After 15 Years of Incarceration, Mother is Reunited with Daughter Due to COVID-19
When Nia Cosby was 4 years old, her mom, Chalana McFarland, was convicted of multiple counts of mortgage fraud, and sentenced to 30 years in prison. It was the largest sentence ever handed down for this offense at the time, and the judge went on record to say he was giving her a harsh sentence as a deterrent for those wishing to commit similar crimes.
Nia was raised by her grandparents, but spoke to her mom weekly and visited her as often as she could. Chalana did everything she could to remain an active part of her daughter’s life, often making her custom school supplies and monogrammed socks for her basketball tournaments.
Chalana McFarland (L) with five year old Nia Cosby (R) at Coleman Camp in 2006. Courtesy of Chalana McFarland.
After Nia went to college, it became harder for them to see each other in person due to visitation restrictions at the Florida prison where Chalana was incarcerated. But in April, the U.S. Attorney General sent a memorandum recommending that facilities release nonviolent inmates who were vulnerable to COVID-19. Chalana was among those selected to be transferred to home confinement, and was released on June 9.
In their first weekend together in 15 years, Chalana and Nia came together for StoryCorps to reflect on the challenges they’ve faced and look towards the future.
Today, Chalana remains in home confinement in Marietta, Georgia. Nia continues to live in Florida, where she is pursuing a business degree at a local university.
Top Photo: Nia Cosby and Chalana McFarland in Marietta, GA on June 28, 2020. By Michael Reese for StoryCorps.
Originally aired July 24, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
A Chapter From My Life
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, many of us are still isolating at home, often only leaving for supplies or to go to work. So we’re dedicating this episode of the podcast to the power of books, and how, with a little imagination, they can open doors and transport us to new places.
First, we hear from Olly Neal, a retired judge in Arkansas. Based on his decades-long career, it might come as a surprise to learn that when Olly was growing up, he struggled in school and would sometimes cut class. At StoryCorps, he told his daughter about one of those days, when instead of going to school, Olly wandered into a library and discovered the work of an author who would change his life.
Our next story starts in Washington state during the 1960s. That’s where Storm Reyes grew up with her family, who made their living as migrant farm workers. At StoryCorps, Storm sat down with her son, Jeremy Hagquist, to remember her childhood and a discovery she made that opened up her world.
Next, we’ll hear from Alagappa Rammohan, a man who has collected more than 10,000 books in his lifetime. At StoryCorps, he told his daughter, Paru, where his love of books came from.
Our last story comes from a family who didn’t just feel at home in the library, they actually lived in one. At StoryCorps, Ronald Clark remembers how his father’s new job came with a change in address — to one of New York’s most beloved institutions.
Top photo: Ronald Clark and Jamilah Clark at their StoryCorps interview in New York, NY. Photo by Naomi Blech for StoryCorps.
Second photo: Karama Neal and Olly Neal at their StoryCorps interview in Little Rock, AR. Photo by Yasmin Peña for StoryCorps.
Third photo: Storm Reyes and Jeremy Hagquist at their StoryCorps interview in Tacoma, WA. Photo by Cristina Kim for StoryCorps.
Fourth photo: Paru Venkat and Alagappa Rammohan pose after their StoryCorps interview in Chicago, IL. By Eliza Lambert for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Ronald Clark, his parents, and his daughter Jamilah. Credit: Clark family, courtesy of NYPL.
Released on July 14, 2020.
“Untangling The Code”: How Losing Relatives to Cancer Inspired A Life’s Work
By the time Hadiyah-Nicole Green was 4 years old, she had lost her mother and her grandparents. Hadiyah-Nicole and her brothers went to live with her Auntie Ora Lee Smith and Uncle Gen Lee in St Louis, Missouri.
When she was in her early 20s, both Hadiyah-Nicole’s aunt and uncle were diagnosed with different forms of cancer. At 22 years old, she became the primary caregiver to the couple that had raised her.
Photo: “Auntie” Ora Lee Smith and Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green.
Watching these two important people have their lives upended by cancer and its effects inspired Hadiyah-Nicole to dedicate her life to fighting the disease.
She came to StoryCorps with her cousin, Tenika Floyd, to reflect on her aunt and uncle, and the impact that their lives had on her.
Today, Dr. Green has successfully developed technology that has killed cancer in laboratory mice, without the use of chemotherapy and radiation, and without any observable side effects. Her work is in the process of moving forward into human trials.
