Capturing Essence for Care: Storytelling that Promotes Personhood in Healthcare

20. Three Words on a VHS Tape: How Art Bridges What Words Cannot

• Lisa Joworski, Life Story Resource and Digital Storytelling Facilitator • Episode 20

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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:

  • Musical Storytelling - How Meaghan discovered songwriting at age 12 and now writes personalized songs for life's most significant moments
  • Learning Through Adversity - Building an award-winning career while unable to read music, playing entirely by ear despite dyslexia
  • When Songs Transform Lives - Two powerful stories: "I Know" about her grandfather that led him to write "I love you" for the first time, and "Hole," written for a widower after a profound creative breakthrough
  • The Creative Process as Play - Reconnect with childlike creativity—completely present, judgment-free, and authentically yourself
  • From Song to Book - Meaghan's illustrated children's book "It Snowed" and upcoming holiday concerts (December 19-20, 2025 in Nova Scotia)

Listen to the songs mentioned in our conversation:

Connect with Meaghan: 

Facebook:

facebook.com/meaghansmith

facebook.com/meaghansmithart

facebook.com/mkindpapersmith


Instagram:

instagram.com/themeaghansmith

instagram.com/meaghansmithart

instagram.com/mkindpapersmith


Tiktok:

tiktok.com/meaghansmithmusic

tiktok.com/meaghansmithart

tiktok.com/mkindpapersmith


Buy Meaghan's book and/or share about it! 

Meaghan's annual holiday concert: https://bellaroseartscentre.com/event/meaghan-smith/

Thank you for listening!

Do you have a question or a topic related to "capturing essence for care" that you would like discussed on the podcast? Text the show using the link above or send Lisa an email: awestruckaspirations@gmail.com

Interested in learning more?

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.

Lisa:

Have you ever thought of life storytelling in the form of a song? My guest, Megan Smith, does just this, and a few years back, was hired by my cousin to celebrate my aunt and uncle's anniversary by gifting them a personalized song about their love story. It was the sweetest, most beautiful song. I have to admit that I was a little star-struck with Megan at first. Her song, It Snowed, is one of my ultimate seasonal favorites to listen to at this time of year. The episode starts off with me reading her bio, which might be a little bit long and might not have been necessary for me to read it all, but it felt so important to share since she's done so much. We also had a couple of great laughs about what that was like for her. So I really hope you enjoy listening. I also hope that you pick up some ideas from this episode and figure out how to capture your own essence. Okay, let's get started. Welcome to Capturing Essence for Care, where we discuss the importance of incorporating personal life stories into healthcare and share ideas to help you on your journey. I'm your host, Lisa Jaworski. Well, hello everyone. Welcome to Capturing Essence for Care. Today we have Megan Smith with us. She's an artist, musician, and storyteller. I am quite, I don't know what the right word is, Megan, but I would say I'm smitten or taken with the work that you do. And uh I'm just really honored and feel quite privileged that you would agree to do this interview with me for this podcast. So thank you, first of all, before I even share more about you, I just want the world to know how awesome I think you are in the work.

Meaghan Smith:

Oh my gosh. That's so nice. Can I be on your podcast tomorrow?

Lisa:

And come again and again. It's so kind of you next year. No, that's right. Every Christmas, maybe.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah. No, that's really sweet, Lisa. Thank you for taking the time to talk to me and for caring about the things that I make.

Lisa:

Absolutely. You do awesome work, and I know we'll get more into it. Uh, first, for all the listeners out there, I want you to know more about who Megan Smith is. She's a Juno Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art. Born in London, Ontario, Canada, known as the Forest City, Megan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husband, I like that, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo and their two sons. Over the past 20 years, Megan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLaughlin, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexmith, and Katie Lange. Her debut album, The Crickets Orchestra, earned her the 2011 Juno Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror from her sophomore album, Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the international songwriting competition. Now, hopefully, everybody can see why I'm so excited to even chat with you. Today, Megan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television on platforms ranging from Netflix to the Tonight Show, starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company, Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music. And just side note, that's how we connected. Um, my cousin asked her to write a song for my aunt and uncles. Was it for Christmas or an anniversary?

Meaghan Smith:

I I don't remember. I'm so sorry. I don't remember. I think I don't know.

Lisa:

I'm so I think it was an anniversary, and I should have checked first.

Meaghan Smith:

Okay. I think it was an anniversary, actually. Yes. Yeah.

Lisa:

I think so too.

Meaghan Smith:

Okay.

Lisa:

Okay. So while her music career flourished, Megan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home: foxes and fedoras, bears and flower crowns, fish in monocles, each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed miniature art show with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide in exhibits across Quebec and Canada. Using oils on heavyweight paper, Megan's paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. In addition to her paintings, Megan owns and operates M Kind Papersmith, a small stationary studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters. Megan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher for her holiday hit, It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in colored pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material. Alongside her art and music, Megan leads creativity through songwriting workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process. Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Megan continues to paint, write, and make music, working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its form. Megan, my goodness, I don't I'm just tired.

Meaghan Smith:

I'm so tired hearing all I need a nap. Oh my gosh. That's a lot of stuff.

unknown:

Yeah.

Lisa:

You've done a lot, but I hope in me kind of sharing things with the listeners on all that you've done helps you to feel proud. You know, sometimes hearing somebody else read it helps to kind of go, wow, look at all the things I've done.

