Katherine Standefer's guest appearances

Katherine Standefer

First Draft: A Dialogue on Writing

What's Your Why?

The Jackson Hole Connection

Wisdom of the Body

Wild Precious Life

OwlTail

Her memoir is called "Lightning Flowers: My Journey To Uncover The Cost Of Saving A Life." “This book will make you feel less alone. Pick it up and you will hear a human voice.” New York Times Eleven years ago, when she was 24, Katherine Standefer was working as a ski instructor and a climbing teacher in Jackson, Wyo., when she suddenly passed out in a parking lot. She later learned that she has long QT syndrome, a genetic heart condition in which the heart can suddenly quiver instead of rhythmically pumping blood.  It can lead to there not being enough blood in vital organs, which causes someone to pass out," Standefer says. "If they're lucky, they might wake back up. If they're not lucky, they could die of sudden cardiac death." For years, she's lived with a medical device embedded in her chest, an implanted cardiac defibrillator, a tiny version of the machines in hospital rooms that deliver shocks to someone whose heart has stopped beating or has developed a dangerous arrhythmia. Standefer's device was implanted 11 years ago, when she was 24. Her book chronicles the ways her condition and the defibrillator changed her life, like experiencing accidental jolts of electricity to her heart as well as her journeys to Africa to visit mines where the precious metals used in making it are extracted. She wanted to explore the human cost of creating these devices. And she writes about making complicated medical decisions with potentially life-or-death consequences while living with little income on the margins of the nation's health insurance system. Lightning Flowers was a Finalist for the 2021 Kirkus Prize in Nonfiction. The book was also a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice/Staff Pick and the NYTBR’s Group Text Pick for November 2020. Named one of O, The Oprah Magazine’s Best Books of Fall 2020, it has been featured in People Magazine, on NPR’s Fresh Air, and on the goop podcast. Lightning Flowers was a Finalist for the 2021 Arizona/New Mexico Book Award in Autobiography/Memoir, selected as the Common Read 2022-2023 at Colorado College, and shortlisted for the 2018 J. Anthony Lukas Works-in-Progress Award from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Learn more about Katherine on her website. As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on Instagram or visit the webpage of the Wyoming Humanities! Sign up for the podcast newsletter using the QR code of follow this link: http://eepurl.com/igy4fH

Her memoir is called "Lightning Flowers: My Journey To Uncover The Cost Of Saving A Life." “This book will make you feel less alone. Pick it up and you will hear a human voice.” New York Times Eleven years ago, when she was 24, Katherine Standefer was working as a ski instructor and a climbing teacher in Jackson, Wyo., when she suddenly passed out in a parking lot. She later learned that she has long QT syndrome, a genetic heart condition in which the heart can suddenly quiver instead of rhythmically pumping blood.  It can lead to there not being enough blood in vital organs, which causes someone to pass out," Standefer says. "If they're lucky, they might wake back up. If they're not lucky, they could die of sudden cardiac death." For years, she's lived with a medical device embedded in her chest, an implanted cardiac defibrillator, a tiny version of the machines in hospital rooms that deliver shocks to someone whose heart has stopped beating or has developed a dangerous arrhythmia. Standefer's device was implanted 11 years ago, when she was 24. Her book chronicles the ways her condition and the defibrillator changed her life, like experiencing accidental jolts of electricity to her heart as well as her journeys to Africa to visit mines where the precious metals used in making it are extracted. She wanted to explore the human cost of creating these devices. And she writes about making complicated medical decisions with potentially life-or-death consequences while living with little income on the margins of the nation's health insurance system. Lightning Flowers was a Finalist for the 2021 Kirkus Prize in Nonfiction. The book was also a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice/Staff Pick and the NYTBR’s Group Text Pick for November 2020. Named one of O, The Oprah Magazine’s Best Books of Fall 2020, it has been featured in People Magazine, on NPR’s Fresh Air, and on the goop podcast. Lightning Flowers was a Finalist for the 2021 Arizona/New Mexico Book Award in Autobiography/Memoir, selected as the Common Read 2022-2023 at Colorado College, and shortlisted for the 2018 J. Anthony Lukas Works-in-Progress Award from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Learn more about Katherine on her <a href="http://www.katherinestandefer.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>. As always leave a review if you enjoyed these stories and follow us on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/storiesaboutwhy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or visit the <a href="http://thinkwy.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">webpage</a> of the Wyoming Humanities! Sign up for the podcast newsletter using the QR code of follow this link: <a href="https://nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Figy4fH&amp;data=05%7C01%7CEmy%40thinkwy.org%7C689a8dd23b404e63c8da08daf26272df%7C227aa6c9bb50454cb232e55c4f4c4272%7C0%7C0%7C638088801917747900%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=P721mBrdDXfWA1GluUdgDB1HlRiJ46PIWl53N%2FpZziA%3D&amp;reserved=0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://eepurl.com/igy4fH</a>

