For Those Who Care

Send us Fan Mail In this raw and vital conversation, RuthAnn and Jenna confront a recurring theme in caregiving: the deep isolation and universal struggle to build a supportive community. They explore why outsiders often shy away, daunted by the intense realities of a caregiver’s life, leaving caregivers feeling unseen and alone.  With honesty and insight, they discuss how shared values can forge...

Send us Fan Mail In this moving episode, Maureen Stanton shares her deeply personal journey as a caregiver for her mother, who lives with Alzheimer’s disease. Through her lens as a writer, Maureen explores the emotional complexities of caregiving, from grappling with her mother’s transformation to finding ways to stay connected as the disease progresses. She reflects on the challenges, grief, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this solo episode, RuthAnn shares her emotional journey to Ireland, a gift from her late husband, Lance, planned for her 50th birthday while he was on hospice. Delayed by the pandemic, RuthAnn traveled with her friend and co-host Jenna, whose support helped her navigate grief while fulfilling a lifelong dream. Ireland’s kindness and connections with others grieving created a sa...

Send us Fan Mail In the heartfelt finale of our five-part series, Kevin and Allison share their journey of advocating for their son with multiple disabilities, navigating the legal guardianship process, and thriving as a team. Kevin, a philosophy professor, reflects on his writings about disability and advocacy, revealing the personal motivations behind his work. They discuss the emotional complex...

Send us Fan Mail In the fourth episode of our five-part series, Kevin and Allison open up about the complex and often unspoken guilt that shadows their journey as parents of a child with multiple disabilities. They explore how guilt shows up in the decisions they make for each of their children, in their relationship with each other, and in their friendships—often leading them to question their de...

Send us Fan Mail In the third episode of our five-part series, Kevin and Allison invite listeners to step into their world as parents raising a child with multiple disabilities—not just to inform, but to foster genuine understanding and connection across all communities. Through honest stories about navigating school, social life, church, and travel, their stories encourage everyone—especially tho...

Send us Fan Mail In the second episode of our five-part series, Kevin and Allison reflect on the vital role that community plays in the life of a family caring for a child with disabilities. They share candidly about the strong network of support they built when their son, Jameson, was young—and the profound challenges they faced when a move to a new state meant starting over from scratch. This ep...

Send us Fan Mail In the first episode of our five-part series, RuthAnn introduces her friends, Kevin and Allison, devoted parents of three and dedicated caregivers to their son with multiple disabilities. This series offers an honest and vulnerable inside look at the challenges, fears, and joys of raising a child with multiple disabilities, providing listeners with a rare perspective on the realit...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jenna shares her approach to conscientious parenting — what she considers the cornerstone of raising her children. She reveals how, from the very beginning, she approached each of her children with the question: “Who are you?” Jenna talks about the importance of truly seeing her children for who they are, not who she might want them to be. She describes the sacred...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Jenna takes the lead as she opens up about her journey as a stay-at-home mom to her five children. She reflects on the profound realization that, as parents and caregivers, we don’t get to choose how our words or actions shape those around us — but we do have the power to influence how others see the world. Jenna shares how this awareness transformed her...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna talk about the role of exercise in their lives and how their friendship began - when Jenna became RuthAnn’s personal trainer. RuthAnn shares how she and Lance were active before his illness, and how staying active continued to support their health and helped Lance maintain some independence after he became disabled. Jenna offers her perspective o...

Send us Fan Mail Sacrifice is a universal experience, but for caregivers, it takes on a unique depth and complexity. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the profound sacrifices she made while caring for her husband during his illness, challenging the common misconception that caregiving for a loved one is easy. She shares how being recognized for these sacrifices brought her a sense of validat...

Send us Fan Mail Join RuthAnn and Jenna for an honest conversation about the power of self-awareness in everyday life and caregiving. RuthAnn shares how understanding her own limitations allowed her to set essential boundaries as a caregiver, making her better equipped to advocate for her husband and maintain her own well-being. She explains that self-awareness was key to recognizing when she need...

Send us Fan Mail Having help at home is often seen as a blessing, but few understand the real challenges that come with it. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the relentless task of coordinating care providers and services to keep Lance at home - a job that brought as much stress as it did relief. She shares how the constant flow of people disrupted their privacy, required her to carefully ev...

Send us Fan Mail In this moving episode, RuthAnn sits down with acclaimed memoirist Maureen Stanton to discuss her latest book, "The Murmur of Everything Moving". Maureen opens up about her deeply personal journey as a caregiver for her partner Steve during his battle with cancer, a story she chronicles with honesty and grace in her new memoir. She reflects on the challenges and transfor...

Send us Fan Mail When RuthAnn became a caregiver for her husband, Lance, she quickly realized she didn’t fit the traditional mold. She wasn’t quiet, submissive, or content to follow orders without question. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the fierce advocacy required to protect her husband’s well-being, especially when faced with medical professionals who expected compliance rather than qu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn picks up where the previous conversation left off, reflecting on the dehumanizing treatment Lance received from some residents and medical professionals — treatment that often made him feel more like a science experiment than a person. She shares a couple of powerful stories from Lance’s experiences in the hospital and clinic that highlight the emotional t...

Send us Fan Mail 37 - Trusting Your Instincts: A Powerful Call to Stand Up for Our Veterans In this deeply personal and emotional episode, RuthAnn bravely shares a difficult chapter from her life. She recounts an event that took place at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, which ultimately led to her husband, Lance, being placed on hospice care. With raw honesty, RuthAnn opens up about th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and the growth that comes with facing fear and embracing change. RuthAnn shares her personal journey of life after caring for her disabled husband, Lance. After his death, RuthAnn found herself in an entirely new world -  one that was unfamiliar, uncomfortable, and, at times, terrifyin...

Send us Fan Mail Join RuthAnn and Jenna for an honest and empowering conversation about the power of mindset. RuthAnn opens up about her experience as a caregiver, reflecting on how, during some of the toughest days, the last thing she wanted to hear was advice on being more positive. It often felt impossible to find anything good when life was overwhelming and hard. But over time, she discovered...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the emotional and physical challenges of living with a chronic illness. From Lance’s staggering 70 doctor visits in one year to his ongoing battle with two ultra rare conditions, LCH and ECD, RuthAnn and Jenna reflect on how invisible illness impacts not only the body but also relationships, perspectives, and the way we approach life it...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the concept of vulnerability—not just as a perceived weakness, but as a powerful strength. While society often associates vulnerability with fragility, it actually takes immense courage to show up in the world without our armor. RuthAnn and Jenna explore the many benefits of vulnerability, particularly when it comes to building authenti...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna explore the importance of community, especially during times of change. RuthAnn shares her journey of being part of multiple communities while she was married to Lance, and how she has navigated finding new communities since his passing. She discusses why community was vital in both seasons of her life, and how it continues to be an essential par...

Send us Fan Mail In this candid episode, Jenna and RuthAnn share their personal stories of learning to find joy again after facing overwhelming challenges. RuthAnn talks about the difficulties she encountered while supporting her husband Lance through his illness, and how the lack of support from those around them made the journey even harder. Jenna opens up about her experience navigating a divor...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Jenna and RuthAnn explore the healing power of laughter in the face of life’s toughest challenges. Jenna opens up about finding humor during her divorce, while RuthAnn shares how laughter kept her grounded while caring for her husband who lived with cancer for over 25 years. Both women discuss how laughter can be a powerful coping mechanism,...