<figure><figcaption> Untold Stories. A WJCT Public Media and Florida Threatre Production.(Morgan Gesell, Rain Henderson)</figcaption></figure>

In this poignant episode of "Untold Stories," recorded live at the Florida Theatre on May 6, 2022, we explore diverse narratives bound by themes of discovery, resilience, and transformation. The episode "There and Back Again, Part 2" presents three unique stories, each offering a window into the profound journeys of its storytellers.

Barbara Colaciello of BAB'S LAB meticulously curates stories, coaches the storytellers, and skillfully hosts and serves as master of ceremonies for the live events for each 'Untold Stories' episode.

Yhang Quintero, originally from Venezuela and now a Jacksonville entrepreneur, shares his harrowing yet inspiring journey through cancer. At just 19, Yhang faced a life-altering diagnosis that propelled him into a world of uncertainty and treatment. He narrates his experience with a blend of humor and depth, reflecting on his youthful days in Caracas, the vibrant cultural scene, and the drastic shift his life took post-diagnosis. Yhang's story culminates in his creation of Wildcrafters in Jacksonville, a non-alcoholic bar symbolizing his journey back home and his passion for community and wellness.

Hope McMath, a cultural leader and Jacksonville native, delves into her transformative experience on a trip to Montgomery, Alabama. She recounts the profound impact of visiting sites dedicated to the victims of racial terror lynching and the history of American slavery and mass incarceration. This journey leads Hope to a moment of introspection on a stalled bus in southern Alabama, where she confronts her family history, grappling with the revelation of her ancestors' involvement in slavery. Her narrative is a powerful testament to the importance of facing uncomfortable truths for personal and communal healing.

Matt Colaciello's story takes us on a global journey from Jacksonville to Mali, India, and Indonesia. Growing up in Jacksonville, Matt navigated challenges related to identity and belonging, which propelled him into a life of exploration and self-discovery. His travels and experiences abroad, including harrowing moments and enlightening interactions, shaped his perspective on life, leading to a deeper understanding of his purpose and place in the world. Matt's narrative is a compelling tale of personal evolution and the quest for meaning beyond one's immediate environment.

Together, these stories form an intricate tapestry of life experiences, showcasing the resilience of the human spirit and the unending quest for self-discovery and connection. Tune in to this episode of "Untold Stories" for an evening of emotional depth, laughter, and inspiration, revealing the power of storytelling in understanding our world and ourselves.

Content warning: This episode of "Untold Stories" contains a historical recount that includes the use of the word "faggot." This term is referenced in a personal story to authentically convey the experiences and challenges faced by the storyteller. We understand this term is offensive and hurtful. It is not used to promote discrimination or harm but rather to provide a truthful depiction of the individual's journey and the societal challenges they overcame. Listener discretion is advised.

Transcript

Please note that the following transcript has been generated by automated technology. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, there may be errors, inconsistencies, or deviations from the original audio. We encourage listeners to refer to the actual podcast episode for complete and accurate content. This transcript is provided for convenience and may not fully capture the nuances of the spoken word.

David Luckin:
Welcome to Untold Stories, a production of the Florida Theatre and WJCT Public Media.
Tonight's program was recorded May 6, 2022.
The theme, there and back again.

