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To Build the Life She Wanted for Her Son, She Left Behind an Addiction

Zanna McKay — Fri, 02 Aug 2024 03:30:54 +0000

For Irene Montoya, becoming a mother in 2009 was a long held dream come true. At the time, she was years into a methamphetamine addiction and had never held a job for very long. She knew she’d have to make some big changes to her life.

Irene Montoya and Gianni Booth in her truck in Cheyenne, WY in 2021. Courtesy of Irene Montoya.

After getting clean during her pregnancy, Irene relapsed while Gianni was still a toddler. As a single parent, she struggled to make enough money for a decent place to live. At one point, Irene and Gianni found themselves sleeping in their car.

After a decade clean and sober, their lives look very different. Irene started her own company, Sunflower Trucking, and Gianni is attending a private high school. They came to StoryCorps in Cheyenne, Wyoming to talk about their family’s hard times and the turning point in their lives.

Irene Montoya with her custom-built dump truck in Cheyenne, WY on June 16, 2024. By Zanna McKay for StoryCorps.

Top Photo: Gianni Booth and Irene Montoya at their StoryCorps interview in Cheyenne, WY on June 16, 2024. By Zanna McKay for StoryCorps.

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Originally aired August 2, 2024 on NPR’s Morning Edition.

The post To Build the Life She Wanted for Her Son, She Left Behind an Addiction appeared first on StoryCorps.

Staff Spotlight: Charlie Palumbo, Military Voices Initiative Manager

Moury Khan — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 13:50:43 +0000

About Me:

Navy veteran turned advocate, passionate writer, and author with big dreams. Proud wife and mom to two amazing boys, and dog mom to a lovable Labrador mix. When I’m not hiking trails or chasing sunsets, I’m off traveling. Life is an adventure and I’m living it to the fullest!

What is your role and how long have you been at StoryCorps?

I’m the Military Voices Initiatives (MVI) Manager and I’ve been at StoryCorps just over three months.

What does your job entail?

My role involves managing a grant for MVI. This initiative aims to uplift, preserve the legacy, and honor the military and veteran community by visiting new cities annually to record conversations with active duty military, their spouses, and veterans. In each city, we collaborate with key veteran stakeholder groups and local radio stations to broadcast these stories, ensuring they reach a wider audience and foster a deeper understanding of the military experience. I also have the privilege of developing partnerships, which is something I love, and listening to a lot of amazing stories!

I used to be in the Navy, on the U.S.S. Chancellorsville in Japan, where I met my husband before following him to Italy. I’m also the proud sister of a Coast Guard member who will be retiring this year after twenty-five years of service. As an advocate for veterans, military families and service members for more than 14 years, my focus was primarily on transition and employment. My experience in the military and veteran space brings new insights and partnerships to MVI, which is super exciting to me.

What are the rewards of your job?

So far, it’s been the testimonials that I hear after people share their stories: how they’ve connected and how the conversations have transformed them. I also really enjoy building partnerships with those in veteran’s space and telling them about StoryCorps and MVI. It’s especially gratifying to listen to people’s stories and hear sides of them they typically don’t share.

My favorite perk of the job is being surrounded by extremely talented colleagues who share the same passion for seeing the good in humanity and the importance of storytelling.

What are the challenges of your job?

I’ve only had this job a short time, so you don’t know what you don’t know. Every day I find out something new and I’ve just been jumping in and learning as I go. I’m excited about this opportunity and to see what else I can do, once I have more context and experience.

Why should everyone record a conversation with StoryCorps?

The experience can surprise you and you don’t have an agenda for what you’re sharing. It’s just an organic moment for a deep and meaningful conversation and an opportunity to be heard and listened to in a deeper way. Unfortunately, I don’t think most people get that level of connection in their everyday lives, even though it’s what we all need and yearn for. It’s also important to leave our legacy and a recording that our loved ones and others can listen to.

What’s your favorite StoryCorps story?

Peter the Wolf. It’s about a powerful relationship between a veteran and a wolf—it’s very poignant because he wasn’t capable of having a relationship with his kids, but the veteran could connect with an animal. It definitely left me in tears.

The post Staff Spotlight: Charlie Palumbo, Military Voices Initiative Manager appeared first on StoryCorps.