Meaghan Smith:

It kind of does. I like I'm sitting here, I'm like, man, she's still reading this bio that I sent you is so long. And but then I was like, yeah, I did that. Yeah, I did that too. That was really fun. Yeah, and that thing was cool. And yeah, like I guess I'm getting to an age where I am looking back. Yeah. And for I mean, I'm like, I'm still looking forward, but I'm also I'm kind of in the middle a little bit where I am looking back and I'm going, yeah, I'm really glad I did that. That was really hard, or that was really rewarding, or whatever. So yeah, it was that was an interesting experience. Thank you for taking on the challenge of reading that whole entire thing. That was crazy.

Lisa:

It's beautiful. I I don't think that people have enough opportunities to just actually sit and reflect on the things that they've done, you know? And and even when we don't, I think we think, okay, so you actually have done some amazing and remarkable things that are recognized, I think, by society. Hopefully I'm right in saying that.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, everybody.

Lisa:

But I think it's also right. I think that's my point is that I think we all have so many notches in our belt, maybe that aren't recognized that we still need to be proud of. But yours, I just yeah, I just want to reflect on and hopefully allow this opportunity for you to feel like, wow, that I have done some remarkable things, and hopefully you know that. But that's really kind.

Meaghan Smith:

That's so kind. Thank you. Yeah, yeah. I am I'm I am proud because things don't come easily to me. And um, especially, you know, we were talking a little bit before about with this book coming out, like having my book in a bookstore is uh like astounding to me because I have dyslexia. It was it was similar with music. I can't read music. So having my music on the radio was crazy. And then what was even crazier was when people were like, Hey, do you have sheet music for this song? And I I'm like, I don't even know. Like, I can't, I'll get so I hire other people to write the sheet music for my my songs, and then I I can't read it, and I sell it to people who can read it, and then they can play my song, and I can't even do that. And it's the same with this this book. I mean, it's a picture book and it's for children, so the words are quite simple, but just the idea of um me, someone who struggled all through school uh with my dyslexia has has a book in a bookstore. It's like it blows my mind. It's really crazy.

Lisa:

That's incredible. So the things that you just mentioned, I guess I want to pick apart a little bit. I'm curious about you not being able to I can't read it.

Meaghan Smith:

You can't read. Okay, you can't read. I can't read it on a page, you know, like the notes.

Lisa:

Okay, so how did you how did you start? Like, do you just did you just pick up an instrument and start to fiddle around with it and see how it sounded? Like what was how did it be?

Meaghan Smith:

Well, my family is really, really musical. So my mom is a piano teacher. Uh she's retired now, but she was a piano teacher for decades. And my dad was a school teacher, but he played bass in a band as like a you know, a t a youth, a teenager, and he was, you know, always, always music in my in our house, always constantly, like different rooms with different radios, playing different. So I have three sisters, and they all listen to all their music. So I'd come home and my my mom would be at the piano with a student, or my mom would be practicing the piano, and then my dad would be like playing his bass or listening to music, and then my sisters would be doing their homework, listening to all different music. So it was I was just exposed to so much music as a as a young person, and it was like air. Like I just I grew up in it. And when my mom would teach piano, it looked like it looked easy, it looked fun and easy. Like so she would say, and you put your hands here, and then you, you know, you play the keys like this. And uh I I could just I couldn't see the the notes on the staff, uh on the musical staff. Like I can see them, but it looks like spaghetti. I can't tell where it is. It's hard to explain. And um, she tried to teach me, and it really didn't go well. So what ended up happening was um she signed me up for music lessons, and I was really embarrassed, I think, and ashamed that I couldn't read the music. So I would ask my music teacher, can you play, can you just like play it for me so I can hear it while I'm looking at the notes? And then I just memorize it and then pla started to play by ear and paying really close attention to what the notes were doing when my teacher was playing, and then I I just remembered and and copied and played by ear. So that's how I learned.

Speaker 1:

Okay, okay.

Meaghan Smith:

That's incredible. Well, uh, yes and no, like it's it was it was pretty lazy, I figured, uh, because I I didn't ever really like just crack down and be like, no, you have to learn the notes. I really was like, it's what that's way too hard. I'm just gonna do the easy way for me, which is just playing by ear. So yeah, I I don't I I can't say, I mean, it's difficult to be a full-time musician and not be able to express myself to other musicians that way. Luckily, though, as you mentioned, my husband, he is my band. And so I can say to him, like, we've been married for uh 20 going on 21 years, I can say to him, like, no, that chord is too sharp or that chord is too pointy, and he knows what I mean.

Lisa:

You have your special language that works.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, it's like totally nonsensical. And so when we have to hire a band, which we actually are practicing with a band for our upcoming holiday concert, which is gonna be really fun. Um, he can transpose the music and explain it to the band members like what key it's in and what the notes are and all that stuff. I don't have anything to do with that.

Lisa:

Okay, okay. So it's nice to have a buddy system and somebody who can speak that language while you do the artistic side. That's right. My goodness. So when you how old were you when you started writing songs?

Meaghan Smith:

I was 12, and I know I was 12 because I had a very, very serious hardcore crush on a guy and was way too afraid to tell him. So I wrote a song about it, and that's when I was first like, wow, this is excellent because I'm I'm saying it, but nobody knows who it's about. It was this weird, like, I'm I'm out in the open about my feelings. I don't have to like hide my feelings anymore. I'm like sharing my feelings, but I'm still not really sharing my feelings because I don't have to be totally blunt and and like explain what this is about. So yeah, that's when I first discovered songwriting. I love it. I love it.

