The Story Hour

Sara Jaswal
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The Story Hour: Voices Unscripted | Stories Re-Written A space for raw, unfiltered conversations about life and the power of storytelling. Where depth meets intimacy. A place for everyone to show up perfectly imperfect. No masks, no facades. Authentic and heart-centered connections. Rooted in the essence of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG).  Behind every person is a story; of who they are, where they come from, and the trials and tribulations they’ve faced. A story of hardship, heartache, healing, and the unexpected wisdom and resilience we find along the way. Our stories do not define us. It’s about what happens when life knocks us down, and how we find the strength to stand back up again. Some stories will break your heart, some will make you laugh, and all of them, I hope, will remind you, you’re not alone. More than just stories, The Story Hour is a space for community, connection and collective healing.  Where voices come together to remind us that our stories matter, that even in our darkest moments, there is hope and there is a light within each of us that is waiting to be turned on. A place for you to feel inspired and empowered to take back control of your life. Join your host, Sara Jaswal  at The Story Hour, where we listen, learn and re-write the narratives that shape us.

  1. Oct 26

    *21* Beyond the Diagnosis: Living with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) with Jonathan Beertin

    Jonathan Beertin, a 35-year-old from Moncton, New Brunswick, shares his journey with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a degenerative eye condition that affects his peripheral and night vision. Diagnosed in 2016, Jonathan reflects on the shock of learning he was legally blind, the sudden loss of his driver’s license, and the ripple effects this had on his life and family.  From navigating the emotional and financial challenges to advocating for nearly a year to regain his license, Jonathan’s story highlights the realities of living with an invisible disability and the uncertainty of not knowing what the future holds. This conversation explores anticipatory grief, the challenges of being misunderstood, and the importance of support, community, connection, and finding ways to adapt when life takes an unexpected turn.  Jonathan opens up about the role his wife has played in his journey, seeking support through therapy, and finding his own ways to cope while continuing to move forward. Jonathan also shares his ambition, including starting JBMB Cleaning Services in 2023, and the ways he continues to pursue his goals while adapting to life with vision loss. Connect with Jonathan:  Website: https://jbmbcleaningservices.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbmbcleaningservices?exln=MWZlcnNnOGFvdHRxbA== Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19vStBFAVa/   Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  2. Sep 14

    *20* Where My Story Meets My Practice

    In Episode 20, Sara returns after taking the summer off and reflects on what it means to move into a new season with more intention, structure and routine. She shares journaling prompts to help you reflect on what summer taught you, what energized or drained you, how you’re feeling as you enter a new season, what may need your attention, and how you want the rest of 2026 to feel. It’s not about reinventing yourself, it’s about reconnecting with yourself. Sara then gets personal about the heart behind her work as a Registered Counsellor, Certified Grief Educator and Certified Life Coach. She shares why she went into counselling, how her own experiences with grief and loss shaped the work she does, and why grief became the area she ultimately chose to specialize in. She also talks about her integrative approach to counselling and how she supports people navigating grief, loss and life transitions. If you’re looking for support, Sara invites you to book a free consultation through her website or Psychology Today. And as always, The Story Hour is about stories. If you have a story you think fits the themes and heart of the podcast, Sara would love to hear from you.   Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  3. Jul 27

    *19* From Trauma Counsellor to Cancer Warrior with Raquel Nicolau, RTC

    Sara sits down with trauma counselor Raquel Nicolau (RTC) about her work and her breast cancer journey. Raquel describes becoming a counselor after years supporting women in Downtown Eastside shelters, and how holding clients’ vulnerability deepened her humility, empathy, and sense of purpose. She shares her story of finding a lump during a self-check, waiting months for a diagnosis, and responding with a grounded, step-by-step “warrior” mindset. Raquel chose a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction, describing surgery as a positive step to remove the cancer, while still grieving the loss of her breasts. She describes chemotherapy as “cumulative” and debilitating with severe side effects, loneliness, and the long recovery, ultimately stopping after three of four preventive treatments to protect quality of life and care for her daughter.  This episode highlights mind-body connection, community support, motherhood, dark humor as a coping mechanism, vulnerability, and grief centered around identity loss and a “Before/After” cancer diagnosis.  Connect With Raquel: Website: https://raquelnicolau.com/ Booking Link: https://raquelnicolau.janeapp.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raquel.counselling/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raquelnicolaucounselling/  Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  4. Jul 6

