Martie McNabb 
Some collections are built with expensive treasures. Others are built one envelope at a time. In this episode of Things That Matter, I had the joy of sitting down with my longtime friend, author and professional organizer Felice Cohen, whose collection of more than 1,000 handwritten letters tells the story of an entire lifetime. What … Read more
The Sobriety Chip That Represents an Entirely New Life. One of my favorite questions to ask every guest is: “What did you bring to show and tell?” Sometimes the answer is a family heirloom. Sometimes it’s a photograph. Sometimes it’s something incredibly unexpected. In this episode, Maria Leonard Olsen shared something small enough to fit … Read more
The Story Hidden Inside Two Wedding Pendants Sometimes the smallest objects carry the biggest stories. In this episode of Things That Matter, I had the privilege of sitting down with author Leslie Powell Ahmadi to hear the remarkable story behind two wedding pendants gifted to her by her Iranian in-laws nearly four decades ago. What … Read more
One of the questions I am most frequently asked is, “How did you begin doing this work?” How did I go from being a New York City public school teacher to helping people preserve family stories and creating show-and-tell experiences around the world? The answer begins with a missing photograph. Many years ago, after leaving … Read more
Some objects become far more than possessions. They become bridges connecting us to people we’ve loved, places we’ve never seen, and stories that continue shaping our lives long after they’re told. In this episode of Things That Matter, I sat down with my longtime friend Mary Reilly, someone I’ve known since the earliest days of … Read more
What happens to our memories, our family history, and the stories behind our belongings when we downsize, move, or pass things down, and those stories are never shared? In this episode of Things That Matter, I sit down with senior real estate specialist Bryan Devore for a meaningful conversation about downsizing, senior transitions, and the … Read more
Join Martie McNabb as she welcomes gerontologist Jacob Kendall to discuss the stories behind meaningful objects. This episode explores how college football, family, and changing times shape our memories and values. * Jacob Kendall’s connection to Alabama football and his late father through a championship game ticket * The evolution of college football and its … Read more
As I, Martie McNabb, settle in for another episode of “Things That Matter,” I’m joined by John Davey—a man whose family keepsake is as unique as his story. John sits across from me, a small, handmade rug on his computer screen. He smiles, recalling the Christmas morning surprise when his sister gifted him this hooked … Read more
In this episode of Things That Matter, I welcomed the ever-curious traveler John McKenzie to reminisce about the meaning behind the things we keep. We dove into the stories tucked inside John’s five well-worn passports, each bursting with stamps and memories from across the globe. As John said, “What better symbol to represent places and … Read more
On a crisp Vermont afternoon, I sat down with my friend Rev Yolanda for a special episode of “Things That Matter.” I kicked things off by recalling our unforgettable first meeting in Prospect Heights—a tall, vibrant woman in high heels and a big wig who dashed across Flatbush Avenue and into my life for good. … Read more