TED2015
Dave Isay: Everyone around you has a story the world needs to hear
Filmed:
Readability: 3.9
2,466,873 views
Dave Isay opened the first StoryCorps booth in New York’s Grand Central Terminal in 2003 with the intention of creating a quiet place where a person could honor someone who mattered to them by listening to their story. Since then, StoryCorps has evolved into the single largest collection of human voices ever recorded. His TED Prize wish: to grow this digital archive of the collective wisdom of humanity. Hear his vision to take StoryCorps global — and how you can be a part of it by interviewing someone with the StoryCorps app.
Dave Isay - Story collector
Over thousands of archived and broadcast interviews, StoryCorps founder Dave Isay -- winner of the 2015 TED Prize -- has created an unprecedented document of the dreams and fears that touch us all. Full bio
Over thousands of archived and broadcast interviews, StoryCorps founder Dave Isay -- winner of the 2015 TED Prize -- has created an unprecedented document of the dreams and fears that touch us all. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
Tonight, I'm going to try to make the case
0
996
2077
00:15
that inviting a loved one, a friend
or even a stranger
or even a stranger
1
3073
4626
00:19
to record a meaningful interview with you
2
7699
2431
00:22
just might turn out to be one of the most
important moments in that person's life,
important moments in that person's life,
3
10130
4406
00:26
and in yours.
4
14536
2945
00:29
When I was 22 years old,
I was lucky enough to find my calling
I was lucky enough to find my calling
5
17481
3344
00:32
when I fell into making radio stories.
6
20825
2460
00:35
At almost the exact same time,
7
23285
2434
00:37
I found out that my dad,
who I was very, very close to, was gay.
who I was very, very close to, was gay.
8
25719
4969
00:42
I was taken completely by surprise.
9
30688
2302
00:44
We were a very tight-knit family,
10
32990
2508
00:47
and I was crushed.
11
35498
2391
00:49
At some point, in one
of our strained conversations,
of our strained conversations,
12
37889
2345
00:52
my dad mentioned the Stonewall riots.
13
40234
2670
00:54
He told me that one night in 1969,
14
42904
3274
00:58
a group of young black
and Latino drag queens
and Latino drag queens
15
46178
2705
01:00
fought back against the police
at a gay bar in Manhattan
at a gay bar in Manhattan
16
48883
3646
01:04
called the Stonewall Inn,
17
52529
2020
01:06
and how this sparked
the modern gay rights movement.
the modern gay rights movement.
18
54549
3529
01:10
It was an amazing story,
and it piqued my interest.
and it piqued my interest.
19
58078
3339
01:13
So I decided to pick up my tape
recorder and find out more.
recorder and find out more.
20
61417
4211
01:17
With the help of a young archivist
named Michael Shirker,
named Michael Shirker,
21
65628
4176
01:21
we tracked down all
of the people we could find
of the people we could find
22
69804
2577
01:24
who had been at
the Stonewall Inn that night.
the Stonewall Inn that night.
23
72381
3436
01:27
Recording these interviews,
24
75817
1997
01:29
I saw how the microphone
gave me the license
gave me the license
25
77814
2229
01:32
to go places I otherwise
never would have gone
never would have gone
26
80043
2736
01:34
and talk to people I might not
otherwise ever have spoken to.
otherwise ever have spoken to.
27
82779
4133
01:38
I had the privilege of getting to know
28
86912
1842
01:40
some of the most amazing,
fierce and courageous human beings
fierce and courageous human beings
29
88754
3894
01:44
I had ever met.
30
92648
2182
01:46
It was the first time
the story of Stonewall
the story of Stonewall
31
94830
2104
01:48
had been told to a national audience.
32
96934
2052
01:50
I dedicated the program to my dad,
33
98986
2253
01:53
it changed my relationship with him,
and it changed my life.
and it changed my life.
34
101249
5466
02:00
Over the next 15 years,
I made many more radio documentaries,
I made many more radio documentaries,
35
108181
3436
02:03
working to shine a light on people
who are rarely heard from in the media.
who are rarely heard from in the media.
36
111617
4064
02:07
Over and over again,
37
115681
1579
02:09
I'd see how this simple act
of being interviewed
of being interviewed
38
117260
2600
02:11
could mean so much to people,
39
119860
2160
02:14
particularly those who had been told
that their stories didn't matter.
that their stories didn't matter.
40
122020
3691
02:17
I could literally see
people's back straighten
people's back straighten
41
125711
2369
02:20
as they started to speak
into the microphone.
into the microphone.
42
128080
2786
02:22
In 1998, I made a documentary
about the last flophouse hotels
about the last flophouse hotels
43
130866
4505
02:27
on the Bowery in Manhattan.
