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Capturing Essence for Care: Life Stories, Creativity and Meaningful Living
What if healthcare teams knew what lights you up?
Capturing Essence for Care celebrates the everyday moments, passions, and stories that make us who we are—right now, while we're living fully.
This podcast explores the many ways we can capture and express our essence: through storytelling, photography, video, music, autobiography, meaningful conversations, creative arts and more. We talk with artists, musicians, storytellers, people living vibrant lives, and experts who help preserve stories. Along the way, we discover how engaging with our creativity and stories isn't just about preservation—it's about nurturing our overall health and wellbeing in the present moment.
Why "for Care"?
Because life is unpredictable. When we eventually need healthcare support—whether for ourselves or loved ones—having our essence captured means care teams can see us as whole people, not just patients. They'll know what brings us joy, what matters most to us, and how to connect with who we truly are.
This podcast is for:
- Anyone who wants to preserve what makes them uniquely themselves
- People curious about life story work, personal history, and creative expression
- Those who believe our identities matter throughout our entire lives
- DIY-ers looking to learn how to capture stories themselves
- Professionals interested in person-centered approaches
- Anyone inspired by hearing how others capture and share their essence
Join host Lisa Joworski
Lisa is a Recreation and Life Story Resource specialist who brings together storytellers, artists, musicians, advocates, people living with dementia, healthcare practitioners, and life story experts. Each conversation offers insights and practical approaches for the beautiful ways we can honour our own stories and the stories of those we love—not just for memory's sake, but for the fullness of living and for the care we may one day need.
Connect with Lisa:
- Email: awestruckaspirations@gmail.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/AWEStruckAspirations
- Etsy Shop: etsy.com/ca/shop/AwestruckAspirations
New episodes release every other week. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation!
Episodes
31 episodes
30. When Distance Gets in the Way: How One Son's Journey Led to a Simple Way to Keep Families Connected
We talk with Bob Millar about the messy reality of long-distance caregiving during dementia, and why communication failures create fear, burnout, and constant second-guessing. We also dig into how a familiar one-touch video “clock” can reduce l...
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29. Wake Up Maggie Movie: The Film Giving Dignity and a Voice to Frontotemporal Dementia
Wake Up Maggie: The Film Giving Dignity and a Voice to Frontotemporal Dementia with Katie PrentissFrontotemporal dementia (FTD) can enter a family like a false accusation — sudden personality shifts and years of misdiagnosis. Acto...
28. When Words Fade: Loving Herb Through Alzheimer's and Lewy Body Dementia
Episode Description:We talk with Linda Wiebe about loving and caring for her husband Herb through Alzheimer's disease and Lewy Body Dementia, and how digital storytelling helps others see the person behind the diagnosis. We also n...
27. Inside The Science And Soul Of Superagers with Dr. Angela Roberts
What does it actually look like to age with a sharp, resilient, and deeply connected mind? Dr. Angela Roberts — a dementia researcher leading Canada's first Super Ager cohort joins us to explore what science is learning from people in their 80s...
26. The One Question That Humanizes Patient Care with Dr. Harvey Chochinov
Episode DescriptionWhat if one simple question could transform healthcare? In this episode, Lisa talks with Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov, the renowned psychiatrist who developed the Patient Dignity Question: "What do I need to know ab...
25. A Podcasting Conversation with Kristy Wolfe - Personhood Resources and Elevator Pitches
Kristy Wolfe, digital storytelling facilitator and Co-Created podcast host, interviews Lisa in this episode! They explore how short, intentional stories help clinicians see the person behind the patient and why clarity, consent, and owner...
24. Second Chances: How Guided Autobiography Transforms Life Stories Into Published Legacies
Episode Description:Ever wonder what happens to your life stories after you write them? What if they could become part of a published book shared with readers around the world?Join host Lisa Joworski for an inspiring conver...
23. Seniors Making a Horror Movie: How Filmmaker Sean Cisterna Turned Rejection Into a Global Movement Against Isolation
Episode Description:What happens when a filmmaker gets rejected from every grant—then discovers a senior citizens fund and pitches the wildest idea imaginable? Award-winning Canadian filmmaker Sean Cisterna shares the inspiring st...
22. Year One Reflections: Life Story Methods and Meaningful Living
Life Story Methods and Meaningful Living: Year One ReflectionsWhat if capturing your stories today could transform how others care for you tomorrow? After nearly a year and 22 episodes, I'm reflecting on what I've learned about ca...
