StoryCorps Oklahoma

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Terri Angier and Emily Friedman. They discuss how their mothers were influential to them. And Emily asks Terri about being away from her parents in Iran during the Iranian Revolution.

Oklahoma City became one of four StoryCorps anchoring their One Small Step initiative for 2022. In this episode of StoryCorps Oklahoma, KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills speak with StoryCorps field manager Bess Ser about what that means and how Oklahomans can participate.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation is between Kristi Koures- a high school teacher - and Tristen Lee- a PhD student. Koures and Lee were KOSU's first in-person One Small Step conversation to be recorded. In their conversation, they talked at length about education, individualism, grief and loss of a loved one - and their separate political journeys.

KOSU's 2021 One Small Step facilitators Matthew Viriyapah and Kateleigh Mills walk you through the conversation ground rules that participants read before the conversation begins.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. This conversation features Kristin McAtee, an associate pastor who describes herself as moderate, but typically left leaning, and Marc Dreyer, a former Baptist pastor of 39 years, who describes himself as conservative with some moderate tendencies. The two met virtually to discuss if they think churches should do a better job of healing political divides.

KOSU has been hosting conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds as part of StoryCorps' One Small Step project. In this conversation, Kelli Dickerson and Carol Hilborn talk about the lessons they've learned from children and how they view themselves as voters.

KOSU has been hosting personal conversations between people of differing political beliefs and backgrounds. In this StoryCorps One Small Step conversation, John - a Libertarian from Stillwater, and Olive, a Democratic trans-woman from OKC, discuss her fears coming out and John’s feelings as a parent.

One Small Step participants Nick Zoller and Karen McBee were not only one of the first sign-ups here in Oklahoma in 2021, but were also the first conversation KOSU recorded. Both Nick and Karen have experiences as educators in higher education. We paired them not only because of their similarities in careers, but because both of them were looking to gain understanding from someone they knew was politically different from them. Some of their differences included their views on economics and their relationship and journeys with religion. In the audio above, you'll hear just a snippet of their conversation about what led Karen to identify with agnosticism and what Nick's journey has been like, too.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise. Take a listen to what we've heard people say on why they wanted to do this, what lessons they've learned from people in their lives, and what they hope for in their future discussions about politics.

Meeting a stranger can be difficult for some people. Meeting a stranger with opposing beliefs can be even more difficult. But this year, Oklahomans have signed up to do it — to talk to someone they know ahead of time thinks differently than they do. The goal for One Small Step conversations is to get to know one another - learn about the stories and people that influenced them and their beliefs, in an effort to try to understand someone you might not have a chance to meet otherwise. So far, KOSU has been able to host 20 One Small Step Conversations. KOSU facilitators Kateleigh Mills and Matthew Viriyapah have paired nearly 40 Oklahomans with differing viewpoints for a personal, 50-minute conversation. "My observations from a facilitator's standpoint is that people want to work together," Mills said. "We've been told by several participants how happy they've been to participate in a project like this, that they've felt they did something meaningful towards healing the divisions within our society — even if it…

Nearly 35 years ago, a contract welder dropped his torch in a jet maintenance facility at Tinker Air Force Base, sparking one of the largest fires in Air Force history. The fire became a case study for fire prevention processes and building codes for the Air Force. Garry Souders was the chief of safety at the base in 1984. He came to the StoryCorps Mobile Booth in Oklahoma City to tell his son John about that eerie day.

Ariana Ude and her mom, Kelli Ude have an honest relationship and that includes how they became family. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to reflect on their relationship and Ariana’s adoption.

New relationships are often awkward, and that could have been exceptionally true for Jessica Wedel and Zac Fowler. They faced an unthinkable challenge just as they started dating but ultimately were able to give each other the gifts of a relationship that had already withstood the tests of time.

The holidays are often a time of family togetherness and thankfulness. The gift of love is something Larry and Linda Sanders and their daughter Laura Holcomb reflected on when they visited the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City earlier this year.

