Adult son smiling and hugging his father outdoors – e-mem helps families capture life stories in their own voice

For the grandfather who doesn't say much about himself

Gift for grandpa: his story, in his voice

Many grandfathers will talk about almost anything except themselves. And yet behind them lies a time hardly anyone else has seen firsthand. e-mem gives your grandpa a structure that makes talking easier: specific questions, one at a time, with a recording running quietly in the background.

It's that easy

How the gift for grandpa works

Whether it's your own life story, a conversation with someone special, or memories of a loved one, e-mem turns them into a personal audiobook for family and friends to keep.

Woman holding a wrapped gift voucher with a ribbon

Step 1

Buy the voucher

You order the voucher online, get it as a PDF in your inbox a couple of minutes later and print it out at home. No waiting for the post, no shipping costs.

Older woman smiling while typing on a laptop to sign up for e-mem

Step 2

Sign up & redeem the code

Your parents or grandparents set up their own account using the code from the voucher. From then on it's their account, and there's nothing else for you to do.

The three e-mem question catalogs, your own story, someone else's story, or a memory of a loved one

Step 3

Choose a question catalog

Choose from our three question catalogs, depending on whether you want to record your own story, the story of a loved one, or the memory of a loved one.

Recording an answer with the microphone button in the e-mem app

Step 4

Record & tell

Record answers to the questions we ask, at your own pace, directly in the browser on your computer or with a tablet/smartphone. No download required.

Downloading finished recordings in e-mem

Step 5

Preserve forever

Download your recordings or order them as a personalized USB stick in an elegant box or a picture frame.

Why e-mem suits your grandpa

A blank page and the instruction to tell your life story overwhelms most people. A single question doesn't. What was your first day at work like? How did you two meet? Almost everyone has an answer to something like that, and enough answers eventually add up to the whole story.

The questions also cover working life, from an apprenticeship to farming to industry. For men who define themselves more through their work than their feelings, that's often the easier way in.

No technical hurdles

A device with a browser and a microphone is enough. No download, no setup, no account with an app store. Anyone who's ever watched a video online will find their way around.

You can set up the access beforehand and just hand him the link. Sitting with him the first time and reading the questions aloud takes some of the pressure off, too.

Was andere sagen

Erfahrungen von Familien, die e-mem verschenkt haben

"Wir haben meiner Mutter zum 75. Geburtstag einen e-mem-Zugang geschenkt. Sie hat wochenlang aufgenommen und war am Ende gerührt, wie viele Erinnerungen wieder aufgekommen sind. Das Ergebnis ist unbezahlbar."

Sandra K.
Hamburg

"Mein Großvater hat eine Geschichte, die wir als Familie nie vergessen wollen. Mit e-mem haben wir sie endlich festgehalten, in seiner eigenen Stimme. Ein Geschenk, das wirklich bleibt."

Thomas M.
München

"Zur Goldenen Hochzeit meiner Schwiegereltern war e-mem das Schönste, was wir verschenken konnten. Sie haben die Geschichte ihrer 50 gemeinsamen Jahre erzählt, jetzt haben wir sie für immer."

Familie Weber
Berlin

Questions about the gift for grandpa

Does this work for someone who doesn't like talking about himself?
Often better than expected. The questions are specific and easy to answer matter-of-factly. Anyone who doesn't feel like talking just skips the question.
My grandpa was a tradesman. Are there questions about his work?
Yes. Training, the working day, tools, colleagues, and the decisions that shaped his career. Farming, industry, and military service come up too.
Does my grandpa have to operate the device himself?
No. You can set everything up and hand him a device that's ready to go. All he has to do is press record.
Can we record together?
Yes. You ask the questions, he answers, and the recording runs the whole time. Many families use e-mem exactly this way.
What happens to the recordings afterward?
They can be downloaded any time. If you want, they're also available on a USB stick in a box or a picture frame. Details are on the product page.

Ask him while he can still tell it.

Choose one of our personalized products – or start for free.

Digital question catalog

Digital question catalog

Unser digitaler Fragenkatalog begleitet dich Schritt für Schritt durch deine Lebensgeschichte. Die sorgfältig zusammengestellten Fragen zu Kindheit, Familie, prägenden Momenten und persönlichen Erlebnissen helfen dir, Erinnerungen zu entfalten, die sonst vielleicht im Verborgenen geblieben wären.

Einfach Frage für Frage beantworten und mit deiner eigenen Stimme aufnehmen, was nur du erzählen kannst. Dann als fertiges Hörbuch herunterladen.

45,00 € incl. VAT
instant
Wooden picture frame

Wooden picture frame

The wooden picture frame from a European manufacturer is an elegant way to present special memories in style. With its high-quality wooden frame and glass, it impresses with a timeless, premium look.

The frame is available in white, black and dark brown. The double passe-partout gives the presentation a particularly refined effect. A photo in 10 × 15 cm format is placed in the first passe-partout (the image can be uploaded via the website), and the USB stick with the digital memories is stylishly presented in the second passe-partout.

Choose a color:
Selected: black
27,99 € incl. VAT
5–7 business days
This product can only be ordered after all questions have been fully recorded.
Linen picture frame

Linen picture frame

The linen picture frame from a European manufacturer is an elegant way to present special memories in style. With its high-quality wooden frame and glass, it impresses with a timeless, premium look.

The frame is available in white, black and dark brown. The double passe-partout gives the presentation a particularly refined effect. A photo in 10 × 15 cm format is placed in the first passe-partout (the image can be uploaded via the website), and the USB stick with the digital memories is stylishly presented in the second passe-partout.

Choose a color:
Selected: beige
27,99 € incl. VAT
5–7 business days
This product can only be ordered after all questions have been fully recorded.
Voucher

Voucher

for question catalog and picture frame

72,99 € incl. VAT
instant
Voucher

Voucher

for picture frame

27,99 € incl. VAT
instant
Voucher

Voucher

for question catalog

45,00 € incl. VAT
instant