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    Listen to the VPR Commentaries below, shared in the spirit of the National Day Of Listening.

    • Lange: Tales from My Father

      Lange: Tales from My Father

      November 30, 2010

      Last Friday, many people around the country participated in the Annual National Day of Listening - an event that reminded commentator Kerstin Lange of her father, and stories he used to tell.

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    • Guyon: The Butter Story

      Guyon: The Butter Story

      November 29, 2010

      The combination of Thanksgiving dinner and the National Day of Listening reminded writer and commentator Annie Lawrence Guyon of a family story that resonates for her - throughout the holidays.

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    • Craven: Importance Of Narrative

      Craven: Importance Of Narrative

      November 29, 2010

      Inspired by last Friday's National Day of Listening, commentator Jay Craven has been thinking about the importance of narrative in our national identity.

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    • National Day Of Listening 2010

      National Day Of Listening 2010

      November 26, 2010

      The National Day of Listening is a new national holiday started by StoryCorps in 2008. On the day after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks all Americans to take an hour to record an interview with a loved one, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes, such as computers, iPhones,

    • Schubart: Aunt Rose

      Schubart: Aunt Rose's Visit

      November 26, 2010

      To help get us into the spirit of the Annual National Day of Listening, commentator Bill Schubart has one of his favorite well-told tales - about the time his great Aunt Rose came to visit.

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    • Averyt: Home for the Holidays

      Averyt: Home for the Holidays

      November 25, 2010

      Tomorrow is the National Day of Listening and commentator Anne Averyt is thinking about new stories. In the old song, the horse knew the way to carry the sleigh home for the holidays - but in the 21st century, "home" is more elusive. 

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    • Greene: The Sleeper

      Greene: The Sleeper

      November 25, 2010

      Anticipating tomorrow's Annual National Day of Listening, commentator Stephanie Greene tells a favorite family story about a very big event in a very small town.

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    • Lange: Got Ice?

      Lange: Got Ice?

      November 24, 2010

      This Friday is the Annual National Day of Listening. As part of this effort, commentator Willem Lange tells a favorite story about an old-timer and a spectacular case of hero worship.

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    • Gilbert: Vt

      Gilbert: Vt's Great Turkey Drives

      November 24, 2010

      In anticipation of the Annual National Day of Listening this Friday, commentator and Vermont Humanities Council executive director Peter Gilbert retells a story that he thinks should not be forgotten - especially around Thanksgiving. 

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    • Homeyer: The Thanksgiving Story

      Homeyer: The Thanksgiving Story

      November 23, 2010

      In anticipation of the Annual National Day of Listening this Friday, commentator Henry Homeyer observes that our Thanksgiving dinner is based on a story - in which many details are probably not accurate.

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    • Blume: Arlo

      Blume: Arlo's Daughter

      November 23, 2010

      On the day after Thanksgiving, many people around the country participate in the Annual National Day of Listening. As part of this effort, commentator Kathryn Blume tells a family story in which a pop culture icon makes a potent appearance.

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    • Mares: General William Shepard

      Mares: General William Shepard

      November 22, 2010

      In the spirit of the Annual National Day of Listening, Bill Mares shares this VPR Commentary on General William Lyman Shepard.

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    • Henningsen: Importance Of Listening

      Henningsen: Importance Of Listening

      November 22, 2010

      As part of StoryCorps' Annual National Day of Listening, VPR commentator Vic Henningsen reflects on the importance of listening in our own lives.

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  • National Day Of Listening 2009

    • StoryCorps: National Day Of Listening

      StoryCorps: National Day Of Listening

      December 2, 2009

      All Thanksgiving week VPR Commentators shared their stories in the spirit of StoryCorps' National Day of Listening.  Listen to their stories and take time to record the personal stories that enrich your own life.

    • Lange: The Runaway Beer Wagon

      Lange: The Runaway Beer Wagon

      December 2, 2009

      Inspired by the recent National Day of Listening, commentator Willem Lange has the story of his great-grandmother and the run-away beer wagon.

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    • Livingston: The Story Of The Sword

      Livingston: The Story Of The Sword

      December 1, 2009

      The recent National Day of Listening reminded commentator Judy Livingston of the story her father used to tell about how he came to be presented with a magnificent Samurai sword.

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    • McCallum: The Perfect Tree

      McCallum: The Perfect Tree

      December 1, 2009

      Commentator Mary McCallum was inspired by the recent National Day of Listening, to retell one of her own family's favorite holiday stories.

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    • Nadworny: Grandpa And The World Series

      Nadworny: Grandpa And The World Series

      November 30, 2009

      Last Friday, people around the country participated in the second annual National Day of Listening. And that reminded commentator Rich Nadworny of a story about his grandfather's obsession with baseball.

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    • Martin: Dropping Off The Kids

      Martin: Dropping Off The Kids

      November 30, 2009

      Last Friday, many people around the country participated in the second annual National Day of Listening - an event that reminded commentator Mike Martin of a story often told by his wife's family in France.

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    • Mares: The Life-Changing Gamble

      Mares: The Life-Changing Gamble

      November 27, 2009

      As people around the country take part today in the second annual National Day of Listening, commentator Bill Mares tells a story his father told him about a gamble that paid off handsomely.

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    • Guyon: The Best First Impression

      Guyon: The Best First Impression

      November 27, 2009

      In the spirit of the National Day of Listening, commentator Annie Lawrence Guyon recalls a story often told during her family's Thanksgiving holidays - about the welcome they were given when they came to this country.

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    • McCallum: Carving The Turkey

      McCallum: Carving The Turkey

      November 26, 2009

      As many people around the country participate in the National Day of Listening, commentator Mary McCallum has a family story in which the phrase "carving the turkey" takes on an entirely new meaning.

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    • Schubart: When Elephants Grazed In Wolcott

      Schubart: When Elephants Grazed In Wolcott

      November 26, 2009

      Commentator Bill Schubart grew up in Morrisville and has written about Lamoille County. He remembers a story, often repeated in his childhood, about the time when elephants grazed in Wolcott.

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    • Seamans: The Real Turkey Campaign

      Seamans: The Real Turkey Campaign

      November 25, 2009

      As part of the National Day of Listening, commentator Bill Seamans has the story of the missile cruiser and the Campaign for Real Turkey.

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    • Doyle-Schechtman: Stuffing The Dates

      Doyle-Schechtman: Stuffing The Dates

      November 25, 2009

      As part of the National Day of Listening, commentator Deborah Doyle-Schechtman has the story of a Thanksgiving family tradition everybody loved to hate.

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    • Luskin: A Plumbing Catastrophe

      Luskin: A Plumbing Catastrophe

      November 24, 2009

      As part of the second annual National Day of Listening, commentator Deborah Luskin tells a favorite family story involving a Thanksgiving challenge and an outhouse.

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    • Freeman: Capturing Moseby

      Freeman: Capturing Moseby's Pants

      November 24, 2009

      As part of the National Day of Listening, commentator Castle Freeman has a favorite story from his own family that features a daring escape and a surprising souvenir.

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    • Moats: Lena And The Lightning

      Moats: Lena And The Lightning

      November 23, 2009

      As part of the National Day of Listening, commentator David Moats shares the oral history from his family in which a great aunt may - or may not - have been hit by lighting.

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    • Hunter: There

      Hunter: There's Many A Slip

      November 23, 2009

      As part of the National Day of Listening, commentator Edith Hunter tells us about how a family tradition was born when an old car died.

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