To the young mind, every thing is individual, stands by itself. By and by, it finds how to join two things, and see in them one nature; then three, then three thousand; and so, tyrannized over by its own unifying instinct, it goes on tying things together, diminishing anomalies, discovering roots running under ground, whereby contrary and remote things cohere, and flower out from one stem. -Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The American Scholar”

This quote from a speech written and delivered in 1837 inspired Freeman Tilden to pull an excerpt to begin his chapter “For the Younger Mind” in Interpreting Our Heritage. Freeman was concerned with age appropriate delivery as well as content and encouraged interpreters to approach programs for children and adults in completely different manners. I often wonder what he would think of the growing pockets of interpretive environments that seem to have abandoned dedicated adult programming altogether.

What message does it send to staff when an institution chips away at adult programming and funnels the resources into children’s programming? What values are signaled to the community when programs are only offered during business hours on weekdays? Does neglecting our adult audiences hinder our ability to recruit volunteers?

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This podcast episode allowed me to explore an aspect of interpretation that I’m very passionate about. In the past two years that I have been working on Left Hand Guide, I have come across many interpreters that feel the same way I do. I also come across adults outside the field who are curious and interested in learning but far too restless for a lecture.

Adults are also interested in taboo subjects. This explains the popularity of content creators such as Dr. Esme James who have tapped into the titilating questions modern audiences have about how our ancestors got it on. Is there a respectable way to explore hidden history with mature audiences at our heritage sites?

Sometimes we’re filled with morbid curiosity. One time I was visiting a zoo, and an educator was outside the giraffe enclosure, taking questions from the audience. While I watched the graceful, massive animals graze their treetops, a bitter query formed in my ever logistical mind. I waited patiently until most of the children were distracted by Dippin’ Dots to whisper my question: What happens to the big animals like giraffes, elephants, and rhinos when they die? And I savored the hushed answer, glad that I found an opportunity to ask another adult about death in the lull between groups of children.

Historic sites and museums could do better about providing opportunities for adults to be curious without worrying about negatively influencing children. Much subject matter is gatekept in modern society, using childhood innocence as an excuse to keep everyone uninformed forever. Maybe the answer is to offer events with specific age requirements to create an environment where adults can explore their interests.

At the very least, different marketing approaches or scheduling could send a signal that child-free adults are actually welcome at these events. Children may enjoy museums and heritage sites, but they lack the agency to return to them on their own. However, if an adult enjoys one of these sites, they may return multiple times. They will tell and bring their friends. They have the agency to change your site’s traffic, funding, and reputation. They are the ones with voting power. Remind them that history matters.

The office of the scholar is to cheer, to raise, and to guide men by showing them facts amidst appearances. - Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The American Scholar”

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We also discussed techniques for training frontline roles and her experience interpreting urban slavery. There is plenty more from our interview coming up in upcoming topical episodes…

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We’ve already heard Scott and I talk about using media trends to figure out what stories The Audience finds popular on S1E2 Who Are We. This episode is about making a more effective delivery.

What can your site offer an audience flooded with information?

Maybe what they need is a reason to put their phones down.

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When I drive through neighborhoods, I notice patterns. Suddenly everyone gets rid of their desk chairs in the same month. For sales signs multiply overnight. The noise of hammers and saws coming from all directions for 6 months. It seems like ground that was broken around the same time carries harmonic vibration. Changes ripple from a sympathetic epicenter based on human choices.

Studying the history of a city block by block will reveal similar patterns, and a curious mind will wander through the back alleys looking for the characters responsible. I’ve found in my research that business relationships often led to matrimony. Organizational charts and family trees were perfect circles. The ties that bind were numerous and overlapping for our ancestors.

I remember asking Nanny how all the characters on Days of Our Lives knew each other. Modern audiences are intrigued by the social web of our historic sites. They want to hear the gossip, scandals, and secrets whispered from generation to generation. Lean into the drama.

Lean into your own community. Who wants to help you? Who can you help? Left Hand Guide was built with the help of my friends. It was created to help my friends. Seek partnerships by getting involved in movements that already exist in your town. If you want to understand how to attract volunteers, volunteer for a local charity and pay attention to what you get from it. Explore the possibilities in your zip code to connect with your audience. Meet them where they are and invite them back to your site.