The Lebanese Civil War started in 1975 and lasted for 15 years. 120,000 people died and nearly one million people fled the country. Among them was Afeef Hamra, who brought his family to Oklahoma City. His daughter Lauren brought him to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about that time and what he wants her to remember about Lebanese culture.

When 96-year-old Annabelle Miller was young, she had to make a decision: go to college or choose another path. She joined a very strict order of nuns, but in her 40s, decided it wasn’t the best path for her and left. Annabelle came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk to her friend Troy Jones about that decision and the ways that her life has changed.

Linda Schaffel changed many things about her life when her daughter Lisa was born with a disability. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about the ways Lisa has surprised her along the way.

Tommy Parrish received a debilitating injury at a young age, but he doesn’t see himself as disabled. He and his daughter Kathryn Thomas came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about the lessons they have both learned from Tommy’s injury.

Learning her child had been murdered was Dr. Maggie Zingman’s worst nightmare. She came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about the lessons she learned and her continued quest to find her daughter's killer.

It’s a feeling that’s familiar to many, the start of a new relationship and then meeting the family with all of their customs and traditions. It’s something Anna Bui and her husband Bryan Salsieder talked about when they came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City.

Amy Brewer and Kathryn Furr are best friends, going through thick and thin together. But they have differences. Amy is an atheist and Kat is a Christian. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about what they’ve learned from each other.

Mauree Turner grew up in Ardmore and experienced racism at a young age. When she came to the Story Corps mobile booth in Oklahoma City, she talked about her mom’s influence on her identity.

Ouida "Jeannie" Eugenia Kaulaity lived in her truck for years. Some might consider homelessness a struggle, but Jeannie came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk to her case worker Marty Peercy about the ways she has been blessed by the homeless community in Oklahoma City.

Thirty-eight-year-old Anthony Taylor plays A LOT of sports with his Special Olympics team, Moore Xtreme. That’s how he got to know his coach Jeanne Maulson. They came to the StoryCorps Mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about the special relationship they’ve developed and how it helps encourage them.

Rochelle Sims and Heather Moomey are sisters, but their relationship hasn’t always been great. Heather was adopted out of foster care when she was 10, and things were sometimes complicated, even resulting in a long period of estrangement. The sisters came to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about their relationship and how Heather inspired Rochelle to become a foster parent.

Yvonne Munoz was angry when she arrived at ReMerge, a prison diversion program for women and mothers. She felt like the world had it out for her. But after she graduated the program, she realized she had something specific to give back: leadership from her own experience. Today, she works as an RSS, or guide, for women coming into the program. She came to the StoryCorps mobile booth with co-worker Kaitlin Black-Salinas to talk about overcoming and giving back.

Lee Reynolds spent part of his childhood in rural southeastern Oklahoma in the 1950s. He came to the StoryCorps mobile booth with his son Chad and talked about growing up as the son of the area’s only doctor.

Technological enhancements have made it easier for soldiers at war to communicate with loved ones back home, but it wasn't always easy. Bob Ford and Gean Atkinson came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City and reflected on efforts to stay in contact with their families while serving in the Vietnam War.

You might not think of a haircut as a form of philanthropy, but that’s what Bruce Waight and his life partner Vanessa Morrison had in mind when they bought a 1960 Airstream travel trailer and turned it into En Root, a mobile barbershop. They came to the Storycorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about what inspired them to give back.

Amanda Williams' father is a member of the Cheyenne tribe, but her mother, Rebekah, is white. Amanda brought her mother to the StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about that interracial marriage and her first experience with racism in western Oklahoma.

When thirty-seven-old Waneta Black was born with Down Syndrome, her aunt Lisa Shahan-Austin knew she was something special. Waneta and Lisa came to the StoryCorps Mobile Booth in Oklahoma City and reflected on the ways they have helped each other through some really difficult times.

Ngoc Nguyen was in the tenth grade when she dropped out of high school. It was following the Vietnam War, her dad was in prison, and she needed to go to work to support her family. Years later, after she had immigrated to Oklahoma, she went back to school to finish what she started…to get her GED, and that’s where she met her teacher Chris Myers. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about their journey to help her complete her goal.

