Don't Be a Miserable Cow

What happens when your mom no longer knows who you are, but you’re still the one showing up, loving her, caring for her, and finding reasons to laugh together? In this deeply honest conversation, Tonya Maurer shares what it really looks like to care for her mom, Ginny, through Alzheimer’s, from the exhaustion, guilt, difficult decisions and grief to the funny, beautiful, completely unexpected mome...

Meredith Montana was diagnosed with severe scoliosis as a child, spent years trying to avoid major surgery, and ultimately underwent a 15-level spinal fusion with 24 screws and two rods. And then she kept dancing. Known as The Bionic Ballerina, Meredith went on to become a professional dancer and model, perform with Cher, walk New York Fashion Week, and build a career many once feared her spine wo...

For years, Alzheimer's has felt overwhelming, frightening, and hopeless for so many families. But the landscape is changing—and faster than many people realize. In this episode, I sit down with Kristen Cusato, Senior Director of Field Marketing and Communications for the Northeast Territory of the Alzheimer's Association and a New England Research Champion, to talk about what's happening in Alzhei...

Have you ever wanted to try something, speak up, take a risk, or chase a dream... but fear got in the way? In this episode, I'm joined by Natalie O'Brien, former roller derby athlete, hockey player, an artist, teacher, and someone who knows what it feels like to be terrified and do it anyway. Natalie shares her journey from being painfully shy as a child to intentionally stepping outside h...

What happens when a test result makes the future of Alzheimer’s feel suddenly more real? In Part 2 of my conversation with Sean Terwilliger, Sean reveals the surprising results of a blood test—and what those results may mean for his treatment and his future. He speaks candidly about what frightens him most, how his wife Wendy is coping with the devastating impact of the disease, and the heartbreak...

What does it mean to live with Alzheimer’s while still being fully yourself? In this episode, I sit down with Sean Terwilliger, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s and has chosen to meet this diagnosis with honesty, humor, advocacy, and purpose. We talk about the first signs, the long road to diagnosis, broken systems, fear, treatment, family, writing, and what it means to hold onto y...

In this episode, we’re talking about bullying, exclusion, and the quiet shame so many kids carry when they feel left out, misunderstood, or made to believe something is wrong with them. My guest, Abby Rancourt, recently earned her master’s degree in social work after a lifetime of experiences that shaped her compassion and purpose. Growing up with ADHD, Abby often felt misunderstood, excluded, and...

Dr. Amanda Cooper on Why Communication Matters in Dementia Care YouTube Description: In this episode, Lisa sits down with Dr. Amanda Cooper, Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at UConn, to talk about the powerful role communication plays in the dementia journey. This conversation also covers why correcting or testing memory can create more stress, how caregivers can gently join...

What does it really take to change your life? In this episode, I sit down with fitness coach and nutrition strategist Stacie Amanna to talk about the choices, habits, and mindset shifts that helped her transform not only her body, but the way she saw herself. We discuss the gap between intention and action, the role of nutrition and self-care, the power of having the right coach, and the mental ba...

What happens when we stop fighting the reality of Alzheimer’s and begin joining our loved one’s world instead? In this episode, we explore how one simple shift in perspective can reduce stress, deepen connection, and completely reshape the way we move through caregiving, grief, and uncertainty. Author and End of Life Doula John Scully shares how regular visits with his mother in memory care unexpe...

A simple thrift store photo discovery turned into something that touched more than 5 million people. But the part that stays with you most is what happened after strangers opened their hearts to Emily’s story. In this episode, we talk about Emily, the golden retriever at the center of it all, the photos that stirred so much emotion, and the unexpected way people came together because one person ch...

What happens when the life you thought you were living… suddenly changes? In this episode, we’re talking about grief, healing, and what it really means to rebuild a life after losing the person you thought you would grow old with. Today’s guest, Christy Kovel, was widowed at 46 after a 20-year marriage. In this honest and deeply human conversation, she shares what it was like to navigate the early...

In this episode, I’m joined by Julie Rancourt for a conversation about persistence, self-talk, and what it really looks like to stay committed to something meaningful over time. Julie shares her journey of running all 169 towns in Connecticut, and how what started as a goal turned into something much deeper. Along the way, she found unexpected joy, built lifelong friendships, and developed the kin...

Lisa Marshall sits down with her daughter Sarah Brehant for a deeply personal conversation about presence, intuition, and the quiet power of showing up. Together, they remember Peter—husband, stepdad, gentleman—and how Alzheimer's slowly changed him while never dimming the love between them. What unfolds is a tender story about a single decision on a December night that transformed a moment of...

What makes a friendship last? In this episode, Lisa Marshall and her longtime friend Vicki Langone have an honest conversation about boundaries, accountability, mutual effort, and the hard lessons that can actually strengthen a relationship. It’s a warm, real discussion about showing up on purpose and building friendships that can grow through change. ------ Vicki Langone has spent much of her lif...

Lisa Marshall talks with boudoir and wedding photographer Jules Ehlert about body acceptance, confidence, and the power of kinder self-talk. They dive into how boudoir photography can help women reconnect with their beauty, sensuality, and self-worth—without waiting to “fix” anything first. It’s an uplifting conversation about self-love, grace, and learning to see yourself with compassion. ------...

Don't Be a Miserable Cow shares practical tools and deeply personal insights that empower people to take control and improve their lives with intentionality and presence. Lisa and her guests explore captivating topics like gratitude, boundaries, self-care, relationships, persistence, and finding joy in everyday life, all through the power of choice, by choosing peace and joy again and again. h...