Story Coaching Testimonials
on writing a personal narrative
"June has taken her passion for Jungian psychology and Joseph Campbell’s teachings on myth, the hero’s journey, and the inner landscape of the storyteller and story listener, and has brought it to life in Truth and Illusion. Her willingness and ability to listen, to guide, and to co-create the storytelling experience are evidenced by the depth of awareness and acceptance that is experienced in her story slams and workshops. The workshop offers a warm space and place where going within and meeting the self is accepted and welcomed. June takes what is in the depths and gently brings it out so that new life - a new awareness of self - may be born."
Jennifer Phenix, Professor of Humanities, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sheridan
"Working with June Cupido in the creative process to explore unique ways of telling my story has been an incredible, game changing experience. I am a writer. Memoir is my genre which means I dig deep to unearth truths about my life. Truths that involve both childhood wonder, adventures, and lies. June has an amazing gift. In the most gentle way, she coaxes words and images from her students which she holds in her hand like precious stones. She saves your stones until the time is right to give them back, and when you accept them, you receive a liberating gift, even more precious. June’s ability to ask hard questions in a way that holds no intimidation or pressure, birthed new stories, new memories and new approaches to my work.
Working with June is an exciting adventure! She partners with you to find the truth and beauty and love that has been waiting for you to discover in those deep, dark and delicious chapters of your life."
Margaret Terry, Writer, Author, Public Speaker
Working with June Cupido master storyweaver- storyteller has been a gift in my life. The deep, searching, soulful exploration that she catalyzes in the people she works with (offers a possibility of) provides intrinsic healing and transformation. She generates a forward-facing view of new possibilities. Where you build a life knowing you are complete and whole and ready to contribute to the well-being of yourself and other beings. A place past pain. June has a way of working with you which draws out the pain from the inside out. Her process creates a balm for deeply seeded (seated) wounds and gives you tools to authentically communicate your story. Enables one to locate a pathway to a positive future, which you design for yourself. For me, June’s empathy and support on this journey, allowed me to unlock untold, painful truths about my family ‘s history. The magic of June Cupido’s work lives with her masterful use of The Hero’s Journey. She has unflagging commitment to get to the heart of the matter and to nurture abundant love, for lives of everyone she touches. Be it storyteller, singer-songwriter or any variety of Human Bean- June provides a pathway to know yourself better.
Lorretta Bailey, Actor, Writer, Singer,
Theatre Teacher
Working with June from the perspective of story coaching/creating is an amazing, and dare I say, life changing experience.
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June really dug deep with me and helped to pull out an experience and truth that all black women experience. Her willingness to listen openly without judgement, to accept truths and to help and support the co-creation of a sensitive narrative is something that I had never experienced. If I’m honest, I often don’t listen to myself that intently, but this is where June shines.
She has this innate ability to create and weave your story in a way that not only captures your true depth of self, but also captures the attention of the audience.
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Thank you for the experience June, and for making me shine!!
Alison Jackson, Performer and Student Rights and Responsibilities Officer, Sheridan College
I first met June after witnessing one of the early iterations of “Truth and Illusion”. I was captured immediately by the “real and raw” material each storyteller shared about their lives and the creative delivery of each story. I became a huge advocate for TI and more recently her Story Slam series.
After a complex and very involved relationship with my elderly mom, I approached June and asked if I could work with her to uncover my truth about this relationship and develop and share my story. It truly has been a life-changing experience working with June. Learning how to give up control and trust the process under June’s gentle guidance was integral to the evolution of my story. With no theatre background, I was so appreciative of June’s faith in me to dig deep and share my own story at a recent Story Slam.
Karen Capindale-Smith, Presenter of “The Magic Potion” at the Feb 2025 Story Slam “
Once Upon a Time”
"Working with June Cupido in the creative process to explore unique ways of telling my story has been an incredible, game changing experience. I am a writer. Memoir is my genre which means I dig deep to unearth truths about my life. Truths that involve both childhood wonder, adventures, and lies. June has an amazing gift. In the most gentle way, she coaxes words and images from her students which she holds in her hand like precious stones. She saves your stones until the time is right to give them back, and when you accept them, you receive a liberating gift, even more precious. June’s ability to ask hard questions in a way that holds no intimidation or pressure, birthed new stories, new memories and new approaches to my work.
