Search Interviews

The Penza Family, Evelyn & Tony discuss their family history, their immigrant experience in South Jersey, and the dynamic way their Italian-American immigrant-family legacy was created using the foodways of Southern New Jersey.

Gary Hance talks with Folkllife Director Lesley Schierenbeck about his childhood find of what he thinks could appear to be a Lenape dugout canoe off of the shores of Manahawkin, New Jersey. The vessel was found off of the property...

Kevin Gluck (49) talks with his mother, Anne Perdue (74) about her life

Virginia Musick (98) talks to her sons, Mark Musick (69) and Ryland Musick (71), about her childhood, her educational background, and the different countries she has traveled to.

Best friends Aishwarya Warrier (31) and Divya Malyala (29), who immigrated from India, are celebrating Aishwarya's 10th year as a resident of the US. They look back on their journey of new experiences and look forward to new adventures.

My Dadun, Tahera Begum (69) talks about her life -- being born in undivided Pakistan, married off at 15, becoming a mother at 16, and how she is doing now. The interview flips in the end where she starts asking...

Phyllis Wong, 32-year-old single mother, reflects on her time of healing and self love after public heartbreak.

Marissa Kanz (38) talks with her ex-husband, Daniel Baughn (40), about their friendship, courtship, marriage and divorce. They talk about their shared spiritual faith, their six-year-old daughter and Daniel Baugh's coming out after they were married. They then talk about...

Varun Gopinath (29) interviews his father-in-law, Brian Sullivan (56), who speaks about his own life and the lessons he learned along the way.

Emma Bentley Ruzicka (34), interviews her grandfather Dr. John Bentley (86) about his time in the Navy, how he met his wife, becoming a doctor, and the experiences that followed him from state to state.

Friends Sunny Lubner (76) and Stephanie Davis (59) talk about Sunny’s experience being the daughter of two activists protesting Apartheid in South Africa, Stephanie’s life moving to Fort Myers, and their shared passion for theater.

Alexis Garcia (18) talks with Amanda Padron (20) about the struggles she has faced as a healthcare worker during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss topics ranging from mental health, to stress, to the importance of family and a work community,...

Sheryl Dobson (60) asks her mentor and friend, Rev. Dr. Bessie Duncan (80) about her relationship to God, and her most important experiences and life teachings.

Cristina Larios (16) talks to Joe Nowinski (33) about her experiences traveling the Americas. Cristina is an American Citizen who grew up in Nicaragua and came to the tiny Almond-Bancroft High School in rural Almond Wisconsin. Joe Nowinski is her...

Barbara Speisman (86) shares stories of her childhood, her family, and career with her son, Aaron Speisman (50).

Whether it be in New Jersey or New York, Tammie Vivlamore's life experience has been crazy from the start. In this interview, Tammie opens up about her less-than-stellar childhood, where she ended up in her 20's, and how becoming a...

Paul Kennedy (57) shares with his friend Vince "Vinnie" Whibbs (77) about his childhood, his 30 years incarcerated and getting the support he needed to stay out of prison through the anti-recidivism program, Re-entry Alliance Pensacola (REAP).

Stephanie Lam (61) talks with her daughter, Sophie Brown (18) about her childhood in Toisan, China in the 1960s and what it was like to move to America at 18. She discusses her life in a small village, her experiences...

For Rachel's Journalism Midterm, she talks with her dad, Steven, about his memories and his current thoughts.

One Small Step Conversation partners Allison "AJ" Oberempt (61) and Chelsea Niemann (31) share a conversation about their upbringings, their political values, and their families.

Spouses Cynthia Conlon (71) and Robert Conlon (69) share a conversation about when they first came to Seaside, Florida, what makes Seaside unique, and the community and atmosphere in Seaside.

Join Folklife Director Lesley Schierenbeck as she interviews Nancee Jo Luciani, the New Jersey Decoy Collector & Carver Association's Carver of the Year for 2023, and the first female carver in the history of the organization! Nancee Jo has not...

Megha Patel (18) talks with her close friend Shaila Gopal (18) about her struggles and triumphs through her athletic career. While having to balancing academics, mental health, and social life, Shaila reveals her motivation to grow from her severe physical...

Willie Landry (71) talks with his friend Mollie Ray (40) about growing up in Louisiana on a sugar plantation, his fishing and restaurant businesses, his wife and family, being a widower, surviving cancer, moving to Pensacola and becoming a primitive...

Proud Army BRAT and military community advocate Gracie Burgess (21) speaks with conversation partner Cole Johnston (26) about her childhood, an incident during deployment that led to her father's disability, her value of resilience, and her hopes for the future.