What if the stories you've carried all your life are still being written?

Every one of us grows up surrounded by stories—stories told by our families, our communities, our culture, and eventually, the stories we tell ourselves. Some become important memories. Others quietly shape how we see the world, who we believe ourselves to be, and what we imagine is possible as we grow older.

In this episode, we explore the surprising power of those stories with narrative gerontologist Dr. Bill Randall. We delve into the "inside of aging": the rich inner landscape of memory, identity, meaning, and the lifelong process of becoming more fully ourselves. Along the way, two lifelong friends wander through stories that have shaped their own lives, revisiting imaginary friends, neighborhood myths, Nancy Drew, and the unforgettable—and unsettling—story of The Monkey's Paw.

Whether you're reflecting on your own life, supporting an older loved one, or simply curious about the stories that have shaped you, this episode offers a fresh way of thinking about aging—not as the final chapter, but as an opportunity to discover new meaning in the chapters already written and those still to come.

Links & Resources

Bill Randall’s work:

https://www.williamlrandall.com/

Bill’s 2022 book, ‘Fairy Tale Wisdom: Stories for the Second Half of Life,’ won a Gold Nautilus Book Award. His most recent work, 'Aging Reimagined: The Adventures of Later Life', is being published by Cambridge University Press.

Credits

Host: Kelly O’Neil, Nova Scotia Centre on Aging

Guests: Narrative Gerontologist, Dr. Bill Randall and Joan Fougere

Keelan Black, recording and production engineer at Mount Saint Vincent University

Theme music: "Family Tree" by Danny Duberstein. Licensed through NeoSounds and used with permission.

Bridge Music: “The Mountains” and “Natural Wonders” by Pumpupthemind. Under open license through Pixabay.

This podcast series was made possible through a generous grant from the Entente Foundation, supporting innovative projects that improve the lives of older adults.

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