Commencement addresses and long-form print, mostly — the forms that survived into the archive.
25 people · 550 answers
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
Professor of computer science, human-computer interaction and design
Recorded · Carnegie Mellon University, School of Computer Science · 2007
Shortly after my terminal diagnosis, I knew that one of my biggest priorities was to create memories for my children.
Founder of CD Baby; author of Anything You Want
Recorded · Derek Sivers · 2009
The rest should go to music education, since that’s what made such a difference in my life. I created a charitable trust called the Independent Musicians Charitable
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, 1997-2009; Nobel Peace Prize 2005
Recorded · Academy of Achievement · 2006
For them, home is the world. For them, every human being is just one member of that large human family you have. ... if we have more children like mine, in my view, we will not have war.
Originally asked
The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A
Asked in 52 of the 131 consecutive instalments of The Guardian's The Q&A harvested on 2026-08-29.
You answer as yourself. Nobody on FLAPSS answers as anybody else.
American actor
Recorded · The Guardian · 2007
Before I realised my parents, sister and I were all mortal.
English actor
Recorded · The Guardian · 2008
Growing up in the 70s, in the country in England and Ireland.
English fashion designer
Recorded · The Guardian · 2009
I am a happy person. I am happy every day. But if I had to pick a time it would be the first time I fell in love.
American rapper and producer
Recorded · The Guardian · 2008
The births of my kids - incredible moments that I will always cherish.
American musician
Recorded · The Guardian · 2009
A couple of hours ago: I got a text message to meet someone later.
English media personality and sex offender
Recorded · The Guardian · 2007
During the war - to a teenager, wartime is very exciting. And when there was no traffic, I could ride my bike about the lovely Yorkshire lanes with not a car in sight.
Composer and musician
Recorded · Clash · 2008
I really like the idea of a gravestone inscription that would scare someone. I would probably put "I'm going to follow you home and watch you sleep".
Bandleader and songwriter
Recorded · NPR · 2009
His mother thought she had to go to the bathroom when he was born. He was destined to be funky.
Musician and singer; one half of Chromeo
Recorded · Clash · 2009
I'd have a quote from the French philosopher, Pascal. I know it in French so here's a loose translation of it in English: "When he gets arrogant you bring him down.
Folk musician, singer-songwriter and author
Recorded · Clash · 2009
Hear lies James He had six names Wright Yorkston Jackson Paul Patrick James
Alison Steadman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charles Dance, Charlie Munger, Chris Hoy, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Cybill Shepherd, David Hasselhoff, Derek Sivers, Desmond Tutu, Ed Harris, Erin O'Connor, Jimmy Carter, John Lewis, John Waters, Joseph Fiennes, Julie Andrews, Mario Molina, Mellody Hobson, Mike Skinner, Mohamed ElBaradei, Oliver Sacks, Robert Carlyle, Shinya Yamanaka, Steve Jobs