ICU – “I See You” Podcast
Memoir Writing
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In this episode of the ICU Podcast, we explore the power of storytelling and the profound impact it can have on making sense of our lives.
Kimberly Warner developed Mal de Débarquement Syndrome in 2015, plunging her into a difficult and disorienting chapter of her life. For over two years she lived in uncertainty, trying to make sense of what was happening to her brain while also grappling with profound isolation. Complicating this, she was also navigating a deeply personal upheaval: shocking DNA test results that shattered her sense of identity. By the summer of 2018, still without a diagnosis, a lost career, and an abundance of unstructured time, she found herself sitting at her husband’s computer. Out of desperation to understand all that had happened, she started writing. That collection of words, once a quiet effort to process her pain and confusion, is now a published memoir.
Guests
Kimberly Warner is a film director, producer, author, and a medical school dropout who traded prescriptions for cameras in pursuit of narrative medicine. She founded Unfixed Media in 2019 to share stories of people living with chronic or rare conditions and how adversity can broaden our definition of what it means to live a “good life.” Her experiences living with MdDS or Mal de Debarquement Syndrome have led to Kimberly’s larger advocacy role within the chronic illness community, where she writes and speaks about her own patient experience. She is a member of the Global Advocacy Alliance, the PPAA (Patient and Physician Advocacy Alliance), is a visiting faculty member with Global Genes, helped create a medical school certificate course called “Course for Clinical Confidence”, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Health Design, and is a VeDA ambassador. When Kimberly isn’t nurturing the many facets of Unfixed, she works a small, sustainable homestead with her husband, David, in rural Oregon. Her memoir, Unfixed, was published by Empress Editions and is available on Amazon.
Christine Wolf is a trauma-informed memoir coach, developmental editor, and the traditionally published co-author of Politics, Partnership and Power — a biography about one of the first 50 women to serve in the United States Congress. A longtime resident of Evanston, Illinois, she runs a workspace for women writers and teaches about writing and entrepreneurship at Northwestern University. An award-winning journalist and live storyteller, Christine regularly leads workshops and retreats centered around the science-backed benefits of expressive writing for emotional healing. Her popular Substack newsletter, Writers’ Haven by Christine Wolf, models vulnerable writing and encourages literary citizenship by spotlighting writers of all levels and genres. Christine is currently at work on her own memoir, Training Grounds, about sisterhood, lost and found.
Hosts
Cynthia Ryan, Executive Director of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA)
Kimberly Warner, Founder and Director of Unfixed Media
This podcast is a co-production of the Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) and Unfixed Media.
Summary
In a powerful and intimate conversation, ICU podcast hosts Kimberly Warner and Cynthia Ryan explore the transformative power of storytelling with memoir coach Christine Wolf.
The episode delves into the healing potential of writing, particularly for individuals navigating complex medical experiences and personal challenges. Kimberly Warner shares her deeply personal journey of living with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS), a challenging vestibular condition that began in 2015. Her story is further complicated by shocking DNA test results that upended her understanding of her family identity. What started as a desperate attempt to make sense of her experiences through writing eventually evolved into a memoir titled “Unfixed,” set to be published in October 2025.
Christine Wolf, a trauma-informed memoir coach, brings her rich background of overcoming personal challenges to the conversation. Her journey into memoir coaching emerged organically, particularly during the pandemic, when she began helping people process their traumatic experiences through writing. Wolf explains the scientific basis of expressive writing, a technique developed by Dr. James Pennebaker that demonstrates significant physical and emotional healing benefits.
The podcast highlights the therapeutic nature of writing, emphasizing that memoir is not about seeking attention, but about offering hope and perspective to others who might be experiencing similar challenges. Both Warner and Wolf stress that everyone has a story worth telling, regardless of their writing experience. For vestibular patients and those with chronic conditions, the conversation offers crucial insights. Warner’s writing process was particularly challenging due to her ongoing dizziness, but she found creative ways to document her experiences, including writing in short chunks and using various technological tools. Wolf encourages potential writers to start simply – creating a timeline, using voice recordings, or practicing expressive writing techniques.
A key message emerges about the healing power of storytelling. The act of writing allows individuals to process trauma, gain control over their narrative, and potentially help others who feel isolated in their experiences. Wolf suggests two critical questions for those hesitant to share their stories: “Who am I protecting by staying quiet?” and “Who am I harming by not telling my story?”
The discussion also explores common obstacles to writing, such as fear of judgment and privacy concerns. Both Warner and Wolf recommend beginning with a draft intended solely for oneself, highlighting that writing is a personal process of healing and self-discovery.
Warner’s approach to her memoir was remarkably compassionate. Despite the deeply personal nature of her story, she was attentive to portraying her family and experiences with sensitivity, seeking their input and respecting their perspectives.
For vestibular patients and those with chronic conditions, the podcast offers a beacon of hope. Warner’s final message resonates powerfully: every individual has a unique way of telling their story, and that story might be a roadmap for someone else struggling to find their way. The episode concludes with an invitation to listeners: start writing, even if it’s just for yourself. The process of putting experiences into words can be healing, transformative, and potentially life-changing.
