Family History Interviews
How it started
One Mother's Day, my sisters and I decided to record a Q&A with our mother in order to preserve her stories and wisdom. We assembled a list of questions, and I (being the A/V expert of the family) recorded her answers.
As I listened to my mom recount her experiences, I not only learned surprising details about her life, but I also noticed some patterns emerge. I'm a non-fiction audio storyteller by trade, so I'm always noticing themes in others' experiences. While I was originally tasked with just recording the Q&A, I took it a step further. I created a sound-designed audio piece that captured my mother's identity and spirit, focusing on the story of her finding her voice (literally and figuratively) through vocal lessons.
Listen to that first spark of an idea:
Of course, I couldn't stop there. The following year, I interviewed my dad for Father's Day. I asked many of the same questions, but his answers inspired me to take the conversation in different directions. For this audio piece, I focused on how he pioneered his own path as a father — after the struggles he had with his own dad, who left his family when he was only four years old.
My father's story:
Hearing these stories from my parents strengthened my connection with them. I finally understood why they made some of the choices they did in the past or why they are the way they are. I was grateful I recorded those interviews when they were only in their 60's; the memories were still fresh in their minds, and their stories felt alive. While I might lose the cards they've written or the voicemails they've left, I'll always have these treasures — in their own voice — to remember them by.
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In less than 10 years, one in five Americans will be over 65 years old. As our parents and grandparents age, we grow one day closer to losing the chance to hear their life stories.
There are products and services that can record their experiences on paper, but that depends on their weekly participation. My interviews can be completed in an hour or two, and they're yours forever.
Plus, so much emotion and nuance is lost when committing words to paper. (Just think of a text vs a call.) Hearing your loved one's stories in their own voice brings the past into the present. If we close our eyes, it's like they're right there with us in the room.
Audio is also the perfect medium because it's unobtrusive. The person being interviewed often forgets they're being recorded, so they feel comfortable enough to share personal memories. A video camera, on the other hand, can make them feel self-conscious and guarded.
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If you're interested in recording a personal history with me, please use the form link below.