Many people fear death, and the reason why is simple — we don’t talk about it. While many of us avoid the topic of death, Janet Arnold’s experiences of loss meant dying was a reality she couldn’t avoid. She’s made it her life’s work to study and teach about death, dying, grief, and loss. Similar to Janet, Sonya Jakubec spends her time understanding grief in her work as a mental health nurse and researcher. But neither Sonya nor Janet suggests that engaging in conversations of grief, loss, or death makes our lives more depressing. Instead, engaging with these inevitable realities of life is normal and can even help us live life more fully. 
 
Episode nine of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Emma Boyne.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

Music is all about storytelling. And metal musician and lead singer of Molten Black, Sebby Trombetta, tells a story that Calgary isn’t just for country music. Sebby hopes to create metal music and performances that are slightly less aggressive than you might typically expect. By making music that’s less ‘in your face,’ Sebby wants to bring new fans of the genre to their music. For Sebby, metal is a dream he will pursue forever – a passion he will continue to work at in pursuit of making music his full-time career. 
 
The tenth and final episode of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Peehu Rana and Cullen Chan. 
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

Relationships, no matter the kind, are constantly changing, and Gary Chapman’s Five Love Language Model breaks down how people give and express love. With their growing marriage, Marie McFarlane and Chirine Bassil have faced some challenges being an interracial couple. But they remain dedicated to supporting each other while raising their kids and living fulfilling personal and professional lives.
 
Episode seven of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Jasmine Krawchuk.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

Many of us engage in masking — disguising one’s natural behaviours to conform to perceived social norms. But for folks with autism, masking is an ongoing process to manage their interactions. Constantly manipulating your body language and responses is an exhausting and stressful way to live. For Jordan Roy, masking is a means to conform to people’s expectations of who he is so he can fit in. But living outside of yourself has considerable challenges. And this reality of living an experience most people don’t understand is particularly challenging in modern dating. 
 
Episode eight of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Megan Creig.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

A note: this episode focuses on pregnancy loss.
 
About 20 per cent of pregnancies in Canada end in miscarriage – a loss characterized by silent grief and hidden guilt due to the stigma around sharing such an experience. Chances are, many people in your life have experienced a miscarriage or multiple infant losses that you know nothing about. 
 
Alicia Toenjes was excited to find out she was pregnant, despite being earlier than she and her husband had planned until she learned the pregnancy was ectopic. To address experiences like these, Danyelle Kaluski and Aditi Loveridge founded the Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support Centre out of their personal experiences of infant loss. And this is where Steven Pears found connection and comfort after losing his daughter to SIDS. Parents and advocates hope to destigmatize the grief that comes with infant loss and connect folks with the care and support they need instead of folks grieving in silence. 
 
Episode five of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Erica John. 
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

A note: this episode focuses on postpartum mental illness.
 
Giving birth is typically taught to be one of the most joyous moments in a mom’s life, but overwhelming joy is not the case for everyone. Some folks experience postpartum mental illness, which can mean postpartum depression, anxiety, and even psychosis. Yalda Kazemi found herself struggling with thoughts of harming her son, making her realize she needed help to deal with the realities of the postpartum mental illness she was experiencing. With the right resources, supports and treatment, postpartum symptoms can improve — yet the stresses on our health care system make it difficult for moms and families to navigate postpartum. This lack of support is why Paige Barlow works to fill gaps in postpartum care through MOSS Postpartum House. 
 
Episode six of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Charlotte Holmes. 
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

We all respond to the current climate crisis in different ways. Some people deny it, some recognize it, and some fear it. But some people take action. Inspired to act, the King of Bhutan designed the Snowman Race — the most formidable ultrarace ever assembled — calling attention to the reality of Bhutan’s remote communities living in the direct path of climate disaster. Like the King, Nicki Rehn values mountain systems and the natural environment. Her love of mountains called her to apply in hopes of competing in the inaugural Snowman Race, an experience that would push her mind and body further than ever before. The race would ignite a love for Bhutan, and her passion for education would take her journey beyond competing in the boldest five-day ultrarace to date. 
 
Episode three of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Sydney Klassen-Rosewarn.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

What’s the first thing you do in the morning? Maybe you brush your teeth, drink a glass of water, or make coffee. Chances are that the first thing you do in the morning involves water. Water means life. However, in some areas in Alberta, it’s not always easy to come by. In fact, in some places, it can be nearly impossible. Rae Callan is constantly aware of the lack of water on her farm and in her home since the four wells on their property have stopped producing. This is why, for the last 15 years, Callan has been hauling in thousands of gallons of water for her family and livestock — a process that is the symptom of more sinister problems at play. 
 
Episode four of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Jessie Bach.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

Art spans every line of intersection and speaks to every person in varying emotional or spiritual ways. But Calgary’s art scene does not reflect the broad range of people or work contributing to the industry. For a craft that can provoke profound thought, address social constructs or give meaning to a moment, those diverse pursuits can’t exist in spaces that exclude people with different experiences or identities. A first-generation artist, Harvey-Nichol, and an Indigenous musician, Sandra Sutter, explain the impact of the current underrepresentation in Calgary’s arts community resulting from racism and sexism. Whether that means not being included in events or not receiving funding, the impacts are far-reaching. Ultimately, it’s up to galleries and institutions to create opportunities and choose to welcome artists from diverse backgrounds. 
 
Episode two of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Astrid Cunanan.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.

What is music for you? For Sinzere, hip-hop was her saving grace. She was struggling with her mental health and didn’t have an outlet to help her navigate her feelings and emotions. Hip-hop gave her a space to express herself and deal with life’s challenges — rap is a space to be free of judgment and self-criticism. Sinzere’s experience with hip-hop is similar to other folks looking for a way to navigate life, find connection and express themselves. For the rappers in this fifteen-minute documentary, hip-hop is transformative and identity-affirming.
 
Episode one of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Lorenzo Gavilan Vargas.
 
This series is powered by Shaw and produced as part of the Community Podcast Initiative at MRU Journalism.