Mandela was a lawyer, freedom fighter, leader of the African National Congress, and finally, president.
Homepage – Top of Page
Working, Then and Now
We present a special, one hour episode of our series The Working Tapes of Studs Terkel.
My Iron Lung (Revisited)
Paul Alexander, one of two people in the United States relying on an iron lung, died recently at 78 years …
My So-Called Lungs (Revisited)
Laura Rothenberg tried to live a normal life, with lungs that betrayed her and the awareness that she might not live to see her 30th birthday.
The Drum Also Waltzes
At the age of 16, he played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He went on to make landmark recordings with …
The Unmarked Graveyard: Live at WNYC
We bring you many stories each year, but we don’t often get to share the work behind them. We recently …
The Man on the President’s Limo
Today marks 60 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. There are many photos from that day in …
The Unmarked Graveyard: Stories from Hart Island
A weekly series untangling the mysteries of Hart Island, America’s largest public cemetery.
The Longest Game
In the spring of 1981, the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Rochester Red Wings met for a minor league game …
The Girls of the Leesburg Stockade
In July 1963, a group of young Black girls were arrested while protesting in Americus, Georgia. They were jailed at a stockade for more than 45 days, their families had no idea where they were. This is that story.
The Gospel Ranger
Outside the Appalachian mountains, his name was barely known. But Claude Ely influenced some of the pioneers of rock & roll.
Meet Miss Subways
Beauty pageants promote the fantasy of the ideal woman. But for 35 years, the Miss Subways contest in New York City celebrated the everyday working girl.
The Ski Troops of WWII
The men of the 10th Mountain Division led a series of daring assaults against the Nazis in the mountains of Italy. After returning home, many of these soldiers helped to create the modern ski industry.
Living with Dying
On Valentine’s Day 2020, Peter Fodera’s heart broke. He nearly died. Peter sat down with his daughter who knows a thing or two about death.
The Rise and Fall of Black Swan Records
The story of the first major black-owned record label and the mystery behind the man who created it.
The Real Refugees of Casablanca
January 23, 2023 marks 80 years since the release of the Hollywood classic Casablanca. The movie was released in 1943, a …
The History of Now
On this week’s episode, “The History of Now,” we’re taking a look back at some of our stories from the …
A Guitar, A Cello and the Day that Changed Music
November 23, 1936 was a good day for recorded music. Two men – an ocean apart – sat before a …
Banging on the Door: The Election of 1872
The 1872 election echoed the current American political climate in several ways. For one, the Republican Party was in danger …
The Square Deal
In the early 20th century, George F. Johnson ran the biggest shoe factory in the world: The Endicott-Johnson Corporation in …
The Massacre at Tlatelolco
In October 1968, Mexico was preparing to host the Olympics. It was a big moment for the country, as this …
Guest Spotlight: Ear Hustle
The season premiere of Ear Hustle season 10. A beautiful exploration of the 5 senses behind bars.
Rumble Strip: Finn and the Bell
This is a story from the Rumble Strip podcast. It’s about a boy named Finn Rooney who loved to fish and play baseball, and about what happens to a small Vermont community as it staggers forward after an unspeakable tragedy.
The Almost Astronaut
In an attempt to beat the Soviet Union in the space race, the Kennedy administration enlisted Air Force captain Ed Dwight to enter the astronaut training program as its first Black trainee.
The General Slocum
On June 15, 1904, a steamship called the General Slocum left the pier on East Third Street in New York …
The End of Smallpox
Rahima Banu holds a remarkable place in history, as the last known person in the world to be infected with smallpox. This week on the RadioDiaries podcast, the story behind a global effort to eradicate the deadly virus.
The Greatest Songwriter You’ve Never Heard Of
You probably don’t know her name, but you definitely know her songs. Rose Marie McCoy was the woman behind smash hits by Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and more – but most people have never heard of her.
Identical Strangers
Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein met for the first time when they were 35 years old and found they were “identical strangers.”
Sofia’s Choice: A Ukrainian Diary
Sofia’s mother Vita was living in Kharkiv, Ukraine when Russian forces invaded. The family is now faced with an difficult choice.
The Forgotten Story of Clinton Melton
Earlier this month, the Senate unanimously passed legislation that would make lynching a federal hate crime. The new Emmett Till …
Claudette Colvin: Making Trouble Then and Now
Claudette Colvin grew up in Montgomery, Alabama. On March 2, 1955, she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a crowded bus, violating the city’s segregation laws. The bus driver called the police, but Colvin refused to move.
A Voicemail Valentine
Nowadays, we’re very accustomed to recording and hearing the sound of our own voices. But in the 1930s, many people …
Diary of a Saudi Girl: Then & Now
We’re bringing you a new conversation from one of our favorite diarists, Majd Abdulghani. When we first met Majd, she …
A Museum of Sound
Thanks to the Music Modernization Act, tens of thousands of recordings made before 1923 will enter the public domain for the very first time on January 1, 2022.
