Search Interviews

Freddie Flowers (81) talks to her niece Yaa Simpson (44) about the maternal line of the family which came from various parts of the United States south. Freddie talks about her life and Yaa shares the results from a DNA...

Sherry Williams (58) interviews her friend Gregg H. Brown, Sr., (58), talk about the importance of banking black and Gregg's near-death experience.

Elaine Melko (47) speaks with her father Daniel "Dan" Melko (83) about his childhood and time in the U.S. Navy.

Jeremy Arndt (34) talks with StoryCorps intern, Katie Rice (22), about his late grandfather's life and military service in World War II.

Destiny Brown (18) talks to her teacher, Nancy Zook (55), about her life, her family, her experience at CCA Academy, and her plans for the future after graduation.

Crystal Stonewall (24) speaks to her mother, Cawanna Stonewall [no age given], about the influence of her early education in her law career, her accomplishments, and what the future holds.

Rosetta Brown (60) has a conversation with longtime friend Lee Barham (57) about growing up in Alton, Illinois, their community involvement, the present of Alton, and the challenges of the 2021 local election.

Mary Parnell Payne (99) is interviewed by her son Dr. Michael Payne (64) about growing up in rural Tennessee, her memories of her grandparents, voting, becoming a lab technician at the University of Chicago, and her thoughts on the current...

Ruby Bradford (35) is interviewed by StoryCorps interviewer Amy Tardif (54) about Chicago artist Lee Godie, C2E2, her favorite people, and the story of her name.

Stephanie Riddle [no age given] interviews her nephew Elliot Riddle [no age given] about his experience attending college in Tennessee, getting involved with school organizations, and his expectations on his new journey moving to Dallas, Texas for a new job...

Cawanna Stonewall [no age given] talks to her son, Keven Stonewall, Jr. (25), about their favorite memories together, Keven's curiosity, and how Cawanna supported and encouraged him since he was very young. Keven talks about what he has learned from...

Karen Gray (59) has a conversation with her friend Cassandra Gentry (68) about their role as grandparents, the challenges supporting children with school homework during the pandemic, and some of the things that have changed in their routines.

Jason Pryor (32) talks to his girlfriend Svetlana Binshtok (32) about how he started fencing at age 11 on a whim, got hooked on the sport, and became a competitive athlete. He describes the bittersweetness of competing in the 2016...

Seanwong J. Brown (47) is interviewed by his friend Ahmed "Flex" Omar (39) about his experiences growing up in a biracial family, his early interest in the Air Force, life in Europe, working in finance and the hospitality industry.

Pidgeon Pagonis (34) and their friend and cofounder of the Intersex Justice Project, Sean Saifa Wall (42), reflect on the cost and the gains of their activism, their fight against the medical establishment at Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago to...

Amy Sheffield (63) talks to her new acquaintance, Karen Morris (45), about shame and silence in her family history, her earliest memories of feeling different, the moment when she crossed paths with her beloved for the first time when she...

Jason Harrison (37) speaks with his father Gregory Harrison (64) about the times Gregory spent on his great grandparent's farm during his childhood summers and how they shaped who he is today, what his parents did for a living in...

Lawrence "Anton" Seals (46) speaks with his friend and colleague Jacob Campbell (44) about the changes they've undergone in 2020 during the pandemic, racial justice, and how they're looking toward the future.

Duane Davis (74) talks to his friend and former student, Brooke Zino (29), about his childhood, his family, the origin of his passion for music, his high school choir teacher, and his most memorable teaching experiences.

Sherry Williams (58) talks to StoryCorps Facilitator, Eliza Lambert (23) about her family's history from Mississippi to Chicago and how her relationship with her grandmother led to her interest in historical research, which led to her founding the Bronzeville Historical...

Erika Swinney (39) and her father and boss Dan Swinney (71) discuss Dan's history as a community organizer and labor force activist, and how that led to his current work in manufacturing education. He started a manufacturing training school that...

Nancy Becoat (75) is interviewed by her daughter Leah Becoat (51) about her childhood growing up in Alton, Illinois, her experience as a biracial woman, some of her fond memories of the Mississippi River, her community involvement, and her reflections...

Makinde Adedapo (37) talks to his sister Naima Adedapo (35) about her experience growing up in Maywood, IL and experience as a contestant on American Idol.

Yvonne Orr-El (48) talks to her friend Kimberley Rudd (51) about the impact that her revolutionary parents have had on her life. She shares how she found the truth under layers of family secrets, how her activism looks, and the...

Kim Hunt (57) and her friend, Ken Mejia-Beals [no age given], talk about their lives and work, particularly related to intersectionality within activist movements and communities.