Bessa's Story: Recent Episodes
Kristen Hendrickson
Hear stories from my grandmother, Bessa. Bessa shares about her childhood in Norway and what happened during World War II, in her own home and yard. She shared funny stories about her first jobs, and then her immigration to the United States, and how she built her life.
Bessa's Story podcast creator Kristen and sound engineer Kalyn sit together for a conversation about making this podcast. Here's what they discuss:
- Why Bessa’s Story was created (1 min-2:27)
- Editing challenges & sharing personal details (2:28-8:51)
- Working with less-than-perfect audio (8:52-12:39)
- Podcasting skills & how transcripts can help (12:40-15:31)
- Efficiency & time management (15:32-23:53
- Lessons from Bessa’s life (23:53-31:27)
- Hearing Bessa’s voice again (31:27-33:37)
- Favorite episodes (33:37-36:51)
- Collaborating (36:52-41:28)
- Staying motivated to complete a project (41:28-45:16)
Music Credits
Won’t You Stay (Instrumental Version) - The Eastern Plain / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene reflects on her life and shares what her daily routine looked like at the age of 80. Music Credits Gabriel Lewis / Morning Rains / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Luchs / Now It’s Over. Now I’m Awake / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Francis Wells / As a Gift / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bireli Snow / Heart Matters / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Emanuel Wilde / Rejoice/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Isabelle Walton / A Log on the Fire/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Megan Wofford / Night Skies/ courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Kalyn Pedde / Kjerringa Med Staven / courtesy of artist
Irene remembers moments soon before and after Joe's unexpected death.
- Music Credits *
Bireli Snow / Heart Matters / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Christian Anderson / Waltz for My Grandfather / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Francis Wells / Give My Love Back / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
CLNGR / Some Time / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene and Joe move away from New York, and build a new home in North Carolina.
- Music Credits *
Gavin Luke / Prairie Song / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Frank Jonsson / Things That Matter / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Dez Moran / Say It Without Words / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Christian Andersen / Lost in Reminiscence / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Eric Feinberg / Sing With Me / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Emanuel Wilde / Golden Touch / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene grieves the loss of her daughter Inger.
Music Credits
Damon Greene / Dreams of a Life
JOYSPRING / Take Heart
Magnus Ringblom / The Remains of Hope
Victor Lindberg / Showed Me How to Heal
The story of when Irene and Joe bought Magnotti's restaurant on Staten Island and turned it into a thriving business.
Music Credits
Sunfish Grove / Common Walls / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Rippled Stone / Mind Over Matter / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
OTE / Sea Lion / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Trabant 33 / Heart of Sicily / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
More Than Family / Feels Like Yesterday / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Roots and Recognition / The Limelight / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Peter Sandberg / Synesthesia / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Trabant 33 / Al Fresco / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Silver Maple / Blissful Awakening / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Mindme / Love a Little Harder / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene’s special hairdo attracts the attention of a queen; and a hint of what’s to come next for Irene. ~ Visit bessastory.com to see a picture of Irene's hair ~
Music Credits
LUCHS / Red Gold Yesterday / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Arthur Benson / Figured Out / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Gavin Luke / Affinity / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Trabant 33 / No Lack of Refinement / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Trabant 33 / Mein Altes Auto / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene meets Joe; she becomes a US citizen; Irene has new work experiences with Joe.
Music Credits
Dez Moran / Sunken Curse / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Dez Moran / August Events / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Gavin Luke / Fugacious / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Dez Moran / Leotard Haul / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Roy Williams / One Ride / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Tough times for Irene and Torfinn in their marriage. * Music Credits *
Peter Crosby / Heart of Creation
Silver Maple / After the Rain
Silver Maple / Where there used be trees
Northside / Cambridge Avenue
Northside / Second Wind
Irenes decides to learn how to drive, and she begins selling Stanley Home Products
Music Credits
Mike Franklyn / A Sunny Stroll / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Airae / To Clarity / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Eric Feinberg / Never Too Long / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Airae /Little Notions / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Mike Franklyn/ Summer in the Sixties / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Candelion / Silent Way / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Irene shares her experience with giving birth. This took place in the 1950’s - and, as you will find out, giving birth back then was not the same as it is today.
Music Credits
Johannes Bornlöf / A Sky Sparkling
Wendy Marcini / It’s Your Smile
Magnus Ringblom / Forgotten Tears
John Runefelt / Can I Hold You Again
Vendla / Sonrisa
Victor Lundberg / Time For Bed
Irene’s friend Borgny shares about the one time that living and crawling crabs escaped from the two friends…in a place where crabs did NOT belong.
