PBS debuts a major documentary, ‘ Caregiving’
A call to action in communities and congregations
Our authors have been helping these millions of families for many years.
As millions of Americans tune in to the highly anticipated documentary, Caregiving, on June 24—this week’s Cover Story story is a reminder that Front Edge Publishing and ReadTheSpirit magazine are among the major national voices who have been highlighting the needs of America’s 50 million unpaid caregivers for many years.
Please read this Cover Story, which we are publishing with convenient social-media sharing links at the “top” and “bottom” of the column. You can easily tell friends about this by using those buttons to repost this news across your own social network. If you’re part of a congregation, you could invite families to a viewing party at your home, community center or house of worship next week.
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More good news
Christy Berghoef ‘unboxes’ her new book ‘Rooted’—
and finds ‘an unexpected wave of emotion’
Front Edge Publishing Marketing Director Susan Stitt recommends this surprisingly emotional “unboxing video” by author Christy Berghoef.
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MSU Bias Busters’ Joe Grimm reports on bond between LEO XIV and Chaldean Catholics
JOE GRIMM reports on the warmth Chaldeans—American Catholics with a unique “Eastern Rite” history—are seeing from the new Pope Leo XIV.
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And speaking of warmth—
An outpouring of memories of the late Howard Brown
OUR ‘SHINING BRIGHTLY’ AUTHOR and internationally known advocate for families struggling with life-threatening cancer, Howard Brown, reflected on his own passing before his untimely death from cancer in late May. As it turned out, we all are discovering that Howard—in his unique way—prepared some gifts for his many friends. One of those was the ReadTheSpirit Cover Story last week, featuring an inspiring text called “I’ll be there,” which he wrote during his days in hospice. Because of the unique circumstances of Howard’s passing—after a long period in isolation with the Harvard medical staff—the news of his death spread slowly. That meant many readers did not learn of his passing until our June 9 Cover Story.
At our home office, we received an outpouring of phone calls, emails and even physical cards and letters about how much Howard meant to families. As we continue to receive these inspiring messages, we decided to publish one of them this week—with the permission of author Martin Davis, who Howard got to know while Martin was finishing his 30 Days with America’s High School Coaches. Howard loved sports, played basketball even in the final months of his life and played a small but important role in Martin’s book, as well.
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Holidays, Festivals & Milestones
How will you mark Juneteenth this year?
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2025—Holidays & Festivals expert Stephanie Fenton reports on this observance, which was nationally recognized in June 2021. As always in her columns, Stephanie also has valuable links to resources about Juneteenth, including recipes for holiday gatherings. (Have you seen versions of the flag in this illustration? The original flag was designed by Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation.)
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Annual remembrance of Guru Arjan Dev shines spotlight on our Sikhs neighbors
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WANT TO SEE ALL OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS & FESTIVALS? It’s easy to find our annual calendar of global observances. Just remember the web address: InterfaithHolidays.com
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Faith & Film
Planning to watch this remarkable documentary?
Here’s what you need to know
This 2-hour documentary will debut on PBS stations nationally on Tuesday June 24, 2025. The film explores the US care network’s reliance on more than 50 million people who provide unpaid care. Caregiving features the story of actor and filmmaker Bradley Cooper, who served as a caregiver during his father’s 5-year struggle with lung cancer.
The film is widely recommended by nonprofit groups that focus on healthcare, seniors and the needs of these millions of families in which caregiving is a part of daily life. One example is AARP, which has alerted its membership nationwide to the film as a way to spark helpful family and community and congregational discussions. One of these AARP stories is headlined: Bradley Cooper on New PBS Documentary: ‘We Need to Care for Caregivers Better’
The main PBS Caregiving website offers more details about the film, including “clips” and a couple of additional videos about Caregiving.
NOTE: Subscribers to the PBS streaming service already can see the film through that streaming app, so you could watch the film in advance and that would help you to more effectively encourage others to watch it and discuss it with your group.
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Our online magazine has specialized for many years in covering news about religious and cultural diversity as reflected in new books, holidays & festivals and films. In 2024, our long-time film critic Edward McNulty died. In 2025, we continue to publish important reviews—sometimes by drawing on Ed’s considerable body of work and sometimes by welcoming other writers.
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