Know Thyself takes up the search for the guests’ ancestries where the historical record leaves off and links their distinctive family histories to the broader history of “the family of man.”

Making America tells the story of the peopling of the New World, of how land came to define the settling and identity of America, and of how the guests’ ancestors were part of this history.

Our American Stories explores the dynamic and shifting relationship America had with her new immigrants in the 20th century.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. asks Yo-Yo Ma what he hopes to learn about his family history, and what idea of "home" means to him.

Yo-Yo Ma talks about the first time he visited China as an adult, and what he learned about the way cultures interact and inform each other.

Yo-Yo Ma reveals the origin of his unusual first name.

Yo-Yo Ma tells a story about how his childhood visit to New York City changed the course of his family's life forever.

Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his continual search for new ways to communicate with audiences, and to his personal desire for artistic growth and renewal.