We're opening windows and going places. This week we have stories of people who, for reasons that they can't always explain, feel compelled to get out and go somewhere. Including the story of one man who decides to take a trip from Philadelphia to San Francisco — by foot.
-
Download Control-click (or right-click) Tap and hold to download
- Transcript
Prologue
Andrew Forsthoefel sets out to do something that usually doesn't work as a radio story. After losing a job, he decided to try walking across America from his home in Philadelphia all the way to the Pacific. And he made it. 4,000 miles, talking to people he met along the way. (4 min)
The Slowest Distance Between Two Points
Andrew Forsthoefel's story continues. (30 min)
Andrew produced the radio story with Jay Allison. Thanks to Viki Merrick. An hour-long version of the story and photos from the trip are at Transom.org, a nonprofit website that explains how to record and produce your own stories.
Andrew story features interviews with the following people:
Bill Guy, Shady Grove, AL
Therese Jornlin, Chadds Ford, PA
Hacky Pitts, High Point, NC
Ollie Ware, Franklin, LA
Karie Fugett, Foley, AL
Emma Lou Dailey, Beatrice, AL
Otho Rogers, Melrose, NM
Chris and James Paisano, Fort Defiance, AZ
Mitch and Jen Reed, LA
Car Pool
Sierra Teller Ornelas tells a story about the time as a 10 year old she went on a very short, but memorable adventure in a car with the coolest girl she knew. Sierra's story was recorded live at the L.A. storytelling series Public School and aired on the CBC radio show WireTap with Jonathan Goldstein. (7 min)
Let's See How Fast This Baby Will Go
Gloria Harrison was pregnant and in labor when she decided that the thing she needed to do before heading to the hospital, was go to the Nissan dealership and buy a new car. (18 min)
Song:
Related
Act Three: Mystery Train
Act One: Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
Act Two: Where’s King Solomon When You Need Him?
Staff Recommendations
How I Got Into College
How a stolen library book got one man into his dream school and changed his life forever. Or at least that's the story he tells himself.
Harper High School - Part One
We spent five months at a high school in Chicago where in the last year 29 current and recent students were shot.