44
135371
2391
02:29
Guys stayed up in these
cheap hotels for decades.
cheap hotels for decades.
45
137762
2670
02:32
They lived in cubicles
the size of prison cells
the size of prison cells
46
140432
2392
02:34
covered with chicken wire
47
142824
1300
02:36
so you couldn't jump
from one room into the next.
from one room into the next.
48
144124
2964
02:39
Later, I wrote a book on the men
with the photographer Harvey Wang.
with the photographer Harvey Wang.
49
147088
3979
02:43
I remember walking into a flophouse
with an early version of the book
with an early version of the book
50
151067
4424
02:47
and showing one of the guys his page.
51
155491
2588
02:50
He stood there staring at it in silence,
52
158079
2275
02:52
then he grabbed the book out of my hand
53
160354
2299
02:54
and started running down
the long, narrow hallway
the long, narrow hallway
54
162653
3483
02:58
holding it over his head
55
166136
1509
02:59
shouting, "I exist! I exist."
56
167645
4365
03:04
(Applause)
57
172010
4853
03:08
In many ways, "I exist" became
the clarion call for StoryCorps,
the clarion call for StoryCorps,
58
176863
3831
03:12
this crazy idea that I had
a dozen years ago.
a dozen years ago.
59
180694
3576
03:16
The thought was to take
documentary work
documentary work
60
184270
2229
03:18
and turn it on its head.
61
186499
1857
03:20
Traditionally, broadcast documentary
62
188356
2254
03:22
has been about recording interviews
to create a work of art or entertainment
to create a work of art or entertainment
63
190610
4086
03:26
or education that is seen or heard
by a whole lot of people,
by a whole lot of people,
64
194696
4248
03:30
but I wanted to try something
65
198944
1381
03:32
where the interview itself
was the purpose of this work,
was the purpose of this work,
66
200325
3148
03:35
and see if we could give many,
many, many people the chance
many, many people the chance
67
203473
2972
03:38
to be listened to in this way.
68
206445
2624
03:41
So in Grand Central Terminal 11 years ago,
69
209069
3050
03:44
we built a booth where anyone
can come to honor someone else
can come to honor someone else
70
212119
4373
03:48
by interviewing them about their life.
71
216492
3011
03:51
You come to this booth and you're met
by a facilitator who brings you inside.
by a facilitator who brings you inside.
72
219503
3831
03:55
You sit across from, say, your grandfather
73
223334
2577
03:57
for close to an hour
and you listen and you talk.
and you listen and you talk.
74
225911
3042
04:00
Many people think of it as,
if this was to be our last conversation,
if this was to be our last conversation,
75
228953
3692
04:04
what would I want to ask of
and say to this person
and say to this person
76
232645
2995
04:07
who means so much to me?
77
235640
2276
04:09
At the end of the session,
you walk away with a copy of the interview
you walk away with a copy of the interview
78
237916
3287
04:13
and another copy goes
to the American Folklife Center
to the American Folklife Center
79
241203
2658
04:15
at the Library of Congress
80
243861
2258
04:18
so that your great-great-great-grandkids
can someday get to know your grandfather
can someday get to know your grandfather
81
246119
4056
04:22
through his voice and story.
82
250175
2193
04:25
So we open this booth
in one of the busiest places in the world
in one of the busiest places in the world
83
253548
3157
04:28
and invite people to have this
incredibly intimate conversation
incredibly intimate conversation
84
256705
3483
04:32
with another human being.
85
260188
1231
04:33
I had no idea if it would work,
but from the very beginning, it did.
but from the very beginning, it did.
86
261419
4806
04:38
People treated the experience
with incredible respect,
with incredible respect,
87
266225
2879
04:41
and amazing conversations happened inside.
88
269104
3367
04:44
I want to play just one animated excerpt
89
272471
2531
04:47
from an interview recorded
at that original Grand Central Booth.
at that original Grand Central Booth.
90
275002
3761
04:50
This is 12-year-old Joshua Littman
interviewing his mother, Sarah.
interviewing his mother, Sarah.
91
278763
4528
04:55
Josh has Asperger's syndrome.
92
283291
2206
04:57
As you may know, kids with Asperger's
are incredibly smart
are incredibly smart
93
285497
3065
05:00
but have a tough time socially.
94
288562
2159
05:02
They usually have obsessions.
95
290721
1649
05:04
In Josh's case, it's with animals,
96
292370
2206
05:06
so this is Josh talking with his mom Sarah
97
294576
2623
05:09
at Grand Central nine years ago.
98
297199
3300
05:12
(Video) Josh Littman:
From a scale of one to 10,
From a scale of one to 10,
99
300499
2277
05:14
do you think your life would be
different without animals?
different without animals?
