My Hands Are Different
Season 13, Episode 09
September 15, 2025
Two fathers. Two paths. One realization.
Re-Imagined Radio presents "My Hands Are Different," an autobiographical memoir by Martin J. Gallagher, an independent composer and sound designer based in Portland, Oregon. Imagine having two fathers. Each a different model for your life. Martin's adoptive father gives him boxing gloves and a training schedule. His birth father, a mystery until after his death, gives him a box of his tape recordings, and inspires a career in music and creative media. From our Guest Producer series.
Access the episode script
Background
Martin Gallagher has also produced "Waters and Ruins" for Re-Imagined Radio. Two radio stories, "And the Waters" and "Ruins of Mauripol," each framed by music. Listen and learn here
As he explains in this autobiographical memoir, "My Hands Are Different," Martin grew up in a loving adoptive family. Both his adoptive parents provided him care and attention. His adoptive father used a portable tape recorder to preserve the sounds of family experiences. Martin shares one of the Christmas tapes. The one where he is gifted a pair of boxing gloves.
Martin's adoptive father wants him to learn to use his hands for boxing. To be able to "take care of himself." Instead, Martin's hands are strangely drawn to the piano keyboard, and music. Martin uses his adoptive father's tape recorder to preserve performances by himself and his friends.
At seventeen, Martin left his adoptive family home and started his own life. He pursued music. And earned a degree in television production. Creative efforts were more appealling than boxing. Why, Martin wondered. Where did this interest come from?
Approaching middle age, Martin searched for his birth parents. He found his birth mother first. Her name was Mary, and she exchanged letters with Martin before their first in-person visit. From Mary, Martin learned about his birth father, a soldier from a nearby military base, waiting to be deployed to the Korean War. Martin learned his birth father died earlier. No chance to meet him.
But Martin found friends who knew his birth father and were willing to talk. One had a box of tape recordings made by his birth father. From these recordings, Martin began to learn how closely his life was influenced by his birth father. He was a musician. As was Martin. He worked in television production. As did Martin. He was bald. Martin was also. And, as you'll hear, his voice was oddly similiar to Martin's.
All-in-all this is a poignant memoir of self-discovery, family memories unshared but still tangible, and answers to Martin's questions, "Who am I?", and "Where am I from?". As you listen, you'll hear, as we did, Martin's amazing stories of himself and his two families, adoptive and birth. It's an honor and a pleasure to present the premier broadcast of "My Hands Are Different" by Martin J. Gallagher. We hope you enjoy listening as well.
Production
Contents
An original, autobiographical radio memoir, "My Hands Are Different," written and produced by Martin J. Gallagher. Story copyrighted (2025), not Creative Commons, by Martin J. Gallagher. Used by permission. No other use of Gallagher's story is allowed without permission from the author.
Credits
Written and Produced by Martin J. Gallagher
Sound Design, Music, and Post Production by Marc Rose
Promotional Graphics by Evan Leyden
Social Media by Rylan Eisenhauer
Produced and Hosted by John F. Barber
Significance
Martin J. Gallagher's poignant autobiographical memoir is inspirational for adopted persons and others who wonder "Who am I?" and "Where am I from?" Gallagher shares his story and original music compositions with grace and charm. Not for recognition, but rather encouragement for others seeking a more detailed knowledge of their early lives.
Producer's Notes
Twice in the same year we've featured episodes produced by Martin J. Gallagher. But when Martin pitched his stories we couldn't say no. This one especially.
Working with Marty to produce this episode was eye-opening. I knew he was adopted. But had no idea the
depth to which he had investigated his birth and adoptive fathers. Nor their influence on his life. His
telling of this is compelling. Imagine "meeting" and learning about your birth father through a box of
tape recordings!
— John F. Barber
Promotion
Press
Graphics
