
Together, We Brought The First Common Language Story Slam To Life!
The 2025 Common Language Story Slam brought together diverse communities for a one-day festival with inspiring stories and conversation, highlighting the potential of digital storytelling with non-profits.
It was also the first time the Common Language Facilitators Collective has come together to share the breadth of work that is making an impact by elevating individual and collective voices.

Multiple Perspectives: Stories in Medicine
Digital storytelling has emerged as a potent tool within healthcare, allowing both patients and providers to share and learn from each other's experiences. In this Co-Created podcast episode featuring Claudia Gore, an NHS doctor with a unique journey through her own medical challenges, we delve into the transformative power that stories possess. Claudia's experiences spotlight how becoming a patient reshapes a clinician's perspectives. Especially in an environment like healthcare, where emotions can often get buried under the weight of clinical duties, storytelling introduces a refreshing and endemic element—one that recognizes the human behind the statistics and diagnoses.

Finding Joy and Community in Shared Experiences
Tash Bilau-Howie, an emergency nurse whose journey into the heart of storytelling began with a life-altering diagnosis, delves deep into her experience of crafting a digital story, revealing not just the storytelling process itself but also the profound impact it has had on her personal journey. At the core of Tash's story is the notion of empowerment through vulnerability.

Accessing Creativity Through the Art of Story
Storytelling is a profound method of communication that transcends time and culture. In the latest episode of Co-Created, we engage in a meaningful dialogue about the significance of storytelling, particularly in academic settings and its application in addressing contemporary challenges. Mike Wilson, Director of the Storytelling Academy at Loughborough University, shares his insights on how storytelling serves as a powerful knowledge system, often overlooked in favour of more conventional academic or technical approaches.

Stories for Good: Our Inaugural Story Slam
The power of storytelling has long been recognized as a method of sharing experiences, fostering connection, and inciting change. In the digital age, this ancient art form has taken on new dimensions, with digital storytelling rising as a unique medium. Join us at our upcoming Common Language Story Slam, set to take place on March 2, 2025 in Calgary. This in persona and online event serves as a platform to showcase this innovative approach to storytelling through the lens of charity and interpersonal connection.

January 2025 CLDST Newsletter
Welcome to the first of a series of monthly newsletters from Common Language Digital Storytelling. If you are a Health and Wellness Changemaker, this read is for you! Common Language Digital Storytelling, (CLDST), runs storytelling facilitator training workshops around the world and each month, we gather as facilitators to learn and collaborate around a diverse breadth of story centric projects happening across the globe. With this monthly newsletter, we will bring some of that energy to you! By featuring innovative digital storytelling projects, knowledge that can support your work, and events that will help you stay connected to the CLDST Community. This newsletter is impact in your inbox.

Margins to Mainstream Through Storytelling
Digital storytelling has emerged as a powerful medium for conveying personal narratives, especially for marginalized populations. In our recent Co-Created podcast episode featuring Carmen Logie, we delve into how these stories can be used to combat stigma and foster understanding within communities. Carmen, with her extensive background in research and advocacy for HIV-related health issues, discusses the importance of sharing experiences that connect people and build empathy.

From Stilettos to Stigma: Unpacking the Stories That Stick
In the latest episode of Co-Created, we delve into the transformative potential of storytelling within the realm of public health communication. Our guest, Becky McCall, a seasoned medical journalist and PhD candidate at University College London, offers a unique perspective on how narratives can reshape the way we understand and address health challenges. From her journey from microbiology to medical journalism, Becky emphasizes the role of digital storytelling in making complex issues, such as antibiotic resistance, more accessible to the public.

Healing Narratives: Wellspring's Innovative Workshops
In the latest episode of Co-Created, we explore the transformative power of storytelling with Wellspring Alberta, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with cancer and their caregivers. The episode, Bobbi Fridfinnson, delves into the journey of harnessing personal narratives as a means of healing and building community. With the backdrop of COVID-19, Wellspring Alberta has innovatively adapted to offer digital storytelling workshops that empower participants to share their profound life experiences.

How Burcu Caught the Storytelling Bug
In a compelling podcast episode, Burcu Simsek takes us on an enlightening journey through the transformative power of digital storytelling. As an associate professor at Hacettepe University and the founder of the Digital Story Hub, Burcu is a pioneer in using digital narratives to amplify women's voices and promote gender equality. Her journey began with a groundbreaking PhD thesis that reimagined traditional consciousness-raising meetings for the digital age. This innovative approach has empowered countless women across Turkey, allowing them to share their stories and perspectives in new and impactful ways.

