Tom Lee's life took an unexpected turn when his colon cancer progressed to stage four metastatic status. Rather than retreating, this former engineering professor discovered a remarkable talent for pastel drawing that became the subject of his powerful digital story with the Canadian Cancer Society.

Episode Key Messages

• When diagnosed with terminal cancer, Tom turned to art as a meaningful way to engage with life
• Tom's philosophy: "The cure for cancer is a life well-lived"
• Created a digital story about his artistic awakening with help from the Canadian Cancer Society
• The community aspect of storytelling workshops proved essential—"You can't do this journey alone"
• Tom shares his experience openly through YouTube videos that evolved from lighthearted to more profound reflections
• Currently writing a book weaving together his off-grid cottage experiences, cancer journey, and academic reflections
• Modern palliative care focuses on quality of life rather than extension at all costs
• End-of-life moments are meaningful and shouldn't be feared, they should be embraced and documented

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch Tom’s digital story
• Read this episode's blog post
• Check out Tom's Youtube channel
• The Waiting Room Revolution with Sammy Winemaker

About Our Guest

Dr. Lee is a retired engineering faculty member and endowed chair holder at McMaster University. Prior to his appointment, he enjoyed three career decades in the commercialization of advanced engineering technologies. During his industry career, he built a global reputation for developing transformational multidisciplinary initiatives in engineering education and research. Dr. Lee also has a passion for outreach with significant contributions to FIRST Robotics, Shad Valley, and the Canadian Cancer Society. In 2019 he was inducted Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and honoured by Tsinghua University as Distinguished Honorary Professor. In 2022, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate LLD, from York University.

In 2022, Dr. Lee was diagnosed with colon cancer which evolved to terminal metastatic cancer. This triggered his retirement from McMaster. In retirement, he has been exploring creative activities for personal enrichment and enlightenment including pastel drawing, video production, and outreach. This led to the epiphany that the cure for cancer is a life well lived and that his best days may still be ahead of him. This event was conceived to continue the Lee family’s efforts to make every day our best day.

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The most compelling marketing doesn't come from slick campaigns or catchy slogans—it emerges from authentic personal narratives that reveal why we do what we do. Mindfulness teacher and keynote speaker Trish Tutton joins us to explore how digital storytelling captured the pivotal moment that shaped her life's purpose.

Discover how your authentic narrative might become your most powerful tool for reaching others.

Episode Key Messages

• Every business comes from a story, especially purpose driven businesses
• Digital storytelling allowed Trish to share her pivotal life experience with potential clients before they even meet her
• Creating a succinct 3-minute digital story helped Trish refine her keynote presentations
• Selecting images for digital storytelling requires thinking in metaphors and considering emotional impact
• Sharing personal stories of loss creates connection through our common humanity
• Trish teaches mindfulness techniques that can be practiced in under 5 minutes daily
• Creating digital stories can be healing for the storyteller while also serving business purposes

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch Trish’s digital story
• Read this episode's blog post
• Check out Trish's Worry Less, Live More course and her Mindful Mornings journal
• Watch the Look Back video about Ep 30 with Dr. Carmen Logie

Learn more about Trish Tutton here.

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What happens when a simple four-minute digital story manages to capture the essence of a centuries-old military band tradition? For Katlyn Lamont, a registered psychotherapist and newly-trained digital storytelling facilitator, the answer came in the form of tough military veterans moved to tears.

Katlyn's journey with Common Language Digital Storytelling began unexpectedly when her youth addiction agency secured her a last-minute spot in facilitator training. With a background in media production from high school, she quickly found herself rekindling dormant creative skills. But the real magic happened when she faced a moment of clarity the morning of the story circle, scrapping her original draft to instead document her experience with the Lincoln and Welland Band.

The story captured a pivotal moment for the band, which had played for the Lincoln and Welland Regiment since the War of 1812 but had recently received a cease and desist order, threatening their identity and traditions. Despite being relatively new to the band, Katlyn found herself documenting not just a musical group, but a living historical legacy kept alive by combat veterans whose service photos she incorporated into her digital story.

When she gathered band members for a screening, complete with popcorn and snacks, Katlyn was worried they'd find inaccuracies. Instead, she witnessed hardened veterans brought to tears. Her band president summed up the impact perfectly: "What we've been trying to say to the community and to the regiment for months, you've just summed up in four minutes." The film quickly spread beyond that screening room to social media, and local politicians.