Lisa:

Because it's a whole it's it's a creative expression, like it's an outlet for you to be able to share those emotions. But like you said, you don't nobody needs to know who's who it's about.

Meaghan Smith:

Um yeah, actually, yeah, and but songwriting, I mean, that was me processing, right? Like as I've grown and done a lot of therapy, I realized that songwriting is pro emotional processing for me. So I was processing these like feelings of rejection, and I mean, I I he never knew I existed, so I wasn't technically rejected, like I never told him how I felt or anything like that. Um, but I was just feeling really small and scared to tell him, and and so like looking back on those first songs that I wrote, I was like, oh, that's me processing these feelings of of you know just fear and and my own insecurities and all these things. And uh that's been songwriting for me has like it's been a lifesaver for me throughout the years. Yeah.

Lisa:

Is there an example you could share? So the title of the podcast is Capturing Essence for Care. And we talked a little bit before, I pressed record on the importance of people, especially in healthcare, but I think it just goes with just caring for one another, yeah, as human beings, that sometimes we just need to be heard. And it's not always the words that we say, it could be through some other form, right? Whether it's art, whether it's painting, whether it's writing or our environment. Um, there's lots of different ways. So is there an example you can share on maybe like your 12-year-old situation is one example on how maybe writing music or singing music or whatever else, another example that you want to share helped you get through something?

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, absolutely. Um essentially, every single heartbreak, every every feeling, which I've got a lot of them, uh, I have written into a song. Now, I don't share those songs, but I have put them in songs and it's it's it's helped me move forward. And like I can I can share an example of a song I wrote personally that I saw change another person. Um and then I can I'd also love to share a story about a a song I wrote for someone who was um caring for someone else and how that helped him through a difficult time. The first song I want to tell you about is a song from my grandfather that I wrote, who he has now passed away, but um he was a very stoic farmer and just never talked about his feelings. And we made for a real interesting pair because I would just gush my feelings all over everything every time I'm just you know, this like very emotional, very expressive, artistic person, and and he was not. And um, we'd have these really interesting conversations, and he'd talk about like his his hip that he got replaced, and like I don't know, different like different engines in different farm tractors, and so we'd have these conversations, and then when it was time to say goodbye to him, I would want him to know every time I was like, Well, I don't know we you know, like when I'm gonna see you again or what's gonna happen. And so every time I would tell him I loved him, I would say, Okay, bye, grandpa, I love you, and then he just wouldn't say anything, it was so awkward, he would say nothing. Uh, and then he'd sort of be like, Okay, well, yeah, we'll talk to you again, yeah, later. Good enough. That was like, I'm dismissed, you know. Um, and so I wrote a song about that. I wrote a song about the fact that he can't say that he loves me. And the song is called I Know. And it's about how I just know that he loves me. He doesn't, you know, he doesn't say it, and that's fine. I know. Um, and that song I think is what won me the Juno. Um really. Yeah, I I'm that song touched so many people because there were so many people who are like, that's my dad, or that's my that's my mom, or that's my grandfather, my, you know, that's my like like my favorite aunt. I know that they love me, they just don't say it. It's like something about that generation, maybe. I don't know. Um and he was proud as punch because they played that song on the Juno's, and I had to like walk up from like the back of the stadium. So I was I'm sitting at the back, I'm like, there's no way I'm gonna win this thing. But then I did, and then I had to walk up all the way to the front, and they so they played my song for like a minute and a half as I'm like trying to get up there in these heels. And so my it was and it was televised too. So my grandfather had watched this uh the Juno's and he had VHS videotaped it for me.

Lisa:

And he knew it was about him. He knew this song. Oh, yeah.

Meaghan Smith:

He he knew by this time that it was about him. And my mom had told him that it was about him, and so he VHS videotaped it. Now the the day after the Juno's, um My husband and I went back to London for like a family gathering for like a family party. And at the family party, my grandfather gives me this VHS videotape of me winning the Juno, and on it was stuck on the top of the tape, he put a sticky note with the words, I love you, written on it. Like I can't explain. My mom said he has never said that. Like I've never heard him say that or seen him write even write that. So the fact that he at his age, like in his late 80s, in his shaky hand old man handwriting, had changed. Like that song changed him. I'm not I'm not saying I'm not saying it was me. I think I think I'm oftentimes I'm just like a bystander and the songs, songs just like happen. It just you know happens to I just happen to be the one who's it's coming out of. But that was one of the first times where I was like, this is super powerful. Like whatever this is, it's it's real, real powerful. Wow.

Lisa:

I love that you said that. I love well, everything that you said about that. The fact that he was that age and said, I love you, in a even if it was writing, you know, that it sounds like that was something that was big for him, even writing.

Meaghan Smith:

It was really big, right? It was very big for him. Yeah, yeah.

