What's your story? Threads of human experience

“It's just this testament to undying love”

Not many people are lucky enough to receive a grand gesture on a regular basis, but for Shane Bassen, he wouldn’t let a day go by without cherishing his wife Sandy. That’s why he’s been going out every snowfall and special occasion before sunrise, creating giant love notes to her on a hill visible from a major highway in South Calgary for decades. Follow host Tammie Samuel as she answers questions many have wondered about the community “SAN D” heart phenomenon for years, and even gets the chance to witness one being made.  Episode 5 of What’s Your Story? is hosted and produced by Tammie Samuel, and was made in collaboration with the Community Podcast Initiative. You can learn more about the CPI at https://thepodcaststudio.ca/ [https://thepodcaststudio.ca/].

“It was one of the hardest decisions”

Shared conversations into the effects of job burnout, neurodivergence, art and how the determined decision to thread together separate passions can lead to a brighter future. Through Sophie Sammes, and her father Steve, we navigate the destinations travelled to, both personally and via air travel. This episode is hosted and produced by El Reid, and was made in collaboration with the Community Podcast Initiative. You can learn more about the CPI at https://thepodcaststudio.ca/ [https://thepodcaststudio.ca/].

“We knew what it felt like to lose — and we knew we didn't want to feel that way again.”

Hockey is the pride of Canada. The sport that unifies us all. And it’s a sport that draws people in from all over the country. Lyndsey Janes, for instance, didn’t start playing hockey until she was 10. Even then, she only played recreationally at first. It wasn’t until she took a leap of faith and tried out for a competitive boys' team that her hockey journey really began. A journey that took her far from home, and resulted in a National Championship at Mount Royal University, and a career that has the potential to live on after university. This episode is hosted and produced by Zach Payne, and was made in collaboration with the Community Podcast Initiative. You can learn more about the CPI at https://thepodcaststudio.ca/ [https://thepodcaststudio.ca/].

"If we're going to stop intergenerational trauma, somebody's gotta draw the line in the sand."

Every family has trauma. For generations, parents unknowingly passed their trauma down to their children. But with increasing mental health resources, trauma can be identified and healing can begin. Crystal Allon knew she had trauma after growing up with parents who survived the residential school system. However, she never understood how the trauma affected her behaviour as a parent. But in her 50s she had a wakeup call - her son told her he was going to go no contact unless she healed and corrected her toxic behaviours. By breaking down her past, Crystal is changing her future. In a healing journey of therapy, cultural connection, and —  surprisingly — TikTok, Crystal’s life is changing, her family is healing, and the intergenerational trauma is breaking. This episode is hosted and produced by Julie Patton, and was made in collaboration with the Community Podcast Initiative. You can learn more about the CPI at https://thepodcaststudio.ca/ [https://thepodcaststudio.ca/].

“They really show us how people used to live and can help us understand the stories of people who came before us, good and bad.”

Sometimes history surrounds you, even if it no longer exists. Old architectural buildings hold clues to the past, telling the stories of those who came before us. In Calgary, buildings that no longer stand, and those that still do, provide a sense of how the city came to be. Frank Finley is exploring the history of these lost buildings. With a love of architecture, Frank is on a mission to share the city of Calgary’s vibrant past as he delves into the old buildings that once stood. He shares the story of two lost buildings and those who dwelled in them. With his research, Frank looks to conserve these stories in a book he is currently writing. This episode is hosted and produced by Ethan Seaborn, and was made in collaboration with the Community Podcast Initiative. You can learn more about the CPI at https://thepodcaststudio.ca/ [https://thepodcaststudio.ca/].