32. More Than Their Wars: Zach Dunn on Finding the Person Behind the Uniform

Send us Fan MailWhat does it mean to truly see someone — not just their role, their rank, or what they survived — but the full, living, breathing human being behind it all? In this episode, 26-year-old Zach Dunn, shares his mission to interview and capture the essence of the world's last surviving WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans while he still can.   In This Episode:How Zach's mission began — and what first compelled a young man in his twenties to seek out the stories of those who lived through history's defining conflictsWhat it's actually like to sit across from a 100-year-old veteran and ask them to open up — the preparation, the nerves, and the unexpected moments of laughter and tearsWhy Zach believes these interviews are about so much more than war — and how veterans light up when asked about their families, hobbies, loves, and everyday livesThe profound connection between veteran storytelling and person-centred care — and why knowing someone's full story changes the way we see and treat themZach's process for earning trust quickly — how he creates a safe, warm space that allows veterans to share stories they may never have told anyone beforeThe urgency behind this work: why time is running out, and what we all risk losing if these voices go uncapturedHow Zach's project grew from a Canadian mission into a global effort spanning 16 countries — and what that reveals about the universality of human experienceThe emotional impact of this work on Zach himself — what it's taught him about life, sacrifice, gratitude, and the responsibility of being a keeper of storiesPractical insights for family members, healthcare workers, and storytellers who want to start capturing the stories of the elders in their own livesWhy engaging with life stories isn't just about preservation — it's about honouring the whole person, right now, while we still canZach Dunn is the 26-year-old Toronto-based founder of Global Veteran Stories, a documentary and oral history project that has captured over 165 veteran interviews across 16 countries. Each interview is edited into a full-length documentary gifted directly to the veteran and their family — along with a personalized birthday video every year.Connect with Zach: www.rememberingcanadasveterans.com youtube.com/@GlobalVeteranStories TikTok: @ww2veteraninterviews Facebook: Global Veteran Stories Thank you for listening!Do you have a question or a topic related to "capturing essence for care" that you would like discussed on the podcast?  Email:  [email protected] use the "Send us Fan Mail" link at the top of the Episode Description to text the show!Interested in learning more?  Check out my Etsy ShopVisit my YouTube channel or websiteIntro and outro music with thanks:  Upbeat and Sweet No Strings by Musictown Lisa brings over 25 years of experience working in healthcare settings with older adults. The perspectives shared on this podcast are her own and do not represent the views of any past or current employer. Patient/resident stories are shared only with explicit permission or as anonymized composites for educational purposes.