iHeartPodcasts and Pushkin Industries launch “Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage,” a new podcast that tells the extraordinary tales of some of our nation’s heroes. Each week, host Malcolm Gladwell will profile one Medal of Honor recipient’s life and courageous actions while exploring themes like what it is that makes a hero, why people put their lives in danger for others, what human beings are capable of, and the true nature of sacrifice.

“We tell stories about heroes because of a simple fact about the human mind: Courage is contagious,” explained Gladwell. “And when you hear about someone doing something heroic, it makes you want to be a hero too. And these days, we could use more heroes.”

In Season 1, you’ll hear stories of Medal of Honor recipients ranging from the Civil War to the Iraq War including Henry Johnson, a “Harlem Hellfighter” who, despite his valor on the battlefields of France during WWI, returned home to a different type of battle due to his race; Mary Walker, the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor; and Douglas A. Munro, the first person to receive the medal for actions performed during service in the Coast Guard.

“Medal of Honor: Stories of Courage” is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and made possible by the support of American Military University, LifeLock, Navy Federal Credit Union and Mint Mobile. New episodes will be released each Wednesday starting June 26.