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PODCAST · education

Stories of Elders

by 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."

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Episodes

  1. Episode 50 - Urcell Schulterbrandt

    "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...

  2. Episode 49 - Grace Stinton

    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...

  3. Episode 48 - Shirley Tate

    Used the well to chill butter and milk. Shirley Tate passed away on December 31, 2020.

  4. Episode 47 - Douglas Gale

    Ran a scrap metal drive as a youth during WWII. Husband to Thelma Gale.

  5. Episode 46 - Sylvia Gutierrez

    Had to learn how to use a computer while working at a bank. Sylvia passed away on August 27, 2022.

  6. Episode 45 — Thelma Gale

    Used an icebox throughout their childhood. Thelma Gale passed away in 2020. Wife to Douglas Gale.

  7. Episode 44 — Br. Luke Robert Reddington

    Grew up in New York City playing "city games" like kickball.

  8. Episode 43 — Jim Hayes Jr.

    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.

  9. Episode 42 — Esther Gould

    Worked as a farm girl when she was 12 years old.

  10. Episode 41 — Delores Duncan

    Got her roller-skates through her dad's unique work connections.

  11. Episode 40 — Kenny Ladner

    Spent his childhood with nature as his playground.

  12. Episode 39 — Wanda Moore

    Was forced to resign from her job as an airline stewardess once she got engaged.

  13. Episode 38 — Constantine 'Gus' Katsoris

    Was a cobbler and survived Agent Orange while serving overseas. Gus passed away in August 2021.

  14. Episode 37 — Mike Dubuque

    Playtime was over when the streetlights turned on.

  15. Episode 36 - Dot Hornsby

    Flew airplanes using paper maps.

  16. Episode 35 — Mershon Niesner

    Look for the small moments.

  17. Episode 34 — Dagmar Booth

    Stayed up all night playing Atari.

  18. Episode 33 — Virginia Sears

    Grew up on a farm during the Great Depression.

  19. Episode 32 — Chris Smith

    Built boats.

  20. Episode 31 — Betty Segal

    "When I discovered the internet... I thought I'd died and gone to heaven."

  21. Episode 30 — Tito Francona

    "[Hank Aaron] spent time with me, explaining the dos and don'ts. His team didn't like that very much."

  22. Episode 29 – Carol Ann Lesert

    "We were poor, but we didn't know it."

  23. Episode 28 — Bones

    "I don't even think I own house keys."

  24. Episode 27 – Bettilew Turk Gaskell

    "She hadn't realized the new [technology] could get the job done."

  25. Episode 26 — Ida Mae Harris

    "If you listen, you learn."

  26. Episode 25 — Barbara “Dolly” Markess

    "It's a big wide world and we all need to get along."

  27. Episode 24 – Virginia Ann House Veren

    "Politics has changed... we never saw them."

  28. Episode 23 – Barbara Blake

    Believes family used to be closer.

  29. Episode 22 – Adrienne Bard

    Worries we have more conveniences, but not more time.

  30. Episode 21 – Charlie Rusher

    Learned about slavery.

  31. Episode 20 – Onalee Jean Cable

    Native American, grew up without amenities.

  32. Episode 19 – Adele Jones

    Wrote a book to preserve memories.

  33. Episode 18 – Bob Johnson

    Rode a wild bronco to school.

  34. Episode 17 – Emma Lommasson

    Born in 1911.

  35. Episode 16 – Ann Atkin

    Grew up in the dust bowl.

  36. Episode 15 – Gerrie Powell

    Handled formaldehyde in a salon.

  37. Episode 14 – Edwin Gould

    Built spy satellites.

  38. Episode 13 – Ray Green

    Doesn't like Facebook.

  39. Episode 12 – Pauline Attisani

    Sees technology as a segregator.

  40. Episode 11 – Richard Paquin

    Built a business knocking on doors.

  41. Episode 10 – Sister Ardeth Plattie, OP

    Went to prison for protesting nuclear weapons.

  42. Episode 9 – Juanita Laush

    Co-authored the first x-ray textbook.

  43. Episode 8 – Madison and her Urban Farm

    Lives on an urban farm.

  44. Episode 7 – David Netterfield

    Shot the breeze with his grandfather.

  45. Episode 6 – Hal Royer

    Grew up in the dust bowl.

  46. Episode 5 – HJ Smith

    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 […]

  47. Episode 4 – John Wilkes Booth

    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 […]

  48. Episode 3 – Hank Gamel

    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.

  49. Episode 2 – Sonee Lapadot

    Pioneered for women in the automotive industry.

  50. Episode 1 – Virgil Westdale

    Was discriminated against for being Japanese American.

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TOPICS IN THIS SHOW

Anthropology Fieldwork Digital Divide Elder Interviews Greatest Generation Intergenerational Dialogue Tech Impact US History

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

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."

HOSTED BY

Veronica Kirin

CATEGORIES

education

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Stories of Elders have?

Stories of Elders currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Stories of Elders about?

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...

How often does Stories of Elders release new episodes?

Stories of Elders has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Stories of Elders?

You can listen to Stories of Elders on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Stories of Elders?

Stories of Elders is created and hosted by Veronica Kirin.
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