We seldom talk about the things we’re ashamed of. Our differences, mistakes, or burdens can make us feel like we’re not good — or “normal” — enough for the outside world. But talking about it with someone we trust can lift some of the weight.
So on this season of the StoryCorps Podcast from NPR, we’ll hear people put themselves — and their stigma — out there. From a couple struggling with substance abuse to a community of forgotten people imprisoned on a Hawaiian island, they’ll tell us about the weight they carry, and how it feels to set it down.
Everything In Between
In this episode, we share one couple’s story of love and loss under the weight of substance abuse — told through different recordings, twelve years apart. Read the full transcript here.
You’re My Memory
Capt. Helen Perry talks with her husband, Sgt. Matthew Perry, about the impacts of Matthew’s memory loss — and their enduring love. Read the full transcript here.
Seeing the Future In You
We usually lean on our elders for wisdom and support…but sometimes it’s the other way around. In this episode, we hear from queer men who found acceptance in one another. Read the full transcript here.
One Who Is Understanding
Family names bind one generation to the next, but what if that name is lost? In this episode, a grieving family learns their legacy is being kept alive — by a stranger from far away. Read the full transcript here.
A Dangerous Word
In this two-part special, we hear from a community of people cast out to a remote Hawaiian island after contracting leprosy — the most stigmatized disease in human history — and how it’s affected families through generations. Read the full transcript here.
The Last Patients
In the second part of our Kalaupapa story, we hear how people exiled from society reconnected with family — and found a new community. Read the full transcript here.
The Voice For My Song
What happens when paralyzing fear stops you from following your dream? In our final episode of the season…Jim Von Steinhas written 8000 songs, but almost nobody has heard a single one of them. Read the full transcript here.