Dr. Green is an Assistant Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. She also founded the Ora Lee Smith Cancer Research Foundation in honor of her late aunt.
Top Photo: Hadiyah-Nicole Green and Tenika Floyd at their StoryCorps interview in Atlanta, Georgia on January 28, 2017. By Jacqueline Van Meter for StoryCorps.
Grateful To Be Your Dad
People come to StoryCorps for a variety of reasons, but over the years, we’ve learned that one of the most common is sitting down to record an interview that honors a loved one.
On this Father’s Day episode of the podcast, we’re bringing you stories of people honoring and celebrating their dads.
We start things off with one dad’s creative approach to parenting. Bernie Feldstein sat down for StoryCorps with his children, Vickie and Michael, to talk about a unique family tradition that kept his kids honest—at least for one day out of the year.
Our next story comes from Southern California—that’s where George Caywood and his wife raised their four daughters.
At StoryCorps, George sat down with his eldest daughter, Gina, to talk about the joyful and sometimes challenging journey of being a father.
Wil Smith also knows the joys and challenges of fatherhood. In 1996, at 27-years-old, Wil enrolled as a Freshman at Bowdoin College. There, not only was Wil the oldest member of his class, but he was also raising the youngest—his infant daughter, Olivia.
Next, a story about triplets, Leo, Nick, and Steven Cantos, who have been blind since birth. Growing up, their mother had a hard time taking care of them. But when they were 10 years old, a lawyer named Ollie Cantos, who is also blind, learned about their situation and wanted to help. The four of them sat down for StoryCorps to talk about what happened next.
Our final story comes from Albert and Aidan Sykes. They first came to StoryCorps in 2015, and even though Aidan was only nine years old at the time, he had some important questions for his dad. Now a teenager, Aidan came back to StoryCorps with his father, five years later, to continue their conversation.
Top photo: Olivia and Wil Smith at their StoryCorps interview in Sheffield, Massachusetts. Photo by Jud Esty-Kendall for StoryCorps.
Second Photo: From left to right, the Feldstein family in 1983; Michael, Bernie, Barbara and Vickie in Newton, Massachusetts. Courtesy of the Feldstein family.
Third Photo: Wil (class of 2000 at Bowdin college) and Olivia Smith on graduation day. Photo courtesy of the Smith family.
Fourth Photo: Gina and George Caywood at their StoryCorps interview in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Piya Kochar for StoryCorps.
Fifth Photo: Ollie Cantos with Leo, Nick, and Steven Cantos at their StoryCorps interview in Arlington, Virginia. Photo by Daniel Sitts for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes in Jackson, Mississippi, 2020. Photo courtesy of Albert Sykes.
Released on June 16, 2020.
“They Don’t See The Innocence In You”: A Black Father Continues To Answer Tough Questions From His Son
When 9-year-old Aidan Sykes first sat down for StoryCorps to interview his dad, Albert, he had some serious questions. Their conversation touched on Albert’s experience raising three Black sons in Mississippi, why they go to protests together, and what Albert’s hopes are for his son’s future.
Five years later, with Aidan a month away from turning 15, they decided to have another conversation using StoryCorps Connect. This comes at a time when protests are being held worldwide after a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota killed a Black man named George Floyd.
Top Photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes in Jackson, Mississippi, 2020. Photo courtesy of Albert Sykes.
Middle Photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes at their original StoryCorps interview back in 2015. By Vanessa Gonzalez-Block for StoryCorps.
Originally aired June 12, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
To Live With Your Hands Unfolded
On this episode of the StoryCorps podcast, we’re spotlighting stories from our Griot Initiative, honoring the experiences of Black people across the country.
First, we’ll hear from Albert Sykes, a youth mentor and community organizer in Jackson, Mississippi. But when he came to StoryCorps in 2015 with his nine-year-old son, Aidan, parenting was at the forefront of their conversation—specifically what it means to be a Black man raising Black boys in America.
Next, we’ll hear from Frank Scott who grew up idolizing his father, Wendell Scott, the first Black race car driver to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Wendell began his racing career during the 1950’s in the Jim Crow era South. At StoryCorps, Frank sat down with his son, Warrick, to remember him.