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Based on responses, discussions during the podcast interviews, and conversations at ALHFAM 2025, I have updated the survey and changed its name. This version is open to everyone, and some responses may be used for presentation purposes. This change was based on feedback; some respondents felt that this sort of compiled data could be useful if shared. So I came up with some specific questions while keeping anonymity in mind, and any question can be skipped. No e-mail addresses are being collected.

The original survey was mostly shared with department heads and other museum leaders. Upon reviewing the results, I became curious at how different support might look for frontline interpreters - even interns and volunteers. For example do those critical employees feel as supported by their leaders? Do they have more insight on visitor demographics and interactions? Questions have been added so that I can easily filter responses based on employee type to see what professionals at different career levels need in terms of support.

I encourage you to respond and share this survey with anyone that has insight into the changing world of historical museums and living history sites.

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Thanks in advance,

In late 2024, I ran into an old coworker from museum life named Scott at one of our favorite coffee shops. We’ve run into each other there several times and almost always yap for hours. He was one of the first people I told about my idea to become an independent museum professional, and he was very supportive. During our winter visit, his whole demeanor shifted. He perked up like a freshly watered plant, and as we said our goodbyes, he commented on how much better he felt after talking to me.

That was when I knew the podcast should be the first service I offered.

Scott isn’t the first person to tell me they felt better after talking to me. The ability to hold space for others and put them at ease is probably my biggest strength (and at times a curse). Colleagues from multiple departments took their lunch in my office to chat while I worked. Strangers open up to me. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard, “I’ve never told anyone this before, but I feel like you’ll understand,” I could open my own museum and hire all my friends.

There are so many discussions that need to happen in the field. Not as a conference session or roundtable. Just human to human. Telling each other what we can see. A space to reflect, vent, grieve, and scheme. Opportunities for those conversations to happen seem to be fewer and farther between. We can have some digitally and mine them for gems, creating content that museum and living history professionals can engage with whenever they wish. For free.

Of course I decided to interview Scott as my first guest. Among the many thoughts he provoked in my mind, the loudest was,

How do we want to be perceived?

Seems like a good question to ask right now. Enjoy mulling over it when you listen to Episode 2 “Who Are We?”

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Whether we have known each other for a while or are new acquaintances, I’m glad to be here in your cozy inbox. You are probably wondering what draws me back into the wacky world of living history. To put it simply, I felt homesick.

When I left my full time living history museum job in 2018, I didn’t have a plan. I had a few, tucked away in the boxes of stuff - books, trinkets, gifts, creations - from my office. Everything pushed against a wall or in a corner for piles to form slowly on top so they could disappear into hibernation for a few years. In the meantime I was supposed to figure it out.

I didn’t know what the source of my burn out was. Was it my mental health that had been fluctuating since my teens? Was it the financial precarity of working in an industry with historically low wages? Was it working with people that triggered memories of growing up in a dysfunctional family? Was it the lack of support I felt from friends and family that rarely showed up to attend events I spent months planning? Was it the feeling of hitting an early career plateau and seeing no opportunities for growth? It was everything, so it all had to change.

I have learned major lessons in the last 7 years: Burnout is common in every industry, but there are hundreds of daily habits that can keep it at bay. I am still trying to remember to do all of them. 🙂 The job market in most industries is insanely competitive right now. Every coworker ranges from Slightly Imperfect to Extremely Infuriating, but we still have to get through the day together. We can identify our supporters by opening ourselves up to new audiences instead of coaxing support from uninterested parties. My skills are still valuable, even if AI recruiting software doesn’t recognize them.

I’d like to offer my services to the community I miss the most, so I hope you will be honest about your needs. Would you like help planning events or preparing programs that promote more interaction between interpreters and guests? Maybe worksheets or templates would smooth out your workflow and leave more room in your time budget for other duties as assigned. Could your whole staff use a reset/revival? Do you want to offer a take home program developed to curriculum standards to be used by schools or homeschool groups? How about a podcast or digital show you could listen to or watch that targets this niche occupation? Are you just getting started and just need help getting on the right course? I’d like to offer a variety of products and services at multiple price points - including free - so there is something for everyone. Let me know if there’s something that would make your life of time traveling easier, so I can prioritize accordingly!

Thank you for your hospitality,

P.S. If you are a respondent to my Museum Interpretive Support Needs survey from Winter 23/24, I want to give an extra special thanks to you! Your responses helped me shape my launch offerings while I was still building my business plan.

P.P.S. If you are feeling FOMO about the Museum Interpretive Support Needs survey, keep your eyes peeled for the updated version I will be circulating shortly!