The power of digital storytelling lies not just in its emotional impact but in its ability to advocate where traditional communications fall short. As Katlyn discovered, sometimes a personal narrative can accomplish what countless emails, letters, and meetings cannot. Whether you're looking to preserve history, drive organizational change, or simply document meaningful moments, digital storytelling offers a uniquely powerful medium that resonates across generations and bureaucratic boundaries.

Ready to explore how your story might create ripples of change? Discover more about Common Language DST facilitator training here.

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch Katlyn's digital story
• Learn more about the Lincoln & Welland Band
• Read this episode's blog post
• Watch the Looking Back video for Ep 29 about DST in Research

Learn more about Katlyn through the blog post.

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When Laryssa Lamrock created her digital story "Enveloped," she never anticipated how profoundly a four-minute video would transform her advocacy work with military families. As the National Strategic Advisor for Families at the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, Laryssa brings her lived experience as a military spouse, daughter, and mother to her work supporting those affected by service-related mental health challenges.

The conversation explores the many ways digital stories become catalysts for healing and connection – from introducing presentations to facilitating psycho-educational workshops for family members affected by PTSD. We also discover how Laryssa's experience informed her work co-hosting the Mind Beyond the Mission podcast, where she brings the family perspective to conversations about military mental health.

Episode Key Messages

0:00 Introduction to Laryssa Lamrock

2:33 Creating a Digital Story at Atlas

5:12 Enveloped: Laryssa's Personal Digital Story

9:33 Sharing Digital Stories with Others

18:48 Supporting Young Adults' Storytelling Journey

25:37 Mind Beyond the Mission Podcast

28:20 Legacy Stories and Final Thoughts

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch more digital stories from Atlas Institute
• Check out the Mindkit website
• Watch the Caregivers in the Wild episode mentioned
• Listen to the Co-Created episode with Joy Pavelich mentioned
• Read this episode's blog post
• Watch the Looking Back video about Ep 28 with Wellspring Alberta

Learn more about Laryssa Lamrock here.

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The power of digital storytelling lies in its ability to capture what textbooks and lectures cannot - the raw, human experience of navigating life's most challenging moments. In this deeply moving conversation with Kathy Cortes-Miller and Keri-Lyn Durant, co-hosts of the Disrupting Death podcast, we explore how digital storytelling creates transformative spaces for processing grief and sharing experiences around Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).

When qualitative researchers like Kathy hear countless personal narratives that most people never access, digital storytelling emerges as the perfect vehicle to bridge this gap. Through a five-year research project, their team has worked with individuals who accompanied loved ones through MAID, capturing these profound experiences in digital stories that serve multiple purposes - from personal healing to education and advocacy. The stories become catalysts for important conversations about death, caregiving, and end-of-life choices while empowering individuals to own their narratives.

Episode Key Messages

0:05 Storytelling as Catalyst for Discussion

1:00 Meeting the Disrupting Death Co-Hosts

3:00 Connecting Through Digital Storytelling

5:35 The MAID Digital Story Workshops

8:45 How Stories Create Impact

18:40 Digital Stories for Education

30:15 Future Storytelling Projects

Find more stories and resources at the Disrupting Death podcast, which features a three-part series on digital storytelling and MAID.

• Digital Stories Part 1 Research Project & Diane Sims
• Digital Stories Part 2 Bridge C-14 Participants
• Digital Stories Part 3 MAID Family Support Participants

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch Keri-Lyn's digital story
• Read this episode's blog post
• Watch the Looking Back video about Ep 27 with Dr. Burcu Simsek

Learn more about Keri-Lyn Durant & Kathy Kortes-Miller here.

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What happens when personal trauma transforms into powerful advocacy? Fabiana Bacchini, Executive Director of the Canadian Premature Babies Foundation, takes us on a journey through her evolution from NICU parent to healthcare changemaker through the lens of digital storytelling.

The conversation reveals the unique power of digital stories to transcend traditional limitations. Unlike presentations that exist in one moment for one audience, digital stories live online, cross borders, translate across languages, and remain relevant for years. They protect storytellers from repeatedly reliving trauma while maximizing impact and creating space for multiple perspectives – including those of siblings and patients themselves.

Whether you're a healthcare professional seeking to understand patient experiences, a parent navigating your own medical journey, or an advocate looking for powerful tools to drive change, this episode illuminates how personal narratives can reshape healthcare from the inside out. Listen now to discover how digital storytelling is revolutionizing patient advocacy and transforming healthcare one story at a time.

