Carrying the Tiger: Tony Stewart on Love, Loss, and the Healing Power of Story
Show Notes:
In this deeply reflective episode of The Human Experience, host Jennifer Peterkin visits lifelong New Yorker Tony Stewart, who shares an intimate story of love, creativity, and grief.
Tony recounts meeting his wife, Lynn Kotula—an accomplished painter—and building a life together rooted in art, exploration, and storytelling. He opens up about Lynn’s cancer diagnosis, the emotional and practical realities of caregiving, and the profound ways illness reshapes relationships.
Through honesty and vulnerability, Tony reflects on grief, resilience, and how sharing personal stories—through writing and community—can become a powerful tool for healing and connection in the aftermath of loss.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of serious illness, caregiving, and grief. Listener discretion is advised.
Key Takeaways:
● The podcast’s mission centers on courage, vulnerability, and the power of personal storytelling.
● Tony shares his life story and relationship with his wife, Lynn, and their shared experiences in New York City.
● Reflections on city life versus country life and how place shapes identity.
● The story of how Tony and Lynn met, including their age difference and creative partnership.
● Lynn’s career as an artist and the challenges she faced in the art world.
● Tony’s background in filmmaking and software development at the intersection of creativity and technology.
● The impact of Lynn’s cancer diagnosis on their marriage and daily life.
● Using CaringBridge to communicate updates and maintain social connection during illness.
● The emotional toll of caregiving and the importance of honest communication.
● Storytelling as a means of processing grief and fostering understanding.
Interview recorded in New York City.
Tony Stewart’s Bio:
Tony Stewart has led a multifaceted career spanning film, technology, and storytelling. He has made award-winning films for colleges and universities, written software praised by The New York Times and The New York Daily News, designed a grants-management system used by three of the world’s five largest charities, and led the development of an international standard for advertising transaction messaging.
Tony is the author of the memoir Carrying the Tiger, which won two Gold Medals at the 2025 Global Book Awards. Inspired by the healing process of writing his memoir, Tony studied with David Kessler and is now a Certified Grief Educator.
He and his late wife, painter Lynn Kotula, traveled extensively through India and Southeast Asia, embracing local cultures, food, and life off the beaten path. Today, Tony continues to share stories that explore love, loss, and resilience.
Connect with Tony Stewart:
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonystewartny/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570889459153
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonystewart/
📰 Substack: https://tonystewartauthor.substack.com
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