Who Are the Sams?
Bringing Personal Stories to Life
Sams’ Echoes is all about personal stories, but who exactly are the Sams? They are more than just names or characters—they are the voices, the guides, and the embodiment of a shared passion for storytelling. Created by Nicolas Michaud, they serve as the heart and soul of Sams' Echoes, turning the idea of preserving and sharing personal narratives into something vivid, engaging, and inspiring.
Why Create the Sams?
Promoting personal stories ia a work of communication, in which the emitter plays a part in the message.
Instead of being the sole voice behind the project, Nicolas gave life to Sam and Sama, two fictional yet very human narrators. They serve as the bridge between the past and the present, the personal and the universal. Through their voices, Sams’ Echoes can explore storytelling with warmth, curiosity, and enthusiasm—while allowing for a wide variety of perspectives.
The objective was to have characters with a real personality while being very universal figures. And even if they are young, they are representing a family, which ties them with the previous generations. Their drawing style, almost realistic yet close to manga, was chosen to serve this message.
Also important to know: Sam and Sama are more than fictional characters: they are AI-powered personas. This means that their texts are generated based on contents defined very precisely by the author, yet rephrased by ChatGPT with a specific prompt giving instructions on their style and personality. Every text signed by Sam or Sama is therefore 100% defined by Nicolas but has a specific style and insists on particular aspects in a way sometimes beyond the expectations of the author.
This is coming from the need to give as much of personality to the texts while supplementing the author's personal writing preferences and shortcomings.
Clearly, writing a multilingual blog would be much more difficult without their help!
Who Are Sam and Sama?
Sam and Sama are fictional siblings, but their personalities and approaches are deeply rooted in real-life experiences. They are passionate about uncovering and telling meaningful personal stories, each with their own unique style:
🖋️ Sam – The Enthusiastic Narrator
Sam is curious, expressive, and inspiring. He enjoys weaving together facts and emotions, giving stories a rhythm that captivates the reader. He has a flair for engaging language and loves using anecdotes to bring narratives to life. His writing is rich and full of enthusiasm—yet always respectful of the depth of personal experiences.
📖 Sama – The Thoughtful Observer
Sama is analytical, structured, and direct. She values clarity and depth, making sure stories are both well-researched and emotionally resonant. She often explores the why behind personal storytelling, reflecting on its impact and importance. Her writing is precise, with a strong focus on making complex ideas accessible.
Together, they complement each other, offering both heart and structure to the storytelling process. Whether it’s a historical biography, a personal memoir, or a family tale, Sam and Sama bring a fresh and engaging perspective to every story.
Sam and Sama are short versions for many first names of various cultures of the world. There is also another reason for chosing these names to be found in this blog post.
What Do the Sams Represent?
More than just fictional characters, the Sams symbolize everyone who believes in the power of personal stories. They represent:
✅ Those who listen. The people who take the time to hear personal stories, whether from parents, grandparents, or friends.
✅ Those who share. The individuals who recognize the value of their own experiences and want to pass them on.
✅ Those who preserve. The archivists, biographers, and enthusiasts who document and protect memories for the future.
Sams' Echoes is a community-driven project, and anyone passionate about storytelling is, in a way, a "Sam" too!
A Voice for Storytelling Without Boundaries
One of the core principles of Sams’ Echoes is to promote personal storytelling while keeping it personal. This means that we:
🔹 Anonymize stories by default—unless individuals express explicit consent to be identified.
🔹 Focus on sharing examples and methods, rather than exposing private lives.
🔹 Encourage meaningful storytelling that respects both personal experiences and historical accuracy.
The Sams are here to show what’s possible, not to put anyone’s life on public display.