21. From Love Letter to Legacy: How One Daughter's Thank You Became a Map for Dementia Care
Episode DescriptionIn this season finale, I'm joined by Beth Fitzmaurice, whose caregiving story became a digital story transforming how McCormick Dementia Services trains staff and supports caregivers. Beth shares what it was lik...
20. Three Words on a VHS Tape: How Art Bridges What Words Cannot with Meaghan Smith
Join host Lisa Joworski for an inspiring conversation with Juno Award-winning musician and storyteller Meaghan Smith about how songwriting became her way to process emotions and help others tell their stories.In this episode:<...
19. A Videographer Finds Purpose Preserving Lives on Camera - Everlasting Studios
Episode DescriptionWhat if a thirty-minute video could transform how your loved one receives care? Legacy filmmaker Liam Martyn made the shift from commercial videography to founding Everlasting Studios after discovering decades-o...
18. How To End The Loss Of Tradition: Recording Personal Histories To Build Connection Across Generations With Anika Chabra
Show DescriptionAnika Chabra is Co-Founder of Root & Seed, a simple and game-like platform on a mission to bring storytelling back to where it belongs, between generations, across kitchen tables, in workpla...
17. Revolutionizing Dementia Care Through VR Training
Episode DescriptionDr. Marie Savundranayagam's innovative virtual reality training program is transforming dementia care by teaching healthcare providers person-centred communication skills in an immersive, judgment-free environme...
16. The Waiting Room Revolution with Dr. Samantha Winemaker: How to Show Up as a Whole Person in Healthcare
Dr. Sammy Winemaker shares how patients can present themselves as unique individuals to the healthcare system rather than becoming "a cog in a wheel." We explore practical ways to ensure your personhood remains at the center of your healthcare ...
15. The Power of Guided Autobiography With Dr. Cheryl Svensson
Episode Description:Feeling like your story doesn't matter? Worried your children or grandchildren won't appreciate your life experiences? Discover how Guided Autobiography (GAB) transforms personal memories into powerful legacies...
14. From Nonprofit Leader to Story Doula: How Photography and Video Preserve Life Stories
Storytelling photographer Heather Knox shares her journey from international nonprofit work to helping people capture their life stories through guided autobiography and digital storytelling. With deep experience in service, photography, and no...
13. Beyond Self-Doubt: How Dr. Flora Brown Uses Guided Autobiography to Rewrite Limiting Beliefs Into Life Purpose
Dr. Flora Brown shares her journey as a life story coach and guided autobiography facilitator, revealing how childhood experiences eavesdropping in her mother's beauty shop shaped her passion for helping others capture their life stories. She d...
12. From Ministry to Memory Care: The Simple Conversation Starters That Unlock Life's Sacred Stories
Whitney Myers, owner and founder of Sacred Stories, shares how personal storytelling through video preserves legacies and enhances care. Her background in ministry, memory care, and family documentation created a natural path toward helping oth...
11. Beyond the Chart: How Visual Stories are Healing Healthcare
Visual narratives can impact healthcare by humanizing patient experiences and reconnecting clinical expertise with empathy. Krystle Schofield reveals how by sharing her own journey from photographer to digital storyteller.Key Me...
10. Digital Storytelling from a Nursing Perspective: How 3-Minute Patient Videos Improve Care
Show Notes:Maureen Leier, a registered nurse in public health and digital storyteller, joins Lisa to explore how integrating personal life stories into healthcare transforms the quality of care and creates meaningful connections between ...
9. The Power of Reframing Your Caregiving Story with Ron Beleno
Ron Beleno is an active advocate for dementia, caregiving, aging and research communities. From lived experience, he encourages others to transform the challenging caregiving journey into one of growth and resilience through his innovativ...
8. Reclaiming Narrative Agency: How Stories Empower Persons Living with Dementia
About Our GuestLaura Bowley is the Director of Communications & Development for To Whom I May Concern®, and a senior facilitator and trainer. Since 2012, Laura has collaborated with Maureen Matthews, blending particip...
7. Family Story Preservation: How Video Biographies Save Memories
Preserving Family Stories: The Urgent Need for Video BiographyWhen family voices fade into silence, irreplaceable stories disappear forever. Sean Daigle, founder of Memoria Films, shares why capturing video biographies is...
6. Why Baby Boomers Aren't Preparing for Aging (And How Person-Centred Care Can Help)
The oldest Baby Boomers will turn 80 in just four years, yet most aren't preparing for aging. Why do we avoid these crucial conversations?In this episode, I explore the gap between our aging reality and our readiness, drawing from...