Search Interviews

Jade Nguyen (21) and her friend Runnei Mawi (21) share their childhood memories of growing up in Vietnam and Burma, respectively, their first impressions of the United States, and how they've grown accustomed to their new lives.

Janit Saechao (28) interviews her grandmother Yingcho Saechao (67) about living in a refugee camp in Thailand, how she decided to adopt her sister's daughter, and what their life was like when they first came to the US.

Best friends Sang Rem (27) and Rayvan Williams (24) talk about meeting in high school and the friendship that they have. Sang shares about her experience as a refugee who came to the US from Burma/Myanmar. Rayvan shares about the...

Olha Stelmakh (52) interviews her daughter Anna Stelmakh (17) about who has inspired her to pursue art and music. They also talk about how they are looking forward to celebrating when they can gather with family again.

Drocella Mugorewera [no age given] is interviewed by Larisa Brass (47) about growing up in Rwanda in a big family, going to college in Russia, and resettling in the United States after being forced to leave her country.

Valdir Solera Jr. (31) talks with StoryCorps interviewer and friend, Syma Mohammed (33), about his involvement in his community in Mauii getting refugees and immigrants registered to vote, as well as his position as a delegate for Refugee Congress. He...

Gladys Mwilelo (23) speaks with her friend Jeanne Zulick Ferruolo (55) about her shifting sense of self, coming to the United States as a refugee, and celebrating family traditions, especially with food and dance.

Syma Mohammed (33) talks with her conversation partner Jihan Daman (53) about leaving Iraq as a refugee at age 13, her four years spent in Greece, her time in high school in Michigan, and the work she does with refugees...

Victoria Barmak (46) speaks with her son Benjamin Barmak (19) about coming from Belarus to New York City as a refugee and her experiences as a teenager in a new country.

Friends Amita Mehta (49) and Michele Sipel (48) remember the first time they met and share other key moments in their friendship, such as when Amita came out to Michele. The two talk about how transformative their friendship has been...

Friends Mahdi Akal (25) and Issa Spartrisano (34) talk about how they met and how they have both come to be Alaskans.

Sheila Mastropietro (67) interviews her friend Miguel Rodriguez (58) about his experience migrating from Cuba to the United States and building a life in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Mariela Shaker (30) talks with StoryCorps' Syma Mohammed (33) about her education as a violinist and coming to the United States to continue studying music when she had to leave Syria. She recalls helping her family leave Syria, people who...

Wife and husband, Sura Alhilali (25) and Mustafa Aljanabi (31) discuss their journeys to the United States, how they met, and the cultural differences between the United States and the Middle East.

Georgette Bisoka (23) and her friend Fowzia Adan (25) share their experiences as refugees living in Boise, Idaho. They discuss moving to the US, finding community, and the importance of self-advocacy for refugees.

Omofolabo Ajayi-Soyinka [no age given] is interviewed by her daughters Efugbaike Ajayi [no age given], Eniola Ajayi (42), and Toluwalase Ayaji [no age given]. Together, they remember Omofolabo's husband and their father, discuss Omofolabo's activism in Nigeria, and their move...

Joseph Sackor [no age given] is interviewed by StoryCorps's staff member Syma Mohammed [no age given] about his journey from Liberia to the U.S., the influence former President Obama had in his political interest, memories from his hometown, and his...

Friends Issa Aldabaan (36) and True Wolff (74) share memories of their friendship since Issa arrived to the United States from Syria.

Norah Bagirinka (62) is interviewed by StoryCorps staff member Syma Mohammed (33) about how the Rwandan civil war affected her family, her life in Uganda, her participation in the Oscar-nominated documentary "God sleeps in Rwanda," and starting her Columbus-based nonprofit...

Syma Mohammed (33) interviews new acquaintance Sahar Al-Nima (26) about immigrating to the United States as an adult, after being forced to flee Iraq in her childhood following the U.S. Invasion.

Bunthay Cheam (40) interviews his mother Chho Sok [no age given] on her experience as a Khmer refugee.

Jessi Calzado-Esponda (31) is interviewed by her friend and coworker Ryan Campbell (29) about her experiences as an involuntary refugee during the 1994 Cuban Rafter Crisis and starting her new life in America afterwards.

Coworkers Valentina Ross (56) and Omar Mohamed (31) discuss the importance of highlighting refugees' stories, how immigration has affected their community in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and the rise of anti-immigrant sentiments in the United States and abroad.

Marvin Walthal (37) speaks with his wife Nejra Sumic [no age given] about her childhood memories of fleeing to Spain as a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina, her early experiences and first impressions of coming to America, and her work...

Dauda Sesay (43) has a conversation with his daughter Mariama Sesay (21) about his immigration journey from Sierra Leone to the U.S., life at refugee camp, his first experience with bullying at a U.S. college, his work of advocacy with...