Jeff Lasater and Drew Cartwright
At 14, Jeremiah Lasater, pictured at left in his football uniform, towered over his classmates and struggled with a learning disability.
A gentle giant, he was an easy target for bullying, until he finally took his own life.
His father, Jeff Lasater (above left), came to StoryCorps with his friend Drew Cartwright (above right) to remember Jeremiah.
Since Jeremiah’s death in 2008, Jeff has devoted himself to preventing bullying of kids with special needs.
Originally aired January 31, 2014, on NPR’s Morning Edition
Photo courtesy of the Lasater family.
Juan Castillo y Carmen Santos
Carmen Santos y su hermano Juan Castillo crecieron en Los Angeles pensando que su madre los había abandonado cuando vivía en Guatemala. Un día, descubrieron la verdad sobre lo que pasó.
Robin Share and Rami Aizic
Since childhood, Rami Aizic knew he always wanted to be a father and just assumed that one day he would meet a woman, fall in love, and it would all fall into place.
Then he realized he was gay.
Robin Share wanted to be a mother, but she did not have a partner, so when a friend introduced them and they hit it off, they began making plans to have a baby together.
At StoryCorps, Rami and Robin talk about their journey to become parents to their now 14-year-old daughter.
Originally aired November 1, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Chuck Lampert and Josh Lampert
Josh Lampert started having psychotic episodes in college when he was 19 years old and living in Seattle, Washington. Today, Josh, 32, is a line cook at a Mediterranean restaurant in San Francisco.
At StoryCorps, he talks with his father, Chuck, about his illness and thanks him and his mother for saving his life.
Originally aired September 27, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Thomas Weller
Thomas Weller has spent the last 50 years helping strangers who break down on the highway.
At StoryCorps, he remembered the night, as a teenager in Illinois, that he discovered his calling.
Originally aired September 13, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Paul Wayman and Nathanael Roberti
Marine Cpl. Paul Wayman (left) and former Navy SEAL Nathanael Roberti (right) met in 2012 after finding themselves in front of a special court for veterans that takes into account the unique struggles service members face.
After their arrests—Paul was pulled over drunk driving with a gun in his possession and Nathanael pulled a knife on four people while in a bar fight—the judge gave each of them a choice: go to prison, or enroll in a program that helps veterans readjust to civilian life. They chose to go through the program, Veterans Village of San Diego.
At StoryCorps, Paul and Roberti discuss their struggles to adjust to civilian life and the support they have provided each other.
Originally aired August 10, 2013, on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.
Faith Marr and Jerris Marr
In 2007, when Faith Marr was 4 years old, she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer on her spine and had what was to become the first of eight surgeries replacing her vertebrae with titanium rods.
At StoryCorps, Faith, 10, talk with her father, Jerris, about the tremendous pain she dealt with and shares some of the lessons battling cancer has taught her.
Faith’s cancer is now in remission and when she turns 18, Jerris plans to get a tattoo in her honor that says, “Keep the Faith.”
Originally aired July 12, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Above: Faith in 2008, on her 5th birthday. Photo courtesy of Jerris Marr.
Carol Kirsch and Rebecca Posamentier
Rebecca Posamentier (above right) first came to StoryCorps in 2008 with her mother, Carol Kirsch, who had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Rebecca was hoping to record her mother’s voice and thoughts on tape before Carol ‘s condition worsened.
Carol died in March 2011, and Rebecca returned to StoryCorps to remember her mother.
Originally aired May 10, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Above: Carol with her granddaughter Sophie. Photo courtesy of Rebecca Posamentier.
Lorraine Benavides
Lorraine Benavides talks about being diagnosed with cancer, the faith that kept her strong throughout her treatment and the endless support she received from friends and family.
Michael Wilmoth and Bryan Wilmoth
Bryan Wilmoth (right) and his seven younger siblings were raised in a strict, religious household. When Bryan’s father found a love letter from a man in his box of things, he drove him into the countryside and dropped him off in the middle of the night with a five dollar bill.
Over the years, all of Bryan’s siblings either ran away from or were kicked out of their family home. He made efforts to reconnect with them, but many were initially resistant, so it took a long time for their relationships to grow.
At StoryCorps, Bryan and his brother Michael (left) recall how their family grew close.
Click here to watch “A Good Man,” a StoryCorps animation of Bryan and Michael’s conversation.
Originally aired January 25, 2013, on NPR’s Morning Edition.