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What was it like at home once I left for college?
- Mom describes life at home once I had left for college and they were empty nesters.
You'll always have their stories. You won't always have their voice.
Self Told guides your mom or dad through recording their life story, a little at a time, in their own voice. When it’s done, you’ll have their complete story to listen to and share with the whole family.
Free for 30 days. No credit card required.
Self Told makes it easy to capture, share, and preserve the stories that bring your family together. Whether you’re recording memories today or creating a legacy for tomorrow, you’ll have peace of mind knowing your family’s voices will always be part of the story.
As Easy As 1 – 2 – 3
Capturing your family’s stories shouldn’t be complicated. With Self Told, it’s beautifully simple — 
just three easy steps to start preserving voices, memories, and moments that matter.
Made for Families Like Yours
Your loved one doesn’t need to live nearby — or even be in the same room. Self Told lets them share their stories in their own time, while you stay connected, even if you’re thousands of miles away.
Talking, Not Typing
The easiest way to tell a story is to say it. Your loved one simply answers a question out loud, a few minutes at a time, whenever it suits them. No writing, no blank page, and no technology to wrestle with.
The Right Questions, Without the Guesswork
Self Told’s guided questions are shaped around the life they actually lived, so you hear the stories you’d never think to ask for: where they were when the world changed, what their childhood home sounded like, the moments that made them who they are.
Their Voice, Kept
A voice memo on your phone isn’t the same as keeping it. Self Told brings every recording together into a finished audio biography – their stories in the sound of their own voice, safe and ready to share with everyone who should have it.
Create an Audio Biography They'll Treasure
$149
One-time purchase
Create a lasting audio biography of someone you love, captured in their own voice and built one story at a time.
Your audio biography includes:
- One storyteller
Create a biography focused on one loved one.
- Thoughtful questions
Self Told provides the questions that guide your storyteller through the experiences, memories, and moments that shaped their life.
- Storytelling on their own time
Your storyteller can respond whenever it’s convenient, from wherever they are.
- No story limit
Capture as many stories as needed to tell their story.
- Family participation
Invite family members to contribute questions and listen to the stories as they’re recorded.
- Private and secure
Your family’s stories are accessible only to the people you invite.
- Downloadable recordings
Keep and download the stories captured during the process.
Why I Built Self Told
Self Told began with a personal loss.
When my father passed away, I found myself thinking about all the stories I wished I could still hear him tell. Not just the major events of his life, but the little things — the experiences that shaped him, the lessons he learned, and the stories that made him who he was.
I realized that photographs and written memories could preserve parts of someone’s life, but there is something uniquely powerful about hearing a person tell their own story in their own voice.
That realization led to Self Told.
I set out to create a simple way for families to preserve the stories of the people they love — even when they live far apart or busy lives make sitting down together difficult.
The result is an audio biography: a lasting record of a life, captured one story at a time, in the voice of the person who lived it.
Because someday, hearing their voice may be one of the things your family treasures most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about 
our services, processes, and policies right here.
Creating the Audio Biography
Does my storyteller have to sit down with me for an interview?
No. Your storyteller can respond to questions whenever it’s convenient for them, from wherever they are. You don’t need to be in the same room — or even in the same city — to create their audio biography together.
Who comes up with the questions?
Self Told provides thoughtful questions designed to uncover the experiences, memories, and moments that shaped your storyteller’s life. You can also add your own questions or invite family members to contribute questions.
How many stories does my storyteller need to record?
There is no set number. Every life story is different, and your storyteller can record as many stories as needed to create a meaningful picture of their life. The process is designed to build the biography one story at a time.
How long does it take to create an audio biography?
The Family Plan includes unlimited storytelling, making it ideal for shared family archives that grow over time. The Personal Plan includes up to 250 stories — enough for years of storytelling for most families.
Involving Family
Can I invite other family members to participate?
Yes. You can invite family members to be part of the process without changing the focus of the biography
What can other family members do?
Family members can contribute questions for the storyteller and listen to the stories as they are recorded. This allows the whole family to play a part in preserving their loved one’s story.
Your Audio Biography
What happens to the stories after they are recorded?
The stories become the building blocks of your loved one’s audio biography. Over time, individual memories and experiences come together to create a lasting portrait of their life, told in their own voice.
Can I listen to and share the stories with my family?
Yes. You and the family members you invite can listen to the stories as they are recorded. The stories can also be downloaded and shared, so your family can enjoy them wherever they are.
Free Trial & Purchase
What’s included in the free trial?
You and your storyteller will have full access to Self Told during the free trial, with no limit on the number of stories your storyteller can record. The trial gives you a chance to experience the process and see how Self Told works before deciding whether to purchase.
What happens to my stories if I decide not to purchase?
Your stories are yours to keep. If you decide not to purchase after the free trial, you can download all of the stories recorded on your account.
Privacy & Security
Are my family’s stories private?
Absolutely. Your family’s stories are for your family — and only your family. We take your privacy seriously, with multiple layers of security protecting every recording. Your stories are encrypted while stored on our platform, and only the people you’ve invited to your account can access them.