Laura Livingstone-McNelis (left) interviews her mother Phyllis Knighton (right) about how Laura’s formerly non-verbal daughter Mary learned to speak after spending one magical summer with her grandmother Phyllis. Phyllis, who was encouraged to go back to school in her 70s for speech therapy, had developed a method–to write down every activity she and Mary had done, reading it aloud together at the end of the day. One day, Laura received a call. The voice on the other end was Mary with the simple message of “I love you” for her mother.

These days, Laura is one of proprietors of the Henderson Castle, where StoryCorps facilitators Jenna and Susan are staying. The facilitators are lucky to be surrounded by such inspirations like Laura and her family. Susan and Jenna plan to be further inspired when they get ice cream with Laura and her kids on Thursday.