Things That Matter with Martie McNabb

Episode 60: Why Sharing Family Stories Matters Before Downsizing with Bryan Devore

What happens to our memories, our family history, and the stories behind our belongings when we downsize, move, or pass things down, and those stories are never shared? In this episode of Things That Matter, I sit down with senior real estate specialist Bryan Devore for a meaningful conversation about downsizing, senior transitions, and the emotional weight of the things we keep. Bryan shares a powerful personal story about two baseballs he inherited from his grandfather, signed by Los Angeles Dodgers legends Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale. While the baseballs themselves are special, what makes them truly unforgettable is what’s missing: the story behind how his grandfather came to own them. That missing piece becomes a powerful reminder of how easily family history can be lost if it is never shared. Together, Bryan and I explore what really happens during downsizing and major life transitions, especially for seniors moving from long-term homes into smaller spaces or senior living communities. We talk about how overwhelming it can be for families to sort through decades of belongings, and how often they are left trying to make sense of items without understanding the stories attached to them. One of the most important truths from this conversation is simple: without the story, even the most meaningful possessions eventually become just “stuff.” But when we take the time to share the memory, context, and meaning behind what we own, those same items become legacy pieces that connect generations. Bryan also shares insights from his work as a senior real estate specialist, supporting older adults and their families through some of the most emotionally complex transitions of their lives. From downsizing to aging in place to moving into senior living communities, his approach is rooted in education, compassion, and helping families understand their options before they are in crisis. These conversations are not just about real estate or organization; they are about preparing for life transitions with clarity, intention, and care. They are about making space for conversations that too often get delayed until it is too late. If you’ve ever thought about what you or your loved ones will leave behind, not just physically, but emotionally this episode is your reminder to start those conversations now, while stories can still be told and preserved. Because in the end, it’s never really about the things. It’s about the connections, the memories, and the stories that give those things meaning. If you’ve ever struggled with letting go of meaningful belongings or wondered how to preserve family memories for future generations, this conversation is for you. To find out more about this beautiful human doing important healing work in the world visit: www.DevoreRealtyGroup.com [http://www.DevoreRealtyGroup.com] &/or connect on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DevoreRealtyGroup [http://www.Facebook.com/DevoreRealtyGroup] or LinkedIn is www.LinkedIn.com/in/BryanDevore [http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/BryanDevore] ---------------------------------------- Are you looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨ If you were asked “What Things would tell your life story?” What Things would you choose? Look around your home, office & even on yourself …. what Things do you surround yourself with & what stories would they tell? Grab my My Life in 30 Things playsheet to list your Things that matter here: https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/ [https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/] WATCH HERE:  OR LISTEN HERE:

Episode 59: A Championship Ticket & A Family’s Shared Love of Sports with Gerontologist Jacob Kendall

