Leading Through Stories: When Your World Stops

Digital storytelling is a powerful tool in the realm of health and wellness. It allows individuals to capture and share their experiences in a deeply emotional and engaging way. This was the focus of our recent podcast episode where we sat down with Jennifer, a congenital heart parent and advocate. Jennifer shared her journey with digital storytelling and the profound impact it has had not only on her life but on the lives of others in similar situations.

Jennifer’s journey with digital storytelling began when she heard Kristy speak at a virtual conference, which led her to create ‘Day One’, a compelling digital narrative of her child’s diagnosis. This powerful tool enabled her to encapsulate the emotions and impacts of the moment, creating a poignant story that resonates with many families navigating similar experiences. She discovered the therapeutic potential of digital storytelling, using it as an education and advocacy tool.

Creating a digital story is a process that involves finding the essence of a story, weaving it together with captivating audio-visual elements, and setting the mood with the perfect score. This process is not just about capturing moments but also about unearthing the therapeutic impact of storytelling. It allows individuals to process their experiences in a deeply personal and meaningful way, providing a sense of comfort and understanding that can be invaluable in navigating health and wellness challenges.

The potential of digital stories as a platform for connection was also highlighted in our conversation with Jennifer. She shared her vision of fostering a community of shared experiences and her hopes of establishing a digital story library based on the stories in her book, When Your World Stops; Finding Hope in Your Child’s Medical Journey.

The power of digital storytelling extends beyond self-expression. It can serve as a tool for fostering empathy and understanding, allowing individuals to connect on a deeper level. Our conversation with Jennifer illustrates this beautifully, providing a glimpse into the profound impact of digital storytelling in the health and wellness realm. Her journey serves as an inspiration, highlighting the potential of digital storytelling to make a difference in our lives.

In conclusion, digital storytelling offers a compelling platform for sharing and understanding health and wellness experiences. Whether you are a health professional, a patient, or a family member navigating a health challenge, this tool can provide comfort, connection, and understanding. As Jennifer’s experience demonstrates, digital storytelling is not just about capturing moments; it’s about creating connections, fostering empathy, and promoting healing. Tune in to listen to Jen’s inspiring journey and discover how digital storytelling can make a difference in your own life.

About Our Guest

Jennifer Siran lives in Manitoba, Canada, with her husband and three children. For over a decade, she worked with marginalized youth in Winnipeg’s Inner City, learning the power of story when overcoming hardship. Writing has been a tool that she has used to process many complex emotions and all that life brings. After spending the last 12 years raising an amazing heart hero and navigating some major setbacks, she took time during Covid to write her book—a project to support fellow heart families in a unique way. Their family continues to navigate their son’s chronic illness in the midst of all the amazing things that childhood contains. 

Website: jennifersiran.com
Digital Story: Day One
Book:  When Your World Stops; Finding Hope in Your Child’s Medical Journey

About Leading Through Stories

Everyone has a story to tell—and what we do with that story can create lasting impact. Every episode, Leading Through Stories, helps unravel the how and why of digital storytelling with host Kristy Wolfe.

Life is made up of meaningful moments—which ones do you want to share?

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ALS Digital Storytelling: Who Are These Stories For? – Co-Created

What can digital storytelling hold when a diagnosis changes everything?In this episode, Kristy Wolfe talks with Leslie Ring Adams, executive director of the ALS Society of Alberta, about creating digital stories with people and families living with ALS. The conversation centres on a question that runs through the work: are these stories for advocacy, for education, for family, or simply for the person telling them?Leslie shares how the ALS Society of Alberta supports storytellers, why the strongest stories are often about relationships rather than the disease itself, and how legacy, consent, and community shape what happens after a story is made. They also talk about caregiving, screening stories publicly, using AI voice technology when someone has lost their speech, and why these stories can help families, clinicians, donors, and researchers understand each other more deeply.This is a thoughtful listen for healthcare teams, nonprofit communicators, caregivers, facilitators, and anyone interested in ethical digital storytelling rooted in lived experience.You’ll hear about:- why ALS stories often focus on the person, not the diagnosis- how the ALS Society of Alberta uses stories for support, education, and advocacy- what families need when deciding whether a story stays private or becomes public- the role of digital stories in legacy-making and storyteller wellbeing- how story can connect lived experience with research, care, and communityLinks Mentioned:ALS Screening Still Speaking: Young Adults, ALS, and the Moments that Shape Us Common Language Story SlamDan's Digital Story, A Better Man Ireland’s Digital Story: By Book or By Heart Payton’s Digital Story, Still My Mom ALS Society of Alberta YouTubeMike Lang StoriesAbout Our GuestLeslie Ring Adams has been with the ALS Society of Alberta since 2015 and is currently the organization’s Executive Director. Her connection to ALS began when her mother was diagnosed with the disease. After experiencing firsthand the incredible support the Society provided to her family, Leslie decided to make a career change and join the organization.While that experience brought her to the ALS Society, it is the people, the mission and the opportunity to make a difference that have kept her there. Leslie considers it an honour to walk alongside individuals and families living with ALS and to be part of a community that shows incredible strength and resilience.She is passionate about making sure people affected by ALS have the support they need today, while advocating for better treatments, supporting research and working toward a future without ALS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1. ALS Digital Storytelling: Who Are These Stories For? 25:53
2. Youth Mental Health & Storyteller Wellbeing 26:41
3. Can a Story Change Veterinary Medicine? 27:40
4. Digital Stories in Community-Based Research with Carolyn Brandly 30:02
5. Using Digital Stories in Clinician Training with Dr. Tricia Williams 30:41

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