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The death of a family member or friend not only brings sadness to loved ones but also a desire to share a special moment or hear their voice again.
All too often, the only lasting memories of the times spent together are photos and other memorabilia stored away in closets or dresser drawers.
In the case of Boca Raton entrepreneur Brian Howie, a voice message left on his cellphone that he had not deleted led to a life-changing business decision.
“Two years ago, a friend of mine passed away, and a short time later I happened to be going through the messages on my phone and found one from him,” said Howie, the founder of the PodPopuli studio in downtown Boca Raton. “That sparked an idea.”
PodPopuli offers creative and production services, giving all members of the community support and tools to find their voice, their message, and their audience. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
With all the technology and resources already in place at his podcast business, Howie decided to branch out and produce all-encompassing audio albums in which older people could share for posterity their favorite experiences, wisdom, and life lessons for future generations.
Thus the creation of Posterity Podcasts in which participants and their family members gather at his Royal Palm Place studio and, in a series of one-hour sessions, recapture a lifetime of memories that will serve as a lasting legacy.
“How often have you heard those who have lost someone close to them say they wish they could hear them laugh or see them smile just one more time?” Howie said. “Well, that got me thinking ‘why don’t my producers and I make a concerted effort to do something so they never have to ask that question again?’”
On a recent Wednesday, Howie greeted Steve and Elaine Perlmutter and their daughter Alana Weinstein for the first session in the podcast process that is more like a casual conversation than a standard question-and-answer-type interview.
For Steve Perlmutter, 73, recounting all of the major changes and dramatic situations during his lifetime was a self-described awakening.
Steven Perlmutter records a podcast at PodPopuli in Boca Raton. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“It was a profound experience in so many ways,” he said. “The Vietnam War, President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Robert Kennedy’s assassination, Martin Luther King’s assassination…all the changes in technology. The world has changed so much.”
Elaine Perlmutter, 67, said that as the session progressed, more of the Boynton Beach couple’s memories came out in vivid detail. She said she is delighted that future generations will be able to know the world through her and Steve’s experiences.
Elaine and Steven Perlmutter record their podcast with help from their daughter Alana Weinstein at PodPopuli in Boca Raton. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“I thought to myself (while doing the podcast) how terrific this is and what a great gift this will be for my family and friends,” she said.
That gift was provided to her parents by Alana Weinstein, who lives in Lake Worth.
“This is amazing,” said Weinstein, who like so many of those involved with setting up and arranging the posterity podcasts for their loved ones have been left in awe.
“When Brian (Howie) first presented this to me, I thought, ‘this is fantastic,’” she said. “I want their memories to live on through this…I want to hear my parents tell our bedtime stories through their own voices.”
Even something as simple as making a favorite meal from a family recipe takes on a much greater significance when it is part of an audio album.
“Sure, you could look up the recipe but it won’t have that voice telling you to add a pinch of this or a dash of that, and I think those types of things can be treasured through these albums,” Weinstein said.
Elaine Perlmutter recounted the reaction she received after putting her photo and some details of their upcoming podcast on social media.
Elaine Perlmutter records a podcast. (Carline Jean / South Florida Sun Sentinel)
“(Many) of my friends replied ‘what a great idea’ and ‘I can’t wait to also make one’ and that really gave me the realization that I was doing something special,” she said. “If (others) don’t take advantage of something like this, it’s going to be their loss in terms of capturing all those great memories of their own family.”
The Posterity Podcast can include more than just conversations about one’s personal life.
“I would like my grandchildren to know a little more about how special my grandparents were to me growing up,” Steve Perlmutter said. “It’s just priceless what these albums will mean to those generations that come after you.”
Being a veteran of the podcast business and with studios throughout the United States, Howie and his team of producers and directors use painstaking care in putting together each album.
The end result of about five hours of recording in total, the personalized eight-chapter albums can include favorite songs, photos, and even videos of fun or important occasions.
Once all the sessions are finished, producers go through everything and arrange the eight chapters based on topics and timelines, which makes for a smooth and enjoyable all-around life story.
“The final product is so thorough and comprehensive that clients who see them for the first time often become very emotional,” Howie said. “They call and tell me how grateful they are to have this lasting keepsake.”
Sessions can be performed in Howie’s Boca Raton studio, at the clients’ home, at a senior center, or even at a favorite setting like a park or restaurant.
“Regardless of where it takes place, we create an atmosphere where the participants are at ease and don’t feel uncomfortable,” Howie said. “They talk about things like their childhood, their favorite stories, their marriage, their jobs, their grandparents and their grandchildren.”
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The recordings are not only rewarding for the clients but also for Howie and the other interviewers on his team.
“(The seniors) are absolutely fascinating,” Howie said. “(Posterity Podcasts) are the most rewarding series of projects I’ve ever worked on; you learn so much and especially about what really matters to people.”
Howie is no stranger to success in podcast ventures. His PodPopuli business at 295 SE Mizner Blvd. in Boca Raton specializes in developing shows involving all types of personalities including celebrities, coaches, mothers, fathers, teachers, hobbyists, students, therapists, and community leaders.
“We are so happy to have expanded our business with this valuable creative outlet to such an amazing generation of senior citizens,” said Howie, adding he was overwhelmed by the response he and his team have received over the last few months.
The complete package is $1,500, which includes not only the entire album but also a year of upgrades in the event a new grandchild is born or there is some other post-podcast event that warrants inclusion.