CanChild: Redefining Childhood Disability
In a world where narratives shape perceptions and possibilities, the podcast episode "CanChild: Redefining Childhood Disability" offers an exploration into how we can reimagine childhood disabilities. Hosted by Kristy Wolfe, this Co-Created episode features an insightful conversation with Dr. Peter Rosenbaum, co-founder of the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. Peter shares his transformative journey from the early days of developmental pediatrics to being part of the team that developed a strengths-based approach that celebrates the unique abilities of every child.

Kickstart Impact: Common Language Story Slam
Storytelling has always been a powerful tool for connection, but in today's digital age, its potential has expanded exponentially. In this episode of Co-Created, Mike Lang joins host Kristy Wolfe to take us on a journey to explore the multifaceted world of digital storytelling. The episode delves into the intricacies of organizing a story slam event, emphasizing the pivotal role of community support and innovative funding models like Kickstarter.

Empowering Youth Through Digital Storytelling
In today's rapidly evolving world, the role of storytelling, especially digital storytelling, has emerged as a powerful tool for advocacy, education, and policy change. In this insightful podcast episode, we dive into the transformative potential of digital storytelling with Rebecca Saah, a researcher at the University of Calgary and digital storytelling facilitator with Common Language DST.

The Role of Digital Narratives in Healthcare Innovation
Dr. Daisy Dulay dives into the transformative power of digital storytelling in healthcare. This enlightening discussion uncovers how personal narratives can foster systemic change, enhance provider resilience, and improve patient care. Dr. Dulay's journey began with her own struggles with burnout and the tragic loss of a colleague, which propelled her to champion physician wellness. Through digital storytelling, she addresses the stigma around medical leave and recovery, promoting conversations that challenge the status quo in healthcare. The episode highlights how digital narratives can forge emotional connections, integrating personal and cultural elements to resonate deeply with audiences.

Crafting a Movement with Uganda’s Digital Storytelling Facitlitators
The transformative power of digital storytelling is beautifully showcased in the latest podcast episode titled “Crafting a Movement with Uganda’s Digital Storytellers.” In this captivating episode, we step into the vibrant world of East Africa, where they are harnessing the art of digital narratives to advocate for gender equality. The episode features conversation following the North American premiere of “A Shared Dream,” a poignant documentary that illuminates the process of digital storytelling as a tool to address gender dynamics in their communities.

Transformative & Therapeutic Benefits of Digital Storytelling
Delve into the transformative power of digital storytelling in healthcare and education. This enlightening discussion features special guests Pip Hardy, co-founder of the Patient Voices Program, Laura Mazzoli-Smith, an Associate Professor at Durham University, and Kate Thompson, an existential and journal therapist. Together, they explore how digital storytelling can foster therapeutic and educational benefits, reshaping narratives with compassion and empathy.

How to Meaningfully Engage with Patient Stories
In the first podcast episode of the Leading Through Stories podcast, we dive deep into the world of digital storytelling with Mike Lang, the founder of Common Language Digital Storytelling. Mike discusses the importance of storyteller wellbeing, an aspect that is often overlooked but plays a critical role in the process of creating and sharing narratives.

Exploring Co-Creation in Digital Storytelling
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 creating digital stories, involving voiceover narration, personal images, and video editing, all under the guidance of trained facilitators. By emphasizing the power of co-creation and sharing personal stories, Mike reveals how digital storytelling can have a profound and lasting impact on individuals and communities.

Canadian Cancer Society: Connection and Care in Cancer Support
In a world where the healthcare industry can often seem impersonal and detached, digital storytelling emerges as a beacon of hope and empathy. The latest episode of the “Leading Through Stories” podcast brings to light the profound influence of digital narratives in the realm of cancer care. With Lacey Horta and Jenni Haggie from the Canadian Cancer Society as guests, listeners are given an immersive exploration of digital storytelling’s role in humanizing healthcare.

Heather Knox: Transforming Nonprofit Advocacy with Digital Stories
In this compelling episode of Leading Through Stories, we delve into the transformative power of digital storytelling within the nonprofit sector. Our guest, Heather Knox, a Common Language Digital Storytelling trained facilitator, takes us on an incredible journey from her early days co-founding Project Somos in Guatemala to her recent move to Mexico. Throughout the episode, Heather underscores how storytelling and photography have profoundly impacted her work with Indigenous Mayan children and women, emphasizing the importance of privacy, trust, and the nuanced art of narrative creation.