What does it take to force the most powerful institutions in America to keep their promises? For John Feal, it took unimaginable personal loss, relentless determination, and an unlikely partnership with Jon Stewart that would help change history.
Together, Stewart and Feal join us for a moving, inspiring conversation about Feal’s new memoir, I Will Follow You Anywhere: The True Story of the 9/11 Responders Who Took On Congress — the extraordinary story of the 9/11 responder who transformed personal tragedy into one of the most influential advocacy campaigns of our time.
On September 11, 2001, Feal rushed to Ground Zero to aid in the recovery effort. Five days later, an 8,000-pound steel beam crushed his foot, resulting in a partial amputation — and because he was injured outside the initial 96-hour window set by Congress for the original victims’ fund, he was denied compensation. As he rebuilt his life, he watched fellow responders fall ill from toxic exposure while the country — and Congress — failed to honor its promise to care for them. Feal became the driving force behind the campaign to secure healthcare and compensation for tens of thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors. He found a steadfast ally in Jon Stewart, whose impassioned public advocacy on The Daily Show and unforgettable testimony before Congress helped galvanize national attention and ultimately bring lawmakers to action.
On the 25th anniversary of Feal’s life-changing accident at Ground Zero, Stewart and Feal discuss the hard-won victories behind their decades-long friendship and shared mission, the untold stories of the responders whose courage inspired a movement, and why the lessons of their persistence, moral conviction, and grassroots activism remain urgent today. Don’t miss this powerful conversation about service, resilience, and the extraordinary impact that determined individuals can have on history.