You won’t find Miss Lizzie Devine in the history books, but for cousins Cherie Johnson and James Ransom, she was unforgettable. At StoryCorps, they sat down to remember their most formidable Sunday school teacher.
And finally, we end with Dr. William Lynn Weaver, who recorded with us many times over the years, and became one of the most beloved voices in the StoryCorps archive. In the fall of 1964, Lynn was among the first group of Black students to integrate West High School — a previously all-white high school — in Knoxville, Tennessee. At StoryCorps, he remembers what it was like to also integrate the high school’s football team.
Top photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes at their StoryCorps interview in Jackson, Mississippi in 2015. By Vanessa Gonzalez-Block for StoryCorps.
Second Photo: Frank and Warrick Scott at their StoryCorps interview in Danville, Virginia in 2014. By Mayra Sierra for StoryCorps.
Third Photo: Cherie Johnson and James Ransom at their StoryCorps interview in Sarasota, Florida in 2006. By Nelson Simon for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Dr. William Lynn Weaver at his StoryCorps interview in Fayetteville, North Carolina in 2017. By Jud Esty-Kendall for StoryCorps.
Released on June 9, 2020.
‘Why Do You Take Me To Protests So Much?’: A Black Father Answers Tough Questions From His Son
When 9-year-old Aidan Sykes sat down to interview his dad, Albert Sykes, he had some serious questions. Albert, who runs an education nonprofit and mentors kids who are struggling in school, talked to Aidan about Black fatherhood, and his hopes for his son’s future.
Aidan interviewed Albert at StoryCorps in Jackson, Mississippi.
Top Photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes at their StoryCorps interview in Jackson, Mississippi in 2015. By Vanessa Gonzalez-Block for StoryCorps.
Middle Photo: Albert and Aidan Sykes in Jackson, Mississippi, 2020. Photo courtesy of Albert Sykes.
Originally aired March 20, 2015, on NPR’s Morning Edition. Rebroadcast on June 5, 2020, on the same program.
Little Kids, Big Questions
For the last seventeen years, StoryCorps has traveled across the country collecting more than 600,000 stories from families, friends, and loved ones. But in this episode, we’re shining a spotlight on conversations that all have one thing in common: the limitless curiosity of kids!
Like nine-year-old Isaiah Fredericks and his seven-year-old brother, Josiah. When they came to StoryCorps in 2017 to interview their father, Kevin, there was no question too big or too small.
That same year, the StoryCorps MobileBooth stopped in Bloomington, Indiana. There, ten-year-old triplets Zoë, Nick, and Maddy Waters sat down for an interview. And despite sharing everything from a birthday to a bedroom, this trio still had a lot to learn about each other.
And then there’s six-year old Jerry Morrison, who came to StoryCorps in 2019 with his uncle Joey—a Mission Operations Engineer at NASA—to talk about his favorite subject: outer space.
Our final story comes from Joshua Littman and his mother, Sarah, who first came to StoryCorps in 2006. At the time, Josh was in middle school and having a tough time socially; he has a form of autism that can make casual social interactions more challenging. But at StoryCorps, no topic was off-limits.
Top photo: Zoë, Maddy and Nick Waters at their StoryCorps interview in Bloomington, Indiana. Photo by Savannah Winchester for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Kevin Fredericks with his sons Isaiah and Josiah at their StoryCorps interview in Los Angeles, California. Photo by Mitra Bonshahi for StoryCorps.
Middle photo: Jerry Morrison with his uncle Joey Jefferson at their StoryCorps interview in Culver City, CA. Courtesy of the Morrison family.
Bottom photo: Sarah and Josh Littman at their StoryCorps interview in New York, New York. Photo by Emily Janssen for StoryCorps.
Released on June 2, 2020.
Like the music in this episode? Support the artists:
“Moments of Departure” by Jarrett Floyd; a StoryCorps Commission
”Towboat Theme” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Towboat.
”Feathersoft” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Barstool.
”Lahaina” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Cloud Harbor.
From One Essential Worker To Another
While many people continue staying home because of COVID-19, many others are risking their health—potentially, even their lives—to keep the country running.
From bus drivers to mail carriers to healthcare professionals, this episode of the StoryCorps podcast is dedicated to essential workers who are navigating the pandemic, and finding support from the only other people who truly understand what they’re going through—their colleagues.