100
302776
2982
05:17
Sarah Littman: I think it would be
an eight without animals,
an eight without animals,
101
305758
2807
05:20
because they add so much pleasure to life.
102
308565
2134
05:22
JL: How else do you think your life
would be different without them?
would be different without them?
103
310699
3199
05:25
SL: I could do without things
like cockroaches and snakes.
like cockroaches and snakes.
104
313898
2719
05:28
JL: Well, I'm okay with snakes
as long as they're not venomous
as long as they're not venomous
105
316617
2901
05:31
or constrict you or anything.
106
319518
1401
05:32
SL: Yeah, I'm not a big snake person --
107
320919
1859
05:34
JL: But cockroach is just
the insect we love to hate.
the insect we love to hate.
108
322778
2510
05:37
SL: Yeah, it really is.
109
325288
1533
05:38
JL: Have you ever thought
you couldn't cope with having a child?
you couldn't cope with having a child?
110
326821
3134
05:41
SL: I remember when you were a baby,
you had really bad colic,
you had really bad colic,
111
329955
3390
05:45
so you would just cry and cry.
112
333345
1603
05:46
JL: What's colic?
SL: It's when you get this stomach ache
SL: It's when you get this stomach ache
113
334948
3157
05:50
and all you do is scream
for, like, four hours.
for, like, four hours.
114
338105
2485
05:52
JL: Even louder than Amy does?
115
340590
1973
05:54
SL: You were pretty loud,
but Amy's was more high-pitched.
but Amy's was more high-pitched.
116
342563
3344
05:57
JL: I think it feels like everyone
seems to like Amy more,
seems to like Amy more,
117
345907
3204
06:01
like she's the perfect little angel.
118
349111
2670
06:03
SL: Well, I can understand
why you think that people like Amy more,
why you think that people like Amy more,
119
351781
3863
06:07
and I'm not saying it's because
of your Asperger's syndrome,
of your Asperger's syndrome,
120
355644
2839
06:10
but being friendly comes easily to Amy,
121
358483
3004
06:13
whereas I think for you
it's more difficult,
it's more difficult,
122
361487
2415
06:15
but the people who take the time
to get to know you love you so much.
to get to know you love you so much.
123
363902
4040
06:19
JL: Like Ben or Eric or Carlos?
SL: Yeah --
SL: Yeah --
124
367942
2415
06:22
JL: Like I have better quality friends
but less quantity? (Laughter)
but less quantity? (Laughter)
125
370357
4481
06:26
SL: I wouldn't judge
the quality, but I think --
the quality, but I think --
126
374838
2281
06:29
JL: I mean, first it was like, Amy
loved Claudia, then she hated Claudia,
loved Claudia, then she hated Claudia,
127
377119
3768
06:32
she loved Claudia, then she hated Claudia.
128
380887
2027
06:34
SL: Part of that's a girl thing, honey.
129
382914
1888
06:36
The important thing for you
is that you have a few very good friends,
is that you have a few very good friends,
130
384802
3332
06:40
and really that's what you need in life.
131
388134
2026
06:42
JL: Did I turn out to be the son
you wanted when I was born?
you wanted when I was born?
132
390160
4249
06:46
Did I meet your expectations?
133
394409
2902
06:49
SL: You've exceeded
my expectations, sweetie,
my expectations, sweetie,
134
397311
2763
06:52
because, sure, you have these fantasies
of what your child's going to be like,
of what your child's going to be like,
135
400074
4760
06:56
but you have made me grow
so much as a parent, because you think --
so much as a parent, because you think --
136
404834
3893
07:00
JL: Well, I was the one
who made you a parent.
who made you a parent.
137
408727
2161
07:02
SL: You were the one who made me a parent.
That's a good point. (Laughter)
That's a good point. (Laughter)
138
410888
3487
07:06
But also because you think differently
139
414375
1824
07:08
from what they tell you
in the parenting books,
in the parenting books,
140
416199
2903
07:11
I really had to learn to think
outside of the box with you,
outside of the box with you,
141
419102
3460
07:14
and it's made me much more creative
as a parent and as a person,
as a parent and as a person,
142
422562
4806
07:19
and I'll always thank you for that.
143
427368
1668
07:21
JL: And that helped when Amy was born?
144
429036
1930
07:22
SL: And that helped when Amy was born,
but you are so incredibly special to me
but you are so incredibly special to me
145
430966
4834
07:27
and I'm so lucky to have you as my son.
146
435800
3363
07:31
(Applause)
147
439163
6647
07:38
David Isay: After this story
ran on public radio,
ran on public radio,
148
446980
2307
07:41
Josh received hundreds of letters
149
449287
1764
07:43
telling him what an amazing kid he was.
