Growing up close with my grandparents I was fascinated by the stories of their childhood and of their parents: two world wars, immigration, civil rights stories which were told like something from a movie that was never made.  Childhood musings of how much “I like the movie Anastasia” would be met with the contemporary tales of how “she was a real princess, who died during the world war my father fought in.” 

Even questions as simple as “who did you share a room with” would open a 20-minute book on sharing a bed with siblings in a dirt floor cabin the size of my bedroom today. 

With only one treasured grandparent left in my life, I am not only grateful every day for the stories that were shared with me which shaped my understanding of history and the world, but I am also grateful that my grandparents, my oma, in particular, had someone who absolutely treasured and learned from each harrowing tale which they simply called life. 

In this podcast we will be taking the time to learn about our recent past from our grandparents, retired residents, and the elderly neighbours in our community (and communities across the world) who are interested in sharing the incredible accounts of what they saw or heard growing up these past many decades, or even stories from their own, 1800s born parents, and simply are not because they have never been asked. 

We want to hear from the generation of wisdom who are now watching today’s trends, inventions, politics, and pandemics on the news, but who are likely without a Twitter account to share their incredibly valuable comments. Oral storytelling has been an essential historic tradition for millennia. Join us for the many first-hand stories happily told if only someone asks. These are our guests today.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’re searching for guests who were born in the 1920s-30s, or have stories from their parents and grandparents born in the 1800s, and who absolutely love to chat about their world now and then. 

What is a Podcast?
A podcast is essentially an “internet radio show.” These internet radio shows can be produced by anyone with internet access and listened to anywhere across the globe, again with internet access. Your family will be provided the website address if you wish to share it with them.

Why do you want to hear my story?
I do wish this wasn’t such a common question! Your story is fascinating and important and I am among many interested in hearing what you have to say! In a crazy world where anyone can share a fleeting opinion on Twitter for the world to see, we want to know your thoughts too! They are arguably the most valuable.

Can I Nominate Someone I Know?
Yes, absolutely! If you or someone in your life is able to share with us their point of view between 1920-1950 until today, please contact us here.

Is it free?
Yes. There is no cost to listen to the podcast or be a guest interviewed on the podcast. It is also, however, not a paid gig. Every aspect of this production is entirely voluntary.

Is the interview live?
No. We interview in advance. You have an opportunity to review the questions before the interview and listen to your episode before it is shared.

Do I need the internet or a computer?
You will ideally need internet access for an entirely remote COVID-19 safe recording. You do not need wifi to hear your episode if you are a guest. 

That said, if you do not have internet access and prefer a remote meeting, we do have ways to make it work!

Can We Meet In Person
Absolutely – the matter is entirely up to you, I have conducted interviews throughout the Okanagan and am happy to plan an in-person visit if preferred. Note: The production time tends to be quicker if we record remotely. It takes longer to review your recordings if we meet in person.

Does a guest have to be in the Okanagan?
No. We are currently collecting interviews from guests all over the place and the more the merrier! We are looking for even more guests from and/or who have lived on any continent.

What do I talk about?
I am never going to turn down a story. If you want to share your life’s many adventures uninterrupted I’m there to listen. If prompted questions are preferred, I have a list of questions that tends to get the ball rolling.

Can I Prepare in Advance or Skip A Question?
Absolutely! You will get to take a look at the questions in advance and you can let us know if these are a good fit, or if you have something else fun or important to share with today’s youth.

How Are The Interviews Conducted
It’s most ideal that the interview is conducted virtually, via Riverside.FM or Zoom. This option is accessible on any computer or smartphone and we will make sure you do not have to set it up yourself unless you want to. (Google Meet, Skype, etc are all also an option)

Who did you share a room with?
“Room!? I shared a bed with my mom, brother and sister. My dad snored across the room. The pigs and dogs slept on the ground between us.

Our whole house was…. a bit bigger than this room. We had no heat so we heated up rocks on the stove and put them in the blankets. Every so often you’d wake up to a big ‘BOOM’ if the rocks fell.”

Rosie, Age 95 (Europe)