AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

In this heartwarming and deeply reflective episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by award-winning filmmaker, bestselling author, and dementia advocate C. Nathaniel (Chuck) Brown, to discuss his touching short film “The Present.” Centered around the holidays, “The Present” explores the profound grief and complex emotions that follow the loss of a loved one to dementia....

Welcome to the fourth film discussion in AlzAuthors' 10th Anniversary Film Festival. This powerful episode features a deep-dive into the documentary "Wine, Women & Dementia,” and offers community, validation, practical wisdom, and a celebration of caregivers. Meet Kitty Norton, creator and director of "Wine, Women & Dementia." After leaving her television career in Los Angeles, Kitty retur...

Welcome to another powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast. In this episode, hosts Christy Byrne Yates and Marianne Sciucco are joined by acclaimed writer Eliezer Sobel, author of “The Silver Lining of Alzheimer’s: One Son’s Journey into the Mystery.” Jean Lee, founder, manager, and memoir acquisitions editor, shares her insights about what she found compelling about this book and author. Episo...

In this special film festival episode celebrating the 10th anniversary of AlzAuthors, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates welcome filmmaker Frank Silverstein for an intimate discussion about his documentary, “Lousy: Love in the Time of Dementia.” Frank shares his journey capturing the realities of caring for both parents with dementia, offering raw insight, practical wisdom, and hope fo...

In this episode, host Marianne Sciucco and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna sit down with Shari Ross, a senior healthcare professional and author of “ Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.: A Real World Guide for Navigating Senior Care for Your Loved One .” Shari’s expertise spans her professional experience in senior living communities and her personal connection to dementia through family. This convers...

Celebrate a decade of AlzAuthors with this replay of a film discussion from our first film festival! Marianne Sciucco and the AlzAuthors community gathered to discuss Susie Singer Carter's documentary series  No Country for Old People , inspired by her painful but illuminating journey alongside her mother in a five-star Los Angeles nursing facility. Key Topics Behind the Film: Susie shares what dr...

Welcome to a special episode of the AlzAuthors podcast, part of our first-ever Film Festival! Celebrating our 10th anniversary, host Marianne Sciucco sits down with acclaimed arts educator, author, and filmmaker Mary Crescenzo to explore the transformative role of the arts in dementia care. In this heartfelt conversation, Mary shares her journey from early experiences in nursing homes to the creat...

In a conversation that challenges stereotypes and brings to light the unexpected realities of caregiving, this episode reveals the experiences of three men who stepped up to care for their mothers with dementia. It's a heartfelt exploration of grief, growth, and the bonds that are both tested and strengthened through caregiving. Shattering Stereotypes: Men as Caregivers We often associate caregivi...

Join AlzAuthors Film Fest 2025 – Celebrating 10 Years of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Awareness Experience powerful films on dementia, Alzheimer’s, and caregiving—stories of hope, love, and resilience. Register now at  AlzAuthors.com  to receive streaming links and watch from the comfort of your home, anytime. Each month, meet a featured filmmaker in a live Q&A event at 2 PM ET, and explore thei...

Caregiving isn’t always a storybook journey, especially when family ties are already frayed. In this candid, emotionally charged episode, Jennifer Sullivan joins Christy Byrne Yates and Jean Lee, an acquisitions editor at AlzAuthors, to share her raw and inspiring account of caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s—through complicated family dynamics, financial crises, and the unique heartbreak of t...

In this eye-opening episode, Christy and Marianne welcome back the formidable advocate, filmmaker, and podcast host Susie Singer Carter. Known for her poignant short film  My Mom and the Girl  —inspired by her experiences with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and starring the late beloved television actress Valerie Harper - and her award-winning podcast, “Love Conquers ALZ,” Susie shared details of her la...

In this powerful episode, Marianne Sciucco welcomes back friend of the podcast Lance A. Slatton, owner/operator of Enriched Life Home Care Services in Livonia, Michigan and host of the award-winning podcast All Home Care Matters. Together, they dive into Lance’s recent experience attending the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s National Convening in Washington, DC, a major advocacy event supporting famil...