Working with June is an exciting adventure! She partners with you to find the truth and beauty and love that has been waiting for you to discover in those deep, dark and delicious chapters of your life."
Margaret Terry, Writer, Author, Public Speaker
It was obvious to me that June was someone who had a deep appreciation and understanding of personal narratives and theatrical performance. On that basis, I contacted her to work with me.
My vision has been to write a memoir and to prepare an extract from it for solo performance. We have engaged in an ongoing process that involves a deep exploration of my inner landscape and my writing while engaging in conversation that at times explores archetypes and Jungian psychology. As a story coach, June Cupido creates a safe space for creative expression that engenders trust, vulnerability, and critical reflection. She is a compassionate listener but equally a coach who challenges you when needed. She is supportive, patient, and caring and I would recommend her highly to anyone who is willing to enter into that “deep, dark, and delicious” world of the self."
Dr. Michael Williams, Ph.D, Storyteller, Writer, Radio Host iamthestoryteller@gmail.com
As an actor, portraying someone else's story is a challenge in itself. After working with June and seeing my own story come together on a page in front of me is an experience that has changed my life forever. Together we found a way to tell my story in a way that would make an audience laugh, cry, and feel personally connected. Our sessions together were deep, interesting conversations about experiences that have shaped me as a person and that I will use to become a better person tomorrow. Developing a personal narrative that flowed as cohesive and fluent seemed impossible before I started working with June."
Jason Wolff, is a singer, actor, dancer, writer, composer, director and is a current Sheridan Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance student.
"I was fortunate to be asked to develop personal narrative in one June's productions as a story teller. June has amazing energy, passion and dedication that she brings to her work. It was June’s coaching, guidance and support that allowed me to dig deep and open-up in order to share my personal story. I have had quite the life journey, experiencing sadness, pain and depression in my life. I have been in transformation mode over the past 7 years and have healed (with a lot of help and support). June was inspirational in helping me tell my story in a manner that allowed me to be raw, authentic and real while maintaining the love I have for my new life.. grateful to have been part of the journey with this incredible initiative"
Dan Manns, Career Development Relationship Manager at McMaster University within
the Faculty of Science, Life Coach - focusing on those in the GLBTQ community.
"Working with June is like chatting with an old friend. Upon first meeting her, I felt I had known her for years. Her presence is comforting, familiar, and above all else without judgement. Over our many writing sessions, she listened with empathy and neutrality as I answered her questions about my life experiences. Her questions were simple to start – about memories of people, childhood, school… yet with each response we discovered more memories that linked to more memories until we had a web of moments, all connected to a greater theme – a ‘golden nugget’ – my realisation – my truth at the centre of it all. Together, we collaboratively untangled the web, a process of clarifying and grounding the narrative in a central theme, so my personal journey would be clear to me, and to the audience.
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There is a simple magic in being heard by someone. And there is an even greater magic in having one’s confessions reflected back in a beautiful, humorous, and powerful statement. This is a magic that June possesses. I couldn’t have foreseen how important telling my story to others would be, until she helped me discover it.
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I feel stronger, braver, and more of a performer than ever before thanks to my experience with June. If you have the chance to work with her – take it! You can only benefit from feeling the effects of her magic."
Senn Gelinas, is a singer, actor, dancer, and is a current Sheridan Bachelor of Music Theatre Performance student.
Through June’s Story Coaching, she instinctively helped discover my inner gold, turning some of my most heavy and narrowing past experiences into sources of expansive lightness. June’s process is an alchemical one. The psychological growth I have endured since working with June around universal symbolism and myth goes unparalleled to any modern avenues of personal development sought thus far. Not only has June transformed the world through transforming herself, she helps others transform themselves, to transform the world.
Hannah Fogel is an Dramatist, Performer, Jazz Singer
"June provided the opportunity for an exploration and deeper dive into oral storytelling. Her coaching allowed me to be more vulnerable in my sharing of an extremely profound event. The process of weaving my ideas and experiences into a storytelling performance was incredible and allowed me to immerse completely into the art of storytelling.I will always be grateful to have been part of this beautiful event with other storytellers and to know that the evening contributed to an important cause. I look forward to more of June’s gifts to community and hope to have another opportunity to tell a story."