Barbara Colaciello:
Yhang Quintero

Yhang Quintero:
[applause]
Thank you
[applause]
Woo!
[applause]
It's Tuesday morning, and I wake up like every day, go to the bathroom.
[laughter]
I look down, and I notice something was different today.
My left testicle is a lot larger than the other one.
It doesn't hurt, it's kind of hard.
But I, you know, I went on with my day.
Didn't make up much of it.
Couple of days later, I talk to my mom, and we go see Hwanchu.
Hwanchu is a family friend that happens to be a neurologist.
Who knew they were both doctors?
[laughter]
I didn't.
Hwanchu checks me out, and immediately he gives me a diagnosis.
He says, "Yhang, you have a tumor.
We don't know what it is, but you have a tumor."
And he right away scheduled a surgery for the same night to remove that testicle.
Couple more days, mom and I go back to see Hwanchu to talk about the biopsy,
and surprisingly he tells me, it's cancer.
Here I am, I'm 19 years old, ready to eat up the world.
Having a great time in life, and what?
Now I have to put my life in pause and, you know, dive into this amazing, fun time,
which is cancer treatment.
Everything went so fast that I didn't even have time to get scared.
In fact, I felt that I needed to keep my family spirit up.
Everyone in my family, you know, when they hear the C word,
they kind of got in a little bit of a panic mode.
So, yeah, it was on me to, you know, make fun of everything.
And I really was having fun throughout my whole process.
It was a little scary, but even though it was scary,
it brought a lot of things into perspective for me.
You know, I realized then that the life that I had just started
a couple years prior to that was so awesome.
And now I have to adjust to it.
Think about a lot of sunshine,
greenity everywhere, fun, diverse, culture.
That was Caracas, Venezuela in 1994.
I'm 17 years old, long hair, pawnbroker.
I'm having a great time.
I scored a fake ID from a neighbor, and with that,
I landed a job at the coolest venue in the city.
Brooklyn Bar was a little bar, little eclectic,
loud, dark, smoky venue where you could go see
the best underground bands and any really act in Caracas.
There were some time international acts too.
Brooklyn Bar was actually known as the CVGV of South America.
Who of you remembers CVGV?
It was badass, right? I worked there.
So here I am in 17, I'm hot.
I'm having a lot of fun.
I spent a lot of nights in Brooklyn Bar surrounded by musicians,
photographers, dancers, poets,
all kinds of amazing artists, and we together had a community.
We loved to do things together. We hung out together.
We worked together. We loved to make cool #### happen.
That was our thing.
You know, after a while,
I started looking around my life and I realized I had a really cool life.
My life was full but simple. I lived with my grandparents at the time.
Mom Carolina, or grandma Carolina was my mom.
She loved plants. My house was full of plants everywhere.
It felt like we lived in the prime forest for a little bit.
She knew all about her plants. There was one thing that it seems like she never got.
It was how to water them. Because every side of it, you know,
every single side of it for years, I had to get up and water all her plants.
To the point that I started making up stories and leaving early,
6 in the morning, I'm out, so I didn't have to water the plants.
It was great though.
Carolina was a kindergarten teacher. She loved to paint and sing.
She really had this thing with nature.
Dad — Grandpa Marín — he was also a school teacher.
He was a man of faith, very, very involved in the community.
He was a healer. At the time, I didn't think much about this.
But every time anyone at the house got sick, he will go to the backyard,
get some herbs, and make us what he called "varao de monte."
Cool name, huh?
It was an herbal tea that he made with these plants and a little spices.
And every single time got the job done.
Somehow, he got us well.
Every time it tasted different, it was delicious.
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was so good.
And that was my life. I live a really good life.
A year and a half has passed since I started my cancer treatment.
And now I'm in remission.
Yeah.
[applause]
I'm back in school. I'm back at Brooklyn bar.
I'm thin, bold.
I'm feeling sexy.
My birthday is coming up.
And I decided to take a trip to visit some friends up in the mountains.
So I grabbed my backpack and I headed to the bus station.
I'm standing in line, long line to get a ticket.
And this beautiful chick walks right by me.
Obviously, it was the normal thing to do in this situation.
I left my place in line and went to the other counter,
where she just got her ticket.
I asked the guy behind the counter, where was this bus going to?
And immediately without hesitation, I buy a ticket.
To an 18-hour bus ride, to a remote little town in the middle of the Amazon,
called Puerto Ayacucho.
That's how much of a hot #### I was.
Now I'm really feeling good.
That was a bold move. She's so sexy.
I'm going to talk to her.
And so I did.
I go over here, just sit her in the bench.
I sit next to her.
I show my ticket, introduce myself, and I say, "You know what?
I got this ticket because of you."
And I tell