In this heartwarming episode, Jean Lee, AlzAuthors founder and author of Alzheimer’s Daughter , joins us to discuss her personal journey of caring for both of her parents after their simultaneous Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Jean shares how she journaled her family’s dementia journey, the emotional process of turning those notes into a memoir, and the discovery of her parents’ World War II love letters...

Poet Marjorie Maddox and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna join host Marianne Sciucco to discuss the healing power of poetry, the realities of long-distance caregiving, and finding hope through the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Maddox’s, recent collection, Seeing Things , explores the tangled emotional landscape of dementia caregiving. The discussion examines the ways poetry can illumina...

Poet Marjorie Maddox and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna join host Marianne Sciucco to discuss the healing power of poetry, the realities of long-distance caregiving, and finding hope through the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Maddox’s, recent collection,  Seeing Things , explores the tangled emotional landscape of dementia caregiving. The discussion examines the ways poetry can illumin...

This podcast brought together two remarkable friends—Peter Berry and Deb Bunt—for a conversation that was as inspiring as it was deeply honest. Hosted by Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates, the discussion explored not only the personal journeys and books of Peter and Deb, but also the profound insights they’ve gained into living well with dementia. Peter's journey began with a diagnosis of e...

In this engaging episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by fiction writer and caregiver,Alfredo Botello, and AlzAuthors’ acquisitions editor Ruth Stevens. Dive into a heartfelt and surprisingly humorous conversation as Alfredo discusses his novel, Spin Cycle , which explores the journey of a son caring for his mother with dementia. Alfredo, who transitioned from archite...

Welcome to a powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast featuring acclaimed author Marita Golden and her novel, The Wide Circumference of Love , as part of the Aging & Amazing Book Club series. This engaging discussion dives into the storytelling craft, the nuances of family caregiving, and the realities of Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially in African American communities. An award-winning...

In this episode we're sharing the highlights from our recent interview with Carol Steinberg, whose children’s book,  Come Grandpa Meow, Let’s Fly , adds a much-needed resource for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia. A Personal Story Sparked by Loss Carol’s journey began more than 25 years ago, during her own father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. She originally wrote the b...

Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of dementia on marriages? If you’re seeking practical guidance and emotional resilience in this area, discover solutions to help you navigate this challenging journey in this replay of an enlightening Books & Chit Chat discussion with Debra Tann, Ed. D. In this episode, you will be able to: Understand the ins and outs of dementia care to...

David Bredbenner, author of "Going Home: A Journey with Dementia," shares his profound experience caring for his mother through her journey with dementia. Before dementia, Betty Jane was a dynamo - a retired nurse turned successful artist who ran marathons well into her late 70s. The decline began subtly after a fall, but it was the passing of David's sister Terry that marked the stark transition...

Do you want to experience the healing power of family relationships and find hope and peace amidst the challenges of caregiving? In this episode we discuss a solution. Our special guest is Susan Landeis, author of "In Search of Rainbows: A Daughter’s Story of Loss, Hope and Redemption." Susan is an inspiring voice in the Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving community. Her memoir delves into her jou...

This episode is our contribution to Podcasthon , a global collaboration of podcasters to raise awareness of their favorite charities. Our favorite charity is us . We are a 501 (c) (3) organization. Please be generous. Donate at AlzAuthors.com . In this deeply personal and informative episode, hosts Marianne and Christy are joined by panelists Jean Lee, Ann Campanella, Loretta Woodward Veney, and D...

Have you been told to walk away from loved ones with Alzheimer's, assuming there's nothing left to connect with? The pain of feeling disconnected and hopeless in caregiving is all too real. But what if there was a way to find joy and connection in the midst of it all? Let's uncover the power of creativity and joy in dementia care together. In this episode, Marilyn Raichle, author of "Don't Walk Aw...

Connection is key in dementia care. Discover the transformative power of arts engagement for people living with dementia in this inspiring conversation with Mary Crescenzo, author of “The Planet Alzheimer’s Guide: 8 Ways the Arts Can Transform the Life of Your Loved One and Your Own.” In this heartfelt episode, a replay of an Aging & Amazing Books & Chit Chat discussion, Mary shares her de...