The Story

The fight against HIV-AIDS in Africa is a matter of two steps forward and one step back, as Catherine Piwang knows well. People were just beginning to talk about this mysterious new disease when she left Uganda in the late 80s. When she returned in 1996, seven of her siblings had died of HIV-AIDS and two more were gravely ill.

Mona Jhaveri is a cancer researcher who watched the recession dry up all her research funding. She was facing seeing her search for a cure for ovarian cancer come to an end if she didn't discover another way to raise money, so she started selling cosmetics, hoping to raise money and awareness for ovarian cancer. Also in this episode: trying to keep a promise from World War I.

Photographer Nina Berman reads from a collection of essays about times when photographers have chosen not to capture a picture.

In recent years, the writing of one woman has helped bring scientists and opinion leaders a bit closer to understanding changes in the oceans. But Deborah Cramer doesn't come to this issue from a science background. In fact, she disliked science as a kid. But when she grew up, she moved to a home on the edge of a salt marsh, and soon she was captivated by what was happening in her own backyard. Also in the show: Starting a Christmas tradition