Search Interviews

One Small Step conversation partners Susan "Sue" Nichols (47) and Rebecca "Beckie" Hernandez (47) discussed growing up in Indiana, their difference over abortion, and their own Christmas traditions.

16 year old Tristen McMillan has a lovely not very short interview with his mother, Brandi. They have this interview in the car after getting home at the end of November 2023. Brandi shares tales of her sibling and her...

One Small Step conversation partners Greg Gustin (59) and Edgar Guzman (35) talk about the importance of their faiths, the ways religion has impacted their lives, and their political views.

Williams Craft [no age given] interviews his spouse Kathy Burnell (54) about her life, her relationship with her parents, childhood memories, and her education and career trajectory.

Spouses Anne Hensley (49) and Chafe Hensley (48) discuss their future, happiness, the importance of community, and their joint business venture Weirder Wonderland LLC.

Colleagues Michael "Mike" Walling (54), YoungJun Li (45) and May Hua [no age given] discuss their cultural heritage and their work with the Chinese Association of Greater Kalamazoo (CAGK).

Kelley Kellis (47) interviews her friend Stacy Salters Jackson (49) about what home means to her, her experience having had seventeen different addresses in Kalamazoo, and what she would like landlords in Kalamazoo to know.

Colleagues and friends Stephanie Hoffman (54) and Kelley Kellis (47) discuss the meaning of home, houselessness in Kalamazoo, MI, and housing being a human right.

Sonya Hollins (55) interviews her mother Elvira Bernard [no age given] about Elvira’s decision to go back to school as single mother of four children in order to become a nurse. They also discuss hurdles Elvira faced in the nursing...

Rebecca Joyce (50) and her father, Richard Joyce (84), trade stories from their respective service in the Peace Corps, talk about their family, and reflect on their love of travel.

Bethany Broom-Dombrowski (35) and her daughter, Tessa Masengale (15), trade memories and ask each other about their lives.

Mitchell Lettow (36) interviews Stan Rajnak (87) and Kristi Chapman (73) about their volunteer work over the years with Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy.

Colleagues and board members of OutFront Kalamazoo Frances Vicioso (34), Regan Hanley (63), and CoCo Marie (46) share their journeys coming into their identities, reflecting on how the queer experience takes shape across different generations and communities. The three also...

Colleagues Briiz Jean-Baptise Vicioso (19) and Ru Hensley (24) talk about their experiences growing up as young queer people, how their understanding of gender and sexuality has changed over time, and the hopes they have for the work they do...

Building & Grounds Co-Chairs of the Ladies’ Library Association (LLA) of Kalamazoo, Paula Jamison (no age given) and Marge Kars (no age given), detail the process of maintaining the LLA’s historic building.

Taylor West (24) interviews Cynthia Rose (58) about her role as the mother of the community and how she is learning to give that same love and care to herself in this next phase of her life.

Ashante Collins (30) shares a conversation with her mother, Latrieva Boston (46), about their relationship, how Latrieva handled teenage parenthood, and how they have been able to grow and flourish together.

Sabrina King (20) interviews Stephanie Williams (51) about her experience organizing and advocating for her community, reflecting on the barriers she has overcome as a Black woman in politics and the importance of representation. In 2018, Stephanie became the first...

Conversation partners Ophelia Rose (19) and Delilah Righter (24) share a conversation about relationships, forgiveness, and mental health in the digital age.

Kathy Purnell (54) interviews her colleague, Bita Edraki (57), about her childhood in Iran before the Iranian Revolution, her journey to the United States, and her Bahá’í faith that has guided her through many transitions in life.

Kathy Purnell (54) interviews colleague Buddy Hannah (74) about his life and work in the arts, particularly his approach to building and celebrating community through this work.

Judy Sarkozy [no age given] interviews friend and coworker David Walker [no age given] about his experience serving 33 years in prison, his work with her at Sarkozy Bakery, and his outlook on life.

Ashley Choker (38) interviews her colleague, Melody Woods (43), about her upbringing, her experience as a troubled teen struggling with substance abuse and the law, and her eventual recovery. Note: This recording has in-depth descriptions of substance abuse and domestic...

Friends and coworkers Lynn Houghton (65) and Sharon Carlson (60) discuss their shared passion for Kalamazoo history, the built environment, and cultural preservation.

Chris Lampen-Crowell (63) and Bruce Johnson (68) talk about the process of opening their store Gazelle Sports in Downtown Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the barriers they overcame to make it a success.