Help

What is Stories We Carry?

It's an app for iPhone and iPad that asks you about your life, one question at a time. You answer by talking. There's nothing to type and nothing to read.

Your words are kept for you. You can get a written copy whenever you like.

Am I talking to a real person?

No. You're talking with an AI interviewer. It says so before your first conversation, and the screen always says "You're talking with an AI interviewer."

If you ask how it works, it will tell you plainly.

How do I open the app?

Tap Stories We Carry on your Home Screen.

If the screen is hard to see, you can ask Siri. Say "Hey Siri, open Stories We Carry." Or press and hold the side button, then say "Open Stories We Carry." On some iPads, it's the top button or the Home button.

A family member can set this up for you in a few minutes.

What do I need?

An iPhone or an iPad, and Wi-Fi or a phone signal. A quiet spot helps. Turn the volume up.

Can I talk in another language?

Not yet. Today it speaks and listens in English only.

Spanish is the first language we'd like to add. If you'd like to talk in Spanish or another language, write to us at hello@storieswecarry.app. Tell us the language and who would use it. We'll keep a list and let you know when there's something to try.

How do I answer a question?

Wait for the question to finish. Tap "Tap to Answer" at the bottom of the screen. Then talk. When you're done, tap "Done Talking." It's in the same spot on the screen.

If you use VoiceOver, a two-finger double-tap starts your answer and stops it.

What if I forget to tap "Done Talking"?

That's all right. If it records something you didn't mean to say, it will tell you. It won't repeat it. You can ask to have it removed.

Can I pause, say "um," or start over in the middle?

Yes. It's a conversation, not a recording session. You don't need to plan what to say.

Is it all right to wander off the subject?

Yes, please do. Some of the best stories come from a side road. One memory leads to another, and the interviewer follows you there.

It listens for the parts worth hearing more about. Often it will come back to one of them later and ask a little more.

What if I don't remember?

Just say so. "I don't remember" is a fine answer. It will ask about something else.

Can I choose what we talk about?

Yes. Say what you'd like to talk about. For example, "Let's talk about my mission," or "Ask me about my first job." It will go there.

There's no list of questions to get through.

Is there a topic I can ask it never to bring up?

Yes. Say it once. For example, "Please never ask me about the war years." It will say, kindly, that it won't come up again. If you bring it up yourself later, it will follow you.

Your family never sees that list.

Can we come back to something later?

Yes. Say "let's come back to that." It may offer it at the start of your next visit. It's always your choice.

How do I stop?

Tap "Stop For Now." It's always on the screen. Or just say "I'd like to stop."

If the text on your screen is very large, you may need to scroll down to reach "Stop For Now."

How long should a conversation be?

As long or as short as you like. There's no schedule and no reminders. Talk when you feel like it.

Will it remember me next time?

Yes. It remembers what you've told it and picks up where you left off. If you come back on a later day, it welcomes you back.

To start fresh after you stop, tap "Start a New Conversation."

What if I tap "Done Talking" before I say anything?

In the newest version of the app, it says "I didn't catch anything. Tap when you're ready." You're back at the same question, and nothing is saved.

It got a name wrong. How do I fix it?

Say who it is and spell the name once, letter by letter. For example, "My daughter Annalise, A-N-N-A-L-I-S-E." It will use your spelling from then on. So will your written copy.

You can also just correct it: "It's Annalise, not what you have there."

Can I ask it to call someone by a certain name?

Yes. Say, for example, "Please call him Grandpa Joe." It will remember that in later visits too.

Can I change or redo an answer?

Not yet. If you'd like an answer removed, see "Can I delete something I said earlier?" below.

What if I'd rather something not be kept?

Start your answer with "off the record." The interviewer still listens, so it can answer you. But nothing from that answer is kept. It's not saved, not remembered, and never in your written copy or anything your family sees.

I already said it. Can I take it back?

Yes, if it was your last answer. Right after, say "Don't keep that." That answer is removed.

Can I delete something I said earlier?

Not by yourself yet. Write to us at hello@storieswecarry.app, or ask a family member to write for you. Say which conversation it was and what it was about. We'll remove it.

Is my voice kept?

Only if you said yes. Before your first conversation, the app asks whether to keep recordings of your voice. You could choose "Yes, keep my voice" or "No, just the words."

Can I hear my own answers?

