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“StoryCorps’ David Isay talks about listening” with Columbia J-Schoolers or how I feel either ashamed or inspired… Or both

Published on 28/08/08
by Collin

Last night, after hastily filing the Student Mentor Request form, I showed up five minutes late to David Isay’s lecture in the main lecture hall. It’s easy to blow off these late night (started at 6pm) lectures, should you wish, but as Isay’s lecture revealed, you are potentially missing a critical moment in preparing for a career in journalism. Once settled in the lecture hall, I quickly regretted missing the first few minutes of his talk. He is, quite simply, or in his words, “not an asshole”. Instead, he is one of those few humans whose work seems to raise the waters of humanity, saving and raising the boats of the rest of us. Isay is a radio producer and a story teller extraordinaire. He founded Story Corp and is rightfully out there selling his book, “Listening Is an Act of Love”.

He answered questions and shared some incredible stories with us lowly Columbia J-School grad students. Eyes watered, notes were scribbled and we all left feeling a greater reverence for our profession. The links to some of the stories are below:

I highly recommend listening to them under the influence of alcohol or with tissue paper or both. Boats will rise

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