Co-Created

Sibling life is never just one role. It’s caretaker, advocate, friend, guardian...and it shifts with every season. We sit down with Dr. Linda Nguyen and sibling-advocate Samantha Bellefeuille to explore how those fluid roles come into focus when siblings lead the narrative and how digital storytelling can turn lived experience into lasting change in health care, research, and community programs.Episode Key MessagesHow Sibling Youth Advisory Council (SibYAC) formed and works with siblings as partnersWhy digital storytelling beats repeated live retellingsOwnership, consent, and compensation around lived experienceIntimate screening choices and peer reflectionUsing stories to train clinicians and studentsUpcoming toolkit and workshop plansPatient's Voice Conference with Krystle SchofieldOther Links MentionedWatch Sam’s digital storyRead this episode's blog postLearn more about Linda's workFind out about Fostering Forever FriendshipsAbout Our GuestLinda Nguyen is an Azrieli Accelerator Assistant Professor in Youth, Sibling, and Community Engaged Research in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She established the Sibling Youth Advisory Council (SibYAC) in 2018 during her doctoral studies and continues to partner with them in research. Her program of research includes co-creating programs and resources to support siblings, who are youth and young adults, and have a sibling with a disability and/or health condition.Samantha Bellefeuille is a sibling partner with the Sibling Youth Advisory Council and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) who has a younger brother with CDKL5. She is the Executive Director and Founder of a day program for adults with exceptionalities called Fostering Forever Friendships, in Ottawa, Ontario.

Jen Siran returns to discuss her journey from creating her first digital story to becoming a Common Language Digital Storytelling facilitator helping others tell their stories. She shares how persistence in seeking funding eventually led to success for her Caregiver's Corner project supporting heart families across Canada.Episode Key MessagesJen created three digital stories focused on experiences as a parent of a child with congenital heart diseaseSuccessfully secured funding from Western Canadian Children's Heart Network and developed Caregiver's Corner, offering digital stories and resources for heart familiesFacilitated anonymous storytelling for Safe Families charityDiscovered the therapeutic power of helping others unpack their storiesCurrently focusing on capturing legacy stories from family membersPassionate about using digital storytelling to bridge communication gaps in healthcareDescribes watching storytellers process their experiences as "unwrapping a gift"Join us for World Heart Day on September 29th for a special Kitchen Table Night featuring stories from parents of children with congenital heart disease, including Jen's story "The Overwhelm."Other Links MentionedSign up for the World Heart Day ScreeningRead this episode's blog postCheck out Caregiver's CornerWatch Jen’s digital storiesWatch the Safe Families story from our Story SlamListen to Jen's original podcast episodeAbout Our GuestJen Siran is a storyteller, advocate, and encourager at heart. Her journey as a mom and caregiver has shaped her passion for creating spaces where others feel seen, supported, and less alone. She’s known for weaving stories that bring hope, laughter, and connection—sometimes even managing to laugh at the chaos of everyday life (because if you don’t laugh, you might just cry). Jen believes deeply in the power of community, faith, and gentle support along life’s hardest paths. When she’s not writing or championing caregivers, you’ll likely find her wrangling family schedules, chasing creative ideas, or trying (and occasionally failing) to drink her coffee before it gets cold.  

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 MessagesWhen diagnosed with terminal cancer, Tom turned to art as a meaningful way to engage with lifeTom'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 reflectionsCurrently writing a book weaving together his off-grid cottage experiences, cancer journey, and academic reflectionsModern palliative care focuses on quality of life rather than extension at all costsEnd-of-life moments are meaningful and shouldn't be feared, they should be embraced and documentedOther Links MentionedWatch Tom’s digital storyRead this episode's blog postCheck out Tom's Youtube channelThe Waiting Room Revolution with Sammy WinemakerAbout Our GuestDr. 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. 

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 MessagesEvery business comes from a story, especially purpose driven businessesDigital storytelling allowed Trish to share her pivotal life experience with potential clients before they even meet herCreating a succinct 3-minute digital story helped Trish refine her keynote presentationsSelecting images for digital storytelling requires thinking in metaphors and considering emotional impactSharing personal stories of loss creates connection through our common humanityTrish teaches mindfulness techniques that can be practiced in under 5 minutes dailyCreating digital stories can be healing for the storyteller while also serving business purposesOther Links MentionedWatch Trish’s digital storyRead this episode's blog postCheck out Trish's Worry Less, Live More course and her Mindful Mornings journalWatch the Look Back video about Ep 30 with Dr. Carmen LogieLearn more about Trish Tutton here.

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 MentionedWatch Katlyn's digital storyLearn more about the Lincoln & Welland BandRead this episode's blog postWatch the Looking Back video for Ep 29 about DST in ResearchLearn more about Katlyn through the blog post.

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 Messages0:00 Introduction to Laryssa Lamrock2:33 Creating a Digital Story at Atlas5:12 Enveloped: Laryssa's Personal Digital Story9:33 Sharing Digital Stories with Others18:48 Supporting Young Adults' Storytelling Journey25:37 Mind Beyond the Mission Podcast28:20 Legacy Stories and Final ThoughtsOther Links MentionedWatch more digital stories from Atlas InstituteCheck out the Mindkit websiteWatch the Caregivers in the Wild episode mentionedListen to the Co-Created episode with Joy Pavelich mentionedRead this episode's blog postWatch the Looking Back video about Ep 28 with Wellspring AlbertaLearn more about Laryssa Lamrock here.

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 Messages0:05 Storytelling as Catalyst for Discussion1:00 Meeting the Disrupting Death Co-Hosts3:00 Connecting Through Digital Storytelling5:35 The MAID Digital Story Workshops8:45 How Stories Create Impact18:40 Digital Stories for Education30:15 Future Storytelling ProjectsFind 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 SimsDigital Stories Part 2 Bridge C-14 ParticipantsDigital Stories Part 3 MAID Family Support ParticipantsOther Links MentionedWatch Keri-Lyn's digital storyRead this episode's blog postWatch the Looking Back video about Ep 27 with Dr. Burcu SimsekLearn more about Keri-Lyn Durant & Kathy Kortes-Miller here.

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 MessagesDigital stories have unique power to convey the emotional reality of NICU experiencesFabiana's own story begins with performing CPR on her son when "no one came" after calling for helpFamily integrated care research empowered her as a parent and improved her son's outcomesDigital stories reach audiences beyond conference rooms and remain impactful over timeParent stories consistently receive the highest ratings in conference evaluationsCreating opportunities for siblings and patients to tell their own stories offers valuable perspectivesDigital storytelling allows advocates to share impactful experiences without repeatedly reliving traumaOther Links MentionedWatch Fabiana's digital storyWatch Petya's story from CPBF's launch event Building Resilience TogetherWatch Alice's story from CPBF's Preemie Chat: The Importance of Sharing your StoryRead this episode's blog postWatch the Looking Back video about Ep 26 with Dr. Peter RosenbaumLearn more about Fabiana Bacchini here.

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 MessagesDigital storytelling democratizes the narrative process by putting storytelling power into the hands of those with lived experiencesEach screening featured four stories created by different Common Language-trained facilitators working with unique charitiesStorytellers and facilitators discussed their experiences on stage, providing insights into both the story and the processMany charities began planning their next storytelling projects immediately after experiencing the Story SlamThe hybrid format allowed for meaningful engagement with both in-person and virtual participantsDigital stories prove particularly effective at combating stigma by fostering deeper understandingOther Links MentionedWatch the Story SlamRead the blog postFind out who the storytellers, facilitators and charity partners wereSign up for the Common Language newsletter