In this episode, hosts Julie Brown and Red Keating are joined by Dr. Christopher Blake, Medical Director of Hospice Peterborough. He is not only a compassionate, skilled physician—he is also a talented writer of science fiction and fantasy. Throughout human history, storytelling has served as a powerful bridge for connection, wisdom, and meaning-making. In this delightful conversation, Dr. Blake shares some of his writing, exploring profound themes of death, grief, loss, and transformation. Together, we discuss how his stories open doors to rich, insightful reflections on life, all while sharing a touch of humour along the way.

Explore more of Dr. Blake’s writing via the links below:

Dr. Blake’s short story, “In Brightness and in Darkness, We Sit” was originally published in Flash Fiction Online. https://flashfictiononline.com/articles/in-brightness-and-in-darkness-we-sit/

His short story, “A Recipe for Life, A Tonic for Grief” was first published in Strange Horizons. https://strangehorizons.com/wordpress/fiction/a-recipe-for-life-a-tonic-for-grief/

Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get in touch with us: whatnow@hospicepeterborough.org

What happens when life suddenly takes an unexpected turn and there is no script to follow?

In this deeply personal conversation, actor, comedian and improvisation expert Linda Kash shares the story of losing her husband suddenly—and the unexpected ways improvisation helped her navigate the landscape of grief that followed.

Linda talks openly about the shock of sudden loss, learning to live with uncertainty, and discovering that some of the principles of improv—being present, accepting what is happening, staying open to what comes next, and finding connection with others—can offer wisdom when life no longer looks anything like we imagined.

This conversation is also an exploration of the power of the arts in grief: how creativity, humour, play and artistic expression can give us ways to process what can be difficult to put into words.

A moving and thoughtful conversation about loss, resilience, connection and the possibility of finding our way forward when life changes the script.

Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get in touch with us: whatnow@hospicepeterborough.org

Season 4 of What Now? On the Threshold of Life, Death and Grief comes to a close. The three co-hosts take time to reflect on the conversations, insights, and moments that stayed with them throughout the season.

The hosts look back on the wisdom shared by a remarkable group of guests and discuss what they learned, what surprised them, and how these conversations continue to shape their own perspectives.

This episode is also an opportunity to express heartfelt gratitude—to our guests for sharing their expertise and stories, to our listeners for joining us on this journey, and to the people behind the scenes whose support makes the podcast possible.

Thank you for being part of the What Now? community. We are grateful you're here, and we look forward to continuing these conversations with you in Season 5!

Have feedback about the podcast? Have an idea for a future episode? Get in touch with us: whatnow@hospicepeterborough.org