Stories of Elders: Recent Episodes
Veronica Kirin
Anthropologist Veronica Kirin traveled 12,000 miles across the United States interviewing the Greatest Generation to document the high-tech revolution. This podcast shares clips from the interviews with elders and with strangers who are asked "how do you think technology is changing us?" The full study was published in the award-winning book "Stories of Elders: What the Greatest Generation Knows about Technology that You Don't."
"Is this Pandora's Box?" Urcell asks during her interview. "Can we put it back in? I don't know."
Urcell was a school teacher and medical social worker. She addresses the questions of access and community in her interview in 2015. You can read more about her in the accompaning newsletter post on Substack.
Worked as a "Rosie the Riveter."
Grace Stinton passed away on 19 Feb 2024 at 101 years old.
I met Grace Stinton through friends of friends. They were excited for me to interview her, as she had been a "Rosie the Riveter." She described to me life in the factory, that perhaps what she did for work would not be allowed today due to safety concerns.
I'm thankful for her family's continued contact. They told me that Grace passed away earlier in 2024 at 101 years old. This episode is in memory of her contribution to this book.
Had to learn how to use a computer while working at a bank.
Sylvia passed away on August 27, 2022.
Grew up cooking on a wood-burning stove.
Jim's interview is featured in the Stories of Elders Documentary that you can stream at www.storiesofelders.com.
Was a cobbler and survived Agent Orange while serving overseas. Gus passed away in August 2021.
"[Hank Aaron] spent time with me, explaining the dos and don'ts. His team didn't like that very much."
Midland, Michigan Born 1942 “We refrigerate our food, so we don’t have to go to the market every day… then we never see our neighbors.” HJ Smith is a former teacher and has a reputation for a steel trap mind. Indeed, she remembers a song she heard on the radio years ago called “Kalvinator“. In […]
New Orleans, LA Born 1945 “[I] worked on the Saturn V. That was a rocket and a half.” John Wilkes Booth is by far one of my favorite people. He has a twinkle in his eye and is always trying to make someone laugh. He is the self-proclaimed volunteer tour guide for those who came […]
Rantoul, IL Born 1958 Hank Gamel is the Executive Director of Hope Meadows, a subsidiary of Generations of Hope. He oversees the retirement community which partners seniors with foster families, and has a view of both sides of the human age.