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StoryCorps: Recording The Lives And Stories Of Everyday Americans StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit project whose mission is to honor and celebrate the lives of everyday Americans by listening to their stories.
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StoryCorps

Sharing And Preserving The Stories Of Our Lives
Beyond The Grave: Contacting Houdini

Ninety-year-old Sid Radner has had a lifelong fascination with Harry Houdini and tries to contact the escape artist and magician every year on Halloween at the Official Houdini Seance. StoryCorps hide caption

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StoryCorps

Beyond The Grave: Contacting Houdini

A lifelong Houdini fan, 90-year-old Sid Radner has been holding seances every year on Halloween, the anniversary of the magician's death, to try to contact him.

Beyond The Grave: Contacting Houdini

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Opinion

A Son Grows Thankful For His Father's Tough Love

Bryan Echols was about to turn 40 -- exactly half his father's age -- when he began thinking about their evolving relationship. From tough love to long conversations in the car, Bryan and his father, Lindberg, recount what changed as each grew older.

A Son Grows Thankful For His Father's Tough Love

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One Man's Fight For A Same-Sex Marriage Law

David Wilson was one of the first to tie the knot in Massachusetts in 2004 after same-sex marriage became legal in the state. StoryCorps hide caption

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Opinion

One Man's Fight For A Same-Sex Marriage Law

Being barred from receiving medical information about his life partner, who died of a heart attack in 1994, led David Wilson to become a plaintiff in the lawsuit that made gay marriage legal in Massachusetts.

One Man's Fight For A Same-Sex Marriage Law

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Judges Need To Listen More, Talk Less

John Kane and his daughter, Sally, visited StoryCorps in Paonia, Colo. Kane, a  U.S. District Court judge, was appointed to the bench by President Carter in 1977. Courtesy of StoryCorps hide caption

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Courtesy of StoryCorps

Opinion

Judges Need To Listen More, Talk Less

In more than three decades on the bench, U.S. District Judge John Kane has found that there's a difference between waiting for someone to be quiet so you can talk, and actually listening. He says the latter is a valuable skill in the courtroom.

Judge To Other Judges: Shut Up And Listen

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Opinion

A Mother Is Faced With Death, And Finds Love

Patricia Bates has been widowed twice in her life -- and she's also raised seven children. She recently sat down with her daughter, Kay Lewis, to talk about meeting Kay's father in 1948, and how she coped with losing him.

A Mother Is Faced With Death, And Finds Love

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Opinion

Former Marine Sees 'Long Way To Go' For Equality

Kendall Bailey joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. Five years later, he was a sergeant working in a recruiting office. Bailey was considering making the military his life's career. But those plans changed when a colleague found out he was gay.

Former Marine Sees 'Long Way To Go' For Equality

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Mom Sets Troublemaker Down The Right Path

Berryl Anderson (left) and her mother, Virginia, visited StoryCorps in Atlanta, the day Berryl was sworn in as chief magistrate judge in DeKalb County, Ga. StoryCorps hide caption

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Opinion

Mom Sets Troublemaker Down The Right Path

Berryl Anderson was a class clown and troublemaker when she was growing up. But her mom taught her that it wasn't enough to be smart, she also had to be a good person and be respectful of other people. Now she's a judge in Dekalb County, Ga.

Mom Sets Troublemaker Down The Right Path

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Opinion

Cleaning Up Sept. 11 Ashes Was 'Like A Communion'

Jack Murray watched the Sept. 11 attacks unfold from the roof of his Manhattan apartment building. For two weeks, he cut steel beams for the search and rescue efforts at ground zero. John Romanowich worked for the city agency in charge of the cleanup and spent four months helping at the site.

Cleaning Up Sept. 11 Ashes Was 'Like A Communion'

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Longtime Partners Find Treasure Among Trash

Angelo Bruno (left) and Eddie Nieves worked together as sanitation employees for nearly 10 years before Bruno retired. StoryCorps hide caption

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Opinion

Longtime Partners Find Treasure Among Trash

Angelo Bruno and Eddie Nieves spent 10 years together as sanitation workers in New York City. The two men developed a deep friendship as they cleared more than 14 tons of garbage from the city streets each day.

Longtime Partners Find Treasure Among Trash

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Opinion

As Memories Slip Away, A Grandfather Reflects

Bob Patterson worked as an engineer for three decades. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008. His wife, Karen, has been by his side all along. Recently, Bob told her how living with the disease has affected him.

As Memories Slip Away, A Grandfather Reflects

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Opinion

A Mom's Tough Standards, Imported From Vietnam

After emigrating from Vietnam, Theresa Nguyen and her husband raised two children in America. But they kept alive the traditions and language they brought from their native country. Theresa and her daughter discuss how they balanced two cultures.

A Mom's Tough Standards, Imported From Vietnam

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Opinion

A Grandfather Dedicated To Easing Others' Pain

For more than two decades, Bartolo Mosqueda worked at a plumbing supply company that makes pipes. But that was just his day job -- in his community, Mosqueda worked as a healer. His son and granddaughter discuss his life and work.

A Grandfather Dedicated To Easing Others' Pain

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Opinion

Daughter, Dad On Life Apart, Together

Kioni Marshall's parents were separated for five years of her life. Things changed, and they got back together. Kioni, 8, recently asked her father about that separation, and the pair discussed how their family has changed.

Daughter, Dad On Life Apart, Together

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Opinion

After A Son's Injury, A New Life Begins

Tom Davis grew up in Pensacola, Fla., enjoying everything the seaside town has to offer. But in the summer of 2000, when he was 21, a surfing accident left him paralyzed from the neck down. Tom recently took a moment with his parents, Connie and Robert, to talk about his injury -- and their life together.

After A Son's Injury, A New Life Begins

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After Just 10 Days, 'Best Years' Of Life Begin

Pedro and Hilda traveling in Costa Rica with Hilda's daughter, Nadia, in 1991. Courtesy Hilda Chacón hide caption

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Courtesy Hilda Chacón

Opinion

After Just 10 Days, 'Best Years' Of Life Begin

Hilda Chacon and her husband, Pedro Moran-Palma, didn't have a long courtship -- just 10 days, in fact. But ever since they met at a party 20 years ago, they "haven't stopped having fun," Pedro says. And that includes raising Hilda's daughter, Nadia.

After Just 10 Days, 'Best Years' Of Life Begin

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