Search Interviews

Lois Nelson (79) tells her daughter, Erika Nelson (51) about her childhood in Chicago, Illinois. Lois and Erika talk about Lois' educational choices and career that led to her involvement in the Frenald Closure Project and about activism in her...

Robert Holbach (93) talks to his daughter, Marie Thomas (69) about his family, his career in news and mail delivery, and his advice on preparing for retirement. This is the second of two interviews.

Ashley Stephenson (18) talks to her teacher Nancy Zook (55) about graduating from high school and her hopes for the future.

Virginia Carlsen, 51, interviewed by her daughter Erika Carlsen, 24. Viriginia talks about growing up in a working class Mexican family in Chicago and the struggles they faced there, the experience moving to all-white Utah with her family at 18,...

Stephanie Thompson (47) and her coworker Pamela Fairley (42), talk about breaking the stigmas associated with recipients of housing vouchers and residents of public housing. They talk about their childhoods, education, work history, and the economic and housing challenges they've...

Dorothy Moore (82) talks to her daughter, Dr. Sharon Moore (53), about growing up in Southern Louisiana, moving to Chicago in the late 1950s, work, marriage, motherhood, and buying her first home.

Amari Allen (20) and her friend Trenette "T-Nice" Gresham (25) talk about being raised by their grandmothers, relationships, responsibility, and their hopes for the future.

Raymond Lauk (59) spoke to his great uncle and aunt, Vito (92) and Josephine Simone (90). Vito served on the USS WASP aircraft carrier during World War II. He recalls his time serving for the military and how he met...

Beryl Schottenstein (68) reads four of her own short stories.

Richard Dobbins Jr. (70) tells friend and colleague Sherry Williams (58) about growing up in Bronzeville, Chicago, and being in the Navy during the later '60s, early '70s.

Spencer Strellis (80) talks to his daughter, Paisley Strellis (35) about his childhood in Chicago, and his experience moving to Guam and French Morocco. He also talks about his career as a public defense attorney, his family, his children, and...

Paul Saltzman (61) interviews his mother, Sara Fay Saltzman (85), about growing up and teaching in Chicago.

Ian Kerstetter (25) speaks with H. Melt (27) about being queer and their experience as part of the queer community of Chicago as artist and writer.

Steve Hetzel (36) asks his father, Robert "Bob" Hetzel (77) about growing up in Plain, WI, a Catholic farming and construction town, and moving to Chicago to become a high school physics teacher in the the late 1960's. "Bob" also...

Jessica Voights (33) speaks to her cousin, Joe Voights (32) about their travels and what they think of one another.

Carl Haymore Jr. (50) speaks with his uncle Tyrone Haymore (74), who is a local historian, about the historical firsts in the village of Robbins, IL, the famous people who came from Robbins, as well as Carl's love of fatherhood.

Charles Smith (79) talks to his son, Eben Chaske Smith (56) and his daughter, Kiela Smith-Upton (50) about growing up in Chicago, his family, education, and his career as an architect.

Elizabeth "Liz" Z. Allan (63) and Eileen Neulinger (61) talk about their lifelong interest in libraries and books, their family history, and their plans after retirement.

Ahmed "Flex" Omar (39) interviews Nedal Kawash (28) about his early life in Jordan, immigrating to the Chicago suburbs as a teen, adapting to the US, and his life since.

Ricardo Alberto Mazariegos (57) shares a conversation with his daughter, Ryo Mazariegos (23), about how their family first came from Guatemala to arrive in the United States.

Sonja Jones (72) speaks with her daughter Renita Anderson (43) about growing up in the small town of Viola, Illinois.

Destiny Brown (18) talks to her teacher, Nancy Zook (55), about her life, her family, her experience at CCA Academy, and her plans for the future after graduation.

Kay Caraher (84) speaks to her granddaughter, Emily Alexander (28) about different moments in her life.

Michelle Leff (60) talks with her mother, Claire Kim (88), about Claire’s upbringing in Seoul, her love of reading, her decision to come to the United States, her career, and her family.

Carter Wagner (18) talks to his mother, Nicole Wagner (51), about his life since their last StoryCorps interview in 2016 and his hopes for college and the future.