Brothers in Arms: Dan Miller Reflects on His Journey After His StoryCorps Conversation

Moury Khan — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:52:16 +0000

Nick Bennett and Dan Miller, guided by family traditions of military service, found themselves in the heart of the Iraq War’s “Triangle of Death” in 2004. Nick, following in the footsteps of his grandfathers who fought in World War II, joined the Marines with a profound sense of duty. Dan, inspired by his uncle’s legacy, also enlisted and advanced to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. During their deployment, Nick’s responsibilities in maintaining communication between soldiers and their families contrasted with his longing for frontline action. This shared experience led them to StoryCorps, where they revisited their time in Iraq and the camaraderie formed in the midst of conflict. Their story was broadcast on April 27, 2024 on NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday.

Photos courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project.

In a follow-up to his initial StoryCorps conversation, Dan Miller, a Marine veteran, reflects more deeply on his experiences in the “Triangle of Death” in Iraq. He revisits his role and the emotions he grappled with during that challenging period, offering new insights and perspectives that have emerged since his first interview.

Have any new insights or perspectives emerged since your StoryCorps conversation?

Yes, I have had new insights and gained a new perspective on what happened that day, Nov 11th, 2004, as well as the aftermath from that day. I’ve had the chance to sit with Nick and dig into the sequence of events before, during, and after. I’ve been able to see things from his point of view which helped me to process a lot of my feelings about guilt and anger towards that day. I’ve been able to gain a new perspective on my own life following the war and how that day, that deployment shaped where I am in life now.

Photo courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project.

In what ways have you continued to process and come to terms with the emotions surrounding your experiences in Iraq?

I would say that I continue to process every time I wake up because I start the day by reminding myself that if I had stayed standing where I had been next to Nick or in front of him, I could easily have been killed or severely wounded. I remind myself that I was lucky to walk away with a few scratches and a concussion. I know that my emotions have changed since the StoryCorps piece.

I process more clearly now, and I have come to terms with not only letting go of the guilt of the loss of so many of my fellow Marines and the “why them and not me” thing, but I’ve come to terms with the taking of life over there and the fact that it was something that just had to be. We took lives to save lives.

Have you found any new ways to honor or commemorate the sacrifices made during your service, both personally and within the veteran community?

Yes, I have dedicated my life to working for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a professional speaker traveling the country and telling my story in the hopes of involving more veterans and their family members with WWP to obtain the help they need. I sit on the board of the K9’s for Veterans nonprofit and assist with pairing veterans in need with service animals at all levels to improve their quality of life. I sit on the board of the Forgotten Warrior Memorial, a memorial created in Channahon State Park, Channahon, IL, helping to contact the family members of warriors across the nation who have lost the battle with PTSD and ended their lives. These warriors deserve a place to be honored for their service and not just remembered as a person who gave up. The memorial is that place. I honor myself by continuing to live the words that my mother instilled in me as a young boy, service to others before self. That is how I honor those lost, those broken but fighting to recover, and those who need a hand up, not a handout.

How has your relationship with each other as veterans and as individuals progressed since we last spoke? Have there been any significant moments of growth or understanding?

My relationship with Nick is stronger than it was before the StoryCorps conversation. I see him in a different light as so much stronger than I ever thought before. I feel closer to him because he makes me feel whole again. I will love Nick as my brother until the day I die.

Reflecting on the support you’ve received from the Wounded Warrior Project and the veteran community, how has this impacted your sense of belonging and purpose?

This is a simple one, I can say without hesitation or doubt if it were not for the support of WWP and my fellow veteran brothers and sisters, I would not be here today. They have saved me many times over. They have saved me from me, from the demons that haunt my dreams, from the guilt that takes over my soul, from the anger that clouds my brain.

In what ways have you found strength and resilience in your personal journey as veterans since our last conversation?

I have found strength in my journey by doing what I do every day, working to help others helps me. Being communicative about how I feel now and not shoving it away for fear of looking weak.

Looking ahead, what aspirations or goals do you have for the coming year in terms of your personal growth and well-being as veterans?

I want to continue to grow as a speaker, reaching more and more people. I want to work on getting back to a higher level of fitness. I want to begin to rebuild relationships with folks that I shunned away from out of self-doubt and self-pity. I want to continue to rise above my past towards a better future.

How do you envision your ongoing relationship with each other and your involvement in the veteran community as you continue to navigate life after service?

