NBM Talks: Podcast from the Narrative-Based Medicine Lab

Alan Bleakley joins us from Land's End, UK for a fascinating reflection on the current state of narrative-based medicine and the ideas that have shaped his work over the years. In this conversation, Alan considers ideas and questions surrounding how we define work in the field, the applications of poetry, and his current projects that envisage a more compassionate, introspective, and reflective medical practice.About Our Guest:Alan Bleakley is Emeritus Professor of Medical Education and Medical Humanities at Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth. With a background spanning zoology, psychology, psychotherapy, and pedagogy, Alan’s long career in medical education includes leading the clinical education research department at the Peninsula Medical School where an innovative core, integrated, and assessed medical humanities program was developed. He currently serves on the NBM Lab’s International Advisory Board.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Claire Hooker joins us from Sydney, Australia to chart the trajectory of her work and changes in the field she has observed over her career. As a scholar, her efforts all connect to expanding and making it possible for more diverse voices to contribute fully to the health humanities conversation and encouraging practitioners to reflect more deeply on the nature of empathy in their lives and work. Claire also sheds a light on exciting future possibilities in health humanities, as well as medicine and the arts more generally.About Our Guest:Claire Hooker is an Associate Professor in Health and Medical Humanities at the University of Sydney and Founder and first President of the Arts Health Network NSW/ACT (AHNNA), an affiliation of academics, artists, health practitioners, and allies who provide information, research, resources and activities to broaden understanding of the impact and value of creative arts in improving health outcomes.Claire undertakes research, advocacy work, and writing in the areas of arts and health, health humanities, and risk communication. She is also a member of the NBM Lab’s International Advisory Board.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

We're kicking off a new season of NBM Talks! From insightful conversations to guided writing exercises and more, we're excited to introduce our audience to fresh ideas in the field.In this episode, Audrey Yap and Janet Rodriguez (Accessibility Theme Co-Leads for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine's Undergraduate Medical Education Curriculum) discuss their collaboration with community partners to promote a more inclusive, social model of disability within medical education.They explore the structural barriers rooted in historical models of medicine and elaborate on their goal to integrate the principles of disability justice into the MD curriculum, challenge ableism, and foster lifelong learning among future physicians.About Our Guests:Audrey Yap is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto. She works as a physiatrist at Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital's Neurorehabilitation Program. For over 10 years as a teacher of accessibility content for MD learners, she has partnered with lived experience experts and patient partners. As a physician, Audrey promotes a holistic approach to patient care that acknowledges how each person has their own unique set of life experiences that influence care needs.Janet Rodriguez is a health mentor with the Centre for Advancing Collaborative Healthcare and Education and co-leads the "Accessibility for All" project, a social justice initiative based at the St. Michael's Hospital Family Health Team. Previously, she co-chaired the Disability Justice Working Group at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

We conclude our summer reruns by revisiting this conversation with poet, educator, narrative-based medicine practitioner, and friend of the lab, Alisha Savatti.In this episode, Alisha discusses her work, narrative-based medicine teaching, writing tips, and connections to her life on Bela Farm. She also shares her work and interest in food as medicine.Alisha is leading an upcoming workshop at the NBM Lab! Nourishing Narratives: Creative Strategies for Wellbeing returns and starts online October 8, 2026. Through a rich spread of stories, explore how narrative can serve as a vehicle for self-care and the care of others. Join us over the course of 4 highly interactive sessions.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Jay Baruch shares an exercise he regularly returns to and begins writing workshops with, anchored in the belief that writing reveals something interesting about character.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Rita Charon describes a narrative-based medicine activity she led for a group of palliative care professionals based on an artistic piece from Romare Bearden's "A Black Odyssey" collage series.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Conor Mc Donnell has launched several creative and academic projects since we last spoke on the podcast.Conor is the Editor-in-Chief of Case Repertory, an initiative that seeks to reimagine the genre of the traditional case report and amplify the creative work of our NBM Lab community members. You can read these pieces on our website:Winter 2026 Issue:https://narrativebasedmedicine.ca/updates/letter-from-the-editor-winter-2026/Spring 2026 Issue:https://narrativebasedmedicine.ca/updates/letter-from-the-editor-spring-2026/Stay tuned for our third issue that will be released at the end of summer. To celebrate, we're revisiting the episode when Conor reflected on his introduction to narrative-based medicine and the value that writing has brought to his personal and professional life.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Allan Peterkin (Program Director at the Narrative-Based Medicine Lab) recently received the National Award for Excellence in the Health Humanities awarded by the Canadian Association of Health Humanities.To celebrate this extraordinary achievement, we're revisiting this conversation where Allan shares how he weaves his passion for medicine and literature throughout his professional career. Allan also touches on how he sees the field of narrative-based medicine evolving and the importance of honouring stories in the practice of medicine.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

Sarah Kim encourages us to imagine what's possible with a prompt of imagination and magical powers. Find a quiet spot and pick up a pencil for this guided writing exercise that will help you pay closer attention to the mind-body connection and find greater clarity in your thoughts.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠⁠⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.

John Launer invites us to draw inspiration from an ordinary moment in this guided writing exercise. Begin with a recent moment or memory, pick up where the events left off, and let your imagination ponder where the story might go next.***Follow "NBM Talks" for future episodes, where we explore the transformative impact and reach of narrative-based medicine with talented guests. Visit the ⁠⁠Narrative-Based Medicine Lab⁠⁠ to learn about our work and offerings.