The Power of Storytelling in Prehospital Care: A Conversation with Clare Murphy

In this episode, we explore something a little different, but
deeply connected to everything we do in medicine, leadership, and
human connection: the power of storytelling. Whether it’s patient
handover, clinician-to-clinician stories, or the messroom chat,
stories fill our everyday lives. 


My guest today is Clare Murphy, a world-renowned
storyteller who has been bringing the ancient art of story firmly
into the modern world since 2006. Clare has performed
across the globe, sharing stories with audiences as diverse as
the All-Blacks coaches, Mission Critical Teams, scientists,
schoolchildren, and even Irish President Mary Robinson. Her work
also transcends entertainment. Clare teaches
storytelling as a tool for connection, communication, and
meaning-making, working with diverse communities that include
asylum seekers, climate scientists, social entrepreneurs,
firefighters, and veterans who have lost limbs.


Her client list speaks volumes: NASA, the All-Blacks, the Mission
Critical Team Institute, The Drive Project, Social Entrepreneurs
Ireland, Routes Collective, and NHS England. Together, we’ll
unpack how story shapes the way we understand the world, how it
can help us connect with our teams, our patients, and ourselves
in the moments that matter most. You can find Clare's work here:
https://claremurphy.org/


Empirical research suggests that Paramedics routinely recount
emergency calls during downtime to make sense of their work. This
storytelling functions as a form of tactical resilience to
managers, other services, patients, bystanders, and each other,
and often involves strong language. The paper can be found here:


https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251772924_Heroes_and_Lies_Storytelling_Tactics_among_Paramedics








This Podcast is sponsored by World Extreme
Medicine.


World Extreme Medicine provides internationally recognised
education for clinicians and operators working in pre-hospital,
remote, expedition, humanitarian, and high-risk environments.
Their programmes focus on practical, experience-led learning,
equipping professionals with the skills to make sound clinical
and operational decisions when resources are limited, evacuation
is delayed, and conditions are extreme.


With courses covering expedition and wilderness medicine, hostile
environments, dive medicine, human performance, leadership, and
austere care, World Extreme Medicine brings together a global
faculty with real-world experience from some of the most
challenging settings on earth. To explore courses, free
educational resources, and upcoming webinars, visit:
www.worldextrememedicine.com