Dan Cohen is available as a keynote speaker to speak about either of the following topics:
1) Awakenings in Real Life, a new memoir by Dan Cohen which describes his dad's awakening from dementia and other personal stories, family memories, and lesson learned, that explore how moments of clarity, big or small, can open our eyes to meaning, love, and gratitude.
In the summer of 2015, while deep in the grip of dementia, Dan Cohen’s father experienced a sudden and unexpected awakening. His message was simple and unmistakable: he appreciated life and wanted to live. Those two days—brief, profound, and unforgettable—became the catalyst for Awakenings in Real Life, Dan's deeply moving new memoir.
Dan traces how his father’s awakening, first shared in an online article read by hundreds of thousands (and especially resonating with those affected by Alzheimer's/dementia), opened the door to a broader journey of meaning, gratitude, and renewed attention to the present moment.
Neither a traditional grief talk nor a clinical account of dementia, Dan's keynote address occupies a rare middle ground: intimate without being sentimental, hopeful without denying loss. Dan invites his audience to consider how awakenings—moments of clarity, connection, or resolve—can arrive unexpectedly, even amid illness, uncertainty, and change.
Dan's keynote address will resonate with audiences of memoir, caregivers, families touched by dementia and Alzheimer’s, and anyone seeking reassurance that even in life’s most difficult moments, clarity and purpose can still emerge.
2) Stories shared in the Awakenings in Real Life podcast hosted by Dan Chen including "Awakening" tales of triumph, courage, and resilience.
After watching a report on TV where a man with a serious health diagnosis became disillusioned with his corporate life, who then decided to quit his job, and buy a boat to sail the world with his cat, Dan realized there were more stories he wanted to tell in addition to his Father's awakening from dementia. This man had his own “Awakening” and Dan knew life must be filled with other insightful, griping stories waiting to be told.
The “Awakenings In Real Life” podcast tells inspiring stories of transformation, meaning and hope. While we typically think of an Awakening as a “Getting Up” or “Spiritual” or “Religious” in nature, an “Awakening” is also an awareness, recognition or realization of something. In his keynote address, Dan will share stories of people awakening and then triumphing over bullying, addiction, disability, illness, trauma, loss, near death experiences and more.
Dan's keynote address will resonate with audiences who want to be entertained, look for thought provoking talks about meaning, resilience, and lived experience. or seek reassurance that even in life’s most difficult moments, clarity and purpose can still emerge.