As 2025 draws to a close, Echoes in the First Person pauses to honor the voices that have joined us along the way. In this New Year’s special, Reflections and Horizons, we look back at listener reflections—words of gratitude, encouragement, and connection—and look forward to the stories waiting on the horizon in 2026.

This episode celebrates the journey of how Echoes began, the creative team that brought it to life, and the joy of saying “yes” to the unknown. Alongside heartfelt listener quotes from Los Angeles, London, Switzerland, Tanzania, Arizona, Hawaii, and beyond, we reflect on the impact of episodes that uncovered hidden histories—from Major Taylor’s speed against prejudice to Mary Anderson’s windshield wiper invention, from Nellie Bly’s fearless journalism to Susan La Flesche’s healing voice.

Looking ahead, we preview the figures whose stories will shape the year to come:

• The forgotten inventor whose creation changed everyday life.
• The silent rescuer who risked everything for others.
• The overlooked composer whose melodies once stirred nations.
• The judicial pioneer who reshaped the law but was left out of history.

Together, these reflections and horizons remind us that history is not only about the past—it is about the voices we carry forward.

🎧 Echoes New Year’s Special: Reflections and Horizons — a celebration of listener voices, hidden histories, and the stories yet to be told.

Credits:

Echoes in the First Person is a collective effort.

Deep thanks to Scott A. Jennings, our masterful sound mixer. Original composition by Ayla M. Charness, who shapes our sonic world as both sound designer and composer. Theme music by Soundside.

Produced by Michael Washington Brown, with care and intention.

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