Co-Created

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 unique...

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 stor...

Can storytelling help heal trauma? Hear Natasha (Tash) Bilau-Howie's transformative journey from an ER nurse to a brain tumour survivor, and how digital storytelling became a part of it all. Her involvement with the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and subsequent participation in a storytelling workshop under Mike Lang's guidance helped her navigate a path from patient to storyteller. Tash opens...

What if storytelling could be more than just a means of communication? Mike Wilson, the insightful Director of the Storytelling Academy at Loughborough University , unveils the transformative power of storytelling as a vital system of knowledge. From his journey in community theatre to shaping academia, Mike shares how narratives have the potential to address global issues like environmental chall...

Join us as we pull back the curtain on the inaugural Common Language Story Slam , taking place at cSpace in Calgary, Alberta on March 2nd, 2025. Born from the success of our Kickstarter campaign, this festival is more than just storytelling—intertwines personal narratives with charitable causes. With twelve stories to be shared, the event promotes community connection, engagement, and awareness of...

Discover the transformative potential of digital storytelling in tackling social stigma with the inspiring Carmen Logie . In this enlightening episode, Carmen shares her extensive work across East Africa and Canada, where storytelling is not just a tool but a movement that brings marginalized communities to the forefront. By crafting shared narratives, we're uncovering the powerful intersection of...

What if the key to transforming public health communication lies in the art of storytelling? Join us as we explore this intriguing idea with Becky McCall , a seasoned medical journalist and a PhD candidate at University College London. Becky shares her unique journey from microbiology to medical journalism and reveals how digital storytelling can make complex health issues like antibiotic resistan...

Imagine a world where you can transform your profound life experiences into powerful narratives that resonate with others. That's exactly what we explore with guest, Bobbi Fridfinnson, from Wellspring Alberta , a charity that supports individuals with cancer and their caregivers through a variety of programs, including digital storytelling workshops. These workshops, originally spearheaded by Mike...

Join us on an inspiring exploration of digital storytelling with Burcu Şimşek, an associate professor from Hacettepe University and the visionary behind the Digital Story Hub . Burcu shares her innovative approach to amplifying women's voices through digital storytelling, drawing on her extensive research and passion for gender issues. Discover how her journey began with a PhD thesis that reimagin...

What if we could shift the narrative around childhood disabilities to focus on strengths and possibilities? Join us as we explore this transformative idea with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum , co-founder of the CanChild Centre for Childhood-Onset Disability Research . Peter takes us on his inspiring journey from the early days of developmental pediatrics to a revolutionary approach that celebrates the unique...

Ever wondered how community support can bring creative projects to life? We dive into the mechanics behind organizing an impactful story slam event through the Common Language Kickstarter campaign , emphasizing the crucial role of the all-or-nothing funding model. Discover how you can be part of this inspiring movement, whether by attending, sponsoring, or spreading the word. The stories shared at...

Rebecca Saah's journey into digital storytelling is as compelling as the stories she helps others tell. Join us as Rebecca discusses her work at the University of Calgary and the influence of Common Language DST on her research, particularly in cannabis harm reduction with young adults. Her insights into using storytelling to navigate the pressures of academia are both inspiring and relatable. Thi...

What if sharing your story could change the world of healthcare? Join us on Co-Created as we sit down with Dr. Daisy Dulay, a dedicated cardiologist who turned her own struggles with burnout and the loss of her colleague and host Kristy's father, Dr. Dennis Morgan, into a mission for wellness. Dr. Dulay's journey led her to create a physician wellness group, as well as to learning how digital stor...

Unlock the therapeutic and transformative powers of digital storytelling with our special guests, Pip Hardy, Laura Mazzoli-Smith, and Kate Thompson. Discover how Pip's work with Patient Voices UK is reshaping healthcare narratives with compassion, Laura's research at Durham University is advancing narrative practices, and Kate's expertise as a therapist is offering unique therapeutic insights. We'...

What if sharing your personal story could transform lives and promote healing? Join us on Co-Created as we sit down with Dr. Mike Lang to uncover the incredible world of digital storytelling. Mike recounts his journey from helping cancer survivors at Wellspring Calgary document their healthcare experiences to becoming a renowned expert in the field. He demystifies the structured process of creatin...

Unlock the power of digital storytelling in research with our guest, Sara Pot, a parent partner with CanChild's Family Engagement in Research Program with McMaster University. Discover how storytelling fosters trust, empathy, and meaningful partnerships between researchers and those with lived and living experience. Sara offers an insider's perspective on the integration of digital storytelling in...

What if sharing your story could help heal trauma? This episode of Leading Through Stories explores just that, featuring an insightful conversation with Joy Pavelich from the Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families . Joy takes us through her transformative journey from the Canadian Mental Health Association to her current role, emphasizing her master's research on storytelling as a pathway out o...

How can storytelling revolutionize the nonprofit sector? Join us in an engaging conversation with Heather Knox, a digital storytelling facilitator who takes us on her incredible journey from co-founding Project Somos in Guatemala to how she is incorporating photography and guided autobiography into her work. Heather shares how storytelling have profoundly impacted her work with Indigenous Mayan ch...

Discover the profound impact patient narratives can have on healthcare with Dr. Mike Lang, founder of Common Language Digital Storytelling , and his co-author, cancer survivor Vikram Bubber. Together, they unravel the power of story in shaping the wisdom of healthcare professionals. We don't just hear Vikram's own gripping tale of survival, but we learn how to transform passive listening into acti...

Every life holds a story waiting to be told, and Lisa Joworski has dedicated her life to bringing those tales to the fore. Join us as we journey with Lisa, a compassionate Common Language Digital Storytelling facilitator, who has turned her profound experiences with the senior community and individuals with dementia into a mission of empathy and connection. Through the recounting of her own evolut...

When Vittorio Borrelli, heart transplant and cancer survivor, recounts his journey, you feel every heartbeat of his tale. Our latest episode honours the beauty of resilience through digital storytelling, providing a platform for individuals like Vittorio to share their experiences with congenital heart disease (CHD). He joins us to discuss his digital story, The Call , a narrative, emphasizin...

Have you ever wondered how a nine-year-old would describe battling cancer? Imagine it likened to navigating the twists and turns of a racetrack, a metaphor young Ethan uses to articulate his journey. Today, we're joined by Common Language Digital Storytelling founder Mike Lang and Clara Jordan from the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, a charity that partners to achieve the best childhood cance...

When the tapestry of human experiences is woven with the threads of digital storytelling, profound connections are forged. That's precisely what Maureen Leier, a dedicated nurse and Common Language digital storytelling facilitator, brings to light in our heartfelt conversation. We navigate the evolution from traditional healthcare to telehealth and the ripple effect of storytelling in this space....

It's our privilege to share the North American premiere of " A Shared Dream: Digital Storytelling to Support Gender Equality in East Africa . " Our guests, Barbara Naggayi and Mutatina Robens, talk with Dr. Mike Lang about the practice of digital storytelling in Uganda. They reveal the joys and challenges of guiding storytellers to express their innermost experiences and we examine the wide-reachi...

When Lacey Horta and Jenni Haggie of the Canadian Cancer Society joined us, the conversation transformed into an immersive exploration of digital storytelling's role in humanizing healthcare. Our guests, with their rich backgrounds in community management, social work, and cancer strategy, shared how stories can turn the most corporate of meetings into a space filled with compassion and understand...