How Stories Become Gifts: The Heart Behind Five More Minutes

Meet Sabrina Bennett.

Sabrina is the heart behind Five More Minutes, a mission-driven project born from both personal experience and a deep belief in the power of story.

After walking through seasons of loss and reflection, Sabrina came to understand just how deeply we long to hold onto the voices, stories, and wisdom of the people we love — and how powerful it is to be able to pass those voices on to the next generation.

Facts and timelines can be recorded. But the twinkle in their eye, the smirk on their face, the way a memory makes them laugh — those are felt. That’s the power of story documented in video form. It lets us return again and again to our connection to our loved ones, even across time.

With that vision, Sabrina created Five More Minutes — a space where families can preserve the stories, laughter, and legacy of their loved ones through meaningful video interviews.

In our latest partner spotlight, Courtney sat down with Sabrina to talk about the inspiration behind Five More Minutes, how video storytelling brings healing, and why preserving someone’s voice may be one of the most powerful gifts we can give.

Q: Please tell us the origin story of your business.

The idea started years ago, watching a scene from a random show, and it was someone reading their will through a video. I remember thinking: That would be really powerful to see and hear someone again after they’re gone.

I started imagining a way to capture real stories, in real voices — something personal, lasting, and full of heart. But I sat on the idea for a while.

Then everything changed. In 2020 and 2021, both of my children were born. Around the same time, my dad was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. I became his power of attorney, his caregiver — and I kept thinking, I have time to do his video.

But we didn’t. I kept pushing it off. He passed away in Februrary 2023.

The day after his funeral, my grandma entered hospice care. This time, my sister and I recorded her story — her life, in her words. Five months later, she passed, too. But we have the video. Her voice. Her legacy.

My children were just 1 and 2 when my dad died. They’ll never know him — and I really wish I had followed through and recorded something that showed who he was.

That’s why I started this work. To help others give and receive one of the greatest gifts we can offer each other: A story. A voice. A legacy.

What was your biggest challenges while caregiving for your dad? 

Caregiving was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I had a close relationship with my dad, but there were also challenges. And as I became the one managing his doctor visits, his finances, and ultimately, so many of his final decisions — that was really heavy and daunting.

At the same time, I was raising two very young children. Balancing the needs of both generations — emotionally, physically, logistically — stretched me greatly.

One of the biggest lessons I learned in that season was about limits — and grace. I often felt guilty, wondering if I could have done more, or loved him better in those final months. But in the end, I know I did the most I mentally and emotionally could.

It shaped my faith. It shaped how I see myself. And it’s shaped how I want to help others.

When I record legacy videos now, some of them become a kind of confessional — a space for someone to say what they couldn’t say before. And I keep thinking: If I had a video of my dad saying “I’m sorry,” it would’ve been such a healing gift. That kind of moment doesn’t erase the pain, but it helps ease it.

That’s part of what I hope these legacy videos can do: Help families heal. They can provide people a chance to speak — and to listen. Offer grace, even in the messiness of our relationships. And maybe, bring a little relief to the burdens we carry long after the caregiving ends.

One of the steps in our workbook is about the importance of documentation. Do you have any anecdotes from your clients about why they were excited to document their story through video?

One of our clients shared that the reason they were so excited to document their story was simple: I want my great-grandkids to know who I was.

So many of us don’t know much about the generations that came before us — maybe a few facts, a black-and-white photo, or a handed-down recipe. Or we remember the stories, but when we recall them, we forget some details, right? And we rarely get the chance to see their face light up or hear the way they laugh when telling an old family story, or witness the emotion in their voice when they talk about their greatest lessons.

That’s what legacy videos offer — a chance to capture not just history, but humanity. For seniors especially, it can be really meaningful. Reflecting on their lives gives them the chance to focus on what they’ve built, who they’ve loved, and how their life has mattered. 

It’s a gift to the future, yes — but often, it’s a gift to them, too.

One of the techniques we recommend in our consulting is to infuse humor in the process of closure. Take a moment to share a uniquely humorous experience from your career or family life. 

I love humor — it’s always been part of how I navigate life. In high school, I did improv and drama with friends, and that playful spirit has followed me. Both sides of my family are pretty silly, so laughter has always been part of our way of coping, connecting, and even grieving.

Even toward the end of my dad’s life, that humor didn’t go away. He would leave me voicemails — not serious messages, but little silly moments just to make me laugh. That was him. I still go back and listen to them. Even in the hardest seasons, we’d find a way to crack a joke or lighten the mood. Not to avoid what was happening, but to bring just a little relief into the heaviness.

Humor has always helped us not take ourselves too seriously. It’s a reminder that even in hard things, there’s room for light — and often, laughter is the most honest kind of connection we have.

To learn more about Five More Minutes or connect with Sabrina, check out her website.