Life Stories Interviews

Reginald Dwayne Betts’ story is a testament to the power of the human spirit to survive – and even thrive – through extraordinary adversity. In this deeply compelling episode of The Thread, Betts displays the quiet eloquence that makes him one of the nation’s most acclaimed poets. Arrested at 16 in inner city Baltimore for the first crime he ever committed, a carjacking where no one was physically injured, this honor student was sentenced to nine years in prison. Rather than let the worst day of his life define him, Betts drew on an inner strength becoming a prolific poet in prison, earning a law degree from Yale and becoming a national advocate for the rights of the incarcerated. Reginald Dwayne Betts’ story of hope in the face of despair is one that you will not soon forget.

Cecile Richards, daughter of the legendary former governor of Texas Ann Richards, had some big shoes to fill from an early age. In this episode of The Thread, she opens-up about forging her own path and how, with her mother’s crucial encouragement, she made the life-changing decision to become president of Planned Parenthood at a critical time in the organization’s history. Cecile Richards’s life is about empowering women; her story a powerful lesson in leading by example.

In this episode of “The Thread,” Life Stories sits down with Senator Mitt Romney who thoughtfully reflects on family and faith, the twin pillars that have guided him throughout his storied career. He also looks back at both his presidential run in 2012 and his vote for impeachment, while sharing what he sees as the biggest challenges for the U.S. in the coming years.   Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: https://www.lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive To teach using this episode go to: https://www.lifestories.org/learning/the-thread-2024

In this episode of The Thread we sit down with Reverend Dr. Jacqui Lewis, the first black and female senior minister at the multicultural Collegiate Church in Manhattan. Her entry into the world of activism has since informed her life’s work and led to her calling as a minister, a best-selling author and one of the nation’s most prominent progressive pastors. Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: https://www.lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive To teach using this episode go to: https://www.lifestories.org/learning/the-thread-2024

Kurt "Big Boy" Alexander, a national radio star for more than thirty years, reveals some hard-learned lessons in this episode of The Thread. He shares the poignant revelation that at only ten years old, his mother and seven siblings were a family of homeless nomads moving from motel to motel. Alexander’s compelling story is one of overcoming struggles with massive weight (“I was a size 8x”), drug dealing and the underlying events that fueled those behaviors. His story, while unique, is eminently relatable to anyone who has ever struggled with adversity. He shares his journey with thoughtful candor and warmth. Kurt Alexander’s deeply personal experiences affirm the importance of prioritizing health and family throughout your life.

Roz Chast, the award-winning cartoonist for The New Yorker magazine, has created a world of laughter despite painful circumstances. In this episode of The Thread, Chast describes her far-from-comic childhood without mincing words: “I couldn’t stand my parents. A terrible thing to say, but true.” She highlights the impact of iconic cartoonist Charles Addams on her work and explains how storytelling through cartoons has allowed her – and millions of readers – to develop empathy, forge meaningful connections, and express the joy of life with her unique gift of humor.

Martin Sheen is a national treasure, as both an acclaimed actor and as a lifelong activist for social justice. In this episode of The Thread, the Emmy-Award winning “acting president” from television’s The West Wing, shares stories from his six-decade career in film and television and describes the struggles of starting out in a profession where his birth name of Ramon Estevez was deemed “too Puerto Rican”. Never afraid to “walk the talk,” Martin Sheen has literally put his body on the line for the causes he believes in; from opposing the death penalty and nuclear power to supporting LGBTQ rights. He details his numerous arrests for civil disobedience, all of which were informed by a deep Catholic faith that taught him to fight injustice not as a choice, but as a duty.

Tova Friedman is one the few remaining living witnesses to the horrors of the Holocaust. In this episode of The Thread, she recounts a childhood of unimaginable brutality and terror, marked by starvation labor camps and the crematoriums of Auschwitz. She shares the challenges her family faced as survivors in postwar America emphasizing the importance of storytelling to ensure her children and grandchildren – and all children – carry on a legacy of remembrance and resilience.

Jason Reynolds, the New York Times #1 bestselling author and poet, is a wizard with words. In this episode of The Thread, he opens up about being the child of divorce and how, when he was adrift in life, a high school teacher shocked him into an awareness of the importance of self-sacrifice and moral courage. Now, Jason Reynolds uses storytelling to inspire young readers to discover those essential qualities of humanity within themselves. Reynolds' books have recently sparked national controversy as they face bans in numerous schools across the country. Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: https://www.lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifestoriesinterviews/

Gloria Estefan, known to most as an internationally acclaimed recording artist and performer, opens her heart to share deeply personal stories in this episode of The Thread. We learn about her life as the young daughter of Cuban parents who were in grave danger when Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba. She takes us on a harrowing journey of fleeing to America, her father’s return to Cuba as an American freedom fighter, and the childhood discovery of her extraordinary musical talent that gave her private comfort in dark times – a talent she never intended to turn into a career. How she went on to become the “Queen of Latin Pop” is an inspiring story of strength, perseverance, and the life-sustaining power of love. Subscribe for access to interviews, series, films, and educational materials that address issues of social justice, history, politics, the arts, and culture by spotlighting relatable human stories of purpose and meaning. Learn about our work and how to support our mission here: https://www.lifestories.org/. For extended versions of these interviews and more, visit: https://www.youtube.com/@lifestoriesinterviewarchive Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifestoriesinterviews/