Search Interviews

Friends and co-activists Jeroline Jackson (30) and Sinta Storms (46) talk about the importance of Black and Asian community collaboration and how their respective identities have shaped their experiences in Philadelphia.

Kymberli Smith (18) and her foster parent Keturah Hardy (45) talk about Kimberli moving in with Keturah while in the foster care system. They discuss their pasts and traumas and what they hope for in the future.

Mark Ugbomah (34) asks his father, Obiajula Ugbomah (58), about his childhood, migrating to the United States, and finding home and belonging in music and important interpersonal relationships.

Leigh Thomas (55) and coworker Connie Welsh (43) detail the work they do managing the various gardens at Innisfree Village, exchange favorite memories, and reflect on their hopes for the future of their community.

Longtime friends and Innisfree Village residents Marnie Diamond (67) and Carolyn Ohley (71) recall memories of their time together, discuss Marnie's work and volunteer experiences, and reflect on the friends and family that they've loved and lost.

Jennifer Young (31) and Ricky Agyekum (18) talk about their political beliefs, how they became the people they are today, and the most influential people in their lives.

Sisters Mary Rechner (55) and Jessica Rechner (53) discuss how migration or staying home has influenced their respective lives. They also discuss their artistic careers, starting families and potential regrets.

Crayton Robey (50) interviews his partner, Ed Shaulhafer (69), about his experience training to become a doctor during the AIDS epidemic. Ed also talks about his relationship to Fire Island throughout the years.

Edoardo Kulp (50) speaks with his coworker Dominic Crapucchettes (50) about the origins of North Star Games, his board game company.

Richard "Pogo" Rodriguez (69) speaks with his son Rich Rodriguez (45) about their ties to Native American heritage, memories of growing up on the reservation, and moving away.

Richard Levy (72) talks with his daughter, Bettie Levy (39), about his history in the toy industry and some of his favorite toys and games.

Friends Ward Auerbach (78), James "Jim" Pepper (77), and William "Bill" Mattle (54) talk about being residents of the Fire Island Pines through the AIDS crisis. They reflect about loss, organizing, and about the work being done by younger people...

Kenyatta Bakeer (50) interviews her father, Donald Bakeer (77), about meeting and falling in love with her mother, his work organizing for Black liberation, and his writing.

Lea Zikmund (27) and Ella Wiley (27) talk about their friendship, meeting in college, and what they have learned about themselves living in Brooklyn, NY.

Justin Blake (50) interviews his friend Jay Pagano (76) about how the HIV/AIDS epidemic developed on Fire Island. Jay describes how the disease moved from something he read about to something that touched his life. He talks about the loved...

Brothers Adam Fried (58) and Jon Fried (60) parents founded Innisfree Village to provide a community that was in support of Jon's intellectual disabilities. The two discuss the community's history, having been one of its first residents as well as...

Friends Vanessa Traverse (37) and Bridget Nicholson (64) reminisce on memories from their long friendship and describe their lives at Innisfree Village.

Ian Bitzes (24) talks with his grandfather William "Rory" Cross (86) about his life in the National Guard, ranching, and his time in the Wyoming House of Representatives.

Fidel Sanchez (81) is interviewed by StoryCorps facilitator Zazil-xa Davis-Vazquez (25) about his career in the United States Air Force as a pilot, later memories from his time as a commercial airline pilot, and his love of playing the trombone.

Tomik Dash [no age given] interviews his friend Robert "Bob" Levine [no age given] about his first time in Cherry Grove on Fire Island and about his career as a drag performer starting in the 1950s. They discuss the impact...

Jude Wilkes Smith (13) interviews his father, Todd Smith (53), about his first-hand experience with the September 11th, 2001 tragedy.

Phil Beaumont (52) speaks with his friend James "Jim" Brown (60) about their careers as artists and educators, childhood memories, San Diego's art scene, and the early beginnings of The Children's Museum of San Diego and the Museum School hosted...

Tomoko Kuta (53) speaks with her friend, collaborator, and colleague Perry Vasquez (60) about their roles at the New Children's Museum, designing art for children, and their own childhood memories.

Judy Forrester [no age given] speaks with her friend and collaborator Tony Teravainen [no age given] about Tony's military service, starting the Support The Enlisted Project (STEP), the challenges of military family life, and how STEP and the New Children's...

Karl Jennings (51) and OSS interview partner Rebecca Petersen (44) speak about Karl's journey leaving the Church of Latter-day Saints and coming out as gay, Rebecca's faith in God, her gay brother, and their different views on identity.