I envision working hard to get closer to Nick by spending my time with him. It is tough because we live so far away from each other, but I feel it is worth the effort and the money to make it happen. He is such a huge part of my life story and a fellow Marine. I look forward to hopefully getting together with him sooner rather than later and maybe going fishing. I know we have spoken about our mutual love of fishing for its calmness and the chance to catch up on life.

What has recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative meant to you?

Recording my story has meant the world to me. It has given me a chance to put on record a major life event that I hope when others hear will push them to come to terms with their events and speak out loud about them. To be able to sit down and talk through everything with Nick was like a cleansing of my soul in so many ways. I can also share my story with my loved ones and friends and to know it will be saved for all to hear makes me very humbled yet very proud. Proud to be an American, Proud to be a Marine, and Proud to be a Veteran.

Why do you think veterans, service members, and military families should record with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative?

I think it is vital to our nation’s history that veterans, service members, and military families record their stories with StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative. Not only does it give them a chance to share their incredible stories, but it saves these stories for generations to come. I was once told by a fellow Marine that a person is never truly forgotten until their name is spoken for the very last time. StoryCorps Military Voices Initiative guarantees that the warriors and family members who have played such a pivotal role in what makes our country the greatest country in the world shall never be forgotten.

Photos courtesy of the Wounded Warrior Project.

How did recording your story with StoryCorps’ Military Voices Initiative feel?

Recording my and Nick’s story felt a little weird at first because neither of us looked at what happened to us as anything different than what has happened to thousands of others. But then as the process moved forward, we both realized that this was something special being created for not only us but for everyone. It made me feel incredibly proud to have the honor of taking part in such a moving event. And hopefully helping future generations of warriors and their families by telling our story.

This follow up conversation was made possible by the Wounded Warrior Project. Learn more about our Military Voices Initiative.

Want to record your story? Meet us at one of our stops!

Event	Partner	Booking Links & Dates
In-Person Virginia: Williamsburg	WHRO (Hampton Roads) 1408 Richmond Road Williamsburg, VA 23185	July 10-July 13

Virtual Appointments

Event	Partner	Booking Links & Dates
Virtual Pennsylvania	WHYY	July 15-19 August 12-15 August 21-25
Virtual Arizona	Arizona Public Media	July 24-27 August 12-15 August 21-25
Virtual Virginia	WHRO (Hampton Roads)	July 29-August 1 August 12-15 August 21-25

Not in a city that we’ll be visiting? You can record anywhere with the StoryCorps App. Learn more here.

The post Brothers in Arms: Dan Miller Reflects on His Journey After His StoryCorps Conversation appeared first on StoryCorps.

StoryCorps Launches One Small Step America with National PSA Campaign

Moury Khan — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 14:30:00 +0000

StoryCorps has launched One Small Step America, an effort to nationally scale the organization’s One Small Step (OSS) initiative. The kick-off will include a national PSA campaign with digital, print, broadcast, and outdoor advertising in markets across the country. Having focused One Small Step in three local Model Communities since 2021, StoryCorps today makes it possible for anyone, anywhere in the country, to quickly and easily participate in a One Small Step conversation.

OSS America PSA campaign billboard.

In development since 2017, OSS pairs strangers with opposing political beliefs for conversations, not to debate politics, but to get to know each other as fellow Americans. The initiative is based on social psychology’s contact theory and to date, more than 5,400 people in over 40 states have participated in OSS.

Dave Isay, Founder and President of StoryCorps, said, “We are not as divided or as different as we think. In fact, 9 out 10 Americans are tired of division, scared of where it’s leading the country, and looking for a way out. As we scale One Small Step nationally, we want people to know that they are part of the ‘exhausted majority.’ One Small Step offers hope, sanity, and a simple step for Americans to take to help close the divides tearing at the very fabric of our nation. We believe we are uniquely positioned to make an impact, and will fight with everything we’ve got—because if the culture of contempt wins, we all lose.”

Research by accomplished scientists and pollsters shows that One Small Step is singularly effective in helping people with opposing political views see the humanity in their fellow Americans, and in seeding hope for meaningful communication once again.

The PSA campaign, designed by creative agency I.D/W and featuring the designs of famed illustrator Noma Bar, will lead with the message “Let’s Talk…for a Change.” It will direct people to TakeOneSmallStep.org, where they can see conversations across the political divide modeled by OSS participants, sign up to record their own One Small Step conversation, or simply find more information about the initiative. Click here to learn more.

