Your person. Finally seen.
Before it's too late to ask.
Most people never tell their full story. Not because they don't want to -- because nobody ever sat down and asked.
Beheld · beheld.joycomedia.com
The Keeper's Guide · Step 1 of 3
Their name is where this story begins. Everything we build together -- the questions, the sessions, the archive -- will be organized around them.
The Keeper's Guide · Step 2 of 3
Call it a visit. A specific invitation lands better than a general one. "I've always wanted to hear about the summer you lived in New York" will get a richer response than "I want to record your life story."
Email or print the question list a few days before. Tell them they don't need to write anything -- just let the questions sit. The answers are richer when someone has had a few days to remember.
The pause is where the real answer lives. Most people need a few seconds to get from the surface memory to the one that actually matters. If you fill the silence, you'll never hear what was about to come out.
"And then what happened?" -- when a story trails off, this restarts it nine times out of ten. It signals genuine interest, not just waiting for them to finish.
Save this for last: "If you could say one thing to someone who will read this long after you're gone -- what would it be?" Give them real time with it. Don't rush the answer.
The Keeper's Guide · Step 3 of 3
Almost everyone does. Here's what to say.
"I don't have interesting stories."
Say: "I disagree." I've been curious about [specific thing] my whole life and never asked you. That's on me. I'm asking now.
"I don't like being recorded."
Say: You don't have to look at anything. We're just going to talk. I'll have it running in the background. Most people forget it's on within five minutes.
"I wouldn't know where to start."
Say: I'll start you. Just tell me about [a specific memory you know they have]. Give them the first sentence of their own story.
"Nobody will care about this."
Say: I care. And I want [name] to know who you are -- not just that you existed, but what you were actually like. This is how that happens.
"I'll do it later."
Say: I know. Let's just do twenty minutes right now and see how it feels. If you hate it we stop. Nobody has ever stopped at twenty minutes.
Ready to capture their story.
You're ready
"The act of asking someone to tell you their story changes both of you."
Even if the recording gets lost. Even if the technology breaks. Even if you forget to press Record. The fact that you showed up and asked -- that changes something. Don't let perfect get in the way of the conversation that needed to happen anyway.
Session setup
Choose how the conversation will happen. Either way, just talk -- the questions are prompts, not a script.
You'll choose audio or video for each question during the session.
Choose a section
Pick one section for this session. You can come back for the others. Each takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
Keeper note
Notes
Session complete
"Send them a short note telling them one specific thing from the conversation that you'll never forget."
Every session adds to something that will outlast all of us. Schedule the next one before the energy from this one fades -- two weeks is the sweet spot.
Contribute a memory
Someone is preserving a person's story and they believe you know something worth keeping. How did you receive your invitation?
Before you begin
Your memories will be added to their story alongside everyone else who knew them. The things only you know are the most important part.
What you're here to do
"The most important stories about a person are almost never the ones they tell about themselves."
You're going to answer 15 questions about someone who matters. Some will be easy. Some will ask you to remember something you haven't thought about in years.
You can type your answers or record yourself -- whichever feels more natural. There are no wrong answers.
Or write your response
Progress saved
"Every memory you share becomes part of a record that would not exist without you."
You can close this window and come back using the same link.
When you return, your answers will be waiting. Pick up wherever feels right.
Your contribution has been received.
Thank you
"The stories only you know are now part of the record."
Your memories have been added to their story. What you shared will become part of something permanent -- a record built from everyone who knew them well enough to remember the real version.
Your story
"Most people never tell their full story. You're about to change that."
There are no wrong answers here. No one is grading you. Tell it the way you actually lived it -- not the way you think it should sound.
You can record yourself or write your answers. You can stop and come back. You can skip a question and return to it. This is yours.
Before you begin
This is just so we know whose story this is. You don't have to share anything you're not comfortable with.
Choose where to start
Pick one section for today. There's no wrong place to start -- just pick the one that feels most alive to you right now.
Write your answer
Or record your answer
Section complete
"The stories you just told have never been in one place before. They are now."
Every answer is now part of a record that didn't exist before today. Come back for the next section whenever you're ready -- it will be here waiting.
Something's not right
"It may have expired or already been used. Ask the person who sent it to resend."
If you received an invitation to contribute to someone's story, reach out to the person who sent it and ask them to share the link again.