Music Credits
Another Day of Sun / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Martin Landström / Zoo Zoo / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Alexandria / Ebb & Flod / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Episode 12: Wedding Bells
Irene talks about love, as well as some heartache.
Music Credits
Lukas Amil / You See My Soul / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Ruin Zhao / Azure Eyes / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Howard Harper-Barnes / The Gift of Giving / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Wendy Marcini / The Busted Swing / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Cora Zea / Running Like the Sunrise / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Wendy Marcini, Elvin Vanguard / The Orange Tree / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bjorg settles into life in Brooklyn - and starts to go by her middle name, Irene. Irene gets a job in the chewing gum factory.
- Music Credits *
PÄR / My Swing Ding-Didely-Dey / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Roy Edwin Williams / South Side Five / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sixteen Wheelers / Long Gone Sweetie / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
The Fly Guy Five / Strolling in Vienna / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Roy Edwin Williams / Sea Dance / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bjorg's ten-day trip as she immigrates to America, complete with seasickness, dancing, and her first birthday party at the age of eighteen.
Music Credits
Johannes Bornlof / Pirates and Princesses
Martin Carlberg / My Fair Country
Benjamin Rice / The Subtle Ones
Benjamin Rice / Treasure Trove
Indigo Days / The Sentimentality
Helmut Schenker / Happy Birthday
Lama House / A New Constellation
A couple of cozy memories from winters in Norway, including one memory of Christmas
- Music Credits *
Sandra Marteleur / Våryra / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sandra Marteleur / Över Vidderna / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Julyan Brynn / Silent Night (Guitar Version) /courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bjorg doesn't know how babies come into the world; an unexpected encounter with her boss; and a motorcycle trip with her boyfriend
- Music Credits *
Wendy Marcini, Elvin Vanguard / Lost in Translation / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Wendy Marcini, Elvin Vanguard / Broken Conversations / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sugoi / Late Night Friends / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
These Old Bones / Old Country Serenade / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bjorg shares about her first kiss. She finishes cooking school, and is hired to cook and clean for a man and his mother who live in another town.
- Music Credits *
Spectacles Wallet and Watch / A Mouse in the House / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
The Eastern Plain / Take Me Closer To You / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Circles Nouvelles / As Vast As the Ocean / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Lama House / Fading Star / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
The Eastern Plain / Nostalgique / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
What life was like after the war was over; Bjorg sees bananas for the first time and “a real soap.” Then, Bjorg finishes school in Drange and heads to cooking school.
What life was like after the war was over; Bjorg sees bananas for the first time and “a real soap.” Then, Bjorg finishes school in Drange and heads to cooking school.
- Music Credits *
Bonn Fields / Cordierite / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Amaranth Cove / When We Were Friends / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Luella Green / The Forgotten Memories / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Plain Stroll / Come Out and Play / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Won’t You Stay (Instrumental Version) - The Eastern Plain / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bjorg and her friend Borgny make candy - and some sweet, happy changes take place in Bjorg's family.
- Music Credits *
Arthur Benson / Have you Tried the Key / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Josef Falkensköld / Crayons / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
The Fly Guy Five / Meet Me at Montmartre / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Josef Falkensköld / Two Hands / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
When Bjorg and her friends spot a British torpedo coming into Drange, they spring into action.
- Music Credits *
American Legion / Headed to the Hillside / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Phoenix Tail / Dark Woods / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
King Peaks / Bury Your Secrets in Me / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
American Legion / Summer Knot / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
A prison camp is built in Bjorg's yard, and Bjorg gets into trouble over a turnip.
- Music Credits *
August Wilhelmsson / Isotopes / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Pollyanna Maxim / Dark Moment / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Sindrandi / Salty Sails / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
What life was like for Bjorg with the Nazis in her home and village, and the difficulties of war.
- Music Credits *
Freeform / Rannar Sillard / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Heavy Footed Walk / Franz Gordon / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Coal Miner’s Heartache / Peter Crosby / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
An introduction to Bessa's Story
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Music Credits
Kalyn Pedde / Kjerringa Med Staven / courtesy of artist
Carl Martin / Sweet Vera / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
We begin Bessa's Story in Drange, Norway in 1942.
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Music Credits
Why Is She Crying? / Luella Gren / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Butterfly Dreams / Colton Walls / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Outside Your Door / Well Then, Goodbye / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Last Night, Last Night, Last Night / Well Then, Goodbye / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com