Michael Sargent is a Bates College psychology professor who teaches about, among other things, racism. He is also a storyteller appearing on the season five premiere of WORLD Channel’s award-winning series “Stories from the Stage.” The episode, “Changed Forever 9/11,” is about the impact of 9/11 on three people’s lives. It broadcasts and streams on Monday, Sept. 6. Submitted photo by Patricia Alvarado Nunez
As the nation prepares to observe the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, “Stories from the Stage,” the award-winning series from WORLD Channel, returns for its fifth season with a special: “Changed Forever 9/11.” Featuring three storytellers recounting true-life events related to the aftermath of September 11, the episode debuts at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 6, on WORLD Channel and worldchannel.org.
Hosted by Wes Hazard and Theresa Okokon, “Stories from the Stage” has amassed critical acclaim and fan devotion over the course of five seasons. Showcasing ordinary people sharing extraordinary stories with a unifying theme, the series spotlights diverse tellers who each share moments — from the everyday to the life-altering — that remind audiences of our shared humanity.
The season premiere, “Changed Forever 9/11,” offers three storytellers who reveal how 9/11 changed their lives and the world itself. Former award-winning newsman for The Washington Post and The Boston Globe David Filipov recounts how, weeks after losing his father during the 9/11 attacks, he found himself reporting from Afghanistan struggling to cope with his own loss and the devastation around him. As he bonds with the people he meets through shared grief, a Pop-Tart offers solace and a connection to childhood memories. For Bates College psychology professor Michael Sargent, a flight taken just days after the tragedy of 9/11 forces him to confront his own prejudices. Therapist Jude Treder-Wolff details how she reclaimed her own sense of hope and wonder following ten years of aiding 9/11 survivors, first responders and the bereaved.
“September 11 was a day that changed our nation and the entire world, a tragedy that, despite the horror, also helped unify our country with a sense of shared mourning and a determination to build a better future,” said Liz Cheng, general manager for GBH and WORLD Channel and co-executive producer of “Stories from the Stage.” “Now as the world is in the midst of another troubled time, we are grateful that our storytellers can help audiences pause to reflect on the day and show resilience despite the many challenges.”
Audiences can also experience “Changed Forever 9/11” in podcast format when it is released as part of “Stories from the Stage: The Podcast” on Wednesday, Sept. 8. Hosted by co-creators and co-executive producers Cheng and Patricia Alvarado Núñez, “Stories from the Stage: The Podcast” brings the great stories of the TV series to podcast listeners with updates on tellers, interviews and more. The podcast can be heard on the WORLD Channel website or your favorite podcast platform.
Viewers can check worldchannel.org for the season schedule and to watch earlier seasons of the series. They can also view full episodes, individual stories and digital content on WORLD’s social platforms on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and the PBS App.
WORLD shares public media in news, documentaries and programming. WORLD’s original series examine the issues and amplify the voices of those often ignored by mainstream media. The multicast 24/7 channel helps audiences understand conflicts, movements and cultures from around the globe. Its original work has won a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award, a National News and Documentary Emmy Award, two Webby Awards and many others honoring diversity of content and makers. Find out more at WORLDChannel.org.
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