Introduction
Episode 1

The Story & Experience Podcast Host, Japhet De Oliveira:

Welcome to The Story & Experience Podcast. In the ancient times, and by ancient, I mean pre-COVID world to my childhood in the early 1970s, people would gather together for what we would refer to as a cup of tea. They would meet up in a cafe, or they'd meet up after church, or walking in the high street, or better yet in your living room. There was no preparation, there was no script, there was no expectation. Literally stories were shared, and some may call it a little bit of a whinge, or a gossip, or news.

And in those moments, experiences were created. Memories that would take you to the next time. That's how I'd like you to think about these podcasts. I want you just to push a pause button, and imagine you're with a couple of friends who are just getting to know each other. They have a cup of tea, they're sitting down in the living room, and they're just no preparation, no script, no expectation other than they're sharing some stories. Of course, we'd have a lot more time normally in life. But with this short space, I've just added a little assistance to the conversation. And the only assistance is that I have 100 questions. Now you're thinking, "How are we going to get through 100 questions in 30 minutes?" Well, the first 10 are the same for everyone. What's your name? That kind of stuff, really simple.

Questions 11 to 100 though, there a guest gets to pick which numbers they want as time allows us. And what you should know is that as you get closer to 100, it is harder. I would not recommend question 100, because that's the hardest and most vulnerable out of them. So they'll go back and forth between 11 and 100 and choose as many as time allows us. Today all that we are at this very moment is a culmination of the stories and experiences of those before us, and everything your heart and mind has absorbed over time. So I invite you to listen to the simple, the complex, the deep, the light, but always beautiful stories that shape us, our families, and communities. Welcome to the Story and Experience podcast series.