Chris and Andy take StoryCorps’ One Small Step

Chris and Andy take StoryCorps’ One Small Step

... and bond over a shared tragedy

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Andy Huffman

Bio: Andy Huffman is originally from West Virginia, and spent seven years teaching English in China.

He’s been married for 19 years, and has five children, including Eva, who died in 2015. He describes himself as a “deeply flawed but committed follower of Jesus Christ.”

Huffman said he’s been rethinking his political views, especially after Covid, Black Lives Matter and the 2020 election. “What do you do with all the passages in the Old Testament where it talks about the responsibility of God’s people to care for the poor?”

Huffman said the current state of politics has left him frustrated.

“At this point, I just don't think either political party is selling what I would like to buy,” Huffman said. “Quite frankly, I voted for myself for president the last few elections.”

Chris Mondello

Bio: Chris Mondello was born and raised in rural New York, and is a chemist by training.

He was married for 40 years to his wife, and they have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Mondello is now married to a Black gay man.

Previously, his wife’s miscarriage led to political discussions at home. After the miscarriage, all the pregnancies were high-risk and doctors would want to do an amniocentesis.

“We’re not gonna take that risk to harm the baby, because we would never consider an abortion,” Mondello said. “But to impose that view on somebody else, I don’t think is fair, because everybody doesn’t see things the same way. Other religions don’t see things the same way.”