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THE STORY with Dick Gordon

Dick Gordon, host of The Story Find out what more than 473,000 listeners already know: The Story does what public radio does best - tell stories.

Produced by North Carolina Public Radio™ - WUNC, and co-produced and distributed by American Public Media, The Story is a daily, one-hour program ideally suited to air during daytime hours. The host of the story is Dick Gordon, an experienced journalist and correspondent who draws out compelling, first-person accounts of people engaged in current news topics, and other areas of interest to the listener.

Faces of The Story II Our Approach

We are the only daily program on public radio that is regularly steering clear of commentators and analysts and seeking out fresh and diverse voices for long form interviews.

The Story introduces us to people whose experiences transform our understanding of what's happening in the world. These are the kind of authentic voices that make you want to listen to the radio.

Listen to our "demo reel":

Find out more about how to add The Story to your schedule

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Recent Programs

1938 Desoto Roadster

THE AUTO INDUSTRY: Joseph Pfeffer has been selling cars in News Jersey for 66 years. He has weathered wars and recessions and depressions, but he couldn’t survive the credit crunch of 2008. While the future of the Big Three automakers - Ford, GM and Chrysler - remains uncertain, many auto-related business have already failed. Car dealerships across the country have been going under in unprecedented numbers. Joseph Pfeffer closed the doors on his 66-year-old car dealership last month, after getting notice that the bank could no longer provide financing. (11/10/08)

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"I have more "driveway moments" with The Story than any other radio show. Thanks to everyone involved for showcasing these "regular" people and their stories"
- Debra
Los Angeles, California, 11/21/08

Janet Sumo

CHILD SOLDIERS: Rebel leaders in eastern Congo are adding thousands of new fighters to their ranks. Many of them are children, taken forcibly from their families and trained to kill. As a young teenager in Liberia's first civil war, Janet Sumo fled her home and began spending time with child soldiers. It was only recently that Janet was able to forgive. (12/8/08)

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"Your show, The Story, is fabulous! The crux and fascination is in the way you let your storytellers weave the tale. You make them real."
- Ann
Wheaton, IL, 10/29/08

Randy McNally

POLITICAL CORRUPTION: The recent arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on federal corruption charges has put a national spotlight on crooked politicians.The news took Randy McNally back in time. Randy wore a wiretap for years to help the FBI indict some of his colleagues in the state legislature. (12/15/08)

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"The Story has become my "must listen" program each day, supplanting "This American Life"."
- Hollister
Boones Mill, Virginia, 12/6/08

Kelly Fern
more photos >>

SOCIAL ISSUES: As we come close to the holidays, many of us begin to think about family. Kelly Fern was born in South Korea. Her parents gave her up for adoption. Last year Kelly received a letter that her birth family was alive and searching for her. A few weeks ago, she went to Korea to reunite with her birth parents. (11/25/08)

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Gerrin Hayes

EDUCATION: In some U.S. cities, as many as half of entering freshmen fail to graduate. Twenty-year-old Gerrin Hayes just dropped out of high school. Teacher Craig Zeno was a dropout himself, and is now trying to convince Gerrin to stay in school. (12/10/08)

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Even More Stories

THE MILITARY: Twin brothers from Maine have premiered their backyard invention this week - a new type of tank they've named "Ripsaw". Geoffrey and Mike Howe leveraged their science smarts into a million-dollar-plus defense contract. (12/3/08)
Read & hear the story>>>

BANKING LAYOFFS: Analysts say Bank of America could lay off as many as 30,000 employees in their merger with Merrill Lynch. Ned Zeiler studied finance at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, and was recruited by Bank of America before he'd even graduated. Now he's one of the tens of thousands of highly educated bankers out of work. (12/4/08) Read & hear more>>>

What They're Saying

"I'm impressed by the range and diversity of the guests and their stories…And, most importantly, the stories are truly compelling. I've also very much enjoyed the connections to stories in the news. What better background to the news stories could there be?"
-Jeff Hansen, Program Director, KXOT, Seattle

Already on 73 stations, The Story has earned a weekly cume of more than 473,000 and an AQH of more than 116,000. One of the latest stations to add The Story - at 2 p.m. weekdays - is KXOT in Seattle.

"The Story's cume is up 27% over last year and AQH is up 36%. The Story has become one of our brightest stars. We get a regular stream of comments about driveway moments with this show."
- Jason Klein, Director of Radio and Television, Mississippi Public Broadcasting

Listener Comments

"I enjoy Fresh Air very much, but the people who are on that show seem to be the people who are already in the media anyway--performers, writers, politicians, etc. This seems to be true for many NPR interview type shows (Diane Rehm, On Point, etc).

Of course these people are tremendously interesting, but what I really enjoy about "The Story" is that it is so often about "average" people who have extraordinary experiences. The people on your show seem like they could be my next door neighbor. I find it so interesting to hear about their lives, and especially how their experiences give us a different perspective on the things that we're already hearing about in the news.

I find that many times listening to your show makes me see how "global" situations are played out in the lives of ordinary people--and that authenticity and proximity is truly refreshing and unique."
- No name given

"The story about the two women learning to read finally actuated me to write the letter I am always composing in my head when I listen to your program, which is probably about once a week (I listen on VPR in Vermont). The one thing I always want to say and now finally will is that I appreciate that your show lets me hear voices I would never otherwise hear on the radio. Or anywhere, truthfully.

Keep it up."
-Meredith Tips-McLaine
submitted by email

"I don't have a story, I just wanted to tell you how much I love your program. I've been a devoted NPR listener for over 10 years and this is my favorite program. I get to listen to you every day when I'm driving to pick up my kids from school. When the school year started again I was so happy to get back to listening to you on a regular basis, something that I found difficult this summer. I wondered often what good stories I was missing. I've retold the stories over and over.

A couple of my favorites are the people who lived in the mall and the man with "PPD" who got the special treatment on his flight. I've learned a lot, laughed a lot and cried a lot. Thank you and all the storytellers for making my life more enjoyable."
- Lynn
Bartlett, Illinois, 10/25/08

"Hello Mr. Gordon and all of the wonderful people at The Story,

I am compelled to tell you that The Story is my favorite program. I have been listening to Public Radio since college (about 13 years now) and your program is my all-time favorite!

I just feel so good, sad, excited, touched, sensitive, emotional, worried, uplifted, educated, opened... well you get the idea! I feel so much when I listen to your program and I wish I could hear hours of it!

Thank you for having a show that focuses on people- individual and collective- and real, down-to-earth experiences.
Thank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank you!!!!"
- Katie
Vermont, 6/4/08

"Mr. Gordon - very new to your show via podcast -the best one I have heard in my short 10 years listening to public radio. All I can say is "where have you been?" Thank you for making my day so informative and compelling with your guests. Today's story from Kelly Hicks reminds me of… "
- Paul
Castro Valley, California, 12/11/08