Katherine Standefer: A Journey Facing Death, Embracing Life

Katherine Standefer is a nature lover, published author, speaker, trauma writing doula, and survivor with a captivating story to tell. Katherine is the author of Lightning Flowers: My Journey to Uncover the Cost of Saving a Life. Originally from suburban Chicago, Katherine always felt a strong connection to nature which eventually drew her away from the suburban landscape to Jackson Hole. In this episode, Katherine shares her brush with death, having to leave Jackson and how it changed her writing focus. She talks about her heart journey and the origin of the components that make up her cardiac defibrillator. Alongside Stephan, she sheds light on the impact of the healthcare industry on mental wellbeing in America. They also explore the importance of discovering one's true calling, the power of nature, and not settling for a life that lacks joy and fulfillment.Find out more about Katherine at katherinestandefer.comBuy a copy of Lightning Flowers: My Journey to Uncover the Cost of Saving a Life at your local bookstore or at Bookshop.orgThis week's episode is supported in part by Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, reminding residents and commercial businesses of Teton County’s food waste programs; the next frontier material in the quest to achieve the County’s goal to reduce, aiming for zero waste. More at TetonCountyWY.gov or at @RoadToZeroWaste.JH on Instagram.Support also comes from The Jackson Hole Marketplace. The Deli at Jackson Hole Marketplace offers ready-made soups, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and hot lunch specials. More at JHMarketplace.com Want to be a guest on The Jackson Hole Connection? Email us at connect@thejacksonholeconnection.com. Marketing and editing support by Michael Moeri (michaelmoeri.com)

Katherine Standefer is a nature lover, published author, speaker, trauma writing doula, and survivor with a captivating story to tell. Katherine is the author of Lightning Flowers: My Journey to Uncover the Cost of Saving a Life. Originally from suburban Chicago, Katherine always felt a strong connection to nature which eventually drew her away from the suburban landscape to Jackson Hole. In this episode, Katherine shares her brush with death, having to leave Jackson and how it changed her writing focus. She talks about her heart journey and the origin of the components that make up her cardiac defibrillator. Alongside Stephan, she sheds light on the impact of the healthcare industry on mental wellbeing in America. They also explore the importance of discovering one's true calling, the power of nature, and not settling for a life that lacks joy and fulfillment.Find out more about Katherine at <a href="http://www.katherinestandefer.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">katherinestandefer.com</a>Buy a copy of Lightning Flowers: My Journey to Uncover the Cost of Saving a Life at your local bookstore or at <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/lightning-flowers-my-journey-to-uncover-the-cost-of-saving-a-life-katherine-e-standefer/14130721?ean=9780316450348" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Bookshop.org</a>This week's episode is supported in part by Teton County Solid Waste and Recycling, reminding residents and commercial businesses of Teton County’s food waste programs; the next frontier material in the quest to achieve the County’s goal to reduce, aiming for zero waste. More at <a href="https://tetoncountywy.gov/1459/Compost" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">TetonCountyWY.gov</a> or at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roadtozerowaste.jh" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">@RoadToZeroWaste.JH</a> on Instagram.Support also comes from The Jackson Hole Marketplace. The Deli at Jackson Hole Marketplace offers ready-made soups, sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and hot lunch specials. More at <a href="https://jhmarketplace.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">JHMarketplace.com</a> Want to be a guest on The Jackson Hole Connection? Email us at connect@thejacksonholeconnection.com. Marketing and editing support by Michael Moeri (<a href="https://michaelmoeri.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">michaelmoeri.com</a>)

Episode 236 - Embracing Life, Death, and Authenticity with Katherine Standefer

Katherine Standefer is the author of Lightning Flowers, which was shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Essays, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and the Iowa Review among others. She earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

<a href="http://www.katherinestandefer.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Katherine Standefer</a> is the author of Lightning Flowers, which was shortlisted for the J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize from the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University. Her writing has appeared in The Best American Essays, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and the Iowa Review among others. She earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://megaphone.fm/adchoices" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">megaphone.fm/adchoices</a>