StoryKeep is led by a wife-and-husband team, Jamie Yuenger and Piet Hurkmans. With complimentary backgrounds in documentary filmmaking, oral history collection, podcasting & national TV production, live on-air hosting, executive leadership coaching and group training, the pair is a powerhouse for people-centered storytelling. Based outside of Amsterdam, they lead the company's American and European-based production teams and regularly travel to families during key stages of production.
Founder
I'm Jamie Yuenger, a story-lover at heart. My journey has been guided by the importance of narrative. My childhood and youth was heavily influenced by parental addiction and shame. Knowing there were other paths to take, I escaped to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I immersed myself in Scandinavian Studies, Folklore, and Women's Studies. My fascination with human expression blossomed, triggered foremost by my desire to understand my own identity. Along the way, I became equally compelled by the diverse narratives of other peoples.
During my college days, I worked as an assistant folklorist at the Wisconsin Arts Board, delving into the captivating world of traditional folk artists. My senior thesis, however, took a different path, focusing on the vibrant realm of Latina slam poetry. These experiences sowed the seeds of my lifelong passion for storytelling in its many forms.
After a year volunteering in Ghana and India, I found myself in La Crosse, Wisconsin, serving as the Director of a non-profit program. It was there that I witnessed the power of advocacy and community-driven initiatives.
The irresistible allure of New York City beckoned in 2006. I began editing radio and video for City Lore's City of Memory project. My journey into radio production continued at the Salt Institute for Documentary Studies in Portland, Maine. My experience there paved the way for my role as an assistant producer at WNYC, New York's renowned NPR affiliate.
In 2010, I founded StoryKeep, inspired by a spunky idea that creating private films and podcasts for multigenerational families could change the world. Little did I know, my intuition was right. I'm amazed to say that we've worked with over 100 clients, leaving an indelible mark on people's sense of self, belonging, and purpose in the world. I am privileged to speak at national conferences, sharing insights on the transformative power of telling and recasting your narrative.
In 2013, I became a founding co-host of Brooklyn's live, cultural TV show, BK Live, alongside my work with StoryKeep, further deepening my skills in presentation, interviewing, and media production.
In 2022, I launched If You Knew Me, a podcast where I explore the inner lives of women. These conversations delve into the journeys women have taken to reclaim their true selves, stepping outside the narratives society has imposed upon them.
Today, I reside in the Netherlands with my husband and business partner, Piet Hurkmans, and our daughter. From this global perspective, I continue to direct projects with our trusted team, exploring how people's stories contribute to their personal growth, family bonds, and leadership roles.
I see life as a symphony of stories. Some we know well and should to get down for the record. Some we are creating. Others need reworking. I spend my days helping our talented team compose important narratives for our clients. I'm driven to create a world where storytelling strengthens families and clarifies the profound good they can do in their intimate lives and in the lives of others.
Head of Content
In the tapestry of my life, one event stands as a pivotal thread, woven into the fabric of my existence. I was only 4 years old when the sudden loss of my sister, Heleen, 4 days after her birth, marked the beginning of a lifelong chain of grief. This heartache, too immense for words, cast a shadow over my family, leaving my parents estranged and us children grasping for understanding in a sea of unspoken pain.
Growing up, our household seemed ordinary, yet an undercurrent of unaddressed sorrow flowed beneath the surface. My parents' inability to communicate about Heleen's passing created an emotional chasm that silently deepened over time. Amidst their pain, my two other sisters and I found ourselves navigating a world where our voices remained unheard and our individuality often eclipsed by the weight of unexpressed grief.
From this childhood wound, a personal calling emerged. What was once an emptiness turned into a driving purpose – a passion to guide others in embracing their narratives and transforming them into empowering beacons. Through decades of exploration, I journeyed from a Master's degree in Film & Theatre Science to the corridors of documentary filmmaking, storytelling, leadership coaching and public speaking. These crafts became my tools to unravel the human experience, helping individuals rewrite their stories and forge connections beyond the confines of their history.
Today, as Head of Content at StoryKeep, I stand - together with my wife Jamie - at the intersection of my journey and the company's mission. Here, I merge my life's lessons into a force for transformation. StoryKeep becomes a vessel to help others discover their narratives, connecting family, business partners, clients, and friends through shared stories that rise above the weight of the past.
From the shadows of my childhood emerged a profound truth: our stories need not define us; they can unite us. The pain that once isolated us can now be the catalyst for powerful narratives that inspire generations. My purpose is to guide individuals towards narratives that empower, dispelling the notion that we are prisoners of our pasts.
This journey, fueled by a need to mend the unspoken wounds of my early years, has evolved into a journey of shared discovery. As I stand at the threshold of StoryKeep, I'm filled with gratitude for the winding path that led me here – from the depths of personal loss to the heights of storytelling potential. My life's work is a testament to the fact that the stories we tell ourselves have the power to transform not only our own lives, but the lives of those we touch.