 17, 2018 |
|
Rita Dove and W.S. Merwin: A Gift for Language
|
Dec 03, 2018 |
|
Sir Edmund Hillary and Reinhold Messner: King of the Mountain
|
Nov 19, 2018 |
|
Lord Martin Rees: The Future of Humanity
|
Nov 05, 2018 |
|
Leymah Gbowee: A Call from God
|
Oct 22, 2018 |
|
Lynsey Addario: Portraits of Love and War
|
Oct 08, 2018 |
|
Norman Schwarzkopf: Duty, Honor, Country
|
Sep 24, 2018 |
|
Peyton Manning and Herschel Walker: Preparing to Win
|
Sep 09, 2018 |
|
Bernie Taupin: Lyrical Inspiration
|
Aug 27, 2018 |
|
Khaled Hosseini, Scott Turow and Charles Krauthammer: Second Lives
|
Aug 13, 2018 |
|
Beverly and Dereck Joubert: Spirit of the Wild
|
Jul 30, 2018 |
|
Anthony Fauci: From Aristotle to AIDS
|
Jul 16, 2018 |
|
Jessye Norman: Living My Life in Song
|
Jul 02, 2018 |
|
John Banville: Literary Confessions
|
Jun 18, 2018 |
|
Julie Andrews: An Angel on My Shoulder
|
Jun 04, 2018 |
|
Andrew Weil: The Healing Power of Nature
|
May 21, 2018 |
|
Kazuo Ishiguro: Lyrical Tales of Emotion
|
May 07, 2018 |
|
Demis Hassabis: A.I. Mastermind
|
Apr 23, 2018 |
|
Wallace Stegner and N. Scott Momaday: Chroniclers of the American West
|
Apr 11, 2018 |
|
Steve Schwarzman: King of Wall Street
|
Mar 26, 2018 |
|
Bartlett Sher: A Reason to Sing
|
Mar 12, 2018 |
|
Jeremy Irons: Thespian and Provocateur
|
Feb 26, 2018 |
|
Dorothy Hamill and Scott Hamilton: The Price of Gold
|
Feb 12, 2018 |
|
Sue Grafton: The Alphabet Ends at Y
|
Jan 29, 2018 |
|
Maya Lin: The Art of Remembrance
|
Jan 15, 2018 |
|
Edward Teller: Destroyer of Worlds
|
Jan 01, 2018 |
|
Anthony M. Kennedy: Principles of Freedom
|
Dec 18, 2017 |
|
Jimmy Page: Guitar Hero
|
Dec 04, 2017 |
|
Itzhak Perlman: The Gift of Music
|
Nov 20, 2017 |
|
Ernest J. Gaines: Letters of My Ancestors
|
Nov 06, 2017 |
|
Esperanza Spalding and Wayne Shorter: Jazz Invention
|
Oct 23, 2017 |
|
Leon Panetta: Decisive Action
|
Oct 09, 2017 |
|
James Earl Jones: The Voice of Triumph
|
Sep 25, 2017 |
|
General Colin Powell: My American Journey
|
Sep 11, 2017 |
|
Barbra Streisand and Pat Conroy: The Way We Were
|
Aug 28, 2017 |
|
Jeff Bezos: Regret Minimization
|
Aug 14, 2017 |
|
Louise Glück: Revenge Against Circumstance
|
Jul 31, 2017 |
|
Naomi Judd: Dream Chaser
|
Jul 17, 2017 |
|
Rosa Parks and Judge Frank Johnson: Standing Up for Freedom
|
Jul 03, 2017 |
|
Robert Langer: Edison of Medicine
|
Jun 19, 2017 |
|
Sally Ride and Eileen Collins: Wonder Women
|
Jun 05, 2017 |
|
Frank McCourt: Teacher Man
|
May 22, 2017 |
|
Leslie Wexner: Victoria's Other Secret
|
May 08, 2017 |
|
Nora Ephron: Unstoppable Wit
|
Apr 24, 2017 |
|
Bill Russell: Giant of a Man
|
Apr 10, 2017 |
|
Sonia Sotomayor: Power of Words
|
Mar 27, 2017 |
|
