You have a conversation with someone you love and record it. We turn the recording into a written story in their own words. Most people have their first story about 30 minutes after they start.
Pick one question. “How did you and Dad meet?” “What was your first job?” You can choose from our library of questions, sorted by topic, or write your own. Then let the conversation go where it goes. A good story can come out within 5 to 10 minutes.
There are three ways to record it.
Enter two email addresses and we send you both a link. Your family member opens it in a browser. There is nothing to install and no account to make. We record the call, and when you hang up we start writing. The invitation includes conversation starters, so you know where to begin.
Sit together and put a phone or a computer between you. Record with your phone’s recorder app and upload the file, or record right in Told Together.
A voice memo from last Thanksgiving, a video from a birthday, a phone call you saved. Upload it and we take it from there. Audio and video files both work.
You can also type a story if that is easier.
How to record a conversation, step by stepA few minutes after you finish, we email you. The story is written in the first person, in their voice, with their words and their way of putting things. The questions you asked are not in it. Neither is “can you hear me now”.
Read it, and change anything you like. With each story we suggest a few follow-up questions about the parts worth hearing more about. Type answers or record them during your next conversation, and we will weave the additional material into the story for you.
Every story has a link you can send to family. They can read it without an account. If you choose, the link also plays the original recording, so the grandchildren can hear the voice as well as read the words.
You can print any story or save it as a PDF, with a QR code to the audio if you’d like. The original recording and the transcript stay saved with the story.
People ask how much of the story is really theirs. All of it.
Most people use Told Together with a parent or grandparent who would never sit down and write. It also works for an aunt, an uncle, a sibling, a friend, or your own stories.
Your family member does not need to be good with technology. If they can answer a phone or sit at a table with you, that is enough.
Most people have never interviewed anyone, least of all a parent. You do not need to prepare.
We give you questions to start with. You can browse questions by topic, such as childhood, work, love, and family, and save the ones you like. Pick one and let the conversation go where it goes. After each story, we suggest follow-up questions you can add to the story later if you'd like.
It doesn’t have to be long. A rich story can come out in 5 to 10 minutes, while several related anecdotes can come out during a 30-minute call. Start with one question and let the conversation go where it goes. You can always record updates to the story or start a new story later.
You can talk in most major languages, including English, Spanish, Mandarin, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, and Vietnamese, and many more. The story is always written in English and keeps some words and names in the original language. Less common languages may not work as well. If you are not sure, try a short recording first.
Yes. Let the other person know you are recording before you start. On a call we set up, they are asked before they join.
$39.99 a year, or $4.99 a week with a 7-day free trial. You can cancel anytime in Settings → Plan.