Lisa:

It was and obviously it sounds like that was something that he knew was important to you and probably others, but finally coming to the point where it's like, this is something that I feel comfortable doing and that I need to do now. Yeah. Because of the song. And the other part I just have to say that I love is that you just said that you think that maybe the song just comes through you and you're not really sure. Like, I I do think that there's something that it's like just something that's moving through you, and you're called to put it out on paper or bring it to the world somehow.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, I think I really think that the more I mean I I've made a lot of things. Like I make a ton of I make paintings and pictures and songs, and I write, you know, I write stuff too, and I've thought a lot about what what it is that what that what is that? It's very mystical. It's very mystical, and especially with certain songs, and and the song I know was that type of that type of thing where it's it's almost like it's almost like all these things need like a human partner. And if you're open to it, they will choose you. And if you're not, they'll they'll go on and choose someone else. And so it's not, you know, I I try not to I get I don't get all wrapped up in that because I that you know that does a number on my head when I think that um I it's just not really about me. It's kind of it's just about the thing, the song and the yeah. So I'm glad that story resonated with you. Um the other story I'd love to share was it was a it was a very interesting experience. And um so as you mentioned in my like 10-hour long bio, um uh I write a fantastic bio. I write custom songs for people. Um, and I can tell you the story of how I got to there from from writing songs for myself to writing songs for other people. But um one of the earlier songs that I wrote was it felt impossible. So I got an email from this gentleman named uh Dave Loomer, and he told me in this email he poured his heart out. He said he had just lost his wife of 50 years to ALS, and he had been her primary caregiver right up until the very end, and he wanted a song for her. And could I write a song for her? And initially I was like, well, I I mean, like, I'll try my very best. Um, because he was, you know, obviously in a in a great deal of pain, like really, really missing her and and lost without her. Um, so I tried to write his song. So the process is like, you know, I hear from someone asking for a song, and I make sure that I feel like I can relate and do the song justice. And then I ask a lot of questions, and I wait for a response, and people can answer what they're comfortable with and not. And so he's, you know, he poured his heart out on the page and and sent back a lot of wonderful stories about him and his wife Bonnie and how they had met and their two daughters, and what they had been through together in their life, and how he promised to care for her, and just the the the anguish he experienced in watching her get trapped in herself, and then but just all the joy that they still had. It was just like it was just this astounding amount of beautiful imagery and information, and I I was overwhelmed trying to figure out how to write this song. So I wrote it, and then I sat with it for like a minute, and it wasn't right, so I scrapped it. So then I wrote it again, and I let it sit for another two weeks, and no, that wasn't it either. And I don't know what it is, what it was that was telling me, but it just didn't feel I like I imagined being Dave and listening to it, and it wasn't right. This went on, Lisa, for nine months. This went on for nine months, and every month I would check in with Dave and I'd be like, Dave, I'm so sorry. I I have written the song, like it's done, and I just don't, it's not right for you. And he was he was very, very patient. Well, one day I was standing at my sink doing the dishes, thinking to myself, like what the heck, why can't I write this song? What is going on? I this is ridiculous. I could have had a baby in the amount of time that it's taking me to write this this song for this poor guy. And now I am not I don't have any idea what I believe. I I am not I don't practice any religion. I like to think I'm spiritual, but I don't even know really know what that means. But I feel like I had a spiritual experience washing the dishes. I had this like it was almost like a voice say to me, You're struggling because you're trying to write a song for me, but it was never for me. This song is for Dave, it was always for him. It was I felt like it was her.

unknown:

Wow.

Meaghan Smith:

And then as soon as I heard that, I dried my hands off. I went upstairs, I got my guitar, and I sang the entire song front to back. It just came right out. It was like nothing I had experienced. The song is called Hole, and the lyrics that came to me were There's a Hole in Me in the Shape of You, and it doesn't matter what I do, I will always be one half of two. There's a hole in me in the shape of you. And I was like, What in the world just happened? I don't feel like I wrote those lyrics. That was one of those times where it just came right through me, and I knew that was it. So we recorded it. Wow, I sent it to Dave. I said, I I I'm so sorry, this is not what you asked for, but I think this is what you're meant to have. And he said it changed his life. He said um it gave him permission to grieve in a way that he wasn't used to having. Um, and then I I heard from his like his cousin and his sister and his daughters who all said he's different now from this song. So it is transformative, truly. Mm-hmm.

Lisa:

Whoa, that's awesome. I that's a beautiful story. And I like the sometimes the moments that we think are just monotonous, like washing the dishes, are the times that our minds can just let let go and kind of put things together that we don't even know need to be put together, right? Like that's right, that's right.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah. You yeah, I was gonna say, like, you don't need you don't need anything, you don't need fancy instrument, you don't need you don't need anything, you just need your brain. That's it. And and ideas can come and and that's it's really magical and special. Yeah.

Lisa:

I've done a couple like digital stories, and so that I'm just kind of relating and relating it in in my own mind to the experiences I've done and how important it is that the story is the storyteller's story. Because often, like when they're a caregiver, let's say, then you want to tell the story of that person, right? That they're caring for and what that's like and how hard it must be. But you can't tell someone else's story. You you have the story of Dave, who you know, he's the what the one sharing information with you. So I love the fact that what it sounds like is that you were able to see, wait a minute, this story is less about her and it's more about his experience on being that husband, being that caregiver, for lack of a better term, and for being that human being who's going going through that that grieving process. So that story is also really important to share. And because he's the one who shared his story with you, that's the story that needed to be told. Yeah, it just took some time to cut to come to fruition.

Meaghan Smith:

It took forever.

