Podcast with Sheila

24/09/2026

21/09/2026

When the Story Makes You Very Emotional

20/09/2026

Thank You God

19/09/2026

From Hollywood to Ground Zero: Solange Schwalbe’s Extraordinary Story

Solange Schwalbe spent more than three decades working in Hollywood as a Motion Picture Sound Editor, earning an Emmy Award and working on more than 175 film productions.

But following the September 11 attacks, her life took an unexpected turn.

She travelled to New York and volunteered with the Salvation Army. That act of service eventually led to her being hired as a safety monitor inside the Pit at Ground Zero.

For four months, Solange worked alongside firefighters, police officers and construction crews. She was also one of only four women among more than 1,500 responders working there.

In this episode, Solange shares what led her from Hollywood to Ground Zero, what her role involved, what she remembers about the people she worked alongside, and how the experience affected her long after she returned home.

In this episode:

* Solange’s journey into Hollywood and motion picture sound
* Why she travelled to New York following September 11
* How volunteering with the Salvation Army changed her path
* How she became a safety monitor inside the Pit
* What daily life was like working there
* Her experience as one of only four women among more than 1,500 responders
* The people and relationships she remembers
* How the experience changed her perspective on life
* Why some stories remain with us for decades

Thank you for joining us for another conversation on Podcast with Sheila.

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Stories.

HumanStories InspiringStories WorldTradeCenter

19/09/2026

What happens when an ordinary decision to volunteer leads you into one of the most extraordinary chapters of your life?

In this episode of Podcast with Sheila, I speak with Solange Schwalbe, an Emmy Award-winning Motion Picture Sound Editor whose Hollywood career spans more than three decades and includes more than 175 film credits.

Following the September 11 attacks, Solange travelled to New York and began volunteering with the Salvation Army. What started as an act of service unexpectedly led to her being hired as a safety monitor inside the Pit at Ground Zero.

She worked there for four months alongside firefighters, police officers and construction crews and was one of only four women among more than 1,500 responders.

In this conversation, Solange takes us through the unexpected journey that brought her from Hollywood into the Pit, what daily life was like there, the people she encountered, and the lessons she carried with her long after she left.

This is not simply a story about where she worked. It is a story about service, unexpected circumstances, courage, human connection and how one experience can change the direction of a person’s life.

Join us for another real conversation on Podcast with Sheila.

Real People. Real Experiences. Real Stories.

HumanStories InspiringStories WorldTradeCenter salvationarmy

08/09/2026

sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight alone.
the ones no one sees, no one talks about.
but you made it through.
that strength? it’s yours forever.
take a moment — be proud of yourself.

❤️❤️

05/09/2026

When people show you who they are the 1st Time, Believe them!