A Season of Caring Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Can caregiving transform your spiritual life? This heartfelt episode of A Season of Caring Podcast Rayna Nieses introduces Robyn Horn, a devoted caregiver who has walked the path of caring for her grandfather, father, mother, and in-laws. With a strong foundation in geriatric care and deep Christian faith, Robyn opens up about the sacredness and ministry of caregiving. She shares...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode of A Season of Caring Podcast, host Rayna Neises is joined by Amanda Bailey, who bravely shares her journey as a secondary caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer's. This episode delves into the rapid progression of the disease and the challenges Amanda encountered while supporting her father, the primary caregiver. The conversation underscores the c...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a speech pathologist finds herself in the shoes of a caregiver for her own parents, facing the trials of cancer and Alzheimer's disease? Susan Stern, who transitioned from a career in medical speech pathology to becoming a board-certified life coach, shares her deeply personal and transformative journey through the stages of caregiving. You'll hear abou...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine navigating the labyrinth of caregiving while maintaining a heartfelt bond with a loved one who has dementia. That's the journey CherylAnn Haley takes us on in this poignant episode, as she shares her deeply personal experiences caring for her mother, Sandy, who has vascular dementia. From the tough decision to place Sandy in a care facility during the pandemic to the...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how caregivers find the strength to support their loved ones through the toughest of times? Join us in this deeply moving episode as we sit down with Marlene Brzezinski, a pastor and family recovery coach, who has navigated the complex journey of caregiving within her own family. Marlene recounts her heartfelt experiences, from helping her husband recover fr...

Send us Fan Mail Join us as Lizette shares her unique journey, blending heartfelt personal stories and professional insights, including a charming anecdote about orchestrating her mother’s mobility during an eye doctor appointment. Lizette Cloete, an experienced occupational therapist who found herself navigating the complexities of caring for both of her parents. Lizette's mother experienced...

Send us Fan Mail When life handed Leah Stanley a caregiving role she never anticipated, it led her down a path filled with challenges, humor, and profound lessons. At twenty-nine, Leah's life took a sharp turn after a phone call pulled back the curtain on her grandparents' struggles with dementia. She bravely stepped into the caregiver role, navigating the twists and turns of a disease t...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Sherry Yarbrough's voice joins mine in this episode to share her own poignant shift from daughter to caregiver as we unravel the complicated tapestry of caring for loved ones with Alzheimer's. Together, we tackle the emotional hurdles of diagnosis and the profound responsibilities that caregivers embrace, balancing self-care with the selfless task of attending to tho...

Send us Fan Mail When the unimaginable becomes your reality, where do you find the strength to move forward? Laura Atkins opens her heart to us, detailing the profound journey as a mother and caregiver to her son, Wyatt, who bravely faced the trials of Coats-Plus syndrome. Through love-laced stories, Laura describes Wyatt's resilience in dealing with no diagnosis, the emotional toll of freque...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine walking alongside someone with the strength to face a brain tumor diagnosis, heart attacks, and stroke-like symptoms. Today, we're honored to have Diana Derringer join us, sharing her transformative journey as a caregiver, filled with resilience, adaptability, and wisdom. As Diana recounts the complexities of managing memory issues and fatigue, you'll be moved by...

Send us Fan Mail Steve Powell's story is a beautiful example of how love and necessity can spark innovation. Rayna Neises had the honor of discussing Steve's mission to create a world where the elderly and disabled can rise with dignity.  His invention was born from witnessing his own parents' struggles, a challenge he met with a blend of compassion and creativity. Steve Powell reco...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating the complex currents of caregiving from afar, our guest Liuda, a retired pharmacist with a heart as vast as her experience, invites us into her world of love, loss, and devotion. She talks about the emotional challenges of taking care of family members who are far away.  Liuda shares personal stories of her father's passing, dealing with dementia, and inheriting th...

Send us Fan Mail Terri Liggins' journey from Las Vegas back home to Columbus, Ohio, was not just a change in location, but the start of her caregiving story that she passionately shares with us on the Season of Caring podcast. Losing her father, taking care of her mother, and dealing with life during a global pandemic is a story that many of us can relate to. Terri openly shares the challenge...