Lisa:

That's right. But maybe that's maybe that's an important message in itself to share here is the fact that it takes time. We yes, it takes time. Yeah, we can't rush those things, right?

Meaghan Smith:

Some things you cannot rush, some things you you need to, but some things you can't. And yeah, it that was an important lesson for me, is was also to just trust the process. And by that I mean, because that's such a generic phrase. But I think what that really means is you just trust your own knowing. Yeah.

Lisa:

Is that how you went from so the songwriting again, like you wrote a song for my aunt and uncle for their anniversary, which I just think is so beautiful when we're talking about capturing essence, like the fact that a daughter, my cousin, can share, you know, information on how much she loves, you know, this couple that uh are just lovely human beings. But the fact that you can then take that information and make a story, a song out of it is just beautiful. So, but then you you do all these other things. So you you you sing, you write, you do art, and now you've written a book. How do you decide? Because I think that the people listening to the this podcast are family members, but they're also storytellers. I think we're all storytellers, and then healthcare professionals that are just trying our best to help the people that we're trying to support. But how do you yourself decide or do you decide what form of art, you know, what medium your your art is going to come through?

Meaghan Smith:

Well, for me, this is my livelihood, and I support my family doing this. All these different things, all these different um, I guess, endeavors or whatever business ideas that I have are ways that keep us going financially. So for me, um it can be complicated because I'm I'm mixing passion, like serious passion, and and I would do this even if I had five billion dollars. Um I would never have five billion dollars though. Can I just say I would give I would give all of that away. I don't understand. Wouldn't it be so fun to give five billion dollars away? Yeah. Think of all the things you could do. It'd be so fun. Anyway, it would be so fun. I get it, I get it. Um I would still do this if I wasn't worried about money, but um I guess for my own self-expression, art and music are like twins where I need music for certain things, and I music helps me express myself a certain way, but I can only go so far with that, and then I have to switch over to the art, and it's the same with the art, it only takes me so far, and then I have to switch back to music. So those two things balance me out, yeah.

Lisa:

Okay, okay, that makes sense. So I think we need to talk about your book because it's so I I am in love, I'm sure everybody's heard, but if not, the song It's Knowed is like probably top five of my favorite wintertime Christmas in my case songs to listen to. And because I know you it's extra special. So I like sing it loud, turn it up loud, talk about it to everyone. So yeah, I I I just love it. Um, but I'm interested to know you have a book now called It's Node, and so I want to hear more about how that came to be. Uh, and you did all the illustrations in it. So just share more about that if you don't.

Meaghan Smith:

I did. Sure. Well, uh a while ago, I don't know how many years now, like 10 or 15 years ago, um, I did a project with CBC Radio where I recorded with two other musician friends, Joe Barber and Rose Cousins. The three of us recorded um a Christmas album in support of Feed Nova Scotia, which is our local food bank distributor. And we were tasked to each write an original holiday song. And everybody wrote these beautiful Christmas songs. And I thought to myself, what if people aren't into Christmas? Um, so what can I write that's not Christmassy but is so like could fit in? Um, and I came up with the idea of like, what is my favorite thing about the winter is a snow day. I love a good snow day where everything's canceled and you don't have to go anywhere or do anything. You can wear your pajamas all day and you can go outside and play and come inside and get cozy. Like, so I it snowed was also a very quick and easy song for me to write. So it turned up on this album. Uh, the album is called A New Kind of Light, and it was a huge success out here on the East Coast. Um, and that song really kind of like took on a life of its own and became a part of a lot of people's holiday traditions and playlists, so much so that people started asking me who I was covering. Like they were like, This is who wrote the original? They thought it was a cover song. My song. Yeah, I was like, I wrote it, it's my song. They thought it was like a holiday classic. I cannot think of a bigger compliment than that.

Lisa:

Right, yeah. I'm glad you took it that way because that's definitely what it is.

Meaghan Smith:

Yes, absolutely. So it and it just keeps gaining momentum. Like every year, it gets a little bit more and more um play and like notoriety. So uh yeah, when I heard from Nimbus, which is our local um excellent publisher, they were like, Would you ever want to make this a picture book? I was like, heck yes, I would. So I took my pencil crayons and I um illustrated this whole book. And on for anybody who's watching, yeah.

Lisa:

If you could see it, yeah. For the audio, this you won't be able to see it. But Megan's holding up the book called It's Node.

Meaghan Smith:

And there's there's a couple of kids with a really happy dog on the cover. And then inside, you everybody needs to go to their local bookstore and see if they can find it and if they can get it for you, trust me. Um, and then inside on every page, there's either a very grouchy cat who hates the snow because you know it can be annoying for a lot of people who don't like the snow. So I I made sure to include this one character.

Lisa:

Yeah, the grumpy thing. Does he have a name? What's the cat's name?

Meaghan Smith:

I didn't give him a name. What should we name him, Lisa? He's very grumpy.

Lisa:

I mean, I think there's already a grumpy cat, so maybe not grumpy cat.

Meaghan Smith:

How about Stormy?

Lisa:

That's a good name.

Meaghan Smith:

He's a good color for Stormy. Yeah. And he he's like, he's just mad in every picture. He's he hates the snow. Oh, this is a good one. The kids are getting dressed to go outside, and he's laying on the floor. You know how cats do? Yeah. Where they're like on the floor. He's like on top of everything. Don't go outside. Um, so either a grumpy cat or three little chickadee friends on every page. Because the chickadees love the snow. They stay all year in Canada and they love the snow too. So, um, yeah, so I illustrated this whole book, and I thought, well, I don't know what'll happen. Who knows? And then the second day it was released, it's sold out on Amazon.