Sue Phillips, Critical Illness/End of Life Doula, Pronouns: she/her/hers
suephillips.ca 905-630-4193, Vice-President: End of Life Doula Association of Canada
Working with June was an extraordinarily creative experience! I felt comfortable in sharing my life story in June's presence. She was patient and attentive in shining a light on the small details which really made my story come to life. June has a natural ability to weave stories in a way that really captures her audience and keeps them engaged.
Thank you, June, for your energy, spirit and amazing talent that brought my “Some Kind of Wonderful” story to the center stage.
I look forward to our work together in the future!
Melissa Truelove, Truelove Counselling RSW, Counsellor, 289-244-5889
Working with June was the most challenging work I've done in the past 5 years. In a safe space she compassionately peels back every layer of your life; to help you discover the truth of who you are. June taught me that the audience is a mirror of me, and that they show up for a joyful experience. If I am causing my own suffering, I must face and overcome it in order to create something compelling, for performer and audience alike. In this way, June's work is 100% rooted in authenticity. In the age of AI, this is indispensable: the one thing human beings have over computers is personal life experience. Anybody who calls themselves an artist is a soldier in the war against the computer-ridden mediocrity of the 21st century. June is a high-ranking commander. Listen to her work, and learn.
Matt deKort, is a poet, musician, triple-threat performer working towards a career as a performing artist
What is it that they say? There are no coincidences? I beg to differ.
Recently, I found myself in the company of June Cupido, as I stepped into a theatrical project as a last-minute replacement for another actor. Through the process of working with June, not only did we create a moving piece of theatre, but I found healing and acceptance of life issues that I’d never imagined I would.
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June has developed a process of coaching, in this case, actors, then weaving their stories together to create a piece of theatre built on truths. This process produces intensely moving results for actor and audience, and soul medicine with which each can walk away.
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Being drawn into June’s world led me, within a few short weeks, to some major personal breakthroughs. I will forevermore see our time on this project as a watershed moment in my life and career.
George Masswohl, Actor/Writer
From the very first time I met with June I knew that she was curious and compassionate. As our time together progressed I was reassured by June's ability to trust that a story, my story, the story that needed to be told would come to the surface. This safety provided the boundaries I needed to explore my inner world, to cry and make connections and ultimately celebrate my evolution as a person. Although the process was never introduced as therapy, there is no denying that it was very therapeutic. I learned to not only listen to my thoughts and feelings but to the messages my body was sending, the truth it was holding and waiting to release. June was a coach in the truest sense of the word. She was encouraging and held me to a standard of honesty, vulnerability and excellence.
Carmen Cooper, Storyteller, Social Worker
June gently coaches out our stories and handles them with the utmost care. Conversations with June felt like that: just conversations. I was amazed during “Newfoundland Stories” how many similarities there were in our six, very different stories. June was able to weave our voices together into an entertaining and enlightening show. The process also draws the audience in to explore their own stories. Personally, I learned things about myself were revealing and helpful going forward. I feel like the hero of my own story and that I actually have something to share!
Jillian Rees-Brown, Actor/Writer
I have just completed one of the most amazing projects but I have been involved with for quite some time. Working with June Cupido on the PAL. project - Newfoundland Stories - has pushed me securely into the next phase, or as I like to call it my Act III. Post Covid I was wondering if my career had any fuel left in it or not. It does. And I feel like I'm on a full tank again. June has given me the courage, open doors and helped me see into the future for what my theatre career in my senior years holds in store. Already I can see new projects and storylines off in the distance. After 35 years I feel like I have many more stories to tell. If you
get the chance to work with June - grab it! You will not be disappointed."
Geoff Adams, Actor/Writer
What June Cupido has accomplished through her program "Newfoundland Stories...Through the Lens of the Senior Artist", based on Jungian teachings and Joseph Campbell's "A Hero's Journey", was with great care and compassion, guiding the individual to dig deep into their past and revisit those memories or experiences that have prohibited them from reaching their full potential. The cast had one-on-one sessions with June over a number of weeks via zoom and then in person in a group setting where everyone was there for one another to engage and embark on paths of truth and illusion to heightened levels. We had a short but powerfully emotive rehearsal period where June thematically and skillfully intertwined our stories. And then we had the live performance that undoubtedly kindled and promoted further discussion amongst the audience. Guaranteed! This program is such an important one that puts a spotlight on the support that senior artists and seniors in general so greatly need. For me it was a journey like no other with all its flaws, laughter and pain. Thank you June!
Lawrence Barry, Actor/Writer