Category: Podcasts (Page 1 of 2)

Finding My Life’s work in Agnes Tyrrell’s Compositions

August 6, 2025 / TUAS-2

In this episode Jocelyn Swigger, Professor of Music at Gettysburg College and concert pianist, shares how the discovery of the composer Agnes Tyrrell led her to finding her life’s work in her 50’s. Her story reminds us to always be prepared for new opportunities in life.

Jocelyn’s website: https://jocelynswigger.com/

TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJouIL6uaoc

The premiere of the etudes is Saturday September 13 at 7pm in Paul Recital Hall on the second floor of Schmucker Hall, on the Gettysburg College campus. Admission is free. https://cglink.me/2fU/r2274992

For more information about Agnes Tyrrell start here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnes_Tyrrell

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Transition music: ©Jocelyn Swigger
Agnes Tryell photo: Agnes Tyrrell: By Jitka Bajgarová – Jitka Bajgarová, Hudební spolky v Brně a jejich role při utváření „hudebního obrazu“ města 1860–1918, Brno 2005, s. 152, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19544350

Growing Up in the Segregated South

July 15, 2025 / TUAS-2

In this episode Dr. Bettye Baker shares her experiences growing up in Louisville, Kentucky during segregation. Bettye has been dedicated to promoting racial equality from a young age and shares her experiences of growing up in Louisville and her thoughts for the future.

Read the Time Magazine article Bettye references at: https://time.com/archive/6616992/kentucky-sweet-land-of-liberty/

While not part of our story today, you may be interested in the book written by Bettye’s late husband Lt. Col. (Ret) William Baker called “The Brownsville Redemption” about “Theodore Roosevelt’s wrongful disgrace of the all-black infantry in Brownsville, Texas in 1906.”

https://www.vulpine-press.com/the-brownsville-redemption

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Untamed Fall https://www.tunepocket.com/royalty-free-music/untamed-fall/

Sharing Your Soup and Other Lessons of a Lifetime

May 28, 2025 / TUAS-2

In this episode Liliana Arias shares the joys and challenges of growing up in Columbia during the Columbian Internal Armed Conflict and how those experiences guided her after she met and married her husband, a Peace Corp volunteer, and moved to the United States. She also explores how she deals with prejudice and discrimination in new ways as she seeks to create change by starting first within herself.

Liliana’s artwork is inspired by her time growing up in Columbia and her return visits to spend time with friends and family.

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery

Melodia Do Rio by Rudy Pusateri

Go With Your Heart

April 5, 2025 / TUAS-2

As we begin production of season two, we are presenting a bonus episode recorded in the summer of 2024. In this episode, the Mayor of Gettysburg Pennsylvania, Rita Frealing shares her multifaceted journey through life that ultimately led to her childhood dream of being mayor of Gettysburg coming true.

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Other Music: Romantic Positive Piano TunePocket

Life in Mongolia: My Journey in Peace Corps

March 12, 2024 / TUAS-2

When one hears about someone entering the Peace Corp it is often assumed that it is a young adult, probably just out of college. Darcy Maier had dreamed of being in the Peace Corp from an early age, shortly after its founding. But for Darcy the experience did not happen in her 20’s but instead in her 60’s. Darcy shares her story of how this program is changing her and what it means to her as she is still actively participating in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.

To learn more about her adventure please read her blog: https://mongolianyarns.wordpress.com/

If you would like to learn more about the Peace Corp visit their site: https://www.peacecorps.gov/

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Mongolian Throat Singing Chants https://www.tunepocket.com/royalty-free-music/mongolian-throat-singing-chants/
Mongolian intersection sounds https://freesound.org/people/tim.kahn/sounds/78560/ by Tim Kahn https://freesound.org/people/tim.kahn/

Skating on Thin Ice: A Woman’s Life in Academia

February 27, 2024 / TUAS-2

Jan Powers is Professor Emerita of Interdisciplinary Studies and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Gettysburg College. In this story Jan shares the challenges she faced being a female in academia. Jan began her career as a college professor in the late 1960’s. Archaic rules from the depression era as well as the cultural biases of the time only served as motivation for her to push the boundaries in her forty-nine-year career in higher education. Jan’s passion for teaching and strong determination are clear throughout her story.

After retirement she did not slow down. For glimpse of her on-going activities read this article in the Gettysburg Connection.

Books by Jan Powers

Blossoms on the Olive Tree: Israeli and Palestinian Women Working for Peace

Kites over the Mango Tree: Restoring Harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Gujarat

Circles on the Mountain: Bosnian Women in the Twenty-First Century

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery

Haratanaya Sree by Veena Kinhal

Growing Up as an Undocumented Immigrant

February 13, 2024 / TUAS-2

At age three Ivana Lopez Espinosa and her family entered the country as undocumented immigrants. In this story she chronicles some of her experiences, both uplifting and heartbreaking, that she encountered along the way. Some people placed roadblocks and discouragement in her path. Other people were her advocates and supporters that guided and encouraged her along the way. To date she has successfully earned her master’s degree at age 21 and is dedicated to being an advocate for others in the same situation she found herself in as a child.

Learn more about :

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Reya by Kosta T

If You Mess Up, Clean Up

January 30, 2024 / TUAS-2

Pastor David Roberts Sr., Pastor of Amos Tabernacle Church Of God In Christ outside Gettysburg, PA demonstrates through his story what it means to him to live a life of responsibility. His grandfather told him when he was young “If you mess up, clean up”. That has been one of his guiding principles as he cares for his family, his faith community, and the community at large. In January of 2024 Pastor Roberts received the Living the Dream Award from the YWCA of Gettysburg and Adams County and the United Way of Adams County.

For more information about Tell Us A Story visit our website at: https://tellusastory.info

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Upper Room by Flying Cloud is licensed under a Orphan Work License.
Blues_Gospel_Beat by HoliznaCC0

Grab Hold of Hope

January 16, 2024 / TUAS-2

Dr. Teresa Smallwood, the James Franklin Kelly and Hope Eyster Kelly Associate Professor of Public Theology at United Lutheran Seminary, shares the story of her life from growing up poor in rural North Carolina, to practice law and ultimately landing as a seminary professor.

Dr. Smallwood emphasizes the importance of hope, and the inspiration she received from her mother that has encouraged her every step of the way.

Read Dr. Smallwood’s biography for more information about her work and studies.

Music and SFX Credits

Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
Story-Crash by Koi-discovery

I Will Not be Silenced

January 2, 2024 / TUAS-2 / 0 Comments

In this episode the Reverend Terrence McCarthy shares his ongoing effort to face and adapt to the challenges present in the last eight years of his life after a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and a stroke. He shares why he personally no longer likes the word recovery and why he prefers to focus instead on the power of persistence and striving.

Read Terrence’s article in Living Lutheran titled Something New Emerges.