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
16 episodes
41 years of life, and CANCER, with Matt.
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.
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1:14:46
26 years of life, and ADDICTION, with Tatenda.
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 an...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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48:15
92 years of life, and PURPOSE, with Max
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 pa...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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55:58
24 years of life, and CANCER, with Keegan.
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 g...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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52:21
28 years of life, and POSITIVITY, with Cho.
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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39:49
39 years of life, and ANXIETY, with Natalie
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:01:19
33 years of life, and a LIFE ALTERING INJURY, with Adam.
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 th...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:15:56
31 years of life, and TRANSFORMATION, with Lauren.
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 di...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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46:45
25 years of life, and LOSS, with Sam "BK"
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 recordi...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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51:53
48 years of life, and TRANSFORMATION, with Keith.
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, meditat...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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56:58
26 years of life, and CHANGE, with Mary.
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 i...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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57:20
26 years of life, and ADDICTION, with Dee.
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, confr...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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29:10
31 years of life, and PRESSURE with Jade.
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 cricke...
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39:25
34 years of life, and a LIFE ALTERING INJURY with Shelby.
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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48:51
42 years of life, and CANCER with Emma.
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 g...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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49:47