Helen Regan and Cornelia Corson

Helen Regan tells her long-time friend Cornelia Corson about a difficult time she had performing in a high school play because the costume she was asked to wear embarrassed her. And while it also caused her some stage fright, the tears and laughter that followed gave her new confidence.

Originally aired July 29, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Miriam Kerpen and Lisa Shufro

Lisa Shufro’s mother, Miriam Kerpen, discuss the discovery of a magazine hidden inside her great-uncle’s dictionary that caused some sparks when she was 13 years old and away at summer camp.

Originally aired July 1, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Debbie Fisher and Terrence Hicks

Debbie Fisher’s father was a Holocaust survivor.

Throughout her childhood, she would ask him questions about his time in Auschwitz, but wanting to protect his daughter from the horrors he experienced, he would only share a sanitized version of his time in the concentration camp.

At the end of his life, Debbie was finally able to get him to share his painful truth with her.

She came to StoryCorps with her friend, Terrance Hicks, to remember her father and one of their final conversations.

Originally aired January 27, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Judy Allen and Kelley Edwards

Kelley Edwards asks her mother, Judy Allen, to describe a memory in which she felt independent and empowered, leading Judy to share the story of discovering that her ex-husband was cheating on her.

Originally aired August 5, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition

Beula and Bix Gabriel

Beula Gabriel, who founded a school for underprivileged children in India, tells her daughter, Bix, about one of her students.

Don “Moses” Lerman

Don “Moses” Lerman is a fierce competitor—but he’s not exactly an athlete. He is a competitive eater attending most major events on the IFOCE (International Federation of Competitive Eating) circuit and can still recall the thrill of winning his first competition.

Originally aired June 3, 2005, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Michael Wolmetz and Debora Brakarz

Debora Brakarz asks her boyfriend, Michael Wolmetz, about the pain he felt following the death of his father; Michael then surprises Debora with a proposal using the ring his father once gave to his mother.

Originally aired February 14, 2004, on NPR Weekend Edition Saturday.