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