Yes, from the private link in your email. Each answer with a recording has its own play button. Press it to hear that answer in your own voice.

Not in the app itself yet.

Coming: a way to play your recordings one after another, in order.

Will anyone call me asking for money or my password?

No. We will never call, text, or email you to ask for money or your password. If someone does, it isn't us.

Are my stories sold, or used to train AI?

No. Your stories are never sold, and never used to train AI.

Who can hear my stories?

Only you, unless you choose to share.

How do I share my stories with family?

Email yourself your stories, as described below. You can forward that email to anyone you like. Anyone who has the links in it can read your stories and play your recordings, so forward it with care.

Can I find out who has listened?

Yes. Opening the link is not recorded. But each time someone plays one of your recordings, we note which recording, when, and which link was used. We keep that for 13 months.

To ask who has listened, write to privacy@storieswecarry.app. If a link has reached someone you didn't intend, we can turn it off.

The app asked if someone in my family may hear my stories. What does that mean?

A family member would like to read and listen to the stories you tell. The app asks you first, in plain words. Nothing is shared with them unless you say yes.

Saying "not now" is fine. No one is told no.

Coming: the family website, where they would read and listen, is not open yet.

How do I stop sharing with someone?

Say so in a conversation. For example, "Stop sharing my stories with Sam." The app will ask you to be sure. From then on, they won't hear anything new. What they already heard can't be taken back.

Coming: a "Who Can Hear My Stories" button after a conversation. It will list each person you said yes to, with a "Stop Sharing" button beside each one.

How do I get a written copy of my stories?

After you stop, tap "Email Me My Conversations." Then tap "Yes, send it to me."

The email goes only to your own email address. It doesn't hold your answers itself. It has two private links:

• Your whole transcript. It's always up to date.
• What's new since your last email.

Each link opens a page where you can read your answers, search them, and play each answer's recording. There's also a button to download a copy in big, clear print, to read or print.

Do I lose anything if I don't email every time?

No. The next email catches up on everything since the last one.

The "what's new" link stops working when your next email arrives. The whole-transcript link keeps working until you ask us to turn it off.

Why are some words wrong in my copy?

The app turns speech into writing, and it can mishear words, especially unusual names. Spell a name once in a conversation, and your copy will use your spelling from then on.

What if I'm having a hard time?

You can tell the interviewer. If you're struggling, it will offer the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. It will stay with you if you want to keep talking.

You can also stop any time. Tap "Stop For Now," or say "I'd like to stop."

The words on the screen are too small.

The app follows the text size on your iPhone or iPad. To make it bigger, open Settings. Tap Accessibility, then Display and Text Size, then Larger Text.

It says "Please sign in once more. Your stories are safe."

Your stories are safe. Sign in with your email address and your Stories We Carry password. The password is in the email called "Your Stories We Carry sign-in." A family member can help.

It says it can't connect, and shows "Try Again."

Check that you have Wi-Fi or a phone signal. Then tap "Try Again."

Who can I ask for help?

Write to us at hello@storieswecarry.app. That address is also at the bottom of the screen after you tap "Stop For Now." A family member can write for you.

What is Stories We Carry, and who is it for?

It's an app for iPhone and iPad that interviews your parent about their life, one question at a time, by voice. Your parent talks; the app listens, asks a good next question, and keeps their words. It's built for people who would rather talk than type, including people with low vision.

It's best for people 18 and older.

What does my parent need?

• An iPhone or iPad with iOS 17 or later (iPadOS 17 or later on an iPad). To check, open Settings, tap General, then About, and look at iOS Version (iPadOS Version on an iPad).
• Wi-Fi or a phone signal.
• A quiet place to talk.

It works on an iPhone or an iPad. An iPad's bigger screen can help a parent who has trouble seeing. It doesn't work on Android phones or tablets, computers, landlines or flip phones.

Can my parent talk in another language?

Not yet. Today it speaks and listens in English only.

Spanish is the first language we'd like to add. If your parent, or someone else in your family, would like to talk in Spanish or another language, write to hello@storieswecarry.app. Tell us the language and who would use it. We'll keep a list and let you know when there's something to try.

How much does it cost?

It's free during the beta. Pricing isn't set yet. When paid plans come, they'll be a single yearly payment that doesn't renew on its own.

Can I buy it as a gift?

