Jose and Teresita Fernandez
Jose Fernandez tells his wife, Teresita, about the first Thanksgiving he spent in the United States.
Raúl Grijalva and his daughter Marisa
Congressman Raul Grijalva talks to his daughter Marisa about his mother’s influence on his education.
Sam Reed
Sam Reed is a mortician whose interest in the funeral business began when he was a child. For more than a decade, has also been the caretaker at Atlanta’s historic Oakland Cemetery. At StoryCorps he discusses the many reasons he loves his job.
Originally aired November 6, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Judge Joe Pigott and Lorraine Pigott
Judge Joe Pigott came to StoryCorps in Jackson, Mississippi, with his wife, Lorraine, to record an interview about his life.
In this portion, he tells his Lorraine about his step-grandfather, affectionately known as “The Doctor,” and his panicked reaction to the famous October 30, 1938, “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast.
Originally aired October 30, 2007, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Maya Leonard-Cahn and Michael Cahn
Michael Cahn who was brought up in an unhappy home with an alcoholic father and a mother who “kept a low profile,” talks with his daughter Maya Leonard-Cahn about becoming a parent and raising children.
Originally aired October 8, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Karama Neal and Judge Olly Neal
Judge Olly Neal grew up in Arkansas during the ’50s and didn’t care much for high school. One day he cut class and wandered into the library. It’s there he came across a book by African-American author Frank Yerby. The provocative cover piqued his interest, but Olly had a rough-and-tumble reputation to uphold. So rather than check out the book and have his classmates see he was voluntarily reading, he stole it.
He came to StoryCorps to tell his daughter Karama Neal about what happened next.
Check out Judge Olly Neal’s story as a StoryCorps animated short, “The Treasures of Mrs. Grady’s Library.”
Originally aired on October 2, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition. A rebroadcast aired on September 27, 2019 on the same program.
José Cruz and Grace Cruz
José Cruz tells his daughter about staying behind in the Dominican Republic at 6 years old after his mother moved to New York City hoping to start a better life for them. He later joined her when he was in the 7th grade.
Originally aired on September 25, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
James Sargent and Don Sargent
James Sargent (left) enlisted in the Army in 1966 and fought in the Vietnam War, his younger brother Don (right) attempted to join the Air Force but was rejected because he has diabetes. At StoryCorps they discuss their admiration for each other and the separate battles they have each fought.
Originally aired August 14, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Bob Panara and Greg Livadas
When Bob Panara was 10 years old, he became deaf. He tells his friend Greg Livadas about his father arranging for him to meet his childhood hero—Babe Ruth—in the hope that the shock would help his hearing return, and what Brooks Robinson later did to become his idol.
Originally aired July 31, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Patty Barber and Ricky Boone
Ricky Boone talks with his friend Patty Barber about living with a rare bone disorder that has stunted his growth. Ricky, a professional magician for 36 years, developed a passion for magic after one of his school principals showed him tricks—he now owns a magic shop in Asheville, North Carolina, called Magic Central.
Originally aired July 10, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.