To the question “What should I keep?” Rachel, from her own experience of the loss of her husband when their daughter was only 2 years old answers “If it tells a story or provides a connection to a loved one KEEP IT.” She keeps her daughters shoes from the day her husband died 28 years … Read more

Look & listen as my guest shares the tale of a perfect “skipping” rock. It tells his story of himself, as a young father, of two boys at the water’s edge. He skipped a rock across the surface of the lake and his sons were in awe of their Dad. Wade taught his boys to … Read more

Travis shares the story of connection, community and legacy through this Sumo handprint given to him as a gift from a Japanese colleague. He had accepted a job teaching English at a small high school in Japan. He and his wife didn’t speak Japanese and most of his fellow teachers didn’t speak English. This was … Read more

Look &/or listen as my guest tells the story of The Turtle. It is the Thing that matters to her because it has given her an amazing life experience with her children and her parents all while allowing her to explore the world and learn about herself. The Turtle is a 2006 Fleetwood Jamboree motorhome … Read more

Look & listen as my guest Phyllis Braxton shares the story of a simple PINK pen that tells a big tale. Phyllis was supposed to be back at her home in Minneapolis for our time together, but got delayed in Maryland with her daughter & granddaughter (not a bad thing to get more kisses from … Read more

Look & listen as dancer/creative coach Jess Grippo shares the story of this well-used and well-loved T-shirt. Part of her personal history, her life journey is practically woven into its fabric. Part of her journey (& the tee’s too) began in 2004 in Florence, Italy. She was there on a semester abroad program from college. … Read more

Look & listen as my guest Rosemary (Rosie) Grant, of TikTok fame @ghostly.archives, tells the story of a pandemic inspired baking interest, a library science project and an internship at Congressional Cemetery through the Thing that matters: a vintage aluminum cookie press. Her first stop was Historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn NY, where she found … Read more

Look & listen as storyographer Kathy Stone shares her personal, family, military & a country’s history through the story of a ship in a bottle. This object has been in her family for as long as she can remember. It fascinated her as a young child. How could they possibly get the ship into the … Read more

Listen as my guest Heather Markel shares the stories of her travel souvenirs. As a digital nomad, Heather, like many of us, has to be more aware of what souvenirs she buys and keeps. I connected with her through a mutual nomad who shared Heather’s TEDx talk The benefits of living nomadically. Watch it here: … Read more

Listen as Robin shares her artist journey through her mother’s own peasant journey artwork and a self portrait. Though her mother wasn’t a good mom, she gave Robin the greatest gift of all … that of becoming an artist herself. Her mother’s own desire and determination to get away from her dirt poor roots and … Read more