Childhood and place
What did home look, sound, and smell like? Who lived nearby? Which routines, games, foods, celebrations, and local places shaped everyday life?
A practical interview guide
Ask questions that invite a life story, not a résumé.
The strongest interviews feel like a conversation. Start with easy sensory memories, follow meaningful details, and leave room for the narrator to skip anything they do not want to discuss.
What to know
Family and relationships
Who made you feel understood? What traditions were passed down? Which relationships changed your direction, and what do you want future relatives to know about those people?
Work, change, and resilience
What work gave you pride? Which decision was hardest? What helped during a loss, move, conflict, illness, or unexpected opportunity? Avoid pushing for details the narrator wants to keep private.
Values and messages
What do you believe matters most? What should the family continue, change, repair, or remember? What advice would you give someone facing a similar season of life?