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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Couric Effect: Katie Couric

The Brooklynite: Harold Buisson

The Imam: Khalid Latif

Eyebrow Man: George Whipple