150
451051
2322
07:45
His mom, Sarah, bound them
together in a book,
together in a book,
151
453373
2229
07:47
and when Josh got picked on at school,
they would read the letters together.
they would read the letters together.
152
455602
4046
07:51
I just want to acknowledge
that two of my heroes
that two of my heroes
153
459648
2267
07:53
are here with us tonight.
154
461915
1303
07:55
Sarah Littman and her son Josh,
who is now an honors student in college.
who is now an honors student in college.
155
463218
4801
08:00
(Applause)
156
468019
3790
08:03
You know, a lot of people talk about
crying when they hear StoryCorps stories,
crying when they hear StoryCorps stories,
157
471809
3882
08:07
and it's not because they're sad.
158
475691
1947
08:09
Most of them aren't.
159
477638
1324
08:10
I think it's because you're hearing
something authentic and pure
something authentic and pure
160
478962
3053
08:14
at this moment,
when sometimes it's hard to tell
when sometimes it's hard to tell
161
482015
2391
08:16
what's real and what's an advertisement.
162
484406
2996
08:19
It's kind of the anti-reality TV.
163
487402
2391
08:21
Nobody comes to StoryCorps to get rich.
164
489793
2113
08:23
Nobody comes to get famous.
165
491906
1881
08:25
It's simply an act of generosity and love.
166
493787
3204
08:28
So many of these are just everyday people
167
496991
2252
08:31
talking about lives lived with kindness,
courage, decency and dignity,
courage, decency and dignity,
168
499243
5132
08:36
and when you hear that kind of story,
169
504375
1997
08:38
it can sometimes feel
like you're walking on holy ground.
like you're walking on holy ground.
170
506372
4383
08:42
So this experiment
in Grand Central worked,
in Grand Central worked,
171
510755
2505
08:45
and we expanded across the country.
172
513260
2390
08:47
Today, more than 100,000 people
in all 50 states
in all 50 states
173
515650
3213
08:50
in thousands of cities
and towns across America
and towns across America
174
518863
2856
08:53
have recorded StoryCorps interviews.
175
521719
2345
08:56
It's now the largest single collection
of human voices ever gathered.
of human voices ever gathered.
176
524064
4923
09:00
(Applause)
177
528987
5828
09:06
We've hired and trained
hundreds of facilitators
hundreds of facilitators
178
534815
2438
09:09
to help guide people
through the experience.
through the experience.
179
537253
2716
09:11
Most serve a year or two with StoryCorps
180
539969
2415
09:14
traveling the country,
gathering the wisdom of humanity.
gathering the wisdom of humanity.
181
542384
3437
09:17
They call it bearing witness,
182
545821
2159
09:19
and if you ask them,
183
547980
1405
09:21
all of the facilitators will tell you
that the most important thing
that the most important thing
184
549385
3274
09:24
they've learned from being present
during these interviews
during these interviews
185
552659
2868
09:27
is that people are basically good.
186
555527
3436
09:30
And I think for the first years
of StoryCorps, you could argue
of StoryCorps, you could argue
187
558963
2958
09:33
that there was some kind
of a selection bias happening,
of a selection bias happening,
188
561921
2636
09:36
but after tens of thousands of interviews
with every kind of person
with every kind of person
189
564557
3276
09:39
in every part of the country --
190
567833
1649
09:41
rich, poor, five years old to 105,
191
569482
3436
09:44
80 different languages,
across the political spectrum --
across the political spectrum --
192
572918
3065
09:49
you have to think that maybe these guys
are actually onto something.
are actually onto something.
193
577063
4214
09:53
I've also learned so much
from these interviews.
from these interviews.
194
581277
3291
09:56
I've learned about the poetry
and the wisdom and the grace
and the wisdom and the grace
195
584568
3204
09:59
that can be found in the words
of people all around us
of people all around us
196
587772
2740
10:02
when we simply take the time to listen,
197
590512
3297
10:05
like this interview
198
593809
3233
10:09
between a betting clerk in Brooklyn
named Danny Perasa
named Danny Perasa
199
597042
3338
10:12
who brought his wife Annie to StoryCorps
to talk about his love for her.
to talk about his love for her.
200
600380
5062
10:18
(Audio) Danny Perasa: You see,
the thing of it is,
the thing of it is,
201
606632
2342
10:20
I always feel guilty when I say
"I love you" to you.
"I love you" to you.
202
608974
2476
10:23
And I say it so often.
I say it to remind you
I say it to remind you
203
611450
2908
10:26
that as dumpy as I am,
it's coming from me.
it's coming from me.
204
614358
2856
10:29
It's like hearing a beautiful song
from a busted old radio,
from a busted old radio,
205
617214
3454
10:32
and it's nice of you to keep
the radio around the house.
the radio around the house.