Not yet. During the beta, people join by invitation. Write to hello@storieswecarry.app and tell us a little about who it's for.

Can both of my parents use it?

Yes. Each person gets their own account, so their stories stay separate. The beta is free for both.

Will my parent actually use it?

There are no reminders, streaks, or reading or typing to do, so there's nothing to keep up with. Your parent can talk for five minutes or an hour, today or next month. Results vary. If it doesn't suit your parent, tell us and we'll help.

How long does setup take?

About 15 minutes, once. If your parent has trouble seeing the screen, plan on 10 more minutes for the helper steps below. After that, your parent just opens the app and talks.

The step-by-step guide is at storieswecarry.app/start. Open it on the iPhone or iPad you're setting up.

Why are there two emails and two passwords?

During the beta, the app comes through TestFlight, Apple's free app for trying apps before they're in the App Store. So there are two emails:

• One from TestFlight, to install the app.
• One from Stories We Carry, called "Your Stories We Carry sign-in," with your parent's password.

If the App Store or TestFlight asks for a password, it wants your parent's Apple Account password. If Stories We Carry asks, use the password from the Stories We Carry email.

My parent can't see the screen well. What should I set up?

Before you hand the iPhone or iPad back:

1. Turn on Siri, and practice "Hey Siri, open Stories We Carry" together until it works.
2. Optional, on an iPhone: set up Back Tap, so two taps on the back of the phone open the app.
3. Move the app to the bottom row of the Home Screen, on the left (on an iPad, the Dock), and make icons Large.
4. Turn the volume up.
5. Hand it back and ask your parent to open the app alone. When they hear the first question, you're done.

Many people won't say they can't find an app, so don't wait to be asked. Full steps are on the start page, under "For the helper."

What happens the first time my parent opens it?

The app reads two short notes aloud. The first explains that an AI holds the conversation and that stories are never used to train AI. The second asks whether to keep recordings of your parent's voice: "Yes, keep my voice" or "No, just the words." That choice is your parent's.

Then the first question begins. The app asks to use the microphone the first time your parent answers. Tap Allow.

What should I tell my parent about using it?

Five things cover most of it:

• Tap "Tap to Answer," talk, then tap "Done Talking."
• Say what you'd like to talk about. "Let's talk about my mission" works any time.
• Spell an unusual name once, letter by letter, and it keeps that spelling.
• Start an answer with "off the record," and nothing from it is kept.
• Tap "Stop For Now," or say "I'd like to stop."

The storyteller help has the rest, written to be read aloud.

Do I have to schedule or run anything?

No. After setup, there's nothing to schedule, edit or manage.

Can it send my parent reminders?

No. That's on purpose. Your parent talks when they want to.

How do I know whether my parent is using it?

Today, only if your parent tells you or shares a written copy with you.

Coming: on the family website, and only after your parent says yes to you looking after the account, you'll see how many conversations they've had and about how long they've talked. Never what was said, never a streak, and never a count of days missed.

Can I read my parent's stories?

Only if your parent chooses to share them. Setting up the account, or paying for it, doesn't include reading it. That's your parent's choice.

Today, your parent can share by forwarding the email they get from the app. It has a private link to a page where you can read and search their answers, play each answer's recording, and download a large-print copy. Opening the link isn't recorded. Each play of a recording is logged by link, and your parent can ask us who has listened.

Coming: a family website where you can read and listen. The app asks your parent first, in plain words, whether you may. Looking after the account and reading the stories are two separate yeses.

Can I invite other family members?

Coming: on the family website, you'll be able to invite family by email. Nothing is shared with them until your parent says yes to each person.

Can I send my parent questions to answer?

Not yet. For now, your parent can steer the conversation anywhere by saying so, like "Ask me about the farm."

Can I get a printed book?

Not yet. Today, the private link in your parent's email has a button to download a large-print PDF. You can print it at home or at a print shop.

The app is asking for an update, or stopped opening.

During the beta, new versions come through TestFlight. Open TestFlight and tap Update next to Stories We Carry. Your parent's stories stay safe through updates. A beta version stops working after 90 days, so keep it updated.

Is my parent talking to a real person?

No, an AI interviewer. The app says so before the first conversation, and the screen always says "You're talking with an AI interviewer."

What happens to what my parent says?

