This chapter lays the foundation for the analysis of university teachers' experiential stories by sketching some of Martin Heidegger's key ideas. During Spier's interpretive analysis process, philosophical notions from Heidegger's Being and Time enabled him to discern deeper layers of ontological meaning that were previously unnoticed. This chapter touches on Heidegger's existential notions that were particularly informative, including care, being-with, conversation and temporality. In turn, for readers unfamiliar with Heidegger's philosophy, the hope is to unlock the interpretive themes discussed in the analysis chapters.