Ep. 213 - Neil Taylor: Me and My Old Man...and My Son

Neil Taylor’s father, Patrick, died in March 2021. Six days later, Neil’s son was born and given Patrick as his middle name. Caught between grief and new life, Neil realized that his son would never know his grandfather unless Neil found a way to carry Patrick’s voice and story forward.

That realization became Me & My Old Man, a 12-week guided storytelling experience that helps families preserve the voices, memories, and life stories of the people they love.

In this episode, Neil joins Stories from Real Life to talk about grief, fatherhood, family legacy, and what more than 350 hours of listening to ordinary people’s stories has taught him about love, memory, regret, and the questions families often wait too long to ask.

About Neil Taylor

Neil Taylor is the founder of Me & My Old Man, a family storytelling project created after the death of his father, Patrick. Through guided conversations, Neil helps families record and preserve the stories of parents, grandparents, and loved ones in their own voices.

His work has now reached 32 families across six countries, with more than 350 hours of recorded life stories.

In This Episode

Melvin and Neil discuss:

* Losing a father just days before becoming a father

* Why Neil felt responsible for helping his son know the grandfather he would never meet

* The difference between remembering someone and truly understanding their life

* Why ordinary people often carry extraordinary stories

* What families discover when they finally sit down and really listen

* The questions people should ask their parents and loved ones before it is too late

* How grief can become a bridge between generations

* What 350+ hours of family conversations taught Neil about love, regret, and legacy

Memorable Themes

Most family stories are not lost dramatically. They disappear quietly — through silence, assumptions, and unasked questions.

This conversation reminds us that the people closest to us may still be carrying entire lives we have never fully heard. Parents are more than parents. Grandparents are more than family roles. They are people with fears, dreams, disappointments, choices, sacrifices, and stories that deserve to be heard while their voices can still tell them.

Listener Challenge

After listening to this episode, ask someone you love one meaningful question about their life.

Start with one of these:

* What is a story from your life you hope our family never forgets?

* What was a time when you were scared but kept going?

* What do you wish people understood about the life you lived before they knew you?

Guest Link

Learn more about Neil Taylor and Me & My Old Man:meandmyoldman.co.uk

Episode Keywords

Neil Taylor, Me & My Old Man, family stories, oral history, fatherhood, grief, legacy, preserving family history, recording parents’ stories, family memory, storytelling, life stories, parent interviews, preserving a loved one’s voice, Stories from Real Life.

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