Category: Podcasts

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/

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

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 :

• ⁠Center for Public Service at Gettysburg College⁠
• ⁠Painted Turtle Farm⁠
• ⁠C-PTSD

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 

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

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

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.

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
• Burning Purple by Mr Smith

In this episode of Tell Us A Story, Erica Duffy, Development Director for the Adams County Library System, shares a deeply personal journey through being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and then living with that diagnosis. She reflects forward and backward in her life story to see not only the challenges, but the positive changes she has been able to make for herself and others. This is a story of struggle, challenge, determination, hope, and strength, but it is not an easy story.

Please note the topic of suicide is discussed in this episode. If you or someone you know is in a mental health crisis, call or text 988, or you can chat at: https://988lifeline.org/

Additional crisis/non-crisis resources include:

• PA Crisis Intervention Hotline is 717-851-5320 and 717-632-4900
• Collaborating for Youth (Gettysburg, PA area)
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

To hear more about the work Erica does at the Adams County Library listen to this podcast over at the Gettysburg Connection.

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
• Irrational-Rain by Koi-discovery

In this episode of Tell Us A Story, The Rev. Doctor Nelson Strobert, Professor Emeritus at United Lutheran Seminary and Francophile, shares his love of France and the French Language. He explores what drew him, as well as many other African Americans throughout history, to France. For Nelson there were personal as well as historical aspects to his love of the country and its people. He shares the deep relationships with the language, the people, and the place that grew out of his experiences living and traveling in the country.

(Photo: Nelson at Erquy in Brittany France)

Listen Now

Read a related article in the Philadelphia Inquirer (may be pay-walled).

Music and SFX Credits

• Show open and closing: Evil-flowers by Koi-discovery
• French Folk Dance:
• Bell from Int Chateau:
• Sad Sorrowful Piano:

(Photo: Nelson’s friend Henri in the garden)

In this the first episode of Tell Us A Story Athar Rafiq, Assistant Professor at Mount St. Mary’s University, chronicles his families’ journey as immigrants coming to the United States. We hear what the real costs are that are borne by those who immigrate from one country to another whether by choice or as refugees. History and family are left behind. There are sights, sounds, and smells that one may never experience again in the same way. Athar also describes the challenge that change presents when trying to revisit home, making it difficult to return home, even when that is an option.

Listen Now

If you are unfamiliar with the history of the partition that occurred after India achieved independence, you may want to read this article for added context into Athar’s story.

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
• Pakistani Music: Air Tune Copyright Free Music
• Diesel Bus
• Diner Sounds:
• Call To Prayer:
• Pakistan Ambience:
• Barefoot Running:

Welcome to Tell Us A Story, the podcast dedicated to the stories that connect us through our shared life experiences, as well as the stories that reveal the sometimes stark differences. Only by truly listening to one another can we bridge the gaps that divide us fostering empathy, respect, and kindness with one another.

In this brief introduction we are announcing this new podcast that strives to give the listener a chance to hear other’s stories. Sometime those stories may ring true and reflect your own lived experience.  This may offer a chance to understand that your experience is not unique and that there are others out there that have the same experiences.

At other times these stories may show you a side of life that you have never experienced. Giving a look into another’s life and hearing what they have experienced in their lives.

These stories may be formative experiences that changed a person’s life trajectory or the run of the mill day to day experiences that we all have, but maybe never share with one another.

We intend to bring you all kinds of voices from a variety of perspectives. While we will broach challenging topics, our intention is not to promote a point of view but instead to help build bridges between points of view. To learn where we are the same, where we are different and where our paths may surprisingly cross with one another in unexpected ways.

If you don’t want to miss the first full episode you can subscribe to this podcast in your favorite podcasting app.

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