    *18* Pathways to Personal Freedom: From Constraint to Liberation with MPCC-P, Sonia Dhillon

    Sara welcomes trauma-informed counsellor, coach, and writer Sonia Dhillon (MPCC-P), founder of Free Life Integrative Counseling, for a wide-ranging conversation.  Sonia shares how feeling like she didn’t belong as a second-born girl in the Punjabi community, being compared to her sister, and being bullied shaped her early self-worth, coping through dissociation and people-pleasing, and later post-traumatic growth.  They discuss mental health as whole-person wellness; mind, body, emotions, presence, and community and why people avoid turning inward.  Sonia outlines her self-care practices (movement, whole foods, nature, prayer, meditation, art, and asking for needs) and reframes meditation as presence.  She explores grief beyond death, including divorce-related losses, identity shifts, relationship and friendship grief, and healing through naming grief and being held in community.  Sonia describes her nomadic travels, misconceptions and challenges, and how travel and a pivotal self-mapping exercise in Bali led her into counselling, where she practices integrative, body-based, attachment-informed work and emphasizes therapy as support even when nothing is “wrong.” Connect With Sonia: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freelifecounselling/ Psychology Today Profile:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/sonia-dhillon-surrey-bc/1682875 Booking Link: https://freelifeintegrativecounselling.janeapp.com/ Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  5. Jun 22

    *17* THE STORY HOUR TURNS ONE🥳

    Sara returns for a solo episode marking the one-year anniversary of The Story Hour Podcast (launched June 22, 2025). In this reflective episode, she looks back on why the show began in the first place: to share unscripted, honest stories that reduce loneliness, normalize hardship, and help people feel less alone in what they’re carrying. She explores what a year of storytelling has revealed, not just about others, but about connection itself, and why being witnessed can be more powerful than being fixed. To mark the occasion, Sara also turns the microphone on herself. Stepping out of her usual role as host, she answers a series of thoughtful and personal questions, giving listeners an opportunity to get to know the person behind the podcast, her values, reflections, lessons learned, and the experiences that have shaped her journey. Sara also shares key milestones from the podcast’s first year, including a growing global audience across multiple countries and cities, and what those numbers actually represent: real people tuning in to feel seen, heard, and understood. Drawing on her work as a Registered Counsellor, Certified Grief Educator, and Life Coach, she reflects on what people truly need when they share their stories: safety, validation, presence, and connection, especially in a time marked by rising loneliness and a mental health epidemic. She revisits her own turning point, including vision loss that forced an unexpected life shift, and reframes it through post-traumatic growth, not as an ending, but as an invitation to stop staying stuck and begin life again differently. Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  6. Jun 16

    *16* Living with Chronic Health & Self-Advocacy: Jasmine Gandham's Fight with Endometriosis & Adenomyosis

    DISCLAIMER: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes, as well as to raise awareness on this topic, and should not be considered medical advice. Jasmine speaks from her personal experience living with endometriosis and adenomyosis, and her experiences may not reflect those of others. Listeners are encouraged to consult their own physician, healthcare provider, or qualified medical professional regarding any medical concerns, diagnosis, treatment options, or healthcare decisions specific to their individual needs. Sara sits down with Jasmine Gandham and talks about living with chronic pain from Endometriosis and Adenomyosis, emphasizing awareness, women’s health conversations, and self-advocacy.  Jasmine explains both conditions and describes severe symptoms starting at age 12, the mental and emotional toll (including self-gaslighting), and years of medical dismissal focused on masking symptoms rather than investigating root causes. She shares how support from her husband and connecting with others led her to the BC Women’s Pelvic Pain Clinic, where she finally felt heard and received multidisciplinary care. Jasmine discusses how symptoms worsened after pregnancy, leading to a stage four endometriosis diagnosis, multiple surgeries (including removal of both fallopian tubes), and later adenomyosis diagnosis, affecting fertility.  She outlines coping strategies, lifestyle changes (anti-inflammatory diet, exercise, stress reduction), and practical advocacy tips like tracking symptoms and preparing questions for appointments. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:09 Weather Warmup Chat 01:36 Episode Premise and Disclaimer 03:05 Endo and Adeno Explained 04:27 First Symptoms at 12 06:01 Mental Toll and Self Doubt 08:28 Dismissed by Doctors 10:36 Finding the Pelvic Pain Clinic 14:11 Daily Life Impact 16:57 Coping Routines and Support 19:56 Holistic Health and Advocacy 24:24 Motherhood and Fertility Realities 28:11 IVF Grief and Social Pressure 30:06 Social Media Triggers and Boundaries 37:13 Self Advocacy Essentials 38:46 When You Don’t Speak Up 39:48 Postpartum Flare and Diagnosis 41:44 Clinic Care and Surgeries 43:40 Living Well With Endo 45:48 Strict Seasons and Habits 49:56 Why Patients Hold Back 52:34 Prepared for Appointments 54:44 Alternative Medicine Debate 59:09 Fill Your Cup First 01:02:46 Build Habits That Stick 01:05:11 Wrap Up and Quickfire Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  7. May 27