206
620668
2627
10:35
Annie Perasa: If I don't have a note
on the kitchen table,
on the kitchen table,
207
623295
2806
10:38
I think there's something wrong.
208
626101
1587
10:39
You write a love letter
to me every morning.
to me every morning.
209
627688
2054
10:41
DP: Well, the only thing
that could possibly be wrong
that could possibly be wrong
210
629742
2529
10:44
is I couldn't find a silly pen.
211
632271
1533
10:45
AP: To my princess:
212
633804
1027
10:46
The weather outside today
is extremely rainy.
is extremely rainy.
213
634831
2217
10:49
I'll call you at 11:20 in the morning.
214
637048
1953
10:51
DP: It's a romantic weather report.
215
639001
1816
10:52
AP: And I love you.
I love you. I love you.
I love you. I love you.
216
640817
2750
10:55
DP: When a guy is happily married,
no matter what happens at work,
no matter what happens at work,
217
643567
3099
10:58
no matter what happens
in the rest of the day,
in the rest of the day,
218
646666
2157
11:00
there's a shelter when you get home,
219
648823
1721
11:02
there's a knowledge knowing
that you can hug somebody
that you can hug somebody
220
650544
2553
11:05
without them throwing you downstairs
and saying, "Get your hands off me."
and saying, "Get your hands off me."
221
653097
3547
11:08
Being married is like having
a color television set.
a color television set.
222
656644
2627
11:11
You never want to go back
to black and white.
to black and white.
223
659271
2207
11:13
(Laughter)
224
661478
3342
11:16
DI: Danny was about five feet tall
225
664820
2136
11:18
with crossed eyes
and one single snaggletooth,
and one single snaggletooth,
226
666956
3413
11:22
but Danny Perasa had
more romance in his little pinky
more romance in his little pinky
227
670369
3692
11:26
than all of Hollywood's
leading men put together.
leading men put together.
228
674061
3113
11:29
What else have I learned?
229
677174
1903
11:31
I've learned about the almost
unimaginable capacity
unimaginable capacity
230
679077
2902
11:33
for the human spirit to forgive.
231
681979
2183
11:36
I've learned about resilience
and I've learned about strength.
and I've learned about strength.
232
684162
3645
11:39
Like an interview with Oshea Israel
and Mary Johnson.
and Mary Johnson.
233
687807
3343
11:43
When Oshea was a teenager,
he murdered Mary's only son,
he murdered Mary's only son,
234
691150
4551
11:47
Laramiun Byrd, in a gang fight.
235
695701
2485
11:50
A dozen years later, Mary went to prison
236
698186
2600
11:52
to meet Oshea and find out
who this person was
who this person was
237
700786
2740
11:55
who had taken her son's life.
238
703526
2949
11:58
Slowly and remarkably,
they became friends,
they became friends,
239
706475
2786
12:01
and when he was finally released
from the penitentiary,
from the penitentiary,
240
709261
2694
12:03
Oshea actually moved in next door to Mary.
241
711955
3366
12:07
This is just a short excerpt
of a conversation they had
of a conversation they had
242
715321
3205
12:10
soon after Oshea was freed.
243
718526
2543
12:14
(Video) Mary Johnson: My natural son
is no longer here.
is no longer here.
244
722079
2972
12:17
I didn't see him graduate,
and now you're going to college.
and now you're going to college.
245
725051
3784
12:20
I'll have the opportunity
to see you graduate.
to see you graduate.
246
728835
3297
12:24
I didn't see him get married.
247
732132
2461
12:26
Hopefully one day, I'll be able
to experience that with you.
to experience that with you.
248
734593
3909
12:30
Oshea Israel: Just to hear you
say those things and to be
say those things and to be
249
738502
2697
12:33
in my life in the manner
in which you are is my motivation.
in which you are is my motivation.
250
741199
3660
12:36
It motivates me to make sure
that I stay on the right path.
that I stay on the right path.
251
744859
4757
12:41
You still believe in me,
252
749616
1927
12:43
and the fact that you can do it
despite how much pain I caused you,
despite how much pain I caused you,
253
751543
3576
12:47
it's amazing.
254
755119
2090
12:49
MJ: I know it's not an easy thing
to be able to share our story together,
to be able to share our story together,
255
757209
5897
12:55
even with us sitting here
looking at each other right now.
looking at each other right now.
256
763106
2763
12:57
I know it's not an easy thing,
so I admire that you can do this.
so I admire that you can do this.
257
765869
5747
13:03
OI: I love you, lady.
MJ: I love you too, son.
MJ: I love you too, son.
