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Quesnel grandparents remembered in generational podcast

Stories from Grandparents features interviews from people about and with their grandparents
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Talisa Pirri shared stories of her Nonna and Nonno, Francesco and Antonietta Pirri, in a podcast hosted by a former Quesnel resident. (Stories from Grandparents Facebook Photo)

Talisa Pirri Bauzon’s grandma’s favourite holiday was Christmas, so it made perfect sense a podcast remembering her “Nonna and Nonno” was released in December.

Bauzon was featured in Episode 12 of the Stories from Grandparents podcast, which is hosted and produced by Robin MacEwan, who was also born in Quesnel.

The podcast features interviews with people of all ages talking about, and sometimes with, their grandparents.

In the podcast, Bauzon explained she was raised by her grandparents, Francesco and Antonietta Pirri, from birth. She recalled stories of her nonna’s baking and her nonno’s soccer coaching in the 23-minute episode.

“Everything I am today is because of them,” Bauzon said. “They raised me right from when I was born. They took me from the hospital because my Mom had me when she was really young, and they knew they could give me a better life and a better upbringing.”

For people with grandparents as parental figures, they’re struck by the pain of losing them earlier than most. Bauzon’s grandma died when she was 24.

“Nothing prepares you for that. When my grandma did pass away, it was very sudden, and it was very unexpected and we were all very shocked,” she said. “I lost two — that’s why it hurt so bad.”

Bauzon’s grandma died when she had a sudden heart attack. Her grandpa died a few years later, after being in and out of the hospital. Bauzon said doctors called her his “good luck charm.”

“He was really bad in the hospital, and the second I came, the doctor said he was 60 per cent better the next day,” Bauzon said.

He was discharged three days later.

“As traumatic as they both were, at least I got to be with them until their last seconds,” Bauzon said.

Bauzon’s story is one of 14 featured in the first season of Stories from Grandparents.

“I had a job where I did a lot of driving, and [I would listen to podcasts] to occupy myself and also call my grandma,” MacEwan said. “[My grandma] was so sweet to have on the other end of the phone. I thought ‘what if everyone could have this experience in a podcast.’”

MacEwan is in the middle of recruiting guests for a second season, and she is hoping to have more episodes formatted like the final episode of the season. That episode features a four-year-old interviewing her grandmother.

Bauzon ended her episode by giving a message to anyone who could still talk with their grandparents.

“Because they’ve been through it all or or they’re just older and wise, I don’t know what it is, but just always listen to them because they know,” she said. “Whatever they say, just do it or listen.”

While MacEwan came up with the idea for the podcast before a global pandemic, she said it fit in perfect for one, especially in the holiday season.

“Everyone’s isolated — people are craving family connections, and it does fit in with quarantine listening habits,” she said. “People wanting to feel a connections. That’s what great about podcasts — you feel like you’re hanging out with a friend even when you’re alone. We wanted people to feel like they are hanging out with their grandma.”

Stories from Grandparents is available on all major podcast platforms and through storiesfromgrandparents.com.

Reporter’s note: This is a reminder to everyone to call their grandparents more often.

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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com


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cassidy.dankochik@quesnelobserver.com

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