Send us Fan Mail Experience the courageous story of Yolanda Lucas as she fearlessly shares her heartfelt journey of providing care for her mother for 15 years.  Her path has taken her from the sidelines of support to the forefront of advocacy in the intricate realm of medical care. We talk about how caregiving can reveal personal growth, resilience, and strong family connections. We learn about Yo...

Send us Fan Mail When you meet someone who navigates life's hurdles with grace and a smile, you can't help but want to delve into their story. That's precisely what we do with Joan Borton, a disability advocate whose marriage to Jerry—a man living with cerebral palsy—is a beacon of love, faith, and dedication. Joan opens her heart to us, recounting the evolution from their serendipi...

Send us Fan Mail  Althea McIntyre joins host, Rayna Neises, in this episode. She shares her perspective on the connection between caregiving, faith, and personal growth. They delve into the rich tapestry of caregiving, sharing insights from their own experiences with their fathers. From the intense demands of high-need periods to the tranquility of more stable times, exploring the full spectrum of...

Send us Fan Mail Caregiving, in its rawest form, is an odyssey of love, loss, and resilience that can both break and fortify the human spirit. Witness the profound journey of Tammy Marvin as she shares her experiences of bidding a sacred farewell to her mother, father, and sister. Through her sorrow and strength, you'll find solace in the invisible threads of faith and family that hold us tog...

Send us Fan Mail When Minty Swanson agreed to join me on the podcast, I knew her story would resonate with anyone who has ever loved deeply and fought fiercely. Minty bravely opens up about her role as a caregiver for her husband, Chris, weaving through the complexities of multiple cancer diagnoses during the isolating times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her narrative is a testament to the resilience...

Send us Fan Mail Join Rayna Neises as she learns about the mission of The Grand Baby Project with Tonja Moon, founder. In this touching episode, Tonja unravels her personal narrative of caring for her dementia-stricken grandmother, revealing the unexpected calming power of lifelike baby dolls and they offer joy and a sense of purpose to those battling with memory loss. As we traverse Tonja's...

Send us Fan Mail Ever found yourself in the middle of a caregiving journey, feeling overwhelmed, yet strangely blessed? You are not alone. Join me, Rayna Neises, as I welcome Peggy Bode, a fellow caregiver who sheds light on the complexities, challenges, and rewards of caring for loved ones - specifically, in-laws. Peggy shares a memorable tale about her father-in-law's unique love language -...

Send us Fan Mail When it comes to caregiving, every journey is unique and filled with its own set of challenges. Imagine being the primary caregiver for a loved one battling with health issues like cancer and a vagus nerve condition. That’s the story of our guest today, Pamela Durand, who courageously took on these demanding responsibilities. Her experiences and insights, including the difficult d...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered what it's like to care for a loved one with dementia while raising you kids? Join us as Jill Pietroburgo shares her heartwarming journey of caring for her mother and raising her children. Jill, an early childhood special education and co-founder of Eagles Wings Ministry, gracefully and lovingly navigates the complexities of dementia caregiving. She offe...

Send us Fan Mail Do you find yourself struggling with the complex dynamics of caregiving? Meet Lil Glamben, someone who knows firsthand how caregiving can change and strain a relationship. Lil faced numerous challenges while caring for her mother and stepfather during her own menopause journey. Despite facing challenges, she approached them with unwavering faith, which led her to not only overcome...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt the weight of the world on your shoulders while caring for a loved one suffering from a debilitating disease? Dr. George Ackerman knows that feeling all too well. He opens his heart and shares his personal journey of caregiving for his late mother, Sharon, who battled both Parkinson's and dementia. His poignant narrative about the challenges he faced in ens...

Send us Fan Mail Ever grappled with the emotional rollercoaster of being a caregiver? Join me for an enlightening chat with Gaylynn Green about her experience caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s. Gaylynn talks about her initial fears when she started noticing her mother's dementia symptoms. She also shares her struggles to make her concerns understood by her mother's doctor. Challenge...