Key Messages

• Digital stories have unique power to convey the emotional reality of NICU experiences
• Fabiana's own story begins with performing CPR on her son when "no one came" after calling for help
• Family integrated care research empowered her as a parent and improved her son's outcomes
• Digital stories reach audiences beyond conference rooms and remain impactful over time
• Parent stories consistently receive the highest ratings in conference evaluations
• Creating opportunities for siblings and patients to tell their own stories offers valuable perspectives
• Digital storytelling allows advocates to share impactful experiences without repeatedly reliving trauma

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch Fabiana's digital story
• Watch Petya's story from CPBF's launch event Building Resilience Together
• Watch Alice's story from CPBF's Preemie Chat: The Importance of Sharing your Story
• Read this episode's blog post
• Watch the Looking Back video about Ep 26 with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum

Learn more about Fabiana Bacchini here.

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What happens when you bring together passionate storytellers, skilled facilitators, and purpose-driven organizations? Magic—in the form of powerful digital stories that break barriers and create meaningful change.

Mike Lang joins us discuss how the inaugural Common Language Story Slam transformed how we think about storytelling in the nonprofit space. Across three dynamic screenings, twelve uniquely crafted digital stories took center stage, each one developed through collaboration between a Common Language-trained facilitator and a charity partner. These short films, featuring personal narratives told through voice recordings and carefully selected images, sparked genuine conversations both in-person and online.

Digital storytelling's most profound impact might be its ability to dismantle stigma. As Dr. Carmen Logie noted during the event, "Stigma is often somehow attached to a lack of understanding about someone, and digital stories, more than anything, help you understand." We witnessed this phenomenon repeatedly—whether through stories about substance use, medical trauma, or family caregiving. When we truly understand someone's experience, judgment dissolves.

The event's format elevated these stories beyond mere viewing. After each film, audience members discussed their reactions in small groups, then heard directly from the storyteller and facilitator about the creation process. This multilayered approach created a rich experience that honoured the stories while exploring their broader implications and applications.

Most remarkably, these digital stories are creating tangible change. Ashley Durance's narrative about parenting a medically complex child receives standing ovations at healthcare conferences. The documentary from Greg's Wings has transformed medical education for 50,000+ healthcare providers worldwide. Organizations like SIDS Calgary were planning their next storytelling projects before the day had even concluded.

Episode Key Messages

• Digital storytelling democratizes the narrative process by putting storytelling power into the hands of those with lived experiences
• Each screening featured four stories created by different Common Language-trained facilitators working with unique charities
• Storytellers and facilitators discussed their experiences on stage, providing insights into both the story and the process
• Many charities began planning their next storytelling projects immediately after experiencing the Story Slam
• The hybrid format allowed for meaningful engagement with both in-person and virtual participants
• Digital stories prove particularly effective at combating stigma by fostering deeper understanding

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch the Story Slam
• Read the blog post
• Find out who the storytellers, facilitators and charity partners were
• Sign up for the Common Language newsletter

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In an empowering exchange, we speak with Claudia Gore, a passionate NHS doctor, who shares her journey of leveraging digital storytelling to change the narratives around healthcare. Through her personal encounters both as a healthcare provider and as a patient, Claudia sheds light on the deeply human aspects of medical care that often remain unseen.

She introduces us to the concept of digital storytelling, emphasizing its potential to enrich patient-provider communication and foster empathy within the healthcare community. Claudia recounts the story of how she stumbled into storytelling workshops, where she unearthed her own creative voice and learned to convey the challenges she faced as a patient.

Throughout the episode, Claudia discusses several poignant digital stories she has created, reflecting on their powerful impacts on improving healthcare practices and team dynamics. She highlights the significance of empowering young voices through storytelling, illustrating how this initiative has facilitated connections and understanding among families navigating chronic conditions.

By integrating these narratives into healthcare education, Claudia advocates for a cultural shift that places emphasis on the voices of patients, urging us to rethink the traditional boundaries within healthcare. This episode offers insightful reflections on the importance of empathy, understanding, and shared experiences in creating a more human-centered approach to healthcare.

Episode Key Messages

• Transformative experiences as a patient

• Importance of digital storytelling for empowerment

• The impact of telling difficult stories on teams

• How storytelling can bridge understanding between patients and providers

• Engaging teens and parents in telling their health stories

• The role of lived experiences in educational resources

Other Links Mentioned

• Watch one of Claudia's personal stories Stickers, Pieces, Factory Settings
• Watch a digital story from the Terrific Teens workshops
• Learn about the 11 to 25 Hub
• Read this episode's blog post
• Watch the Looking Back video about Ep 24 with Rebecca Saah

Learn more about Claudia Gore's work here.

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