A Real Life West Side Story
A new movie version of West Side Story is hitting theaters this week. The musical, which tells a story of …
A Guitar, A Cello, and The Day That Changed Music
85 years ago, Pablo Casals and Robert Johnson both made recordings that would change music history.
A Wrench in the Works
On September 18, 1980, a technician dropped a wrench in a missile silo in Damascus, Arkansas. This is the story of an accident that nearly wiped out a giant portion of the midwest.
When Borders Move
The Rio Grande has long marked the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. But rivers can move. What happens when — instead of the people crossing the border — the border crosses the people.
The Two Lives of Asa Carter
Former Klansman Asa Carter was a segregationist speechwriter for Alabama Governor George Wallace. He most infamously penned the words ”segregation …
When Ground Zero was Radio Row
When City Radio opened on New York City’s Cortlandt Street in 1921, radio was a novelty. Over the next few decades, hundreds of stores popped up in the neighborhood: Leotone Radio, Cantor the Cabinet King, and Blan the Radio Man.
Last Witness: The Kerner Commission
Former Senator Oklahoma Fred Harris is the last surviving member of the Kerner Commission, a group appointed by President Lyndon Johnson to investigate the root causes of the violence and civil unrest that swept the nation in the late ’60s.
Prisoners of War
During the war in Vietnam, there was a notorious American military prison on the outskirts of Saigon called Long Binh …
From the Archive: Josh’s Diary
Twenty-five years ago, Josh Cutler was a 16-year old living with Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological condition that often causes physical and verbal tics.
The Tulsa Race Massacre, 100 Years Later
Olivia Hooker was one of the last surviving witnesses to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.
Juan, 25 Years Later
25 years after recording his first audio diary, Juan is now on the verge of getting his green card.
25 Years of Radio Diaries
This week marks 25 years of Radio Diaries! On the podcast, we bring you an update on our very first diarist.
The Last Place
Audio diaries from inside a retirement home in Evanston, Illinois. Stories of love, life, and loneliness.
Fly Girls, the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WWII
In the early 1940s, the government launched an experimental program to train women pilots. They were known as the WASPs, the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
Burma ’88: Buried History
On August 8, 1988, university students in Burma sparked an uprising against the military dictatorship.
Teen Contender: Then & Now
16-year-old Claressa Shields recorded an audio diary as she fought to make it on the first ever women’s Olympic boxing team. Nearly 10 years later, we bring you an update.
America Vs. America
On March 1, 1954, four young Puerto Rican New Yorkers launched on attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Love from Six Feet Apart (Revisited)
Checking in on two Hunker Down Diaries: the couple social distancing under the same roof. And a dispatch from the pizzeria.
Love at First Quarantine, The Sequel
Eight months ago, Gali and Joshua decided to quarantine together after their very first date. Today, we’re checking back in.
Centenarians (Still) in Lockdown
It’s been 9 months since 107-year-old Joe Newman and 100-year-old Anita Sampson, recorded themselves for our series Hunker Down Diaries. …
How to Lose an Election: A History
In every U.S. presidential election since 1896, the losing candidate has given a concession speech.
When Nazis Took Manhattan
In February 1939, 20,000 people gathered for a Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden. On the stage hung a banner of George Washington between two huge swastikas.
The Forgotten Story of Clinton Melton
Emmett Till’s murder is considered the spark that ignited a burgeoning Civil Rights movement. But there was another brazen murder of a Black man that happened just three months later, in a neighboring town in the Delta.
Segregation Now, Segregation Forever: The Infamous Words of George Wallace
Radio Diaries tells the story behind those infamous words, and the man who delivered them.
The Final Frontline
Fourth generation funeral directors reflect on their experience of the coronavirus pandemic and prepare for a second wave.
Quarantined in the Pizzeria
COVID-19 has forced many families to improvise childcare. For some, it’s been like a four month long ‘bring your child to work’ day.
Lockdown in Lockup
Moe Monsuri shares his experience of the pandemic from behind bars at Sing Sing prison. Part of our new series Hunker Down Diaries.
Home is Where You Park Your Mini Van
As the pandemic hit, Naida Lavon found herself without a home and without a job. Part of our Hunker Down Diaries series.
Soul Sister: The Limits of Empathy
A story about the limits of empathy. A collaboration with NPR’s Code Switch.
March of the Bonus Army
In 1932, 20,000 WWI veterans set up a tent city in Washington. They called themselves the Bonus Army.