Join Martie McNabb as she welcomes gerontologist Jacob Kendall to discuss the stories behind meaningful objects. This episode explores how college football, family, and changing times shape our memories and values. * Jacob Kendall’s connection to Alabama football and his late father through a championship game ticket * The evolution of college football and its impact on lifelong fans * Navigating feelings about memorabilia, memory, and what we leave behind * The importance of traditions, stories, and community beyond physical keepsakes * Jacob Kendall’s work in gerontology and his Four Dimensional Aging model ---------------------------------------- In this episode of Things That Matter, I, Martie McNabb, sat down with Jacob Kendall, a gerontologist passionate about reframing how we see aging. We kicked things off just like show and tell in elementary school, with Jacob Kendall sharing a deeply meaningful object—a ticket stub from the 2012 BCS National Championship game in New Orleans between “his” team Alabama vs LSU. He told me, “The special part of my fandom is my relationship with my dad,” recalling a lifetime of Alabama football games they attended together. Though his father wasn’t at that particular championship game, the ticket still serves as a powerful reminder: “Even when I see this ticket, even though he wasn’t there, I think about him because that was like a culmination of having grown up as an Alabama fan and I finally got to see them win a national title in person” We explored how the landscape of college football has shifted. Jacob Kendall reflected, “Because of these changes, do you find yourself liking the game less and less? My answer is yes. And all their answers are yes.” Despite his nostalgia, he’s faced with the reality that what tied him so tightly to the sport—his father and the shared rituals—have changed, and so has the sport itself. When I asked what should happen to this treasured ticket stub after he’s gone, Jacob Kendall was candid: “I don’t know that I really care especially… it’s becoming more and more of a memory and less and less of tied to a physical thing”. He emphasized that for his family, traditions and stories matter more than possessions. We rounded out our talk with Jacob Kendall sharing his approach to gerontology, challenging one-dimensional views on aging: “If we don’t embrace that reality, then we’re just not gonna be able to address, adequately address, the challenges that come with an aging population” 19:39. His work encourages us all to see aging through a broader, more positive lens—focusing not on decline but on life’s ever-shifting stories and connections. Don’t forget to subscribe for more thoughtful conversations about the things that shape our lives! To find out more about this beautiful human doing important healing work in the world visit: https://www.jacobevanskendall.com/ Or connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobevanskendall/ or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacobevanskendall/ ---------------------------------------- Are you looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨ If you were asked “What Things would tell your life story?” What Things would you choose? Look around your home, office & even on yourself …. what Things do you surround yourself with & what stories would they tell? Grab my My Life in 30 Things playsheet to list your Things that matter here: https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/ WATCH HERE:  OR LISTEN HERE:

Episode 58: Rugs that tells stories: The Tale of Stripes and Blueberry Muffins with John Davey

As I, Martie McNabb, settle in for another episode of “Things That Matter,” I’m joined by John Davey—a man whose family keepsake is as unique as his story. John sits across from me, a small, handmade rug on his computer screen. He smiles, recalling the Christmas morning surprise when his sister gifted him this hooked rug, unaware that she’d become somewhat of an artist. John describes its “beachy vacation scene” complete with a sailboat, hydrangeas, and a little green house—a nod to childhood vacations on Martha’s Vineyard. But at the center of it all is a detail that makes us both chuckle: a cat named Stripes and a tray of blueberry muffins. As John explains, Stripes had a mischievous habit during their childhood—taking a bite from every muffin left on the table, a story the family still laughs about decades later. We discuss how, now, this rug has been claimed by John’s current cat, Kitty, creating a new chapter in the story. John reflects on the connection between objects and memories, and how the rug, while modest in value, is rich with meaning and family history. It’s not just a piece of décor—it’s a reminder of family life, shared laughter & connection, and the stories that outlast us. Before we wrap, I share ideas for keeping the story alive, perhaps with a sewn-in label or even a QR code, ensuring that long after we’re gone, the tale of Stripes and the blueberry muffins will live on for future generations. Fun Fact: John & his wife Melissa both shared “rug” tales as their Things that matter. Last Oct 2025, I got a chance to walk upon the 100 year old Persian rug that Melissa shared the story of in Episode # I saw the hooked rug in front of their fireplace & just KNEW it told a story too…. I’m so grateful John was willing to be my guest. Family traditions & stories are woven (or hooked) within the very fabric of these pieces of art. John is trying his hand at photography in his third act …. ---------------------------------------- Are you looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨ If you were asked “What Things would tell your life story?” What Things would you choose? Look around your home, office & even on yourself …. what Things do you surround yourself with & what stories would they tell? Grab my My Life in 30 Things playsheet to list your Things that matter here: https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/ WATCH HERE:  OR LISTEN HERE:

Every Passport Tells a Story: Episode 57: John McKenzie on curious Travel and Personal Collections

