Life Stories Interviews
A Life Stories Production
Life Stories is a nonprofit that creates and distributes documentary films and educational resources about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. Its flagship series, The Thread, is a documentary interview series in which exceptional individuals share the different paths they have taken to lead meaningful lives. New episodes of The Thread will premier through January '25. The series features interviews with Gloria Estefan, Martin Sheen, Kurt “Big Boy” Alexander, Tony Hawk, Katie Couric, Mitt Romney, and other notable figures.
Learn more at LifeStories.org.
Learn more at LifeStories.org.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 29, 2024 • 33min
Loretta Ross: A Personal History of Reproductive Justice
Loretta Ross reveals how she transformed her trauma into an activist movement: from surviving a difficult childhood to becoming a leading voice in reproductive justice. She also discusses advice for the next generation of women's leaders.
Dec 22, 2024 • 29min
Fab 5 Freddy: The Legend Behind the Evolution of Hip Hop
Fab 5 Freddy reflects on how his upbringing and early experiences in the NYC graffiti scene shaped his hip hop, street art, and activism: from developing the film Wild Style to launching B noble.
Dec 15, 2024 • 39min
Kris Tompkins: Rewilding & Restoring Earth’s Biodiversity
Kris Tompkins, co-founder and President of Tompkins Conservation, shares how her upbringing, career as the former CEO of Patagonia Inc., and love story with her late husband Doug Tompkins, founder of The North Face, shaped her mission to combat the climate crisis—from building a sustainable business model at Patagonia to spearheading rewilding projects across South America.
Dec 8, 2024 • 27min
Noah Wyle: From ‘ER’ to Global Humanitarian
Actor Noah Wyle shares how his upbringing and role as ER's Dr. John Carter shaped his life, career, and activism off-screen: from overcoming imposter syndrome and working with Doctors Without Borders during the Kosovo War, to leveraging his platform for social justice.
Dec 1, 2024 • 29min
Elizabeth Daley: USC Dean on Film's Future
Elizabeth Daley reflects on her journey to becoming the longest-serving dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts. She also discusses the power of film education and its future: from shaping Hollywood legends to navigating digital media in filmmaking.
Nov 24, 2024 • 28min
Wyatt Cenac: Breaking Barriers in Late-Night TV
Wyatt Cenac discusses his path from a comedy enthusiast to becoming The Daily Show’s first Black writer and correspondent. He reflects on finding his creative voice, and the challenges he's navigated along the way.
Nov 17, 2024 • 26min
Abigail Disney: Disney Heir on Legacy, Family, and Reimagining Capitalism
Abigail Disney reflects on how the Disney family legacy, including her grandfather Roy O. Disney, has shaped her work and activism: from rebuilding communities through storytelling to using her platform to advocate for better corporate responsibility.
Nov 11, 2024 • 32min
Viet Thanh Nguyen: The Vietnam War Refugee Experience Behind The Sympathizer
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen reflects on his childhood as a refugee in America, his writing career, and family: from the trauma of displacement to the healing found in fatherhood and literature. Nguyen shares how these experiences have shaped his life and work, from his novel The Sympathizer to his commentary on war, cultural identity, and American life.
Nov 4, 2024 • 18min
Molly Jong-Fast: Inheriting Boldness
Writer, Journalist and Political Commentator, Molly Jong-Fast, discusses her upbringing and career: from the impact of her mother, Erica Jong, and her involvement in Second Wave Feminism; to her grandfather Howard Fast’s links to McCarthyism. Jong-Fast shares how these familial figures have shaped her life and her work, from her journalistic output to her commentary on Trumpism in America.
Oct 28, 2024 • 26min
Chip Conley: Daring to Be Yourself
Hotelier, thought leader and New York Times Bestseller, Chip Conley, muses on the course of his life and how it has impacted his diverse career. Be it establishing his own boutique hotel chain aged 26; developing Airbnb to the corporation we recognize today; or creating the Modern Elder Academy, tune in to discover how Chip’s experiences have shaped him.