The Words of Renault Robinson
Renault Robinson was one of Chicago’s few black police officers in the 1970s. When you listen to his words from the 1970s, and from 50 years later, what’s most striking is how much things haven’t changed.
Love at First Quarantine
Gali and Joshua made the surprising decision to quarantine together, after their very first date. Part of our series Hunker Down Diaries.
Love from Six Feet Apart
Part of our series Hunker Down Diaries. Wendy is an ER Doctor. Her husband is immunocompromised. During the pandemic, they are living together… six feet apart.
Busman’s Holiday
The story of William Cimillo, a New York City bus driver who snapped one day in 1947, left his regular route in the Bronx, and drove his municipal bus down to Florida.
Claudette Colvin: “History Had Me Glued To The Seat”
You know the story of Rosa Parks. But have you heard of Claudette Colvin?
Podcast: My So-Called Lungs
Laura Rothenberg tried to live a normal life, with the awareness that she might not live to see her 30th birthday.
Thembi’s AIDS Diary
Thembi Ngubane carried a tape recorder from 2004 to 2005 to document her life. She was willing to speak out at a time when very few South Africans were willing to say, “I have AIDS.”
Podcast: The Press is the Enemy
50 years ago, Spiro Agnew delivered what may be the most famous speech ever given by a vice president. His message: the media is biased.
The View From the 79th Floor
On the Radio Diaries Podcast, we tell the story of the plane that crashed into the Empire State Building.
The Dropped Wrench
Sometimes we make mistakes. They just don’t always happen in a nuclear missile silo. This story was produced in collaboration with This American Life.
Prisoners Of War
During the war in Vietnam, there was a notorious American prison on the outskirts of Saigon…a prison for American soldiers.
The Working Tapes
In the early 1970’s, author Studs Terkel went around the country with a reel-to-reel tape recorder interviewing people about their jobs.
Stories from a Vanishing NYC
On the Radio Diaries podcast, we pay a visit to Walter the Seltzer Man, and also remember Selma Koch, the iconic bra fitter in the Upper West Side’s Town Shop.
Shirley Chisholm: Unbought and Unbossed
50 yrs ago, Shirley Chisholm was the first woman of color in Congress. She too was told to “go back from where you came from.”
Podcast: The Square Deal
Some people called it “Welfare Capitalism.” George F. Johnson called it “The Square Deal.”
Amanda’s Diary, Revisited
Amanda was our very first diarist. Her story was about being a gay teenager, with parents who were having a really hard time with the idea.
Remembering Olivia Hooker
Olivia Hooker was one of the last surviving witnesses to the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.
Juan’s Diaries: Undocumented, Then and Now
This week on the podcast, listen to Juan’s diaries of living under the radar in America.
The Ski Troops of WWII
The men of the 10th Mountain Division led a series of daring assaults against the Nazis in the mountains of Italy. After returning home, many of these soldiers helped to create the modern ski industry.
When Nazis Took Manhattan
On February 20, 1939, 20,000 American Nazis rallied at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The event was billed as a “Pro-American” rally, but it championed Hitler and fascism.
The Border Wall
What happens when, instead of people crossing the border, the border crosses the people?
A Guitar, A Cello, and The Day That Changed Music
November 23, 1936, was a very good day for recorded music.
Ballad for Americans
How a ten minute operatic folk cantata managed to unite Democrats, Republicans and Communists.
Campaigning While Female
Stories of three women who launched bids to be President of the United States: Victoria Woodhull, Margaret Chase Smith, and Shirley Chisholm.
Podcast: Matthew and the Judge
We gave Judge Jeremiah, a Rhode Island juvenile court judge, and Matthew, a 16-year-old repeat offender, tape recorders. Through their audio diaries, Matthew and the judge tell the same story from opposite sides of the bench.
Last Witness: Mission to Hiroshima
Russell Gackenbach is the only surviving member of the crew that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. This is his story.
Nelson Mandela At 100
Nelson Mandela would have been 100 years old this week. And we’re marking the anniversary by bringing you our documentary, Mandela: An Audio History.
Last Witness: The General Slocum
In 1904, a steamship on its way to a church picnic sank in the East River. More than 1,000 people, many of them women and children, died in the disaster.
Strange Fruit, Revisited
James Cameron is the only known person to have survived a lynching in America.
Crime Pays
A program in Richmond, CA that is trying a controversial method of reducing gun violence in their city: paying criminals to not commit crimes. Sounds crazy, but the even crazier part is…it works.
The Green Book
A guide to “traveling while Black” during Jim Crow. A story from our friends and fellow Radiotopians at 99% Invisible.
A Diary of Deportation
At 26-years-old, Jose William Huezo Soriano—a.k.a. Weasel—was deported back to his parents’ home country, El Salvador, a country he hadn’t seen since he was 5.
