StoryCorps Airstream: The Interviewer is Interviewed
- groovychickpjw
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 28
On October 2, 2023, Sandy Tomey and I headed downtown to the St. Louis Public Radio offices where StoryCorps had taken up residence for a month. The Airstream travels around the country setting up to listen and record stories. All you had to do was sign up for a time. To listen to our interview:
Reaching the Airstream I was in awe of the set up. I could imagine driving all over the country listening to stories. It's no secret I love StoryCorps! I've always been interested and fascinated with telling stories. Years ago, I would listen to the interviews on NPR, and I read all the books. StoryCorps, mission is to create a community of listeners.
Delilia, our facilitator was a dream to work with. She got us all set up and then helped with signals. After the interview she told us how well we did. She also told me how to apply for her job!
After much thought, Sandy and I decided to talk about following my dream of being a writer. Writing feeds my soul and brings me such joy. I always knew I would write and tell stories, and I have been fortunate to be able to do that. I always knew I would write about life. And I continue to share stories about life today.
Twenty-two years ago, I started a column about raising kids in suburbia named: SOS From Suburbia.
I loved it. It appeared in Savvy Family Magazine, a local family magazine, eventually ending up in St. Louis Moms and Dads magazine and then the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, our local paper. Hometown girl does good!
I wrote about the crazy, funny, sad, enlightening life of being a mom to two kids. I wrote about dancing, baseball, softball, orchestra, Girl Scouts, solo travel by a 12-year-old, teaching my son to drive, the closet thief, cooking, cooking dinner, and my black bag that you can live out of for 2 weeks! I wrote about college, kids growing up, summer camp. I wrote about dancing, yoga, biking, and hiking with kids. Girlfriends, nights off, pursuing our dreams.
Basically, anything that was going on in our lives. All with humor. All with love. All with passion. And all with the intention of sharing the experience, the journey, and the lessons. I was the Lucy in every story-it was always me that learned something.
As they grew older, often my kids would come home and say, "A little warning please!", although I left all the columns on the kitchen counter for them to read.
After 14 years, my editor taught me to write feature articles, and I started a blog to continue writing about raising kids, life and the journey while writing feature articles.
During this time, I have had many conversations about how society responds and accepts creatives and how to make a living.
When my son was 17 and I created a facilitated writing group I mentioned that I didn't know how it might make money. He said, "Mom, do the work. Everything else will fall into place." How right he was.
I'm back to this thinking: I've continued to write personal narratives, travel blogs, and facilitate interviews on the StoryCorps app. And I added a certification in whole brain thinking. I've loved being a writing coach, empowering people to find, use and share their voice on different platforms.
Once more evolving and I've decided to spend more time writing and interviewing and living life.
People often ask what I want to happen with my writing: personal narratives, travel blogs and StoryCorps interviews.
Mostly I want my writing to live in the world. And, if Sarah Jessica Parker, Reese Witherspoon, or Nicole Kidman read it and decide it needs to be a movie or Netflix series, I will Cheer!!!!
I love telling stories and I know this is my journey. Empowering myself and others to find and use our voice through storytelling.
Being a creative is challenging, running a business is challenging, however, I was recently in an airport and saw this sign:
NOW only happens once.
Being a part of the StoryCorps archives means the world to me. Thank you StoryCorps for the opportunity to share my story, meet Delilia and become part of the archives.
Expect Good. Defy Gravity. Sparkle ON!
Author's note: on October 19th, St. Louis Public Radio had a StoryCorps celebration and Janice Denham, the editor I had the privilege of working with at The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and I attended. While our interview didn't make the live listening, our picture was part of the presentation.
It was fun to celebrate with Janice. We also met the Program Director and when I said to him, "You need to hire me for local StoryCorps interviews", and he smiled, Janice said to him, "She makes things happen".
For more St. Louis Girl Storytelling blogs and St. Louis Girl Podcasts, go to:
It’s true. She DOES make things happen!