In conversation with KERA’s Krys Boyd
Promotional Partner: KERA
StoryCorps founder Dave Isay’s latest book, Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work, presents unforgettable stories from people doing what they love. Some are paid well for their work, others not at all; some found their paths at a very young age, others later in life; many overcame great odds or upturned their lives in order to pursue what matters to them. In Isay’s book, we meet a man from the barrios of Texas whose harrowing experiences in a family of migrant farmers inspired him to become a public defender. We meet a young man on the South Side of Chicago who became a teacher in order to help at-risk teenagers, like the ones who killed his father, get on the right track. We meet a woman who volunteers to help former inmates gain the skills and confidence they need to rejoin the workforce. Together these stories demonstrate how work can be about much more than just making a living. An essential contribution to the beloved StoryCorps collection, Callings is an inspiring tribute to rewarding work and the American pursuit of happiness.
Dave Isay is the recipient of six Peabody Awards, a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the 2015 TED Prize. He is the author-editor of numerous books that grew out of his public radio documentary work, including four StoryCorps books that are all New York Times bestsellers.