Lisa:

What? That's amazing. And that was just recently, right?

Meaghan Smith:

Yes. Yeah.

Lisa:

That's exciting. Oh, congratulations.

Meaghan Smith:

Holy I was very surprised. I'm told that they have um restocked, which is great. And it is, it has been so I've been getting messages. It's sold out at my chapters or whatever, my indigo. And so, yeah, it's it's really, really exciting to be like a picture book illustrator. It's so fun.

Lisa:

Now you can add author to your name, illustrator. Jeez. You're doing incredible work, and I just love that not only do you write songs, but there's also that personalized piece to it that you do, you know, like it just continues to just grow for you. And I'm just so pleased. So I'm glad you could share.

Meaghan Smith:

Thank you, Lisa. That's so true. It's so true.

Lisa:

And I I did I did the same as the other people that you're talking about. Um, and I had I've loved your song for a long time, the It's Node song. And uh then when we met, and then I think I remember you saying or hearing that you wrote the song, and I was like, wait a minute, that song? You know, kind of to connect the dots, like that's the same person I talked to her anyway. But yeah, I think it's it's awesome. All the things that you're doing is just beautiful. Do you still write personal songs for people? Like if somebody was to message you and ask if you could write a song for their family members, for example, for an anniversary. Is that something you still do?

Meaghan Smith:

Yes, it is. Um, I have a website called R Song Music. And uh I have a place where you can contact me through there. Um and I'm also on social media and stuff. But yes, I'm currently writing four four songs. Um, some of them are really, really difficult. There was a tragic accident that happened out here where some two little girls um passed away. And so I'm writing a song for for their families, um, but I'm also writing a song for this woman. And her wife, who are celebrating their their 30th anniversary, which is beautiful. And I'm writing a song for a little baby who was born who um his parents really struggled with infertility, and he's like a miracle. So, you know, there's like writing these custom songs for other people is such an incredible experience. And I like I get to study like humanity up close and then create something for people that helps them. And it it really stems back to my original experience of being 12 and wanting to process or wanting to express this thing. I didn't know how to, and discovering songwriting. I'm just I'm just helping other people do that. They just they don't know how to write a song. I do. I just take their story and write their song for them. So it's it's an incredible honor to be able to do this for people.

Lisa:

It is an incredible honor, and I'm I know that you see it that way, and I'm so glad that you do. Do you have tips for people like if for people that maybe wanted to try either to write their own song or just wanted to let's just say, because of the name of the podcast, capture their own essence somehow? Do you have any tips for people who you know are just looking to try something?

Meaghan Smith:

Absolutely. Okay, get ready because this is not what people are gonna think. I'm gonna say um okay, Lisa, do you have kids? Yes. Okay, I have two.

Lisa:

Yeah.

Meaghan Smith:

When your kids were really little, do you remember seeing them? Do you remember watching them play? Yes. And do you remember how did you ever think like what why are you why would you play that? Like what what are you like why are you making your cars drive that way? Or why are you playing with your dolls this way? What who's making up the story? Like, where are these ideas coming from for you? And I remember watching my kids play for hours, and they were just making stuff up, and they just didn't care. They care, they they couldn't care less what anybody thought, what they sounded like. They were just one million percent themselves in those moments. They were completely focused, they were completely present, and they were just a hundred percent themselves. That's how you make a song, that's how you make a painting, that's how you make a poem, that's how you make anything, is you go back to that state. You don't have to go like it's not like I wouldn't say it's like a childlike state, although for most people it is, because that's probably the last time they experience that. And I know you know, for a lot of us as we grow older, and people, especially people in the older generations, that was really like squelched out of a lot of people, which is heartbreaking. But yeah, if you can connect back to that center part of yourself that for some reason, who knows why, knows that you should use the color red or you should play an F sharp or whatever note, you know, play this kind of chord, may play a minor chord, or that um you need to use this word here. Yeah, that part of you, that's you, that's who you really are. And so when you want to create something, you just need to get in touch with that little part and focus on that and be completely present and forget everything else. That's it.

Lisa:

That's beautiful. I love it, especially since my skill set is recreation therapy. So the fact that you're talking about just get into your play state and be in your zone, you know, get into that flow, yeah, and that there's no judgment when you're there, right? Like whatever comes out is meant to come out and don't judge it, just go with it and see what happens.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, that takes a lot of practice. That that has taken me a lot of practice. I have um I have anxiety and I I take medication for my anxiety, but I think that my inner critics, I will call them, they like to be involved in the creative process. And I've had to really practice telling them, thank you. I know that you're just trying to protect me by being so mean and critical, but you are excused until I need you. And then I can now I'm to the like, you know, 10 years of therapy in. I can tell them that and respectfully to go away and come back when I'm ready to hear what they have to say. And we are now friends, but for a long time we weren't. So I think that's that's like a huge thing that holds a lot of people back, is like this their inner critics and their fear of like sounding stupid or looking stupid or saying something stupid. Think about kids playing. They say they're so funny when they're playing and they're ridiculous, and they don't care, and it's so good.

