Playlist: StoryCorps for the Holidays
Compiled By: StoryCorps
The holidays are a special time of year for many. Amidst this busy season, remember the power of truly listening. Here’s a collection highlighting some of our favorite segments that set the mood for the holiday spirit and remind us what is truly important.
StoryCorps: Yelitza Castro and Willie Davis
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:24
Yelitza Castro talks with her friend Willie Davis about serving meals to the homeless community in Charlotte, North Carolina for the past three years.
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Yelitza Castro is an undocumented immigrant who works as a housekeeper in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since 2010, she has also been cooking meals for homeless men and women in her community.
Through this work she met Willie Davis, who has been the recipient of many of those meals.
At StoryCorps, Yelitza told Willie about how it all began.
StoryCorps: John Cruitt and Cecile Doyle
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:41
John Cruitt speaks with his former third grade teacher, Cecile Doyle, about how she helped him through his mother's death.
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It was just two days before Christmas in 1958 when John Cruitt’s mother died after a serious illness.
He was a student in Cecile Doyle’s third grade class at the time.
More than 50 years later, John tracked down his former teacher, to tell her how she helped him through that difficult time.
StoryCorps: Tan
From StoryCorps | 02:39
Grandma Crescenciana was no stranger to sacrificing for family. Her grandchildren called her Lola. They grew up hearing stories about her life in the Philippines and how hard she worked to survive. Four years after Lola passed, her grandson Kenneth came to StoryCorps to tell his mother Olivia about the greatest lesson Lola ever taught him.
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Grandma Crescenciana was no stranger to sacrificing for family. Her grandchildren called her Lola. They grew up hearing stories about her life in the Philippines and how hard she worked to survive. Four years after Lola passed, her grandson Kenneth came to StoryCorps to tell his mother Olivia about the greatest lesson Lola ever taught him.
StoryCorps: Chloe Longfellow
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:22
Chloe Longfellow came to StoryCorps to remember some of the life lessons she learned as a kid, while spending time in her grandmother’s kitchen.
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With her mother away, Chloe spent a great deal of time at her grandparents’ home becoming especially close with her grandmother, Doris Louise Rolison.
Despite living in the Arizona desert, Doris, who died in May, 1988, at the age of 67, maintained a lush garden of herbs and vegetables. Chloe would help harvest the food to make dishes from recipes found in one of her grandmother’s treasured cookbooks.
At StoryCorps, Chloe remembers the happy memories and life lessons taught to her by her grandmother, many of which took place while cooking in Doris’ kitchen.
StoryCorps Military Voices: Roman Coley Davis
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:52
Former Army intelligence collector Roman Coley Davis talks about a package he received while stationed in Afghanistan.
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Former Army intelligence collector Roman Coley Davis talks about a package he received while stationed in Afghanistan.
StoryCorps: Len Berk and Joshua Gubitz
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:46
Len Berk talks to his friend, Joshua Gubitz, about becoming a salmon slicer after retiring from a 40 year career in accounting.
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Len Berk (R) loves lox -- the salt-cured salmon that goes so well with bagels.
Today, the 85-year-old New Yorker is a veteran salmon slicer at a gourmet food shop in Manhattan, but it wasn’t always that way.
At StoryCorps, Len tells his friend, Joshua Gubitz (L), about becoming a salmon slicer after forty years in accounting.
StoryCorps: Adam Roseman and Rick Rosenthal
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:20
This is a story about Santa Rick Rosenthal of Atlanta, Georgia -- who also happens to be Jewish (Modern Orthodox, to be precise).
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This is a story about Santa Rick Rosenthal of Atlanta, Georgia -- who also happens to be Jewish (Modern Orthodox, to be precise).
StoryCorps: Boyd Applegate and Rhonda Dixon 2
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:17
Big-rig driver Boyd Applegate tells his sister, Rhonda Dixon, about being a real-beard Santa Claus.
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Boyd Applegate’s job is driving big-rig trucks. But his passion is Santa Claus.