Sally Field: Embracing Fear
|
Mar 13, 2017 |
|
Reid Hoffman: Silicon Valley Grandmaster
|
Feb 27, 2017 |
|
August Wilson and Lloyd Richards: The Voice of Genius
|
Feb 13, 2017 |
|
Chuck Jones: The Fine Art of Laughter
|
Jan 30, 2017 |
|
Jane Goodall: A Dedicated Pursuit
|
Jan 16, 2017 |
|
Maya Angelou, Part 2: In the Spirit of Martin
|
Jan 02, 2017 |
|
Maya Angelou: Righteousness and Love
|
Dec 19, 2016 |
|
Albie Sachs: Freedom Fighter
|
Dec 05, 2016 |
|
Thomas Keller: Recipe for Success
|
Nov 21, 2016 |
|
Doris Kearns Goodwin: Presidential Ambitions
|
Nov 07, 2016 |
|
Frank O. Gehry: Building the Inspiring Space
|
Oct 24, 2016 |
|
John Irving: A Literary Life
|
Oct 10, 2016 |
|
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Justice For All
|
Sep 26, 2016 |
|
Wynton Marsalis: Philosopher King of Jazz
|
Sep 12, 2016 |
|
Steven Rosenberg: Finding a Cure for Cancer
|
Aug 29, 2016 |
|
Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush: The Freedom to Lead
|
Aug 15, 2016 |
|
Sir Roger Bannister: The Mile of the Century
|
Aug 01, 2016 |
|
Elie Wiesel: A Light in the Darkness
|
Jul 18, 2016 |
|
Carole King and Hal David: More Than Beautiful
|
Jul 04, 2016 |
|
Olivia de Havilland: The Last Belle of Cinema
|
Jun 20, 2016 |
|
Steven Spielberg and Janusz Kaminski: Images of the Imagination
|
Jun 06, 2016 |
|
Quincy Jones: The Music Man
|
May 23, 2016 |
|
Ray Dalio: Maestro of the Markets
|
May 09, 2016 |
|
Barry Scheck: The Innocence Project
|
Apr 25, 2016 |
|
Carol Burnett: Laughter and Reflection
|
Apr 11, 2016 |
|
Coach John Wooden: Character for Life
|
Mar 28, 2016 |
|
Steve Jobs and Tony Fadell: Inventing the Future
|
Mar 14, 2016 |
|
Sidney Poitier: Trailblazing Screen Legend
|
Feb 27, 2016 |
|
Lauryn Hill: Family, Faith & Hip-Hop
|
Feb 15, 2016 |
|
Andrew Young: My Life, My Destiny
|
Feb 01, 2016 |
|
Coretta Scott King: The Courage to Dream
|
Jan 18, 2016 |
|
Lee Berger: In the Footsteps of Eve
|
Jan 04, 2016 |
|
Archbishop Desmond Tutu: The Power of Faith
|
Dec 21, 2015 |
|
George Lucas: The Force Will Be With You
|
Dec 07, 2015 |
|
William McRaven: A Life of Service
|
Nov 23, 2015 |
|
James Michener: Master Storyteller
|
Nov 09, 2015 |
|
Mike (Coach K) Krzyzewski: Inspiring Greatness
|
Oct 26, 2015 |
|
B.B. King: King of the Blues
|
Oct 12, 2015 |
|
Benazir Bhutto: Paying the Ultimate Price
|
Sep 28, 2015 |
|
Jonas Salk: Vanquisher of Polio
|
Sep 21, 2015 |
|
Oprah Winfrey, Part 2: A Vision for Success
|
Sep 07, 2015 |
|
Oprah Winfrey: The Queen of Talk… and Determination
|
Aug 31, 2015 |
|
Willie Mays: For the Love of the Game
|
Aug 24, 2015 |
|
Johnny Cash: True To His Own Voice
|
Aug 17, 2015 |
|
This is.... What It Takes
|
Aug 03, 2015 |