The post StoryCorps Launches One Small Step America with National PSA Campaign appeared first on StoryCorps.

One Small Step Takes a “Second Step”

Moury Khan — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:47:09 +0000

StoryCorps’ One Small Step (OSS) brings strangers with different political beliefs together for a conversation—not to debate politics—but to get to know each other as people. Beyond the conversation experience, participants can stay involved with the program in a myriad of ways: from starting their own DIY version of the program to signing up for the OSS Facebook group. Now, through a series of “Second Step” events, OSS is offering yet another option for past participants to stay involved and practice the OSS methodology of connection.

On May 4, one such gathering was held in the OSS Model Community of Richmond, VA at the Library of Virginia. With over thirty-five people in attendance, the event began with an opening presentation that included a video greeting from StoryCorps Founder and President Dave Isay and remarks by Library of Virginia State Librarian Dennis T. Clark, and OSS Facilitator Claire LeBlond.

Attendees were then given instructions to find three other people in the room with matching colored lanyards. Once everyone found each other and were seated with their groups, they were given prompts for conducting a Second Step conversation, including suggested conversation guidelines, as well as a truncated version of the OSS questions to ask their tablemates.

Following these Second Step conversations, which lasted about half an hour, attendees were invited to stay for a personal tour of the library’s Indigenous Perspectives exhibit.

OSS Richmond Field Coordinator Jim Morgan remarked, “We often hear from OSS participants that they want to stay engaged with the program and while we have many ways to do that, these Second Step events allow them to continue to connect in person, across differences, and help bring the community together.”

The post One Small Step Takes a “Second Step” appeared first on StoryCorps.

Stories of Sweet Summer Memories

Freddy Bendekgey — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 14:37:00 +0000

Summer love, family trips, lazy afternoons … everyone’s got their own sweet memories from the sunnier months. Listen to some of our favorite stories about whimsical summer days and reflections on seasons past.

Do you want to have a conversation like these with someone you love? Just download the StoryCorps App to record your conversation and upload it directly to the Archive, housed at the Library of Congress. Or, if an in-person interview isn’t possible, use StoryCorps Connect to conduct it remotely.

Use StoryCorps Connect to record virtually

Use the StoryCorps App to record in person

Beat by Beat

In the 1980s, Ed Cage fell in love with beatboxing through the St. Louis hip hop scene. When he became a dad, his talent became a way to connect with his daughter, Nicole Paris. At StoryCorps, Ed and Nicole talk about how he passed the beat on to the next generation.

Read the full transcript here.

Dreamer’s Gift

Read the full transcript here.

What’s For Dinner

George Ju was born in China then later immigrated to Miami, where he ran a Chinese restaurant. One day while working at a party, he met Angela Rivas and immediately knew she was the one. A few days later, Angela agreed. After nearly 50 years of marriage, the two continue to share their lives, laughter, and love.

Read the full transcript here.

Joyce’s Neighborhood

All the children in a quiet California neighborhood wanted to play at Mary Mills’ house where they would hang out with Mary and her mom, Joyce Carter Mills.

Read the full transcript here.

podcast

The Phantom of the World’s Fair

Brothers in Arms: Nick Bennett Reflects on His Journey After His StoryCorps Conversation

Moury Khan — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:32:15 +0000

story

“You gave me a life that day.”

A Republican “Kingmaker” And a Civil Rights Leader Take One Small Step to Heal Toxic Polarization In Columbus, GA

Moury Khan — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:49:43 +0000

“I’ll tell you what, I’ve got a whole different view of you.”

Wane Hailes and Alton Russell

For the past 20 years, StoryCorps has been traveling the country gathering the stories and wisdom of ordinary Americans and archiving them at the Library of Congress. Those stories are usually between two people who know and love each other.

This is not one of those stories.

Alton Russell was the long-time Chair of the Republican party in Columbus, Georgia. Wane Hailes was the head of the local NAACP. Although they knew of each other, they had never actually spoken — until they sat down for a One Small Step conversation.

One Small Step pairs strangers with opposing political beliefs to have one-on-one conversations, not to debate politics, but to find out who each other are as people. The goal is to help reduce toxic polarization in the US — one conversation at a time. StoryCorps began piloting One Small Step in 2017 and since then, more than 5,400 people in over 40 states have participated.

One Small Step conversation partners, Wane and Alton, in Columbus, GA.

This broadcast is supported in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Originally aired July 5th, 2024, on NPR’s Morning Edition.