It’s hard to find a more patriotic kid than six-year-old Asher Pitman. His parents, Beth and Jonathan aren’t quite sure where his obsession with American presidents came from, but it’s definitely there. They came to the StoryCorps Mobile Booth in Oklahoma City to talk about a few of his favorites.

Becoming a career police officer wasn’t the life Jack Powell dreamed about when he moved to Oklahoma City from rural Wanette. But eventually that’s exactly what he did. When he came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City, he told his daughter Chandra about entering the force in the 1960s and the only time he fired his service weapon.

On April 19, 1995, Dan Straughan went to work at the Federal Reserve Bank in Oklahoma City, just across from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. He wasn’t a victim of the bombing, but that day, the impact, changed his life forever. He came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City with co-worker Marty Peercy to talk about his journey from a secure job as a government employee to tackling the problem of homelessness in Oklahoma City.

Jaimee Lee and her 12-year-old daughter Melissa are getting a fresh start with ReMerge, a prison diversion program for women and mothers. Jaimee has struggled with addiction for years. When she and Melissa visited the StoryCorps mobile booth, they had a frank conversation about the effects of addiction on their relationship and their hopes for the future.

In this week’s StoryCorps episode, Cynthia Calloway and her husband Roosevelt. They grew up on the opposite sides of Florida and had very different childhood experiences as young African American kids in the 1960s. They came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about how those experiences shaped their outlooks on life.

Michael Beach and his adopted grandfather Bill Freeman of Maysville came to the Oklahoma City mobile booth to talk about their shared experiences as veterans of the Navy. And Michael tells Bills about remembering his own grandfather and his quest to make sure all of the men and women from Oklahoma who have died on the fields of battle have just a little piece of home.

It’s been five years since a second deadly EF-5 tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma. Vicki Hudoba lost her home in that tornado. She and her daughter Nicole Moore came to the Oklahoma City StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about that day in 2013 and how holding her infant grandson Luke held them together in the midst of devastation. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

For much of her adult life, Jennifer Mack has had two primary roles, as a single mother and as a member of the military. She and her daughter Whitney Cotten came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about how sometimes those roles have conflicted, especially after a deployment in 2004, but also how those challenges have allowed Jennifer to pass on the value of strength and resiliency to her daughter. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Eighty-six-year-old George Hill's family mastered frontier survival skills. When his father was born prematurely in 1889, his grandmother made an incubator out of their wood stove. So, when George was born in the Texas panhandle in the middle of the depression, his family was ready to tap those ingenious survival skills and start again. George and his wife Patricia came to the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City to talk about what he experienced. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

When refugees arrive in the United States, they spend many of the early years trying to understand the culture, find a job and build a life. But what happens a generation later? How do they pass on the legacy of survival and grit to their children? Michelle Bui brought her mom Mai Nguyen to the Oklahoma City StoryCorps mobile booth to talk about her pride in being the daughter of a Vietnamese refugee…and her fear of not measuring up. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Relationships with parents often change in adulthood. Jeff and Blaze McKenzie, father and son, visited the StoryCorps mobile booth in Oklahoma City and reflected on their evolving relationship. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

There are points in life that can force or inspire a change of course. Even though he’s a spunky and scrappy 9-year-old today, when Jason and Vanessa Hart heard that their son had cancer... in an instant, everything changed. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.

Jonathan Jackson was working as a contractor in Erbil, in the northern part of Iraq…not exactly the place most people would find love. When Jonathan first saw Rigien Bagekany, he thought she was the coffee lady, not his counterpart in the meeting. But he couldn’t take his eyes off her. They figured out dating in two different cultures and decided to get married, but then they had to tell their families. This story was produced for KOSU by Rachel Hubbard and Dustin Drew, with interviews recorded at StoryCorps, a renowned nonprofit organization celebrating the stories of everyday Americans. Thank you to Phillips Murrah law firm in Oklahoma City for sponsoring StoryCorps' visit to Oklahoma City.