The Empowered Caregiver

Today, I talk with Marriage Therapist Robin Schnitzler, founder of Relationship Therapy of Madison. Robin sees couples throughout the state of Wisconsin. She has the caregiver role for her daughter and brother with complex needs and her mother, who is living with dementia, so she knows a thing or two about the impacts of caregiving on relationships! Today, we will discuss the tools you can use to...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and one of the most important ways to support your mental health is to learn about the power of forgiveness.  Tim Markle from The Forgiveness Factor will discuss how forgiveness can occur daily in your caregiving journey. We also talk about how forgiveness is critical in healing past trauma.  This is a must-listen-to episode if you want to learn how to be a mo...

Today, I will discuss why hiring people with disabilities is good for business. Kadin Crute, a young man with autism, will share his story about his employment journey and what it has taught him. I will also talk to founders John and Mark Cronin from John’s Crazy Socks . John has Down Syndrome, and to find meaningful employment, John and his dad Mark started John’s Crazy Socks. Over half of their...

 Noah Heymann from DateCoach.com will share invaluable insights on modern and online dating. As we all know, dating in the digital age can be a challenge. Noah, a professional dating coach, will discuss topics such as body confidence, dating apps, profile pictures and bios, online conversational techniques, and the science behind dating. His practical advice will equip you with the tools to n...

Welcome to my crazy life! Join me as I speak with my husband and the The Devil's Advocates Radio co-host, Michael Crute, as I talk about my upcoming presentation at the Circles Of Life Conference on May 16th (to join me there go to FamilyVoicesWI.org ), our personal caregiving journey, and the RAISE Family Caregivers Act. Guest: Mike Crute

Today, I am joined by the founder of Red Beard Somatic Therapy Alex Greene. During this episode, you will learn how and why your nervous system plays a big role in your mental health and overall well-being. We will talk about stress and trauma, how they show up in your body, what the negative impacts are over time, and how we can work through our unresolved issues to create a more grounded and rel...

You are NOT going to want to miss this episode about all things ADHD! I am joined by Kelly Pickens, a certified ADHD specialist and nurse practitioner, to talk about all the things that are NOT talked about when it comes to ADHD, such as Emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, having an interest-driven nervous system, and time blindness. You should walk away with a better understanding of...

Join me as I speak with Harriet Redman from Wisconsibs, an organization that supports siblings who have a brother or sister with a disability. Harriet brought Elise, a 16-year-old Wisconsibs participant, with her, who will share her experience growing up with a brother who has autism.  I will also be speaking with Stephanie Primm, who will share her story of being the main caregiver to her adult b...

When we talk about therapy, our minds typically go to some form of talk therapy; however, there are MANY different types of non-traditional therapy! Join me today as we learn about music, art, and dance therapy, who it can help, how it works, and what benefits you can expect to see. Joining me is music therapist Anna Andazola Barker from Third Coast Therapy Collective and Executive Director of Art...

Join me as I talk to Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers about our state's decline in mental health, the workforce crisis in both childcare and the paid direct care workforce, and paid family leave. I will also speak with Janet Zander, Advocacy & Public Policy Coordinator with the Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources. Janet is a member of the Governor's Healthcare Workforce Task Force, and sh...

Let’s meet Alexandra Solomon! Her work on Relational Self-Awareness has reached millions of people around the world. She is the author of two bestselling books: Loving Bravely and Taking Sexy Back. Dr. Solomon is a licensed clinical psychologist at The Family Institute at Northwestern, where she also teaches the world-renowned course- Building Loving and Lasting Relationships: Marriage 101.

Trauma is much more common than one may think! What you experienced decades ago may appear in your everyday decisions, reactions, and emotions. Join me today as we talk about the different types of trauma, how it may be lingering with you, and what you can do about it. I will also be speaking with Tana Feiner, the Public Policy Ambassador for the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention 

Traveling can be a magical adventure, but traveling while being a caregiver can be a whole different story! Learn about resources, tips and tricks, and travel agencies that make it easier for you to travel! After you have all the tools you need for your next vacation, stay tuned to hear Kathryn Lake, Civic Media’s program director, share her personal caregiving journey caring for her parents with...