    *15* Stop Waiting and Start Living: Celebrating Life & Milestones

    Sara returns for a solo episode prompted by her upcoming 39th birthday and nearly one year since the shows launch (June 22). She thanks listeners worldwide and shares how a family member’s feedback reassured her that the podcast’s vulnerability and community connection help people feel less alone. Reflecting on how society celebrates marriage, kids, and corporate milestones more than personal growth, Sara recommits to celebrating herself and decides to go “all out” with a full day of birthday celebrations.  Using a deathbed-regret exercise, Sara identifies four themes to work on: fear, control, scarcity, and disconnection from joy, and urges stopping the habit of waiting for “special” moments to live life to the fullest. She creates a “39” word vision list (e.g., laughter, ease, health, freedom, wealth, travel, thriving) to help lead our lives with more intention and purpose.   00:00 Birthday Reflection Mode 01:58 Gratitude for Listeners 03:17 Validation Story 06:02 Why Connection Matters 08:53 Celebrating Small Wins 14:24 Birthday Blues to Shift 16:14 Stop Waiting to Live 20:29 Mortality and Regrets 23:57 Fear and Control Patterns 28:17 Scarcity and Comparison 29:26 Finding Joy Again 31:16 Healing Got Too Serious 32:43 Finding Balance Again 34:56 Stop Waiting Start Living 36:25 Turning Regret Into Fuel 37:28 Designing My 39th Year 40:06 My 39 Words List 44:20 Authenticity And Connection 48:48 Entering Your 40s Mindset 50:17 Reciprocal Friendships Only 54:01 Birthday Plans And Thanks Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

  8. Apr 27

    *14* Reviving the Spark: Life, Loss, and Adventure

    Host Sara Jaswal returns to her podcast after months away due to technology issues, travel, and a difficult period. She shares a life update: January felt restorative, but February brought restlessness, and March became overwhelming after she got severely ill, which intensified loneliness, depression, intrusive thoughts, and fears about losing her parents.  She reflects on grief, family enmeshment, her ongoing vision deterioration and limitations, and sadness about being single and nearing 40 without a partner or children, while emphasizing that even as a therapist and coach she still struggles.  She describes a rejuvenating trip to Japan while noting grief still surfaced in dark environments. She closes by encouraging listeners to find daily glimmers of joy and gratitude. Connect With Sara: Book Your Free Consultation: https://sarajaswal.janeapp.com/ Psychology Today Profile: https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/1130415 Website: https://www.sarajaswal.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara.s.jaswal/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryHourPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestoryhourpodcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoryhour.podcast

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About

The Story Hour: Voices Unscripted | Stories Re-Written A space for raw, unfiltered conversations about life and the power of storytelling. Where depth meets intimacy. A place for everyone to show up perfectly imperfect. No masks, no facades. Authentic and heart-centered connections. Rooted in the essence of Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG).  Behind every person is a story; of who they are, where they come from, and the trials and tribulations they’ve faced. A story of hardship, heartache, healing, and the unexpected wisdom and resilience we find along the way. Our stories do not define us. It’s about what happens when life knocks us down, and how we find the strength to stand back up again. Some stories will break your heart, some will make you laugh, and all of them, I hope, will remind you, you’re not alone. More than just stories, The Story Hour is a space for community, connection and collective healing.  Where voices come together to remind us that our stories matter, that even in our darkest moments, there is hope and there is a light within each of us that is waiting to be turned on. A place for you to feel inspired and empowered to take back control of your life. Join your host, Sara Jaswal  at The Story Hour, where we listen, learn and re-write the narratives that shape us.

Information

  • Creator
    Sara Jaswal
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Story Hour
  • Show Website
    The Story Hour