How to record your grandparents' life stories (a simple guide)

Recording a grandparent’s stories is one of the most meaningful afternoons you can spend — and one of the easiest to keep putting off. Here’s how to actually do it.

Set the scene, keep it casual

You don’t need a studio. A quiet room, a phone propped up, and a cup of tea is enough. Tell them you just want to remember their stories — not test their memory. Lower the stakes and they’ll open up.

Questions that get real answers

• Where did you grow up, and what did home feel like?
• How did you meet your husband or wife?
• What did your parents do? What were they like?
• What’s a decision that changed the course of your life?
• What do you want your grandchildren to know about you?

Follow the threads that light them up. The best stories are almost never the ones you planned to ask about.

Record the voice

Audio or video beats notes every time. It preserves how they tell a story, not just what happened. Keep clips short and topic-by-topic — they’re easier to revisit than one long file.

Put it where it won’t get lost

A recording on your phone is one cracked screen from gone. Attach each answer to the person it’s about, in a shared family archive, so cousins and grandchildren can find it for generations.

Evertreeturns this into a gentle habit: it suggests questions, records the answers in your grandparent’s own voice, and keeps them on their profile in the family tree. Try it free.