258
771616
5050
13:12
(Applause)
259
780156
6216
13:18
DI: And I've been reminded countless times
of the courage and goodness of people,
of the courage and goodness of people,
260
786372
5154
13:23
and how the arc of history
truly does bend towards justice.
truly does bend towards justice.
261
791526
5062
13:28
Like the story of Alexis Martinez,
who was born Arthur Martinez
who was born Arthur Martinez
262
796588
4481
13:33
in the Harold Ickes projects in Chicago.
263
801069
2624
13:35
In the interview, she talks
with her daughter Lesley
with her daughter Lesley
264
803693
2833
13:38
about joining a gang as a young man,
265
806526
2368
13:40
and later in life transitioning
into the woman she was always meant to be.
into the woman she was always meant to be.
266
808894
4830
13:45
This is Alexis and her daughter Lesley.
267
813724
2499
13:48
(Audio) Alexis Martinez: One of the most
difficult things for me was
difficult things for me was
268
816223
3259
13:51
I was always afraid that
I wouldn't be allowed
I wouldn't be allowed
269
819482
2926
13:54
to be in my granddaughters' lives,
270
822408
2879
13:57
and you blew that completely
out of the water,
out of the water,
271
825287
2298
13:59
you and your husband.
272
827585
1324
14:00
One of the fruits of that is,
in my relationship with my granddaughters,
in my relationship with my granddaughters,
273
828909
3460
14:04
they fight with each other sometimes
over whether I'm he or she.
over whether I'm he or she.
274
832369
3577
14:07
Lesley Martinez: But they're free
to talk about it.
to talk about it.
275
835946
2487
14:10
AM: They're free to talk about it,
but that, to me, is a miracle.
but that, to me, is a miracle.
276
838433
3056
14:13
LM: You don't have to apologize.
You don't have to tiptoe.
You don't have to tiptoe.
277
841489
3302
14:16
We're not going to cut you off,
and that's something I've always
and that's something I've always
278
844791
4581
14:21
wanted you to just know,
that you're loved.
that you're loved.
279
849372
2965
14:24
AM: You know, I live this every day now.
280
852337
2345
14:26
I walk down the streets as a woman,
and I really am at peace with who I am.
and I really am at peace with who I am.
281
854682
5124
14:31
I mean, I wish I had a softer voice maybe,
282
859806
2654
14:34
but now I walk in love
and I try to live that way every day.
and I try to live that way every day.
283
862460
5872
14:43
DI: Now I walk in love.
284
871562
3344
14:46
I'm going to tell you
a secret about StoryCorps.
a secret about StoryCorps.
285
874906
2902
14:49
It takes some courage
to have these conversations.
to have these conversations.
286
877808
3385
14:53
StoryCorps speaks to our mortality.
287
881193
2391
14:55
Participants know this recording
will be heard long after they're gone.
will be heard long after they're gone.
288
883584
4017
14:59
There's a hospice doctor named Ira Byock
289
887601
2684
15:02
who has worked closely with us
on recording interviews
on recording interviews
290
890285
2544
15:04
with people who are dying.
291
892829
1457
15:06
He wrote a book called
"The Four Things That Matter Most"
"The Four Things That Matter Most"
292
894286
2765
15:09
about the four things you want to say
to the most important people in your life
to the most important people in your life
293
897051
3831
15:12
before they or you die:
294
900882
3042
15:15
thank you, I love you,
295
903924
2531
15:18
forgive me, I forgive you.
296
906455
3227
15:21
They're just about the most powerful words
we can say to one another,
we can say to one another,
297
909682
3530
15:25
and often that's what happens
in a StoryCorps booth.
in a StoryCorps booth.
298
913212
3506
15:28
It's a chance to have a sense of closure
with someone you care about --
with someone you care about --
299
916718
3377
15:32
no regrets, nothing left unsaid.
300
920095
2822
15:34
And it's hard and it takes courage,
301
922917
3437
15:38
but that's why we're alive, right?
302
926354
3225
15:43
So, the TED Prize.
303
931299
2503
15:45
When I first heard from TED
and Chris a few months ago
and Chris a few months ago
304
933802
2977
15:48
about the possibility of the Prize,
I was completely floored.
I was completely floored.
305
936779
3836
15:52
They asked me to come up
with a very brief wish for humanity,
with a very brief wish for humanity,
306
940615
3571
15:56
no more than 50 words.
307
944186
1764
15:57
So I thought about it,
I wrote my 50 words,
I wrote my 50 words,
308
945950
2744
16:00
and a few weeks later,
Chris called and said, "Go for it."
Chris called and said, "Go for it."
