Sum of Ages
Sum of Ages is a growing audio archive of human experience. Each episode preserves one person’s voice - speaking in their own words about a lived experience that has shaped how they see the world. Across hundreds of topics, the project gathers stories of loss and happiness, failure and purpose, regret and resilience - without performance or expectation. The long-term aim is simple and ambitious: to accumulate one million years of lived experience, creating a public library of real voices that can be returned to when guidance, recognition, or quiet company is needed. Sum of Ages exists as a reminder that whatever we are carrying, someone else has carried something like it before - and chose to speak.
Episodes
In this episode, Matt - a dad, husband, friend, and cancer survivor - speaks openly about life beyond diagnosis and treatment. The conversation explores mental health, parenthood, and how perspective can shift in the aftermath of illness.
Are you interested in being a "Part of the Sum" and having your story aired? Email us at sumofagespodcast@gmail.com
This episode, we have Tatenda — 26 years young with some real insight and wisdom to share. He opens up about growing up in an African-American household in the Midwest, and how a visit to Zimbabwe gave him a deeper understanding of his roots and family. But the heart of this conversation is about his relationship with alcohol and the journey to sobriety. When his body essentially began to give up on him, Tatenda knew ...
On the precipice of his 92nd birthday, Max lays out an important perspective. From limited schooling due to the war, to cooking food for the Governor General of Australia, this man talks with consistent humor and sincerity. I truly loved his passion for cooking, and how he turned a mere assignment in the military, into a life purpose that he still lives by today. If anything, the biggest takeaway is that life is too s...
Being a teenager and young adult is difficult. Navigating identity, social spheres, school, thinking about the future. No one at that stage in life is thinking about being diagnosed with cancer. That is exactly what happened to this episode’s guest, Keegan. This episode explores his diagnosis and recovery from cancer. How Keegan navigates his life and travels, with a lens of gratitude, optimism and joy is nothing shor...
In this episode, we have Cho, a 28-year-old from Houston who brings a refreshing and uplifting perspective to the table. Many of us get caught up trying to better ourselves or dwell on negatives and hardships. Cho does the opposite. He uses his life experiences and the lessons learned to fuel his positivity and happiness. As a passionate coach, teacher, and mentor, Cho’s outlook is a powerful reminder not to take life...
Natalie Deering is a 39-year-old psychologist, mother and wife from Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and our conversation dives into something no human can escape—anxiety.
What makes this episode special is Natalie’s unique blend of personal experience and professional expertise. As a trained psychologist specializing in Internal Family Systems (IFS), she brings a fresh perspective on how we understand and navigate anxiety.
Wheth...
This week's guest is Sergeant Adam Hartswick, a veteran whose life took a drastic turn in 2013 when he sustained catastrophic injuries in combat—ultimately losing both of his legs and part of his arm. But Adam’s story isn’t just about war or the tragedies that come with it. It’s about resilience, purpose, and using life’s hardest lessons to create something meaningful.
A quick heads-up—this episode includes graphi...
This week’s guest is Lauren Fields, a 31-year-old whose insight and experience will leave you speechless. At just 14, her life took a dramatic turn when she suffered a life-altering injury during an equestrian competition. But that moment didn’t just change her—it set her on a path of transformation, resilience, and purpose.
Now a clinical psychologist, life coach and podcaster, Lauren has dedicated her life to helping...
Sam, better known as "BK"—a 25-year-old from Bath, England with an unmistakable candor and down-to-earth energy. BK has faced more loss in five years than most do in a lifetime, losing three close family members, and during this very recording, he was bracing for yet another.
What stands out most about BK is his unconventional approach to grief—rejecting societal expectations and embracing what truly feels ri...
Keith is a 48-year-old from the USA with one of the most unique and thought-provoking outlooks on life. An author, teacher, coach, surfer, and all-around seeker of wisdom, Keith has spent years diving deep into mental health, addiction, meditation, and personal transformation.
He’s the kind of person you meet and walk away thinking, damn, I wish I could operate at the frequency he does—calm, balanced, and completely at...
This week’s guest is Mary, a 26-year-old from the USA whose story is a powerful testament to the life-changing impact of slowing down and reevaluating what truly matters. From growing up in Chicago to studying in San Diego and then working in the fast-paced world of New York City, Mary believed she was following the path she had always envisioned. But beneath the surface, her mental health was unraveling—crippling anx...
Dee, a 26-year-old from Chicago, shares how his story is a testament to the power of self-reflection and change. Despite excelling in school and earning a degree from the University of Notre Dame, Dee found himself at a crossroads, confronting his relationship with alcohol and marijuana. He realized that without addressing these vices, even a life that looked successful on the outside could unravel.
Dee’s honesty is ma...
Jade is a 31-year-old from Cape Town, South Africa, with a life story shaped by his unique relationship with pressure.
Jade shares how pressure has shaped every aspect of his journey—from the highs of being a professional cricket player to the lows of breaking his back in a parkour accident. He opens up about surviving violent encounters, including being shot at and stabbed, navigating the mental health struggles that ...
This week’s guest is Shelby, a 34-year-old from the USA who radiates positivity, determination, and an unwavering drive to help others. In 2021, Shelby’s life took a turn when a traumatic snowboarding accident resulted in the loss of her right eye.
In this episode, we delve into themes of addiction, trauma, and the resilience it takes to overcome a life-altering injury. Shelby’s journey is nothing short of remarkable—t...
Emma, a 42-year-old wife and mother of two from Western Australia radiates optimism and joy. At just 30, Emma was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer—a moment that could have shattered her spirit but instead fueled her to live with even more gratitude and purpose.
In this episode, she shares how she faced the 'big C,' as she calls it, while continuing to embrace her roles as a Mum, a wife, and a lover of lif...
Are you looking for a podcast that isn’t dominated by self-help gurus, celebrities, and professionals? Don’t get me wrong - they’re great, but what about the stories of everyday people?
I’m Ben—Like you, I’ve felt confused, frustrated, and, honestly, a bit lost at times on this big journey we call life. And when I’ve felt these things, I wished I had somewhere to go to not feel alone. Maybe you’re here looking for ans...
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