Are you currently eligible for 12 weeks of PAID medical and family leave to care for a loved one?!? Join me today as I talk with Francesa Hong, a State Representative from the 76th district (Madison), about her proposed legislation on PAID medical and family leave. Paid medical and family leave is not the only legislation in the work that supports family caregivers. If you want to know what other...

Everybody wants to be in a happy relationship with their partner, but for caregivers, it might not be so easy. Did you know that up to 80% of caregivers say that they've felt strain on their relationships? So how do caregivers create and keep a healthy relationship with their partner? Host Liza Hellenbrand is joined by Robin Schnitzler, of Relationship Therapy of Madison. Robin helps Liza find out...

Liza Hellenbrand continues her conversation about transportation and caregiving, and how it impacts people's lives across the state. Nick Musson is a transportation specialist with Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources. Denise Jess is the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Tamara Jackson is a public policy analyst and legislative liaison with the...

It's a packed show, as host Liza Hellenbrand hosts a roundtable to talk about one of the most underdiscussed aspects of caregiving: driving. Over 30% of people in Wisconsin do not drive. If they don't drive, well they still have to get to where they need to go. So what do they do? Mick Rusch and Philip Gadke, with Madison Metro Transit, and Rebecca Hoyt, Disability Rights Specialist with the city...

As a caregiver, you're burning a lot of fuel every day, and it's important to eat healthy to keep your body strong and ready to go with whatever get's thrown your way. Aryn DeGrave, dietitian at Hy-Vee, joins the show to talk about the importance of eating healthy, and how to eat well on a budget. First, DeGrave talks about the psychology of why we eat. We know that it's important to eat healthy,...

Host Liza Hellenbrand is once again joined by Civic Media hosts and employees to give their caregiver stories. First is Gray Gunderson is a sales account executive with Civic Media. Gray shares his story about a family member who struggled with mental illness and drug dependency, and what "good news" actually means. Then, Tammi Eastling, also a sales account executive with Civic Media, talks about...

This week, host Liza Hellenbrand is joined by Tim Markle, founder and director of the Forgiveness Factor . Why talk about forgiveness and caregiving? Because, Liza says, forgiveness is an important tool in not just helping others, but helping yourself as a caregiver. As a caregiver himself, Tim explains why it is important to forgive the people you're caring for when they say or do something hurtf...

Noah Fulton, a former acupuncturist with GHC Health, talks with host Liza Hellenbrand about his transition from GHC to self-employment, what acupuncture therapy is, and how it can benefit people with anxiety. Noah now operates Inner Wisdom Acupuncture in both Madison and DeForest. Then, Caden Crute joins the show to talk about living and thriving with disabilities. Bryn Ceman with Wisconsin Family...

Kameron Dawson with A Better Balance joins host Liza Hellenbrand to talk about their goal of advancing paid family leave for caregivers and all workers. How does Wisconsin compare on the topic of paid family and medical leave? Poorly, Dawson says, as paid leave is not enshrine in state law. Then, Liza shifts gears and takes a look at what's happening here in Wisconsin. Kameron Dawson is a Senior S...

Liza Hellenbrand is joined by emergency care Doctor Brittany Lamb to discuss her work to help families make decisions about their loved ones with dementia. Then Allison Ronning, an end-of-life doula, comes on to talk about how they give end-of-life care.

Kevin Coughlin, Policy Initiatives Advisor with the WI Department of Health Services, joins the show to talk about their efforts to fight the caregiver crisis. Then, advocate Felicia Clayborne joins the show to talk about the need for transportation for people with disabilities in Wisconsin. Guests: Kevin Coughlin , Felicia Clayborne

Host Liza Hellenbrand is joins by Dr. Regina Lark, author and podcast host, to talk about emotional labor and forming a happy marriage, and Chaous Riddle with Santas Without Chimneys to talk about the upcoming holiday season. Guests: Regina Lark , Chaous Riddle