309
948694
4687
16:05
So here is my wish:
310
953381
2948
16:08
that you will help us
311
956329
2949
16:11
take everything we've learned
through StoryCorps
through StoryCorps
312
959278
2740
16:14
and bring it to the world
313
962018
2763
16:16
so that anyone anywhere
can easily record a meaningful interview
can easily record a meaningful interview
314
964781
4017
16:20
with another human being
which will then be archived for history.
which will then be archived for history.
315
968798
4917
16:25
How are we going to do that? With this.
316
973715
4678
16:30
We're fast moving into a future
where everyone in the world
where everyone in the world
317
978393
3678
16:34
will have access to one of these,
318
982071
2043
16:36
and it has powers I never
could have imagined 11 years ago
could have imagined 11 years ago
319
984114
3831
16:39
when I started StoryCorps.
320
987945
1950
16:41
It has a microphone,
321
989895
1463
16:43
it can tell you how to do things,
322
991358
2311
16:45
and it can send audio files.
323
993669
2531
16:48
Those are the key ingredients.
324
996200
2322
16:50
So the first part of the wish
is already underway.
is already underway.
325
998522
3204
16:53
Over the past couple of months,
326
1001726
1579
16:55
the team at StoryCorps
has been working furiously
has been working furiously
327
1003305
2995
16:58
to create an app that will bring
StoryCorps out of our booths
StoryCorps out of our booths
328
1006300
3460
17:01
so that it can be experienced
by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
by anyone, anywhere, anytime.
329
1009760
5433
17:07
Remember, StoryCorps has always
been two people and a facilitator
been two people and a facilitator
330
1015193
3681
17:10
helping them record their conversation,
which is preserved forever,
which is preserved forever,
331
1018874
3965
17:14
but at this very moment,
332
1022839
2048
17:16
we're releasing a public beta version
of the StoryCorps app.
of the StoryCorps app.
333
1024887
3646
17:20
The app is a digital facilitator
that walks you through
that walks you through
334
1028533
3187
17:23
the StoryCorps interview process,
335
1031720
2385
17:26
helps you pick questions,
336
1034105
1672
17:27
and gives you all the tips you need
337
1035777
2090
17:29
to record a meaningful
StoryCorps interview,
StoryCorps interview,
338
1037867
2809
17:32
and then with one tap upload it
to our archive at the Library of Congress.
to our archive at the Library of Congress.
339
1040676
5521
17:38
That's the easy part, the technology.
340
1046197
3140
17:41
The real challenge is up to you:
341
1049337
2378
17:43
to take this tool and figure out
how we can use it
how we can use it
342
1051715
3198
17:46
all across America and around the world,
343
1054913
2965
17:49
so that instead of recording
thousands of StoryCorps interviews a year,
thousands of StoryCorps interviews a year,
344
1057878
3584
17:53
we could potentially record
tens of thousands
tens of thousands
345
1061462
2770
17:56
or hundreds of thousands
346
1064232
1956
17:58
or maybe even more.
347
1066188
1997
18:01
Imagine, for example,
a national homework assignment
a national homework assignment
348
1069355
3738
18:05
where every high school student
studying U.S. history across the country
studying U.S. history across the country
349
1073093
3994
18:09
records an interview
with an elder over Thanksgiving,
with an elder over Thanksgiving,
350
1077087
2902
18:11
so that in one single weekend
351
1079989
2903
18:14
an entire generation of American lives
and experiences are captured.
and experiences are captured.
352
1082892
5085
18:19
(Applause)
353
1087977
5535
18:27
Or imagine mothers on opposite
sides of a conflict somewhere in the world
sides of a conflict somewhere in the world
354
1095812
3542
18:31
sitting down not to talk
about that conflict
about that conflict
355
1099354
3622
18:34
but to find out who they are as people,
356
1102976
2197
18:37
and in doing so,
begin to build bonds of trust;
begin to build bonds of trust;
357
1105173
3955
18:41
or that someday it becomes
a tradition all over the world
a tradition all over the world
358
1109128
2886
18:44
that people are honored
with a StoryCorps interview
with a StoryCorps interview
359
1112014
2508
18:46
on their 75th birthday;
360
1114522
2243
18:48
or that people in your community
361
1116765
2276
18:51
go into retirement homes or hospitals
or homeless shelters or even prisons
or homeless shelters or even prisons
362
1119041
5154
18:56
armed with this app to honor the people
least heard in our society
least heard in our society
363
1124195
3530
18:59
and ask them who they are,
what they've learned in life,
what they've learned in life,
364
1127725
2986
19:02
and how they want to be remembered.
365
1130711
2461
19:05
(Applause)
366
1133172
5535
19:12
Ten years ago, I recorded
a StoryCorps interview with my dad
a StoryCorps interview with my dad
367
1140947
3277
19:16
who was a psychiatrist,
and became a well-known gay activist.
and became a well-known gay activist.
