2nd Story

In this week's story, teller Jeff Bakkensen shares the memory of one particularly strong friendship, and how the loss of that friend stayed with him as the world expected him to move on.

In this week's story, teller Liz Rice shares how, while abroad intending to study Spanish, she learned a great deal more in addition. [Teller's Note: At the 4:50 mark, Liz intended to state that her teachers speak fluent English, in addition to the expected Spanish.]

In this week's story, teller Geneva Norman shares a milestone moment in the early years as a medical provider and what she learned about caring for different communities.

In this week's story, whose title means "freedom" in Farsi, our teller recalls her first time wearing hijab when visiting family in Iran and how the meaning of hijab has evolved for her since then.

In this week's story, teller Jeanette Mrozinski shares the immediate aftermath of an assault, and how she found grace in the strangers who helped her.

In this week's story, our teller shares a moment of deep embarrassment in the most emblematic of high school gauntlets: gym class.

In this week's story, teller Karla Estela Rivera reflects on what she learned when a moment of personal triumph clashed with a shocking and unexpected tragedy.

In this week's story, teller Katie Hauser reflects on her relationship to sin in a distinctly nonreligious locale.

In this week's story, teller Tiffany Moten reflects on the ups and downs of being the thrill seeker in her family.

In this week's story, teller Yongwoo shares just a few of the moments of self-discovery he's had through his lifelong study of martial arts.

In this week's story, teller RJ Silva shares how the milestone moment of his 30th birthday revealed unexpected understandings of his family dynamic.

In this week's story, teller Ric Walker shares musings on punishment, policing, and parenthood.

In this week's story, teller Earliana McLaurin shares a series of moments that helped her find her place in the BLM movement.

In this week's story, we celebrate Halloween with a story about the truth of what lies beyond death from teller LeeAnn Trotter.

In this week's story, originally commissioned by the ACLU, teller Lynnette Li shares her unique approach to parenting and what it means to "be in charge."

In this week's story, teller Mona Bhuta shares how she's evolved to find strength in her physical scars.

In this week's story, teller Jess Kadish shares a moment of conflict between actively supporting a student's self-expression and giving him space in his own community and culture.

In this week's story, teller Rukmini Girish shares how she has wrangled just some of the many steps of coming out, both to her family and herself.

In this week's story, teller Alyssa Vera Ramos shares how certain cultural rituals have helped her find confidence and comfort in her identities.

In this week's story, teller Megan Stielstra shares how a few key moments with one former partner have formed an unexpected through-line in her life.

In this week's story, teller Erin Barlow shares a memorably messy meal she made while courting her future wife and in-laws.

In this week's story, 2nd Story Managing Director Lauren Sivak recalls a notable piece of literature in her education on romance and sex.

In this week's episode, teller Byron Flitsch shares how he realized the importance and power of unmasking himself in his classroom.

In this week's story, teller Abra Millman shares a few moments that exemplify the key role teachers have in their students' mental health and the toll that can take on the teacher as well.

In this week's story, teller Michelle Yang shares how she fought back against the harms of mental illness and unhealthy cultural norms.