In this episode of Things That Matter, I welcomed the ever-curious traveler John McKenzie to reminisce about the meaning behind the things we keep. We dove into the stories tucked inside John’s five well-worn passports, each bursting with stamps and memories from across the globe. As John said, “What better symbol to represent places and travel experience than a passport?” He shared how a “spur of the moment” college road trip to Canada kicked off his adventures, and how a special Peace Corps passport carried him to Uzbekistan—a transformative chapter that “would of course completely change my life.” We explored John’s passion for being present where history is unfolding, like his recent trip to Syria, explaining, “I want to see history take place in a place like that…it’s rare that you have that opportunity.” For John, these passport stamps are “powerful storytelling tools,” connecting his childhood dreams of stamp collecting to real-life experiences around the world. John’s travels have inspired his latest venture—CuriosiTrips—encouraging others to “just be more curious and take that little tiny step towards something that’s maybe not familiar or just outside of your comfort zone.” Through it all, we reminded each other that the real value isn’t in the Things themselves, but the stories attached. As I shared, “It isn’t that things matter really, it’s the stories that get attached to them that often do.” John McKenzie, aka John the Traveler, shares the stories behind the Thing that matter most to him —his passports and the transformation they represent. John shares how curiosity and collecting postage stamps led him to explore the world, one stamp at a time. What you’ll hear in this episode: * The inspiration behind John’s lifelong passion for travel and curiosity * Stories behind memorable passport stamps, from Canada to Syria * How travel artifacts like passports can become powerful storytelling tools * The impact of global events on travel decisions and collecting memories * John’s latest project, CuriosiTrips, and how you can connect with his adventures Don’t forget to subscribe for more thoughtful conversations about the things that shape our lives! To find out more about this beautiful curious world wanderer visit: https://johnthetraveler.com/ Reach out directly to curious@johnthetraveler.com And follow on Facebook & Instagram @johnthecurioustraveler ---------------------------------------- Are you looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨ If you were asked “What Things would tell your life story?” What Things would you choose? Look around your home, office & even on yourself …. what Things do you surround yourself with & what stories would they tell? Grab my My Life in 30 Things playsheet to list your Things that matter here: https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/ WATCH HERE:  OR LISTEN HERE:

Episode 56: From Drag Queen Story Hour to Queer History: Rev Yolanda’s Journey of Love and Loss

On a crisp Vermont afternoon, I sat down with my friend Rev Yolanda for a special episode of “Things That Matter.” I kicked things off by recalling our unforgettable first meeting in Prospect Heights—a tall, vibrant woman in high heels and a big wig who dashed across Flatbush Avenue and into my life for good. Rev Yolanda brought her “show and tell”: a custom children’s storybook called “Glen’s Adventures,” honoring her late husband Glen. As she shared the story, Yolanda described how she had been Glen’s perfect sidekick and how the book, filled with their shared love of sci-fi, helped her heal and keep his memory close. “It’s not a loss, it’s a change in our relationship,” she reflected, reminding us that the people we love remain part of our story. I was grateful, not being a parent, to have my first experience of listening to my beautiful friend read a children’s book for Drag Queen Story Hour. We spoke about the importance of preserving both personal and LGBTQIA+ histories—how our homes and collections become living museums, and why legacy matters. Before closing, Yolanda shared how listeners can connect with her music and creative work, inviting everyone to add their voices to the ongoing tapestry of stories that truly matter. And as always, our conversation ended with gratitude—and the reminder that it’s the stories we attach to things, and the legacies we leave behind, that shape history. Rev Yolanda is a trans femme gender queer singer-songwriter, interfaith minister & actor who lives on a piece of land in Vermont that she & Glen bought in 2022 to build their forever home. Yolanda is slowly building her life without Glen’s physical presence. He will be forever in her heart. Find out more & listen to her music here: Yolanda.net or RevYolanda.com ---------------------------------------- Are you looking to build deeper connections, community & legacy with your employees, volunteers, donors, community, alumni, family, friends, residents, team or event participants? Hire me to host a unique story-sharing gathering, playshop, exhibition or retreat. Email me at martie at showandtales dot com Have a story of a special item you’d love to share? Reach out to Martie McNabb at info at showandtales dot com and be part of a future episode with the Subject line: Podcast Guest✨ If you were asked “What Things would tell your life story?” What Things would you choose? Look around your home, office & even on yourself …. what Things do you surround yourself with & what stories would they tell? Grab my My Life in 30 Things playsheet to list your Things that matter here: https://www.showandtales.com/30-things-story/ WATCH HERE:  OR LISTEN HERE: