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Paul has lived with Parkinson's disease for more than a decade. Although he has difficulty rising out of a chair, he was able to leap up to keep his young grandson from falling down a flight of stairs. Scientists are trying to understand how this phenomenon works in the brain.

A brain circuit tied to emotion may lead to better treatments for Parkinson's disease

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can vanish briefly in the face of stress or a strong emotion. Now scientists are searching for a treatment based on this phenomenon, a form of the placebo effect.

If bird flu jumps to humans, immunity from seasonal flu may offer some protection

Very few humans have gone up against bird flu. But we've all dealt with seasonal flu for years. Some of our immune systems might be primed to fend off a worse case, research finds.

How do you stay optimistic in spite of it all? 6 hopeful souls share their secrets

They're activist and advocates from Brazil, Colombia, India, Kenya, Lesotho and the U.S. We wanted to know: How do they stay positive in the face of the world's many problems and woes?

Hollywood Strike Affecting Writers of Color

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the Late Show with David Letterman were among the first casualties of a strike by members of the Writers Guild of America, pitting writers against TV and movie producers. Media critic Eric Deggans and Larry Andries discuss the strike, its effects on writers of color, and what it means for upcoming television seasons.

Filmmaker Judd Apatow describes his mentor, the comedian Garry Shandling (above), as a perfectionist: "He just could not just be chill and make it easy on himself. He wanted everything to be amazing."

After Comic Garry Shandling's Death, Judd Apatow Found Zen In His Diaries

"He completely changed my life," Apatow says of his mentor. It's Garry Shandling's Book, which Apatow edited, explores the insecurities and personal trauma that Shandling turned into comedy.

Dr. John Dunlap runs a direct primary care practice in Overland Park, Kan., offering patients direct access to him by phone and longer appointment times. The model is similar to concierge medicine.

'Concierge' Medicine Gets More Affordable But Is Still Not Widespread

The model, which gives patients direct access to their doctors and longer appointment times, is proving hard to scale up.

Beyond The Numbers, Living Through Chicago's Gun Violence In 'American Summer'

Alex Kotlowitz talks to NPR's Michel Martin about his book American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago. It explores the effects of daily gun violence on the spirit of individuals and the community.

'We Need To Exist In Multitudes': Noname Talks Artistic Independence, Women In Rap

Fatimah Warner, best known as the rapper Noname, has been quietly gaining attention for her feminist and socially aware lyrics. NPR's Michel Martin talks to Warner about her sophomore album, Room 25.

Not My Job: We Quiz Glenn Close On Rabbits

A memorable scene in Fatal Attraction involved a boiled bunny so we'll ask Close three questions about live rabbits. Originally broadcast Sept. 1, 2018.

Charting The Career Of The 'Evocateur' Of Talk

In the 1980s Morton Downey Jr. practically invented the world of trashy political talk shows. A new documentary, Evocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie, dissects his rise, his fall and his influence. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon talks with one of the film's directors, Seth Kramer, about Morton Downey Jr.'s meteoric rise and enduring legacy.

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