Often people learn about their family history through photographs. But often the photographs are stored in a box willy-nilly, with little or no sense or organization or continuity.

In this episode, podcast host and founder of The Story of a Life, Ray Hardman talks about family legacy and storytelling through photography and other ephemera with mother and son duo Cathi and Josh Nelson.

Cathi Nelson is the founder of The Photo Managers, a global community that has helped shape and define the profession of photo organizing over the past 16 years. She is a passionate advocate for preserving personal stories, empowering hundreds of entrepreneurs to build meaningful businesses centered around photos, legacy, and memory keeping.

Josh Nelson is the founder of Digital Legacy Studios LLC, inspired by a life-changing 2018 DNA discovery that revealed a previously unknown blood cousin and sparked his passion for preserving family stories through photos and media. With over 15 years of experience and involvement in The Photo Managers community, he works with both organizations and individuals to protect and share their visual histories.

Also on the podcast, we hear from TSOAL client Tuppy. She tells a story about her father, who was an FBI agent. In the early 1970’s her father was assigned to a case that hit a little too close to home.

In this first episode, podcast host and founder of The Story of a Life, Ray Hardman makes his introductions. He’ll reflect back on his long career in public radio and television, and how that led to family storytelling, and the impetus for The Story of a Life.

Ray also has some stories to share, like Anne's, who in her youth was a member of the Canadian National Track and Field Team.

And we'll hear from the Chiarappa's, who discovered early in their courtship a photograph that connected both families decades earlier.