What if the most valuable legacy you leave behind isn’t financial at all—but the stories that shape identity and connection?

In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with historian and founder of Everyday Legacies, Kasia Flanagan, who helps families preserve their life stories through memoirs, films, and storybooks. Kasia’s personal journey from hardship in rural Idaho to earning a PhD in history and serving families worldwide is a powerful testimony to the resilience found in family narratives.

Together, they explore why storytelling is essential for family transition, how vulnerability creates belonging, and why legacy should be thought of as fluid rather than fixed. If you’ve ever wondered what it truly means to “leave something behind,” this conversation will inspire you to start recording your story today.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• How Kasia’s childhood stories carried her from homelessness to a PhD
• Why knowing your history strengthens identity across generations
• The fears that keep families from sharing their stories—and how to face them
• Why legacy is about influence, not just assets
• How storytelling heals old wounds and opens new connection
• A practical DIY guide to capturing your own family legacy

Check out Kasia Flanagan's work:

Website: https://everydaylegacies.com

Free Resource: DIY Guide to Capturing Family History (available at top banner)

Connect with Elizabeth Ledoux and The Transition Strategists:

Website: https://transitionstrategists.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetransitionstrategists

Elizabeth on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethledoux/

Transition Strategists on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/transitionstrategists/

Transition Strategists on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transitionstrategists

Subscribe to "The Business Transition Roadmap with Elizabeth Ledoux" on your favorite podcast player:

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3MxSYA2

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3IhMMux

Check out "Your Next Gen Friend Podcast" with Andrea Carpenter

Spotify: https://yournextgenfriend.com/open-spotify

Apple Podcasts: https://yournextgenfriend.com/apple-podcast

Get Elizabeth Ledoux and Laura Chiesman's latest book, "It's A Journey: The MUST-HAVE Roadmap to Successful Succession Planning": https://amzn.to/3oq2LQv

Ready to explore what a collaborative transition could look like?

Schedule a discovery call: https://transitionstrategists.com/discovery

Chapters in This Episode

00:00 Welcome & Introduction

01:17 Kasia’s Childhood and the Power of Family Stories

03:34 Why Knowing Your Story Shapes Identity

05:28 The Fears Behind Telling Your Story

08:24 How Stories Bridge Generations & Break Down Facades

11:24 Redefining Legacy: More Than Assets

15:33 Healing Through Storytelling & Vulnerability

17:34 How Everyday Legacies Helps Families Capture Their Story

19:42 Public Biography vs. Private Family Story

22:12 What Legacy Means to Kasia Personally

25:30 Legacy as Fluid, Not Fixed

26:24 A Practical Challenge: Start Recording Your Story Today

28:01 Where to Find Kasia’s Free DIY Legacy Guide