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One Small Step: Charting Your Own Path

Dani Hayes
Clare Coonan and Scott Swain

When she was 20, Clare Coonan stepped away from her traditional family upbringing.  When he was 50, Scott Swain took a similar big step.  

This conversation was recording in Riverton, Utah. 

This conversation was recorded by Utah Public Radio in partnership with StoryCorps as a part of their One Small Step project. One Small Step programming is also made possible by AARP Utah, a non-partisan, social change organization with membership helping people 50 and over improve their lives by providing material, programs, and advocacy on key issues. More information is available at aarp.org.

Kirsten grew up listening to Utah Public Radio in Smithfield, Utah and now resides in Logan. She has three children and is currently producing Utah StoryCorps and working as the Saturday morning host on UPR. Kirsten graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's degree History in 2000 and dual minors in Horticulture and German. She enjoys doing voice work, reading, writing, drawing, teaching children, and dancing. Major credits include StoryCorps, Utah Works, One Small Step, and the APTRA award-winning documentary Ride the Rails.
Mary got hooked on oral histories while visiting Ellis Island and hearing the recorded voices of immigrants that had passed through. StoryCorps drew her to UPR. After she retired from teaching at Preston High, she walked into the station and said she wanted to help. Kerry put her to work taking the best 3 minutes out of the 30 minute interviews recorded in Vernal. Passion kicked in. Mary went on to collect more and more stories and return them to the community on UPR's radio waves. Major credits to date: Utah Works, One Small Step, and the award winning documentary Ride the Rails.