Frank de Jesus and Tyrone Hampton are New York City bus drivers. Over the last few months, their jobs have become particularly stressful, as they continue shuttling passengers—many of whom are also essential workers—in one of the hardest hit areas in the country. At StoryCorps, they sat down to talk about it.
Another job that’s become increasingly dangerous these days—delivering the mail. At StoryCorps, Evette Jourdain and Craig Boddie, postal workers in Palm Beach, Florida, reflect on the anxiety of the moment, and what’s been helping them through.
Our final story comes from two childhood friends, Josh Belser and Sam Dow, who both grew up to pursue careers in medicine. Josh is a nurse in Syracuse, New York; Sam is a healthcare technician in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At StoryCorps, the two remember how they had each other’s backs as kids, and how they’ve continued to have each other’s backs throughout this turbulent time.
Top photo: Sam Dow at his job in Ann Arbor, Michigan and his friend Josh Belser at work in Syracuse, NY in 2020. Courtesy of Josh Belser
Second photo: New York City MTA bus operators Tyrone Hampton and Frank de Jesus in their respective homes. Photos courtesy of Hampton and de Jesus.
Third photo: Craig Boddie and Evette Jourdain in Palm Beach, FL. Courtesy of Craig Boddie and Evette Jourdain for StoryCorps.
Released on May 26, 2020.
Like the music in this episode? Support the artists:
“Moments of Departure” by Jarrett Floyd; a StoryCorps Commission
“Elegiac” by Bryan Copeland; a StoryCorps Commission
“Sage the Hunter” by Blue Dot Sessions from the album Landsman Duets
A Little Bit Of Kindness
Since the beginning of 2020, the biggest global health crisis in a century has left many of us feeling anxious and isolated. So on this season of the StoryCorps podcast, we’re bringing you stories about comfort, wisdom, and hope — things we could all use a little more of during this uncertain time.
In this episode, how small acts of kindness can go a long way.
In 2007, Herman Travis started following a simple weekly routine. Every Tuesday, he’d show up at the local food bank, fill a shopping cart with groceries, and make home deliveries to his elderly and disabled neighbors in Holly Courts, a low-income housing complex in San Francisco, California.
At StoryCorps, he sat down with his friend and neighbor, Robert Cochran, one of the people he delivered groceries to.
Just a short drive from Holly Courts, longtime friends Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez were working together at Valley Springs Manor, an assisted care center in Castro Valley, California. Maurice was a cook and Miguel, a janitor.
In October 2013, the California Department of Social Services (DSS) closed the facility; residents were supposed to have been relocated, but a number of them were left behind. The staff stopped being paid, so the majority of them left. At StoryCorps, Maurice and Miguel talk about why they decided to stay.
Next, we turn to Ronald Ruiz, a retired bus operator, who came to StoryCorps’ very first recording booth back in 2004, when it was located in the heart of New York City, at Grand Central Terminal. When he sat down to reflect on his long career, Ronald began with a story about one of his most memorable passengers on his bus line in the Bronx.
Our last story comes from Ceceley Chambers, an interfaith chaplain, and her son, William. For more than a decade, Ceceley has provided spiritual counsel to seniors and hospice patients at nursing homes and hospitals across New England.
In 2015, she was regularly visiting seniors at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, a Boston-area an eldercare organization for people with memory loss. Her son William, who was nine years old at the time, started joining Ceceley on some of her visits. At StoryCorps, they reflect on what the residents taught them.
Four years later, Ceceley, who is still working as a hospice chaplain during COVID-19, sat down to record another interview with her son; this time to share the kinds of lessons they hope people will carry with them, long after the pandemic.
Top photo: Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez at their StoryCorps interview in California on November 07, 2014. By Geraldine Ah-Sue for StoryCorps.
Second photo: Herman Travis and Robert Cochran at their StoryCorps interview in California on November 06, 2014. By Yosmay del Mazo for StoryCorps.
Third photo: Ron Ruiz at his StoryCorps interview in New York on July 28, 2004. By Brett Myers for StoryCorps.
Fourth photo: Ceceley and William Chambers near their Providence home after their StoryCorps interview on July 22, 2016. Courtesy of the Chambers family.
Fifth photo: Ceceley and William Chambers posing in the same Providence-location after recording their second StoryCorps interview, nearly four years later on April 22, 2020. Courtesy of the Chambers family.
Released on May 19, 2020