OUR CITY. OUR STORY.

Marian Fontana lost her husband, FDNY firefighter David Fontana, when he was killed on Sept. 11 – the anniversary date of their wedding. Fontana recounts meeting her husband and the early years of their relationship, her turn to activism after 9/11 and her work founding the support nonprofit September 11th Families’ Association.   Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY smallertide - https://bit.ly/2tKfddp

Overwhelmed with emotion like so many New Yorkers and Americans in the wake of the attacks on 9/11, Manju Shandler sought to ground herself through the process of making art. Manju reflects on how art helped her process the magnitude of loss, creating an individual painting for each of the  2,977 people killed that day. The piece – called “Gesture” – was once on display at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY Soft & Furious - https://bit.ly/2MSLMhD

From the streets of the Bronx to Hollywood, Chazz Palminteri reflects on his childhood and his rise in the film industry. Best known for his film and Broadway show “A Bronx Tale,” the actor, screenwriter and director learned about 9/11 while in Los Angeles.  With commercial airline operations shuttered, he drove cross country to get back his hometown.   Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE Monta at Odds - https://bit.ly/2Pg2l8P Black Ant - https://bit.ly/2Bf2dnh C.Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY

New York Public Radio president & CEO Laura Walker is a native New Yorker who grew up appreciating the art and culture of the city. She reflects on her decision to stay on-air on 9/11, the power of “call talk” and how 9/11 continues to be an important topic in the news.    Music for this episode provided by: Klausner Cass Duo - https://bit.ly/2MTcyqc Monta at Odds - https://bit.ly/2Pg2l8P Jahzzar - https://bit.ly/1jl2aG6

In 2001, artist Eric Fischl created a sculpture in response to the 9/11 attacks called, “Tumbling Woman.” The piece initially caused controversy when it was unveiled. Fischl talks about the New York art scene in the 1970s, the process of creating “Tumbling Woman,” and how it felt to see it on display for the first time at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum years after he first created the piece.   Music for this episode provided by: Apache Dropout - https://bit.ly/2Bf2dnh C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY

Andrea Bernstein takes you through her 9/11 story as a journalist running towards the towers to get the public the information it needed. She would later cover the long rebuilding process. She joined WNYC radio in 1996 and has covered government, politics, transportation and more. She is the Peabody Award-winning co-host of the Trump, Inc. Podcast and senior editor at WNYC.   Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE  C.Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY Daniel Birch - https://bit.ly/2MwwP7S Monta at Odds - https://bit.ly/2Pg2l8P

For more than four decades, anchor Chuck Scarborough broadcasted the news from NBC’s headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center.  He sits down with us and reveals his brother’s harrowing 9/11 story of survival and one of the most powerful news stories he covered about a young man named Welles Crowther, who died in the 2001 attacks. Music for this episode provided by: Black Ant - https://bit.ly/2Bf2dnh  C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY Kevin MacLeod - https://bit.ly/1d6CCp8 Small Colin - https://bit.ly/2vOa8mh Monta at Odds - https://bit.ly/2Pg2l8P Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE

In 2001, Patrick Hinds was still new to New York, excitedly pursuing a career as a freelance writer. He would later become an influential personality in the Broadway world, hosting and producing highly successful podcasts like “Theatre People” that explore the industry. Hinds speaks about his favorite New York City community, and the tumultuous journey of Broadway in the aftermath of 9/11.   Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE C.Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY Daniel Birch - https://bit.ly/2MwwP7S Podington Bear - https://bit.ly/1dSdGHn Broke For Free - https://bit.ly/1AqIcQe

Helaina Hovitz was 12 years old and starting her second year of middle school when 9/11 happened. Hovitz opens up about surviving the attacks, the fear and uncertainty she felt in the aftermath and how she relied on her writing to help her heal and cope with the trauma she experienced. Music for this episode provided by: Black Ant - https://bit.ly/2Bf2dnh C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY

Before Rosie Perez was an activist, actor, producer and director, she says she was just a Puerto Rican girl who grew up in Brooklyn. In this special interview, Perez talks about the excitement of New York dance clubs in the 80s and what led to her fateful meeting with director Spike Lee. She also takes you through her experience visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum. Please note the episode contains strong language. Music for this episode provided by: Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY Rimar - https://bit.ly/2MuJOqF Blue Dot Sessions - https://bit.ly/1Tf1ZKE

Our City. Our Story. returns for a second season with Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer, the man behind famed New York establishments such as the Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern. Meyer reflects on living in New York in the 1980s and keeping his restaurant Eleven Madison Park open on 9/11 to serve the community. Music for this episode provided by: John Lennon - https://amzn.to/2moJJGl Chris Zabriskie - https://bit.ly/1empkbE Hugo Droopy Contini - https://bit.ly/2OHuzbt C. Scott - https://bit.ly/2fsAqCY The Beatles - https://amzn.to/2MhJTPo

Katie Couric reported breaking news to millions of “Today Show” viewers as the terror attacks unfolded. Now 15 years later, the Yahoo global news anchor remembers that day, reflects on her life and her appreciation for normalcy.   

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Harold Buisson has witnessed the borough’s dramatic transformation. On September 11 he would find himself running for his life as the South Tower collapsed. He discusses “old New York” and how the city has changed since the attacks.

After the towers fell when he was a New York University student, Imam Khalid Latif became a leader in the local Muslim community. He reflects on growing up before and after 9/11, and addresses the challenges Muslims in America continue to face today.

New York 1 society reporter, lawyer, farmer and philanthropist George Whipple cares deeply about preserving the past. He's helping to safeguard areas in Putnam County, N.Y., where he commissioned a 9/11 memorial honoring the county's residents killed in the attacks. 

Advertising executive Jan Zislin came of age in the 1970s when the East Village music scene was booming. After the attack on her city, she felt compelled to help and would later face a hard decision of returning to where it all began. 

New York Times reporter David Dunlap has long documented the World Trade Center rebuilding as part of his Building Blocks column. He reflects on New Yorkers’ affection for the original WTC and how the new site fits into the fabric of the city.

9/11 survivor Marilyn Goldberg worked on the 72nd floor of the south tower. She recounts her escape, the 1965 blackout and growing up in Brooklyn in the 1950s.

Rudy Giuliani fought for New Yorkers by targeting the mob and cleaning up the streets in the 1980s and 1990s. But his most lasting image may be the leadership he demonstrated as the city’s mayor after terrorists attacked his city and country.

As a teenager, Hoboken native Roger Corrado watched the twin towers rise into the skyline. The former New York Board of Trade vice chair, who was based at the original World Trade Center 4 building, talks about restoring the global markets right after the attacks.

An adopted New Yorker for the seven seasons he pitched for the New York Mets, Bobby Parnell reveals his deep connection to the 9/11 first responder community. It runs in the family. He comes from a line of firefighters in Salisbury, S.C.  

Born and raised in Hoboken, N.J., Cristin Cricco-Powell is a reality television producer who was living in SoHo when a jetliner roared overhead the morning of the 2001 attacks. Cricco-Powell explains why she waited nearly 15 years to return to the World Trade Center site.

Robert De Niro, New York City born actor and producer, was at his Tribeca home watching with disbelief the day of the attacks. De Niro talks about the New York City he loves, and how the power of film was used to help revitalize his own community after 9/11.