Nancy Cimei

New York City firefighter Michael D’Auria (pictured at left) had only been on the job for nine weeks when his engine company rushed to the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

He and four other members of his company were among the first responders killed that day.

Nancy Cimei came to StoryCorps to remember her son.

Recorded January 31, 2008.

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.

Chloe Smith and Willie Jefferson

Chloe Smith talks with Willie Jefferson about the 23 years he has worked as a custodian at Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, and some of his impressions of her.

Originally aired October 23, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Christine Kraft

After hearing about the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, Red Cross volunteer Christine Kraft headed straight to Ground Zero. There, she was tasked with taking care of first responders on the scene.

Christine came to StoryCorps to talk about how people from across the city came together to help in the rescue effort.

Recorded September 5, 2008.

Ken Hopper and Kerry Davis

Kerry Davis (left) and Ken Hopper (right) are ironworkers who have worked together for 25 years on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. At StoryCorps they talk about working on “the world’s biggest jungle gym,” and the many times they have had to help rescue people contemplating suicide.

Originally aired on September 4, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Sarafina Viviano and Dana Viviano

Ten-year-old Sarafina Viviano asks her mother, Dana, about what motivated her to become a cancer nurse, and about her relationships with her patients.

Originally aired August 7, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Lawrence Anthony and David Shirley

Lawrence Anthony (pictured above at work) has been cutting hair for over 60 years in Drexel, North Carolina. He and fellow barber, David Shirley, talk about their work, the many generations of heads they have cut and trimmed, and the changing town they work and live in.

Originally aired July 24, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Kathy Bradley and Johnny Bradley

Johnny Bradley tells his daughter Kathy about growing up the son of a sharecropper in Georgia. His family farmed someone else’s land in exchange for a small portion of the crops, and he remembers those times as really hard.

Originally aired May 1, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Siddiqi Hansoti and Gus Hernandez

Gus Hernandez (right) talks with Siddiqi Hansoti (left), owner of the El Dorado Motel in Salinas, California, about how they met after Gus lost his home to foreclosure, and how Siddiqi became a friend to Gus for life after offering him a job.

Originally aired April 3, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Scott Cole, Rebecca Cole and Ed Pierce

Ed Pierce, former managing editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, talks with his daughter Rebecca Cole and his grandson Scott about his love of putting out a daily newspaper, and shares a fun story about what he describes as his “greatest achievement as a managing editor.”

Originally aired March 20, 2009, on NPR’s Morning Edition.