Apply to be matched for a conversation

Learn More About Participating

One Small Step brings strangers with different political views together to record a 50-minute conversation—not to debate politics, but to learn more about who we are as people.

Learn more about One Small Step

How to participate in One Small Step

Support StoryCorps and our One Small Step Initiative

Support the power of mending divides through listening and talking openly with each other by making a gift to StoryCorps today.

Donate today

The post A Republican “Kingmaker” And a Civil Rights Leader Take One Small Step to Heal Toxic Polarization In Columbus, GA appeared first on StoryCorps.

Honoring National Immigrant Heritage Month

Moury Khan — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 19:46:00 +0000

Commemorated annually in June, National Immigrant Heritage Month honors the rich historical, societail, and cultural contributions of immigrants to American history. The vibrant identity of the United States is formed by the courageous individuals who come from diverse corners of the globe in search of refuge and prosperity. Immigrants have woven their sacrifices into the fabric of our nation, and the American dream of limitless possibilities has been fostered and propelled forward by these visionary newcomers. Listen to and share stories from our collection that celebrates their profound influence.

How A Shared Language Helped Two Young People Find Their Voice

story

“We were looking out for each other.”

City of San Diego

Rachel Sater — Fri, 31 May 2024 14:32:11 +0000

We’re Building an Audio time capsule of san diego!

You’re invited to help us tell the story.

The City of San Diego is partnering with StoryCorps Studios. StoryCorps is a national nonprofit that helps us believe in each other by illuminating the humanity and possibility in us all – one story at a time. Since 2003, StoryCorps has given over half a million Americans the chance to record interviews about their lives. StoryCorps preserves the recordings at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

If you are a member of the San Diego community, we invite you to choose someone you care about and record an interview together.

Ask and answer questions like:

What does it mean to be “from” San Diego?

What do you wish more people knew about San Diego?

How does your community support each other?

What does your future hold for our community?

There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to have a StoryCorps conversation. But, if you need an example to get started, listen to the conversation in the video on the right-hand column. You can use the free StoryCorps Connect online platform to record in the comfort of your own home. All you need is a strong internet connection, access to a laptop or desktop computer with a microphone, and an open heart.

Record Your Interview

How recording works

You’ll use the StoryCorps Virtual Recording Booth (powered by StoryCorps Connect) to record your conversation.

Step 1

Decide if you and your partner want to record in the same room or record from different locations.

Step 2

When you’re ready to record, create a free StoryCorps online account, then you’ll enter the StoryCorps Virtual Recording Booth.

Step 3

Hit “Start Recording Audio“, follow the prompts to introduce yourself, and dig into your conversation!

Step 4

When you’ve finished, you’ll be prompted to save your recording as part of the City of San Diego Collection in the Archive.

Record Your Interview

Recording faq

Choose someone you care about – a loved one, a friend, a mentor, a neighbor, etc – whose experiences or wisdom you want to document and celebrate.

StoryCorps conversations are meant to be spontaneous, authentic, and unscripted. We’ve developed a list of great questions to inspire your conversation, but ultimately what you talk about during your recording is entirely up to you. Follow your curiosity, and use this as an opportunity to ask the questions you’ve always wanted to ask, or document special stories you want to preserve.

When you complete your interview, it will automatically be saved in the StoryCorps archive as part of the San Diego Collection. You’ll have the ability to control the privacy settings for your interview in the archive – with the option to either make your interview public, or to make it accessible only to other StoryCorps online archive users. (You can also delete recordings, and record new interviews, if you need to.) You can adjust your privacy settings at any time.

The City of San Diego will be celebrating and sharing this interview archive locally as part of various San Diego community engagement projects, education projects, and research purposes. It will not be used for any commercial or advertising purposes. We’re excited to share these projects as they come together! For more information, please contact Maureen Jugar.

Why should i participate?

Recording with StoryCorps is an opportunity to:

Honor someone you care about.

Take time to talk about the things that matter most with someone who has played an important role in your life.

Build understanding.

Your recording will help students, researchers, & more understand the variety of lived experiences in our community.

Create a legacy for the future.

You’ll be part of history, with your story preserved in the Library of Congress and the City of San Diego Collection.

Seize the moment.

Use this occasion to reflect on the past, think about the future, and take stock of what’s important.

Record Your Interview

Listen to the City of San Diego Collection

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