Laura Kwerel

Washington, D.C., United States

Proud producer at @HiddenBrain and lead producer of https://t.co/Qyg2lbzn2E. Radio/life mantra: "Find all the places for joy you can." laura (at) https://t.co/MsSzOskJ7r

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Articles

Her son had a meltdown in public. A stranger responded with understanding

1 week ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. One day in September 2016, 7-year-old Vedant Prasad, who is autistic, found out that his school could no longer serve him. A few days earlier, his speech therapist had also decided that she wasn't the right person to support him. Vedant is nonverbal, so he has trouble expressing exactly what's on his mind.
A former teen parent shares his gratitude to the principal who insisted he graduate

3 weeks ago | npr.org | Laura Kwerel

Jon Hegwood (left), his son Ryan and father, Michael, at Hegwood's high school graduation ceremony in 2009. Jon Hegwood family photo hide caption toggle caption Jon Hegwood family photo This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. In 2007, when Jon Hegwood was 16, he found out he was going to become a father.
'That was masterful': How a stranger's words made Vivian Curren feel like a good mom

1 month ago | nhpr.org | Autumn Barnes |Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. On a hot summer day in 2010, Vivian Curren decided to take her 3-year-old son, Benjamin, to a park on the beach. Curren rarely took him anywhere, because in those days, Benjamin could be impulsive and unpredictable in public. She had grown accustomed to the stares they would get from other parents in response to his behavior.
A stranger helps a grieving daughter clean her mother's grass-covered gravestone

1 month ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. When Ashley Blas was 7 years old, her mother passed away. They were living in New York at the time and her mother was buried in her hometown of Chicago. In 2023, nearly 30 years later, Blas decided to fly to Chicago to visit her mother's grave for the first time since the funeral. She used a car service to drive her to the cemetery.
As their car started rolling downhill, a stranger rushed in to help

2 months ago | kpbs.org | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. When she was 4 years old, Terry Hill and her two young siblings were left in the car by themselves as their father ran into a donut shop. This was 1968, when leaving children unattended for a short time was common. What happened that day would become a story Hill has told and re-told her entire life.
When Eleanor Heginbotham's car broke down on New Year's Eve, a group of strangers jumped in

2 months ago | tpr.org | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. It was New Year's Eve 2022 and for the first time in decades Eleanor Heginbotham was spending the holiday by herself. Her husband of 62 years, Erland, had died in June. "I was feeling blue," Heginbotham, 86, said. "I was trying not to feel blue, but ... I was alone."To cheer herself up, she decided to work on her holiday cards.
After an Alzheimer's diagnosis, a new job gave a father 'dignity' and 'purpose'

Mar 4, 2025 | m.kuow.org | Laura Kwerel

When Richard Cotter began to show signs of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, he lost job after job. Then, a small local company offered him a role that helped rebuild his sense of purpose. Paul Cotter This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. When Paul Cotter's father, Richard, was 52, he was fired from his job at a large printing company.
Ellen Wyoming DeLoy's Story

Mar 4, 2025 | hiddenbrain.org | Laura Kwerel

One evening after class, Ellen took public transportation home. It was a quiet night, and when she got off at her stop, there weren’t many people around. Then, she heard something that alerted her to potential danger. Podcast: Subscribe to the My Unsung Hero Podcast on your favorite podcast player so you never miss an episode. Go behind the scenes, see what Shankar is reading and find more useful resources and links.
After an Alzheimer's diagnosis, a new job gave a father 'dignity' and 'purpose'

Mar 4, 2025 | health.wusf.usf.edu | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. When Paul Cotter's father, Richard, was 52, he was fired from his job at a large printing company. "He was very unceremoniously let go," Cotter recalled. "It was basically, 'Hand in your keys, you're done.' "Richard Cotter had been at the company for more than 30 years, rising through the ranks from entry-level to management.
After an Alzheimer's diagnosis, a new job gave a father 'dignity' and 'purpose'

Mar 4, 2025 | keranews.org | Laura Kwerel

This story is part of the My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team. It features stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else. When Paul Cotter's father, Richard, was 52, he was fired from his job at a large printing company. "He was very unceremoniously let go," Cotter recalled. "It was basically, 'Hand in your keys, you're done.' "Richard Cotter had been at the company for more than 30 years, rising through the ranks from entry-level to management.