Don Michaels and his daughter Jennifer

Don Michaels tells his daughter Jennifer about his fifth grade teacher.

Roy Wilbur, Alexis Buss and Larry Buss

Alexis Buss (center) talks with her father, Larry (right), and his partner Roy Wilbur (left) about their relationship with Alexis’ newborn daughter, and how it has helped Roy grieve for his own father.

Originally aired on June 26, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Betty Esper and Mark Fallon

At its height, U.S. Steel’s Homestead Works mill in Pennsylvania was one of the world’s largest producers of steel, but when it shut its doors in the 1980s, thousands lost their jobs. Among them was Betty Esper, a desk clerk at the mill.

Betty was 18 years old when she started working at the mill in 1951, and when it closed she was one of the last workers through the gates. At StoryCorps she tells her friend Mark Fallon what Homestead was like when the mill was operating.

Originally aired August 29, 2008, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Sheena Jacob and Juliet Jegasothy

Juliet Jegasothy (right), who is originally from Sri Lanka, tells her friend Sheena Jacob (left) about adjusting to life in the United States.

Originally aired October 27, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Samuel Black and Edda Fields-Black

Samuel Black talks to his wife Edda Fields-Black about his father who worked 16-hour days operating the boiler room of a high school to ensure that the pipes did not freeze. “Working all those hours, he didn’t have time to discuss things. You had to get it right that time and that time only.” A stern disciplinarian, his father only had to look at his sons and they knew what he was thinking.

Originally aired September 29, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Gay Kahkonen and Joyce Kahkonen

Joyce Kahkonen discusses the musical instrument her family is closely linked to—the accordion—with her daughter Gay. Joyce’s father played the accordion professionally and his enthusiasm was contagious—from polkas to waltzes and the standards, he taught all of his children to play. His advice to his daughter: “Honey, remember one thing, if you can’t play good, play loud.”

Originally aired September 15, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Ken Kobus and Ron Barraf

Ken Kobus (left) tells his friend Ron Baraff (right) about his father, John Kobus, who worked in a steel mill for nearly 40 years. The job left an imprint on both Ken and John. When John was near the end of his life and in hospice care, he would lie in bed and make hand motions in the air—the same ones he made while working in the steel mill.

Originally aired September 1, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Henry Belcher and Major A. Mason III

Henry Belcher (left) tells his friend Major A. Mason III (right) about tap dancing in the 1930s when he joined with two friends to become the Six Sensational Sizzling Shoes. Their success brought new problem–with drugs and alcohol–which led Henry to leave the group. He stayed away from dancing for years, but a chance encounter with Gregory Hines got him dancing again.

Originally aired August 4, 2006, on NPR’s Morning Edition.