It’s funny the things you save to remember people you’ve lost. When my dad died earlier this year and I helped my stepmom clean out his stuff, I kept his prescription aviator sunglasses and a mostly used bottle of Aqua Velva — I knew I couldn’t toss those two things that distinctly make up my forever mental picture of my dad.
I have them displayed on a shelf by my desk as both a tribute and so I can reach over and unscrew that cologne cap whenever I want to remember what my dad would smell like when he was getting himself hyped up for social interactions.
He was a funny guy and he had a knack for storytelling and humor.
I would give anything to hear his voice again. Since his first stroke about 15 years ago, his speech became slow, slurred, and stuttered. His mind and wit was still there, but he had trouble getting the words out the way he used to.
A few days ago, I posted on my Instagram a story he, his brothers (my uncles), and his dad (my grandfather) would tell about my great-grandfather. It’s one of those stories that become family legends.
I remember as a kid listening to the grown-ups at holiday gatherings talking about things that happened in the past and relatives no longer with us. Whenever my great-grandfather was brought up, I would chime in and ask someone to re-tell the story of how he lost his 3 fingers in an accident and how a mystic healer woman was able to cure his phantom pains — check out my Instagram post for that story!
I’m glad so many of you enjoyed it and like family legends like that. They’re some of my favorite things to read about and hear, as well!
All this to say …
As the weather cools and the holiday season is approaching, if you’re a podcaster who has invested some time and maybe even money into learning to how to podcast, consider bringing a mic and laptop or recorder to your next family gathering and recording some of those family stories!
My favorite on-the-go setup? My dynamic microphone (love my Samson Q2U!) connected to my phone via USB to USB-C converter — this came with my Google Pixel and has come in so handy!
If you’re looking to travel with your recording setup, you may even want to invest in a Zoom recording device — no, not the virtual meeting platform, but actual portable recorders. I have the Zoom H5 which is an earlier model than what’s currently out, but works great and makes it easy to get high-quality recordings, even just with the XY microphones that come with the unit.
Some people may see a microphone and get antsy around it, but if you have a storyteller in the family who’s known for their tales, trust me, you’ll be glad you have these recordings as time goes on!
Don’t forget to record kids in your family throughout the years, as well! As their voices change, one day they’ll be saying something with a cute toddler lisp, and the next day it’ll be gone and they’ll be confusing you by saying unfamiliar phrases like “no cap” and “ayo, that’s sus.” (Am I living in this exact scenario? Oh yes, I am!)
As much as we podcasters may or may not love hearing the sound of our own voices, know that those voices will one day change or no longer be around. So while you’re recording all the great content for your audience as a podcaster, don’t forget that there are stories and voices in your own life that are priceless and worth recording.
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