Stories From The Stage

Rosanna discovers that friendship can cross all borders.

Michele turns lemons into lemonade when she gets busted moonlighting.

Ana describes her last night at home before leaving Cuba forever.

Alexis Muñoz transforms from a struggling student into a guiding mentor, finding his path through education and eventually helping others.

Crystal Williams climbs the ladder of higher education with help from unexpected supporters along the way.

Mahboba Akhtarzadah journeys to her classroom in Afghanistan against all odds, determined to continue her education despite extraordinary obstacles.

Richard Cardillo learns that sometimes the best teacher is a student, reflecting on an experience that changed the way he understood teaching.

Katie Liesener survives a disastrous first day as a college professor and discovers that being a good teacher isn’t about appearing perfect, but about showing up as her genuine self.

Sofía Colombo-Abdullah learns the power of her name and rethinks who she is.

Jude Treder-Wolff finds seeds of hope to fuel her work as a therapist.

Psychology professor Michael Sargent confronts his biases on an airplane.

After the death of his father, David Filipov goes to Afghanistan, where a Pop-Tart takes on a new meaning.

Cathy Kang, who served as a vice presidential military aide during 9/11, confronts her grief.

Mandy Trichell writes a eulogy for the mother she couldn’t connect with; Raquel de los Angeles tries to mend a family she lost at age 6; and a lost baby bird helps Warren Holleman channel his feelings about family. 

Jo’s mother astonishes her family by baking a pie for dinner; Gauri rises above a low point to discover new opportunities through baking; and after the death of his father, David goes to Afghanistan where a Pop-Tart takes on a whole new meaning. 

Claritza prepares for her first job in the U.S. by reading the phone book; in Afghanistan, Mahboba journeys to her classroom against all odds; and Dillan discovers that sometimes we need to face our past before moving forward. 

Mariama White-Hammond gets down and dirty for a cause; Adam Stumacher volunteers as a human shield in the West Bank to experience the other side of the checkpoint; and Ronald Smith stands up for interracial marriage.

Richard learns that the best teacher is a student; Rosanna discovers that friendship can cross borders; and Jim finds himself in the blue iris of his eye's replacement. 

Tracey doesn’t get the proposal she wants; gets the one she needs; Bobby discovers that love can take unexpected turns in the Panamanian jungle; Nick looks back on the painful lesson of first love.

Megan Calfas rewrites her idea of what it means to “make it"; Joe Krajewski finds purpose in running—first with his son, and later in his honor; and Angela Lu reclaims her year abroad by choosing adventure over duty. 

Paul’s vacation from Honduras to Boston expands into a new life; After being evicted Michele lands just where she needs to be to say goodbye to her dad; and Samantha lets go of her dream, until grief and an invitation lead her back to her voice. 

Joy proves that family is built through resilience as much as biology; Trish becomes both Mum and Dad after the sudden loss of her husband; and Julia finds strength in letting go after a pregnancy heartbreak. 

Because some stories deserve another listen—thank you for being part of the community that makes that possible. David Dean Bottrell discovers his passion after stealing the school play's spotlight; Andrea Kamen’s bright menorah cuts through the darkness of anti-semitism; and Joe Charnitski tries to break a nightmare-before-Christmas bad luck streak. 

Celeste turns a pandemic kitchen into a family cook-off; Sarah, adopted from Korea, builds a legacy of love across generations; and Amy, fighting to feed her daughter through cancer treatment, finds hope in a box of Kix and a pink My Little Pony. Three storytellers, three interpretations of GLORIOUS FOOD. 

Enjoy this encore listen—and thank you for being part of our storytelling community.  Lani Peterson’s cooking mistake becomes a family secret; Melanée Addison faces the ultimate test of adulthood with the Thanksgiving turkey; Heather Rodman honors her father by running a road race dressed as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; and Matthew Dicks gathers his courage to stand up to his girlfriend’s tough-as-nails dad at Thanksgiving dinner.

Ruby Chan turns a beloved family recipe into a tribute to her father’s memory and their heritage; at age 10, Kenny Palazzolo learns to make pizza in the heart of Little Italy; and Julian Plovnick discovers how meals can hold grief, love, and memory during his mother’s battle with cancer. 

Cheryl navigates post-pandemic middle school turbulence and earns the trust of a student who challenges her; Susan seeks escape in Tokyo; Sonya returns from India to write her own destiny.

After years of pain and addiction, Larry finds healing in the drum his grandfather entrusted to him; Rebekka honors her late aunt with a final, heartfelt walk; Kevin joins fellow activists in protest of a development threatening sacred land, planting seeds of advocacy. Three storytellers, three interpretations of WE REMAIN.

 Lorenzo Beronilla survives heart failure and finds new purpose with a stranger’s heart; Michelle Linn turns her own assault into a mission to stop a serial predator; and Mark Chauppetta watches his son come back from the brink, pulled by the unbreakable bond of a twin.

Some journeys take us across the world; others take us deeper into who we really are. Kim is embraced by the homeland she once tried to forget; John has avoided dancing his entire life...until a family cruise; and Robin travels to China, hoping to find a slip of paper left with her adopted daughter as a baby. 

Martha surprises her boyfriend at a French puppetry festival; Aida grapples with the weight of protecting her ailing father from the heartbreak of loss; and Jezrie shares her quest for belonging through a college sorority. 

When life falls apart, Annie learns that being the rock doesn’t mean carrying everything alone; Tae’s trumpet dreams collide with the budget, teaching him that love sometimes sounds like compromise; and Shweta confronts beauty standards, reclaiming her reflection.

John’s life shifts when a teacher sees what no one else does, giving him a reason to stay in school; first-time mom Rachel learns to fight for her blind, neurodivergent son; and Harold finds his way to healing while guided by voices along the road to sobriety. 

Suna reimagines life for her neurodivergent daughter, growing a world of flowers and belonging; Ann Marie uncovers the truth behind her family’s past and transforms it into a life of purpose; and Holly opens her home to three young sisters - and discovers unexpected joy.

Norah joins an all-women crew to conquer the Boston Marathon despite winds, hills and doubters; Jenny attempts a cross-country run, finding strength in failure and donuts; and Mel refuses to let a terminal leukemia diagnosis stop him from running a marathon.

Ajay invents a divine strategy to help his team win a baseball game in India; Shannon and his brother unexpectedly bond on the field through beep baseball; and Andrew chases a dream of pitching a no-hitter, only to realize success isn’t always what it seems to be.

At tennis camp, William's teenage crush takes him on an unexpected journey of self-discovery; a college romance leads Erin to an academic awakening she never saw coming; and Ian’s hesitation to take the next step in life is shaken by a fire that changes everything. 

Ajay’s mistake at airport security spirals into an interrogation; Anoush navigates the traditions of Armenian school until a surprising occasion changes everything; and Sean pursues his NBA dreams - until a slip-up leads him to a different calling.

Carly Ciarrocchi strives for the perfect first impression, but a wardrobe mishap forces her to rethink what it truly means to fit in; Adam Selbst’s job behind the wheel takes a wild turn, leading to a chaotic, high-speed misadventure; and Rory Scholl jumps at a rare shot at stardom, only to realize that fame isn’t as glamorous as it seems. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/

Marylee Fairbanks’ childhood act of kindness comes with an unexpected lesson in empathy, leaving her with regret that she hopes to make right; Alexander Scott’s quick thinking, and a box of candy, turn a dangerous encounter into an unlikely escape; and Kat Koppett holds onto a family story she’s always believed...until a long-buried truth reshapes her world. Show you appreciate these extraordinary storytellers by making a donation in any amount at https://worldchannel.org/donate/stories/