Lisa:

Yeah, yeah. They don't care about what other people think, they're just in the moment, right? Just present.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah, and they do these like weird little voices, and they're like making up weird character names, and they just don't care. And it's so so great, and that's what that's kind of like where we have to get to, too, to to be able to express like the core inner glowing parts of ourselves. I love that.

Lisa:

Yeah, we've been cleaning on our basement lately, and there's like old toys and things. So when when the kids kind of go through, all of a sudden you're reminded of the things they used to play with, or oh, and they start to compare stories. Like, do you remember when we called these ones this name or your princess was the bully of this princess? You know, like these stories that they've come up with, like they're just plastic dolls that you gave these stories to, right? So yeah, you're right. You we we create all of these things and don't even realize it, or when you look back, yeah, think back on like all the stories that they're nothing, like this the the dolls are nothing until you give them life.

Meaghan Smith:

So you give them, yeah, that's exactly it. And and what is that part of you that's giving them life? What what is it that's like deciding that that's what their stories should be? That's the part of us that is our core selves, I think. Yeah, that's like our true self, the part that tells you you should do this this way, not because you're worried about what anybody's gonna think or say or you you're trying to get something out of it. It's just this is just what it should be. And and yeah, so I'm I'm I'm happy that you get to go through all those old toys and that brings back all those memories. That's sweet.

Lisa:

Yeah, it is, it's fun, it is fun. So I do have one more question for you. Say something was to happen. This is maybe a terrible question to ask, but it's also one that I think is important to consider and ponder. Is say you weren't able to speak up for yourself or for whatever reason, whether it's cognitive changes, physical changes, something happened. I like to use the example of like if you all of a sudden had to be in the hospital for say a month, what would people need to know about you to get a sense of what's important to you and what really matters in order to, you know, give you the best care possible? It's a big loaded question.

Meaghan Smith:

Well, um in this scenario, am I able to communicate or am I unable to communicate?

Lisa:

Let's do both. You can decide. Okay.

Meaghan Smith:

Um, okay. Well, I actually I did spend quite a bit of time in a hospital um after I had my son. And things first of all, I had a hypermesis pregnancy with my first son, which is constant nausea and vomiting for the entirety of the nine and a half months and like 10 days and 17 hours that I was pregnant. I wasn't counting, I was totally counting. Um so I was like essentially um very, very, very sick and um had to be at the hospital to receive uh transfusions and that sort of thing. And then after my son was born, my delivery was really, really rough. And I had to get like it, I had fourth degree tears and had to um got infected. It's like a huge long story, but I my recovery took eight months. And I was in the hospital for two weeks after he was born and then had to return for another two weeks. So I was essentially in the hospital for a month with a newborn. That's how I lost my um record deal and my management and my booking agent and a huge tour that we had scheduled. So at that moment, a lot happened in my life, and it was um it was like the lowest I've ever been, and also the happiest because I had this incredible baby who's just awesome. But I was in a hospital and it got really strange in the hospital because I couldn't walk very well, I couldn't move a whole lot, I was I was very tired, and my life was falling apart, and there's not a whole lot I could do, and I I really needed to see the outside. Like I I just I really needed to see that something was changing. Yeah. Um and luckily my mom was able to spend some time with me, and she she brought me this um, she bought me this hyacinth and like at the grocery store. Yeah, and the hyacinth changed. So every day it grew a little bit, and then the flowers wilted, and then new flowers grew. And that really, really helped me to notice that time was passing, I I wasn't like stuck, yeah, and things were changing, and that was super, super helpful. Um, and another thing, like let's say that I let's say that I had what Bonnie had, the woman I wrote the song for. Let's say I had ALS. This is such a good question because I don't know how many people imagine themselves in this scenario. So I really appreciate this thought-provoking and really important question. I would want people to know that I need to create still that I have ideas and I have visions for things and that I matter, I think. I I would imagine, would you imagine that that's what most people need to feel is that they they still matter, yeah, that they still matter and and and have things to offer.

Lisa:

Yeah, and I think the so for me, the t the things that have stuck with me is the times where somebody's judged for their behavior. So in your situation, I'm gonna guess you would have been in a lot of pain, feeling uneasy, you're not in your environment.

Meaghan Smith:

So you're really not feeling losing my career, my livelihood, no money, no job.

Lisa:

So stressed. Lots going on. So you're stressed, you're not yourself, and it it especially in the hospital setting, but it doesn't have to be hospital. But people aren't their best selves at that moment because there's there's a lot of stressors and a lot of emotional, physical, cognitive changes happening. So what happens sometimes is that people are seen for for what they see in that moment rather than considering there's this whole life of who the person is, the family members that matter to them, their their musical abilities, or their need for you know, creative expression, or maybe just having some music that that person enjoys in the background, or having things to talk about that you can connect on. So for you and I, like I love music, you love music, like they're having things in common, those commonalities that for me I'm all about like if I was given a little window into that person's life somehow, that I think that would make all the difference on me being able to connect on a more personal level rather than just going like this person's yelling, they're you know, swearing, or they're really moody today. Well, there's a lot of reasons behind why we're seeing what we're seeing. And so if we just take a step back and think about how life might be going, and that's hard, like on the other side of things, that's really hard in healthcare when the healthcare system's as busy and crunched for time as it is. But this podcast is all about like, let's just remember that there's always a person behind that bed or that patient that that we need to take the time to dig a little bit more or to really reflect on what we can do or what can we know about that person rather than seeing it as a task? Is there can we just naturally organically see them more as a human by knowing more about them, right? And having things to talk about or connect on. So that's that's kind of the reason behind the question.

