Lisa Combest and James Hanson-Brown
It’s not often that couples split up and stay close friends.
But that’s what happened to James Hanson-Brown and his ex-wife, Lisa Combest.
They fell in love in high school, got married, and began to grow apart.
At StoryCorps, they remembered how their divorce deepened their relationship.
This story is also included in All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps.
Winslow and Dorothy Jackson
Winslow Jackson met his wife, Dorothy, in 2006. He was divorced. She was widowed. And they both had Multiple Sclerosis. While receiving rehabilitative care at an Atlanta hospital, they connected. And at StoryCorps, the couple remembered what drew them to each other.
This story is also included in All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps.
Originally aired March 23, 2012 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Les, Scott, Thea, and Amanda GrantSmith
In 1997, Les and Scott GrantSmiths’ marriage was on the rocks. They had been together for ten years and were raising two children. But Les was hiding something: although he was born female, he felt like a man in the wrong body. Keeping this secret caused Les to fall into a deep depression and withdraw from the rest of the family.
Finally, Scott confronted Les, and the GrantSmith family changed forever.
Les also spoke with his daughters, Thea and Amanda, about what his transition was like for them.
Originally aired March 7, 2012, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
René Foreman and her daughter Michelle
In 1999, René Foreman was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She underwent surgery that saved her life but also took her voice.
Today, René speaks using an electrolarynx–a small device that produces an electronic voice when she holds it against her throat.
René sat down for an interview with her daughter Michelle.
Nathan Hoskins and Sally Evans
Nathan Hoskins knew from an early age that he was gay, but growing up in rural Kentucky in a family that did not tolerate homosexuality, he learned to keep it a secret.
At StoryCorps, he tells his friend Sally Evans a harrowing story of just how dangerous life was for him.
Originally aired January 13, 2012, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
David Wilson
David Wilson was a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision that legalized same sex marriage in Massachusetts.
Wilson’s journey to that landmark case started 10 years earlier — when he lost his first partner, Ron Loso, to a heart attack. The EMT’s who arrived on the scene were suspicious of David and called the police. Later, when he got to the hospital, officials would not release any information about his partner.
That injustice led to Wilson becoming a plaintiff in the 2004 court decision.
The first weddings, which included David’s own, began taking place on May 17, 2004, after same sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts.
Originally aired October 15, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Kendall Bailey and his friend Don Davis
Kendall Bailey (R) talks to his friend Don Davis (L) about his dismissal from the U.S. Marines under the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy.
Theresa Nguyen and Stephanie Nguyen
Theresa Nguyen talks to her daughter, Stephanie, about balancing their Vietnamese heritage with raising a family in the United States.
Originally aired August 20, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Scott Miller and Jackie Miller
Jackie Miller and her husband adopted their son, Scott, on May 25, 1971. Thirty-seven years later, Scott and Jackie came to StoryCorps to talk about their relationship, and for him to find out more about her decision to adopt him. During their conversation, Scott learned something he never knew before about his mother.
Click here to watch “Me & You,” an animation of Scott and Jackie’s story.
Originally aired June 11, 2010, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Carol Jacques
Carol Jacques remembers growing up in Chavez Ravine, a Mexican-American neighborhood in Los Angeles that was replaced by Dodger Stadium.