Each Christmas Boyd dresses up as a “real-beard” Santa. He does it for love, not money — in more than 20 years he has never accepted payment for his services.
At StoryCorps, Boyd told his sister, Rhonda Dixon, how he got his start.
StoryCorps OutLoud: Carole Smiley with Seth and Octavius Smiley-Humphries
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 03:23
Seth Smiley and Octavius Humphries had their first date on Christmas Eve. They discuss that and other memorable holiday events they have shared.
Hoping to meet someone special, in 2010 Seth Smiley decided to give online dating a try. Soon after posting his profile, Octavius Humphries reached out to him and they began an email correspondence.
Despite their age difference—Seth is 19 years older than Octavius—they immediately hit it off, bonding over their shared search for “commitment, consistency, and (a) connection.”
Eventually they met in person, going on their first date on Christmas Eve. Unsure of Octavius’ plans for the holiday, Seth invited him to dinner the next night at his family’s Atlanta home. Octavius, who was still grieving the deaths of his parents, had, unbeknownst to Seth, planned on spending the holiday alone. Instead, he reluctantly accepted Seth’s invitation.
At StoryCorps, Octavius (above left) and Seth (above right), along with Seth’s mother, Carole Smiley, sat down to remember their first Christmas together, as well as a more recent memorable holiday event.
StoryCorps: Mark Woodley and Jon Winkleman
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:13
On Black Friday 1991, AIDS activists protested the department store's refusal to rehire a Santa who had HIV. The man who inspired the protest reconnects with an activist who helped organize it.
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- StoryCorps: Mark Woodley and Jon Winkleman
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On Black Friday 1991, AIDS activists protested the department store's refusal to rehire a Santa who had HIV. The man who inspired the protest reconnects with an activist who helped organize it.
StoryCorps: Terri Van Keuren, Richard Shoup and Pamela Farrell
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:42
Terri Van Keuren, Richard Shoup and Pamela Farrell remember how their father, Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, started the holiday tradition of tracking Santa Claus on U.S. military radar in 1955.
Every Christmas Eve, people all over the world log on to the official Santa Tracker to follow his progress through U.S. Military radar.
It all started in 1955 with a misprint in a Colorado Springs newspaper and a call to Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup’s secret hotline at the Continental Air Defense Command, now known as NORAD.
Here’s the story, told by Colonel Shoup’s children, Terri Van Keuren, Richard Shoup and Pamela Farrell.
StoryCorps: William Lynn Weaver
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:30
Dr. William Lynn Weaver remembers one Christmas when he was 18 years old in Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Dr. William Lynn Weaver remembers one Christmas when he was 18 years old in Knoxville, Tennessee.
StoryCorps: Thompson Williams and Kiamichi-tet Williams
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 01:54
Thompson Williams tells his son Kiamichi-tet about a difficult decision he had to make at the holidays.
Thompson Williams tells his son Kiamichi-tet about a difficult decision he had to make at the holidays.
StoryCorps: James Taylor and Darlene Lewis
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:14
Darlene Lewis, who helps former inmates find employment, interviews James Taylor about his life after prison.
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When Darlene Lewis’ son was released from prison 20 years ago, he couldn’t find work.
So, Darlene decided to do something about it.
She runs an organization dedicated to helping former inmates find jobs. Darlene prepares them for interviews, places them with local businesses, and advocates for them in court.
She’s helped thousands of men and women — including James Taylor, who served seven years for weapons possession and drug charges.
Today, James works as a videographer, youth mentor, and also volunteers for Darlene’s organization.
They spoke at StoryCorps.
StoryCorps: Bud Jones and Jackie Jones
From StoryCorps | Part of the StoryCorps series | 02:37
Bud and Jackie Jones are career taxidermists who helped bring a completely different kind of New Year’s Eve celebration to their small town of Tallapoosa, Georgia.
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Bud and Jackie Jones are career taxidermists who helped bring a completely different kind of New Year’s Eve celebration to their small town of Tallapoosa, Georgia.