Tag Archives: Storytelling

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The Power and Importance of Capturing Family Memories with Mike O’Krent (Ep. 6)



Memories are invaluable. Everyone has their own story, and family stories are what maintain the family culture that can easily be lost over time. 

Will you let those memories fade — or will you capture them through visual storytelling? 

In this episode, Kevin Kaylakie is joined by Mike O’Krent, founder of Life Stories Alive. With a passion for helping families tell their stories, Mike details his background and how he got started with Life Stories Alive. Plus, he showcases just how powerful and important storytelling is by sharing some of the experiences he’s had through his years interviewing families.

Mike and Kevin discusses: 

  • ”01:26” Mike’s background and how he got started in creating Life Stories Alive
  • ”11:51” Mike talks about his experience speaking on a TedX stage
  • ”13:45” How you can convince family members that their stories are worth telling
  • ”21:22” The biggest regret Mike hears from people he interviews
  • And more

Resources: 

Connect With Mike O’Krent:

Connect With SineCera Capital:

About Our Guest:

Mike O’Krent is the founder of LifeStories Alive, LLC, a business specializing in the making of personal history “legacy” videos for families, businesses and non-profit organizations.

In a life-changing experience, from 1996 through 2000 Mike interviewed Holocaust survivors for Steven Spielberg’s Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation, now the USC Shoah Foundation.  It was through that experience he discovered the significance and technique of recording the life stories of loved ones, which forms the basis for his LifeStories business.

Since founding the business in 2006, Mike has expanded its expertise beyond capturing personal histories for families to now include recording the histories of businesses and non-profit organizations. The professionally produced videos can be used externally to promote the organization or internally as a training tool for new employees/volunteers. 

Mike is also a Co-Founder of Caregiver Plan, a unique online system of care planning and monthly professional activity programming. It helps caregivers themselves and their families achieve a better quality of life.