Sophy Medina, Thomas Olsen, and Luca

Sophy Medina and her fiancé, Tommy Olsen, are both firefighters in New York City. They are stationed at different firehouses and don’t often get to work together.

But one night in February, shortly after they began dating, Sophy and Tommy ended up at the same fire. They came to StoryCorps—with their baby son Luca in tow—to talk about that unconventional Valentine’s Day date.

Originally aired February 14, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition

StoryCorps 10th Anniversary Update: Danny Perasa and Annie Perasa

For the 10th Anniversary of StoryCorps, we are revisiting some of our favorite stories.

When we first heard from Danny and Annie Perasa in August 2004, they talked about their first date, an on-the-spot marriage proposal, and their deep enduring love for each other. Danny also shared that he leaves daily love notes for Annie.

“To my princess, the weather out today is extremely rainy, I’ll call you at 11:20 in the morning. And I love you, I love you, I love you.”

In February 2006, Danny and Annie recorded another StoryCorps interview, but this time it was conducted in their Brooklyn home because as they revealed, he has a fast spreading form of pancreatic cancer.

“My dearest wife, this is a very special day. It is a day on which we share our love which still grows after all these years. Now that love is being used by us to sustain us through these hard times. All my love, all my days and more. Happy Valentine’s Day.”

Not long after that interview, Danny died in his sleep at the age of 67.

Today, Annie, 71, still lives in that same apartment, and she recently recorded another StoryCorps interview to thank all those who have reached out to her over the years and let everyone know that while she misses Danny, she has his love letters and is doing all right.

Originally aired October 25, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Rebecca Greenberg, Carl Greenberg, and Laura Greenberg

When we first heard from Laura Greenberg and her daughter Rebecca in January 2011, Laura spoke about growing up in her parents’ home in Queens, New York, in the 1950s, and not knowing what normal behavior was. She also spent time telling stories about meeting and marrying her husband, Carl.

Laura and Rebecca returned to StoryCorps, this time with Carl along as well, to give him an opportunity to weigh in on some of the things said about him the first time his wife and daughter recorded their interview.

Originally aired October 24, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Shaun Kaufman and Colleen Collins

Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman were both divorced and having a tough time finding work when they started dating in 2002. Eventually, tired of Shaun drinking and getting stoned all day, Colleen came up with the idea that they should start a private investigation agency. (Shaun has a law degree and had trained several PIs in the past.)

At StoryCorps, the couple who married in 2009 discuss their work and how it helped save their relationship.

Originally aired March 8, 2013 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Louis Caplan and Harriet Caplan

Harriet and Louis Caplan’s love story began later in their lives. She was 48 and he was 56. Neither had ever been married before, but suddenly they found themselves together all the time and Louis proposed, so in 1995 they got married.

At StoryCorps, they talk about falling in love and the challenges they now face since Harriet was diagnosed with colon cancer and given a life expectancy of about two years.

Originally aired February 15, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Above: The Caplans at their wedding on May 27, 1995. Photo courtesy of Harriet Caplan.

Philip & Susan McClinton

Biologists Susan and Philip McClinton live just outside of Yellowstone National Park in Cody, Wyoming.

They’ve been there for more than a decade, studying snakes, bats and other animals.

But when they met in the fall of 1972, their lives were very different.

Van and Shirley Harris

Van Harris and his wife, Shirley, grew up a block away from each other in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn.

They met in the late 1930s, and at StoryCorps, they looked back on their old neighborhood and the characters who congregated at Dubrow’s Cafeteria on Eastern Parkway.

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.

Henry Flores and Gwendolyn Diaz

Gwendolyn Diaz had just started a new job at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, when she met her husband, Henry Flores, another professor there.

It was the 1980s and Henry, who describes himself as “one of the original computer nerds,” was on his way to the computer room when the new faculty member caught his eye.

This story is also included in All There Is: Love Stories from StoryCorps.