5. Storytelling as Healing: Kristy Wolfe on Vulnerability and Authenticity in Digital Narratives

Show Notes

Kristy Wolfe is a digital storytelling facilitator and a Wolfe Pack Warrior. She believes there is beauty in every story and she champions real stories in marketing and communication. Kristy exposes the human side of any organization, with consideration for ethics in storytelling, as well as storyteller wellness every step of the way.

As a Common Language DST Certified Facilitator and Trainer, Kristy helps individuals and social purpose organizations share meaningful stories, turning their unique experiences into compelling narratives that inspire action.

Kristy shares some of her own lived experiences within the context of each workshop she facilitates to validate that authenticity, openness, and vulnerability are essential to creating meaningful digital stories.

Episode Key Messages

• Kristy shares about the podcast she hosts for Common Language DST called, Co-Created, where she takes you behind the scenes of digital storytelling. 
• How photography and storytelling helped Kristy when her son required them to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
• Kristy explains how it helps to share her own story so other medical families know that she can relate and understand.  
• The four phases of DST:  finding the story, telling the story, crafting the story and sharing the story.
• The importance of ‘sharing the story’, enhancing storyteller wellbeing and different ways digital stories can be used.
• Kristy’s experience with helping her father-in-law share his life story and legacy of their business in 4-5 minutes.  (the digital story is called “Legacy”)
• Kristy mentions Guided Autobiography and her current interest in the Medical Assistance in Dying Digital Stories
• Discussion on how we share stories through voice, imagery, photography and environment.
• Kristy talks about the Common Language Story Slam and the video done to highlight McCormick Dementia Services, a non-profit organization in London, Ontario that provides compassionate care to the community.   The volunteer storyteller, Beth, will be on a future episode!

Other Links Mentioned

• Hugs n Bugs 
• K

Thank you for listening!

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Intro and outro music with thanks: Upbeat and Sweet No Strings by Musictown

Lisa brings over 25 years of experience working in healthcare settings with older adults. The perspectives shared on this podcast are her own and do not represent the views of any past or current employer. Patient/resident stories are shared only with explicit permission or as anonymized composites for educational purposes.