"Everyone has a story worth telling."
— Joanne Swensrude, Voiced Memories Pro
Joanne Swensrude — Life Story Café Facilitator
Life Story Café Facilitator | Technology Educator | Community Connector
For more than 35 years, Joanne Swensrude has been helping people connect, learn, and share their experiences through engaging group programs and workshops. As a Life Story Café Facilitator with Voiced Memories, she creates welcoming, interactive environments where participants feel comfortable sharing the stories that have shaped their lives.
Known for her warmth, patience, and sense of fun, Joanne helps spark conversations that often lead to laughter, reflection, and meaningful connections. She believes everyone has a story worth telling and is passionate about helping participants preserve those stories for future generations through the Voiced Memories platform.
Research-informed
Program evaluated in a University of Alberta feasibility study (2026).
Community-tested
Delivered across 6 communities with 37+ senior participants.
Wellness-focused
97% of Memory Café participants recalled meaningful memories; 94% felt happy during sessions (University of Alberta Feasibility Study, 2026).
Trained facilitators
Years of small-group facilitation in seniors' and family settings.
Karen Murdock — creator of the Life Story Café
Karen Murdock has spent years watching what happens when an older adult sees a familiar photo and someone leans in to listen — stories pour out, laughter follows, and connections form that didn't exist five minutes before. That simple moment is what she built Voiced Memories around.
As founder of Voiced Memories and a Life Story Café facilitator, Karen creates sessions that feel less like a program and more like a good conversation that happened to be beautifully set up. Guided prompts, a curated photo gallery, and a warm, unhurried pace give participants everything they need to find each other through memory.
Karen believes the stories older adults carry deserve to be heard — and that the right environment makes sharing them feel like a gift, not a task.
"The best stories come out when people feel unhurried and truly heard. That's what we build, every session."
— Karen Murdock, Voiced Memories Pro
Facilitator Application
Tell us a little about yourself and why you're drawn to the Life Story Café program. Karen will personally review every application.