The best family interviews begin with curiosity rather than a checklist. Ask about sensory details, people and choices, then listen long enough for the story to unfold.
A grandparent may not respond to “Tell me about your life”, but “What did your kitchen smell like when you were little?” can open a whole afternoon of memories.
Questions worth asking
What is one of your earliest memories? Who taught you something you still use today? What did your parents expect for you, and what did you choose instead? Which place feels most like home? What family saying can you still hear in someone’s voice? What was harder than people realised, and what helped you through?