The Waiting Room Revolution

In this episode, Hsien speaks with Canadian dementia advocates Christine Aiken and Myrna Norman, who share how they moved from isolation and fear after diagnosis to lives filled with purpose, community, and hope. They debunk common myths about dementia, describe simple but powerful person-centered practices families and communities can adopt right away, and show how support groups, creativity, and inclusion help people with dementia continue to live well and thrive.

Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ 

Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In this  Hsien talks with Dr. Chetna Malhotra, a leading palliative care and health services researcher in Singapore. They explore the gap between what people say they want at the end of life and the care they actually receive, especially in hospital-heavy systems. Together, they unpack how culture, family, and religion shape decisions, and why advanced care planning should focus less on fixed choices and more on preparing families for real-time decisions. Dr. Malhotra also shares how digital tools and caregiver support innovations like the Care Buddy app are helping patients and families navigate serious illness.

To learn more about Chetnas work visit: https://www.duke-nus.edu.sg/directory/detail/chetna-malhotra

Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ 

Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In this episode, Hsien chats with Ontario Funeral Director Sarah Sunnucks about what really happens after someone dies and why funeral pre‑planning is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. Sarah shares the hidden legal and administrative burdens families face, powerful stories of when planning was (and wasn’t) done, and emerging options like green burial. 

Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ 

Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

In this episode, we chat with grief therapist and thanatologist Andrea Warnick. We discuss the importance of including children in conversations about serious illness and death. Andrea shares her experiences and strategies for helping children cope with loss and shares some free and low-barrier resources you can use.

Resources to help children with grief:

https://kidsgrief.ca/

https://youthgrief.ca/ 

https://www.virtualhospice.ca/en_US/Main+Site+Navigation/Home/Topics/Topics/Final+Days/Children+at+the+Bedside+of+a+Dying+Family+Member+or+Friend.aspx 

Visit Andreas website for more information: https://awcgrief.com/ 

Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ 

Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Donna Thomson, longtime caregiver, advocate, and author, returns to share a very different story: her own diagnosis of high‑grade bladder cancer. In this episode, she talks about the shock of shifting from caregiver to patient, how she advocated for herself to get answers, and the anxiety of living with a high risk of recurrence. Donna describes how the 7 Keys workbook became her “cognitive lifeboat,” helping her and her husband clarify their priorities, plan for aging, and navigate conversations about fear, privacy, and support. She also shares how her yoga community, her caregiving work, and projects like the Caregiving Essentials course and The Courage to Care book continue to sustain her through treatment and beyond.

Visit Donnas website here: https://www.donnathomson.com/

 

Visit our website to learn more about our work, check out the book and workbook, view our resources and to join our newsletter: https://www.waitingroomrevolution.com/ 

 

Our theme song is Maypole by Ketsa and is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0