Meaghan Smith:

That's so interesting because I bet that for you to be very good at your job, you have to in some ways separate yourself from the humanness of it. Because humans are disgusting, humans are so gross. And when you're like dealing with all of that, you kind of have to be like, Well, this is my job. But then when it comes to the the the spirit, right? Like the person, then you need to switch over. I mean, so like that takes an exceptional amount of cognitive like power to be able to either flip between those two things or hold those two things right at the same time and be like, okay, I'm gonna deal with your humanness, but also I see you as like a soul, yeah. Something.

Lisa:

Right. Just as a human being, right?

Meaghan Smith:

It's very, very special.

Lisa:

The whole the whole purpose is like there are so many different creative modalities. Um of course, like I'm I'm no videographer, I'm no professional when it comes to that, but I've felt this calling to learn about it and to practice it because I think it's so important and a good quick glimpse that healthcare staff can use to get to know. Like it doesn't have to, Megan, you probably have a phone. I'm gonna guess you have a cell phone. And so you probably have a couple little video clips, and I know you're great on social media. So you have things on there that if you were to show it to somebody, if you weren't able to talk, that they'd go, oh my goodness, like look at her sense of humor, look at how you know she talks about these things, like the even just like the expression behind your voice that helps anybody to go holy, like if they didn't know you before that moment in the hospital, they'd be like, Wow, you know, like look at the amazing person she is or all the things she's done where we don't we don't do that, we just take what we see in that moment. Um, so yeah, that's that's kind of what I'm getting at. But like if you're to really think about it, what would you want people to know? But it's so much more than what we say, what we do. So important. It just comes through our essence, really, right?

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah. And I mean, I I have to say, like that time when my son, after my son was born, and my husband and I were new parents and also completely not only jobless, but careerless. Like the bottom fell out of our lives, and also we were so happy to be parents to this beautiful baby. The people who got me through were the nurses who came in every day to change my dressings, and I still am in touch with some of them. Oh like it's gonna make me cry. I just one of my nurses who has like seen it all, she she lives in Alberta now, but she was back for a visit in the summer and she she came over and like saw the babies, the baby that she helped me birth, and you know, like those are lifelong. She got me through the the darkest, most beautiful, and horrible time of my life, and I'll never ever forget that ever. So it's she she is as important to me as like anybody who has saved my life, you know. So what what what you do is I I could never do it, and it's so important, and I am so grateful that there are people like you. You are doing those things, Megan. We all do it in our own way. I it sounds like it sounds like we would do this. It sounds like the same thing. Like what I do with my songs is like I just get the full picture of somebody and their experience. And what what you're doing is you're also getting the full picture. And I yeah, like I I truly believe that if we could all see each other in our full context, we would not have any problems with the decisions that we're making. We would be like, Oh, I see that. I see that you experienced this as a child, or that you're afraid of this, or that this is a trigger for you. That makes sense, yeah, absolutely. And I'm just gonna help you. I'm not gonna question, I'm just gonna do what I can for you.

Lisa:

Exactly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just giving each other the benefit of the doubt, right? That yeah, we're gonna see things differently, and that's okay.

Meaghan Smith:

Yeah. And the people see things the way they see them for a reason. And if I were them, with their chemical makeup and their upbringing and their heritage, and if I had everything that they're working with, I would also make that exact decision. So, you know, we're we're we're all doing our best. Yeah, yeah.

Lisa:

I love it. Thank you for this conversation. Who knew where it was gonna go? But I've loved it.

Meaghan Smith:

Who knew? It's been so meaningful. Thank you so much, Lisa.

Lisa:

Thank you. Well, I hope we stay connected. Oh, I should I want to ask you, is there anything else you want to share before we end?

Meaghan Smith:

Okay, so check out my book at um your local bookstore or at uh it it is back on Amazon. Um, it's it's snowed and it's by me, Megan Smith. And also I have a very, very exciting holiday concert for anybody who's in Nova Scotia on December 19th and 20th. You are all invited, even people who live very far away, just come here real quick, just take a flight. It's no no problem. Just come on, come on over, and you come to my show and you're gonna see a magician and Santa, and they're gonna read my book, and it will be magical for everybody, not just kids.

Lisa:

Yep, it's gonna be so exciting. I wish I was closer. Maybe I'll just have to fly out. Who knows? Just pop over. Come on over. No big deal. Oh man. So December 19th and 20th, 2025. All right. Uh, everybody go and see her. If you can make it, I definitely would encourage you to do so. And Megan, thank you for this conversation. It's meant so much, and I hope you enjoy a wonderful winter season and that you have lots of snow days in your future.

Meaghan Smith:

You too. Thank you, Lisa.

Lisa:

Well, I really hope you enjoyed this episode and found some takeaways, like allowing yourself to play and maybe even seeing doing the dishes as something that could cause a creative spark for you. Get rid of expectations and focus on the enjoyment of the activities you do. Give yourself opportunities to let your mind wander without judgment and just see what happens. And be patient. Things often take more time than we figured they would to come to fruition. Take care, and I look forward to the next time.

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