Search Interviews

Kathleen Benjamin (62) talks with her childhood and lifelong friend Daniel Alonzo (62) about their respective childhoods growing up in Santa Monica. The friends talk about how Santa Monica has changed throughout the years, as well as Daniel's artistic endeavors.

Mary Ann Olding (78) is interviewed by her niece Ann Acheson (59) about her growing up in rural Ohio, what lead her to historical preservation as a career and the ways in which her Catholic farm family shaped her independent...

Kurt McCoy (47) and Elizabeth Gibbs (45) compare and contrast their upbringings (hers near London and his in South Carolina) with raising their own children today in the Southern United States.

William "Bill" McMurrin (71) interviews his friend Timothy "Tim" Bywater (80) about his experience working as both a seasonal park ranger with the National Park Service and an English professor. They also talk about their friendship and Timothy's family.

Yohance Simon (42) talks with his father, Irving Simon (79), in celebration of Irving’s 80th Birthday.

Friends and Santa Monica community members LaVerne Ross (78) and Robbie Jones (62) talk about LaVerne's rich history in Santa Monica as a community activist, prominent and trusted master-cosmetologist, and a spearhead of the Juneteenth celebration in Santa Monica.

Ellen Piekalkiewicz (58) interviews her father, Jaroslaw Piekalkiewicz (95), about his experiences as a World War II refugee and a member of the Polish unit of the British Armed Forces. They also talk about their home in Lawrence, Kansas, where...

This interview was conducted for an AP Language project where we were tasked to interview a close elder and give insightful reviews and ask questions so we can further understand how cool our elders really are. I, Seth Greenland(16) interview...

One Small Step conversation partners John Fiebich (56) and Beth Green (47) discuss their career paths, faith backgrounds, and other influences on their beliefs. Note: This conversation includes the topic of suicide.

Kelly Davis (44) interviews conversation partner Paula Duval (62) about her struggles and successes, and the life philosophies she has adopted because of them.

April Banks (47) talks to new acquaintance Mary Mills (56), an African-American woman who surfs in the LA county area.

Gerald (Jerry) Rudnick (68) interviews his uncle Alfred Klinger (87) about his European bicycling adventures taken after the death of his wife, Kit. Alfred went to Germany in part to visit Jerry, who was there visiting his son, and to...

Maureen Bartee (47) interviews her mother Mary Sinclair (84) about Mary's life growing up in Ireland and her life as a nurse in the United States.

Friends and fellow retired educators Barbara Dinan (82) and Nina Ruskey (70) talk about their friendship, families, careers, and legacies.

Gary Birrenkott (64) interviews his father, LaVerne Birrenkott (89), about life, family, and his appliance business in Madison, Wisconsin. They discuss LaVerne's time as a mechanic in the United States Army from 1954-1956 as well as his time working at...

In this interview, I hear my dad's journey of learning to assimilate into the American culture and school system. From struggling with language to racism from peers, my dad explores his version of the American Lifestyle.

Lydia and Liz talk about Lydia's career and her journey from India as a young woman to being regional CFO for Providence Home and Community Care in Southern California.

American Legion colleagues Bob Miller (63) and Troy Hibbard (39), as well as conversation partner Chris Brookes (74), share stories of the Lake Geneva veterans of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, including of a local...

Valentina Marin (16) interviews her uncle, Leonardo Villa (54) about his childhood in Colombia and about working at the Twin Towers.

One Small Step conversation partners Cassidy Mason (20) and Rebecca Smith (38) discuss Cassidy's newly forming family, Rebecca's teaching and traveling, and how their upbringings shaped their political views.

Jacqueline Gratschmayr (54) interviews her mother, Betty Deusic (89), about her English childhood during World War II, young adult life, immigration to the United States, and raising a family.

Paul Rigby (69) has a conversation with his wife, Carol Rigby (69), about the collection of lullabies she has gathered for years, shared with her children and grandchildren, and used to help the Safe Families for Children organization.

StoryCorps facilitator Courtney Gilbert (28) talks with Bruria Finkel (87) about her career as an artist, her family and how she opened doors for women in the arts.

Marc Paprzyca (69) and spouse Sylvia Paprzyca (67) talk about life in Chicago and retiring to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. They talked about leaving the hustle and bustle of the city life and returning to a resort town.

Janice Peterson (79) interviews friend Sherryl Engstrom (73), who shares excerpts of letters written to her mother by her father during his World War II enlistment.