The holidays are a special time of year for many. At StoryCorps, we love hearing about your festive foods, family quirks, and traditions, and we hope you enjoy hearing about others as well! Here’s a collection highlighting some of our favorite broadcasts and animations that set the mood for the holiday spirit.


The Road Home

Eddie Lanier struggled with alcoholism for over 40 years, until his 28th stint in rehab finally led to sobriety. Homeless and hungry, Eddie found a friend in David Wright, a passerby whose frequent donations stood out. Four years after they shared Eddie’s remarkable story with StoryCorps, David persuaded Eddie to move into his home. They still live together to this day. Read the full transcript.


The Little things

Herman Travis and Robert Cochran are neighbors and community leaders in Holly Courts, a low-income housing complex in San Francisco. For fourteen years, Herman and Robert worked together distributing over 1,300 pounds of food from a local food bank to elderly and disabled neighbors. At StoryCorps, Robert thanks Herman for the many ways he helps his community. Read the full transcript.


Meet the Greenbergs

Growing up in her parents’ home in Queens, New York during the 1950s, Laura Greenberg says she didn’t know what normal behavior was. She remembers her family expressing love through hugging, cursing, and oversharing. At StoryCorps, Laura sits down with her daughter Rebecca to reflect on their unconventional love language. Read the full transcript.


Yelitza Castro and Willie Davis

Growing up in her parents’ home in Queens, New York during the 1950s, Laura Greenberg says she didn’t know what normal behavior was. She remembers her family expressing love through hugging, cursing, and oversharing. At StoryCorps, Laura sits down with her daughter Rebecca to reflect on their unconventional love language. Read the full transcript.


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"I thought that this was going to be a recipe for disaster."
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“I thought that was going to be a recipe for disaster.”

Hoping to meet someone special, in 2010 Seth Smiley decided to give online dating a try. Eventually he met someone and the two sit down to reflect on their first Christmas together. Read the full transcript.


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“It’s like everybody is looking for something, and they found it after they seen my tree.”
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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Suzanne Jaber grew up in Lebanon, and while her family is Muslim, they were surrounded by many Christian neighbors and their holiday traditions. After moving to the United States and raising a family of her own, she wanted to create her own traditions that melded the celebrations of both cultures. With the help of her husband, Ali Jaber, Suzanne ended up creating something new entirely: a moon tree. Read the full transcript.


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Santa Rick
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Santa Rick
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Santa Rick

Meet Rick Rosenthal, a modern Orthodox Jew who also happens to be a modern-day Santa Claus. Listen to how one man’s religious faith actually helped him find his spiritual calling. Subscribe to the podcast.


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StoryCorps 451: Holiday Highlights
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Holiday Gifts That Can’t Be Bought

In this episode of the StoryCorps Podcast, hear stories about a father who helped start the annual tradition of keeping track of Santa Claus as he flies across the globe making his Christmas Eve rounds, a struggling mother reveals how she was able to throw big, memorable holiday celebrations for her children, and a teacher who helped a young boy deal with sadness and loss during most children’s happiest time of the year. Subscribe to the podcast.


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StoryCorps 519: In the Spirit
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In the Spirit

Listen in on a StoryCorps podcast special that celebrate the meaning of the holiday, from stories about piano tuners to cynical Santas. Subscribe to the podcast.