PARTICIPANTS IN “THE VOICES AT THE POINT” PODCAST: L-R: RON KILGORE, BARBARA AND MARCIA HARENSKI AND RON FELLER | PHOTOS BY AMY DUKES

With the recent interest in the National Senior Games held Downtown, Providence Point, a senior living community in Scott, is debuting a new endeavor: “The Voices at the Point ” podcast. 

Starting Aug. 1, this resident-hosted podcast will showcase the “phenomenal” stories and experiences of its residents, fostering a sense of unity and connection.  Each episode will delve into their life stories, insightful discussions and heartfelt moments. 

The podcast has been in development for years, inspired by the co-founders of Providence Point’s partners, YaJagoff! Media. John Chamberlin and Rachael Rennebeck, who also host their own YaJagoff! Podcast, envisioned a podcast centered around the personal stories of the senior living community’s residents. Unlike other podcasts that focus on logistics or advertising, their goal is  to capture the rich and extraordinary narratives.

“Most retirement community podcasts are basically about the facility, like why to live there or what happens with aging. Nothing was out there to tell the stories of these people with phenomenal stories,” says Rennebeck. “From the CEO of Heinz to someone who wrapped their RV and had it shipped to Russia to tour Russia, these stories are just so cool.” 

A new episode will be available every other Tuesday on all listening platforms and the Providence Point website.  Each episode will be roughly 20 minutes in length, according to Rennebeck, who has helped record six episodes so far.

RON FELLER AND HELENA SCANLON

In samples of two upcoming episodes, sisters Marsha and Barbara Harenski tell the stories of their shared lives together in Pittsburgh. 

“Marsha and I have never been separated other than the four years that she went away to college,” says Barbara. “When Marsha graduated from college, we moved in together. We’ve moved about 7 times since, and we’ve always been together.” 

 The podcast will continue as long as possible and may eventually expand to tell stories of residents in other retirement communities, according to Rennebeck.