It's kept private to your parent's account. It's never sold, never shared with advertisers, and never used to train AI. Recordings are encrypted and stored separately for each person. The full privacy policy is at storieswecarry.app/privacy.

What if my parent says something upsetting, or is having a hard time?

The interviewer is built to handle hard moments with care. If your parent is struggling, it offers the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and stays with them if they want to keep talking.

It also stays on your parent's story. It politely declines politics and unkind content.

Could someone pretend to be Stories We Carry to scam my parent?

We will never call, text or email your parent to ask for money or a password. In each of the first three conversations, the app tells your parent so: "Your stories are private to you. We never sell them. And we will never call, text, or email you to ask for money or your password." It's worth saying again in your own words.

Can my parent keep something private?

Yes. Starting an answer with "off the record" means nothing from that answer is kept. Saying "don't keep that" right after an answer removes it. Saying "never ask me about" a topic means it won't come up again. Family never sees that list.

How do I delete an answer, a conversation or everything?

Write to privacy@storieswecarry.app. Your parent can ask, or you can ask for them. It's gone from the app, and from their private link page, right away. Recordings are permanently deleted within 7 days, and backups age out within 35 days. Copies already emailed or printed are outside our reach.

Can my parent change their mind about sharing?

Yes, any time. Your parent can say "stop sharing my stories with" a person in any conversation. From then on, that person won't see anything new. What they already read can't be taken back.

The invitation email from Apple never came.

It can take a few minutes. Look in Junk or Spam, and search for "TestFlight." Check any other email address your parent uses. Still nothing? Write to hello@storieswecarry.app and we'll send it again.

My parent can't sign in.

Try typing the password instead of pasting it. Capital letters matter. If it still doesn't work, write to hello@storieswecarry.app.

If the app says "Please sign in once more. Your stories are safe," your parent's stories are fine. Sign in again with the same email and password.

The app can't hear my parent.

The microphone may be off. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Stories We Carry, and turn on Microphone.

Who do I contact?

Write to hello@storieswecarry.app. For a privacy or deletion request, write to privacy@storieswecarry.app.

Someone in my family sent me a link to their stories. What is it?

The storyteller has been recording their life stories by talking with Stories We Carry, an app for iPhone and iPad that interviews people by voice. They can email themselves a copy of what they've told it. That email has private links to their stories, and they chose to send it to you.

Do I need an account, a password or an app?

No. The link opens a page in your web browser. There's nothing to sign in to.

How do I read it or print it?

Open the link. The page shows the answers the storyteller has kept, each conversation under its date. You can read them there and search them.

To print, tap the button to download the large-print copy. It's set in big, clear type, made for people with low vision.

Who else can open this link?

Anyone who has it. The link is the key, so please don't pass it on unless the storyteller would want you to.

A copy you download or print is outside our protection. Please share it the way the storyteller would want.

Why are some words wrong?

The app turns speech into writing, and it can mishear words, especially unusual names. When the storyteller spells a name aloud once, later copies use that spelling.

Can I fix a word, or add a note?

Not yet. If something matters, tell the storyteller. They can spell a name aloud in their next conversation.

An answer I read before is gone. Why?

The storyteller can remove answers. The link only shows answers they've kept.

Can I listen to the recordings?

Yes, if the storyteller chose to keep recordings of their voice. Each answer with a recording has its own play button on the link page.

Each time you press play, we note which recording, when, and which link was used. See "Does the storyteller know I opened the link?" below.

Coming: a way to play the recordings one after another, in order.

Can I ask the storyteller a question through the app?

Not yet. You're welcome to suggest a topic in person. They can steer any conversation by saying, for example, "Let's talk about the farm."

Does the storyteller know I opened the link?

Opening the link isn't recorded. The link needs no account, and we don't know who you are.

Playing a recording is recorded. We keep a listening log: which recording, when, and which link was used. Never anything about where you were. Each entry is deleted after 13 months. The storyteller can ask us who has listened.

The link doesn't work anymore. Why?

A "what's new" link stops working when the storyteller's next email arrives. Ask the storyteller for their whole-transcript link instead. The storyteller may also have asked us to turn a link off.

Can the link be turned off?

Yes. The storyteller can ask us to turn it off by writing to privacy@storieswecarry.app.

Who do I contact with a question?

Write to hello@storieswecarry.app.