368
1144224
4795
19:21
This is the picture
of us at that interview.
of us at that interview.
369
1149019
3437
19:24
I never thought about that recording
until a couple of years ago,
until a couple of years ago,
370
1152456
3181
19:27
when my dad, who seemed
to be in perfect health
to be in perfect health
371
1155637
2995
19:30
and was still seeing patients
40 hours a week,
40 hours a week,
372
1158632
2601
19:33
was diagnosed with cancer.
373
1161233
2763
19:35
He passed away very suddenly
a few days later.
a few days later.
374
1163996
3390
19:39
It was June 28, 2012,
375
1167386
2275
19:41
the anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
376
1169661
4380
19:46
I listened to that interview
for the first time at three in the morning
for the first time at three in the morning
377
1174041
3357
19:49
on the day that he died.
378
1177398
1728
19:51
I have a couple of young kids at home,
379
1179126
1997
19:53
and I knew that the only way
they were going to get to know this person
they were going to get to know this person
380
1181123
3459
19:56
who was such a towering figure in my life
would be through that session.
would be through that session.
381
1184582
4846
20:01
I thought I couldn't believe in StoryCorps
any more deeply than I did,
any more deeply than I did,
382
1189428
3745
20:05
but it was at that moment
383
1193173
1788
20:06
that I fully and viscerally grasped
the importance of making these recordings.
the importance of making these recordings.
384
1194961
4859
20:11
Every day, people come up to me
385
1199820
2093
20:13
and say, "I wish I had interviewed
my father or my grandmother or my brother,
my father or my grandmother or my brother,
386
1201913
4161
20:18
but I waited too long."
387
1206074
2268
20:20
Now, no one has to wait anymore.
388
1208342
2136
20:22
At this moment,
389
1210478
1680
20:24
when so much of how we communicate
is fleeting and inconsequential,
is fleeting and inconsequential,
390
1212158
3542
20:27
join us in creating this digital archive
391
1215700
2497
20:30
of conversations that are
enduring and important.
enduring and important.
392
1218197
4317
20:34
Help us create this gift to our children,
393
1222514
2830
20:37
this testament to who
we are as human beings.
we are as human beings.
394
1225344
3998
20:41
I hope you'll help us make
this wish come true.
this wish come true.
395
1229342
3926
20:45
Interview a family member, a friend
or even a stranger.
or even a stranger.
396
1233268
4511
20:49
Together, we can create an archive
of the wisdom of humanity,
of the wisdom of humanity,
397
1237779
6290
20:56
and maybe in doing so,
398
1244069
1634
20:57
we'll learn to listen a little more
and shout a little less.
and shout a little less.
399
1245703
3962
21:01
Maybe these conversations will remind us
what's really important.
what's really important.
400
1249665
4528
21:06
And maybe, just maybe,
401
1254193
2763
21:08
it will help us recognize
that simple truth
that simple truth
402
1256956
2786
21:11
that every life, every single life,
403
1259742
3947
21:15
matters equally and infinitely.
404
1263689
2935
21:18
Thank you very much.
405
1266624
2131
21:20
(Applause)
406
1268755
2150
21:22
Thank you. Thank you.
407
1270905
4208
21:27
(Applause)
408
1275113
2276
21:29
Thank you.
409
1277389
2182
21:31
(Applause)
410
1279571
5364
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Dave Isay - Story collectorOver thousands of archived and broadcast interviews, StoryCorps founder Dave Isay -- winner of the 2015 TED Prize -- has created an unprecedented document of the dreams and fears that touch us all.
Why you should listen
From the first interview he recorded, 2015 TED Prize winner and MacArthur Fellow Dave Isay knew he’d found his calling: preserving the stories of everyday Americans. Since then, Isay has amassed hundreds of thousands of recordings, most of previously unheard or ignored voices, all speaking in their own words. The archives of StoryCorps -- which Isay founded in 2003 -- are included at the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center, and now constitute the largest single collection of recorded voices in history.
StoryCorps invites friends, loved ones and strangers to conduct 40-minute interviews at intimate recording booths in Atlanta, Chicago, San Francisco, and (until 2011) New York, as well as in mobile studios nationwide. Offering moving and surprising glimpses into the hearts of often marginalized and forgotten subjects, the interviews are a familiar feature of NPR’s Morning Edition and Storycorps.org.
At TED2015, Isay shared an audacious wish for StoryCorps: to open up the format from its signature booths with a StoryCorps app that allows anyone to add to this "digital archive of the collective wisdom of humanity." The vision: to broaden this idea, and begin to take it global.
Dave Isay | Speaker | TED.com