Still Time for Joy

Listen to this remarkable story of resilience, and turning pain into purpose. At age 21, while walking down the street on Spring Break in Daytona Beach, FL, Steven Benvenisti was struck and nearly killed by a drunk driver. He suffered horrific physical injuries as well as a severe traumatic brain injury, and doctors thought he would not survive. Benvenisti vowed, if he were able to make a complete...

World-renowned dementia care specialist, Teepa Snow, provides practical advice and trusted information on all aspects of dementia and caregiving, so family caregivers, caregiving professionals, and the medical community can assist people living with dementia with more respect, greater success, and less frustration. Teepa, who has been an occupational therapist for 45 years, founded Positive Approa...

Art therapy uses making art to help bring subconscious thoughts to a more conscious level, and open the door for discussing them. Joanna Flora is a board-certified art therapist with a practice in Sparta, NJ, and a member of the board of directors of the NJ Art Therapy Association. Joanna explains how art therapy can help people of all ages with issues ranging from anxiety to postpartum depression...

Opportunities for physical recreation can be severely limited for blind and visually impaired young people. Camp Abilities changes all that by giving participants a chance to hone athletic skills, which in turn boosts confidence. The camp's coaches include Kean University students who will use their experiences to provide richer opportunities for visually impaired students in their physical e...

Chip Bruce, who has been captain of the Island Beach State Park Beach Patrol for nearly 20 years—and guarding NJ beaches since the late 1970s—talks about the extensive training his guards undergo to be in shape to keep swimmers safe at this New Jersey Shore gem.  The pristine park is about 10 miles long, located on a barrier peninsula with ocean beaches to the east, Barnegat Bay to the west, and t...

Seaside Heights, NJ, is working to shed its image as a party town by offering family-friendly activities--many of them free--well into the fall. Mayor Anthony Vaz, who has been a public official in Seaside Heights for more than 30 years, talks about the resilience of this small, Jersey Shore town, that was devastated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and effected by a boardwalk fire in 2013. Watch this...

Feeling a bit blue, or just want a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? Studies show spending time in, on, or near the water has big benefits in reducing stress and boosting your mood. We took to the high seas off the New Jersey shore on the Miss Barnegat Light, that sails out of Barnegat Light, NJ, every day in the summer, offering sunset cruises, marine biology tours, and more.  Ca...

The beloved and historic Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Dentzel/Looff carousel in Seaside Heights, NJ reopened to the public in July 2024 following a meticulous restoration. Simply hearing the music from the Wurlitzer organ transports riders back to a simpler, more joyful time.  Carousel Historian Barbara Fahs Charles, who co-founded the National Carousel Association, explains the significance of this caro...

Everyone 18 years and older should have a will, power of attorney, health care directive and other legal documents in place, but most of us don't. Planning for handling finances, health care decisions, and the estate becomes even more important when a loved one has dementia. Elder law attorney Fiona Van Dyck breaks down the must-have legal documents for dementia planning. Her firm in Princeto...

A wonderful trip to a sunflower farm during some tough times is part of what inspired the creation of the Still Time for Joy video podcast about intentionally seeking more joy in life. I also was inspired to grow sunflowers in my own yard. The payoff is huge, beautiful blooms, but there are many challenges along the way, as squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, and birds eat the seeds and seedlings. Lear...

Research shows gardening is good for our mental and physical health; it's a beautiful path to a more joyful life. In all 50 states in the US, and in a few other countries, Master Gardeners study horticulture and then share what they have learned with the public.  Susan Emhardt-Servidio, who is the senior horticulturist and coordinator of the Rutgers Master Gardener Program in Ocean County, NJ...

Phil Zimmerman, director of the Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau in Toms River, NJ, is a tireless advocate for veterans. Zimmerman was ousted from the Navy in 1986, at a time when the military banned gay people from serving. Listen to his emotional interview about how that affected his life, and his determination to help his fellow veterans. US Department of Veterans Affairs  https://VA.gov De...

While working as a TV executive in Newark, NJ - where about a quarter of the residents live below the poverty line - Jeff Friedman felt called to help, and started volunteering at a soup kitchen. This simple decision to get involved led to Friedman founding Livingston Philanthropies, Inc., which provides food, clothing, and other basic necessities to people in need. Friedman says that need has onl...

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States, but the warning signs a woman is having a heart attack may be very different from those of men. Author and Heart Health Advocate Susan Smith - who nearly died after ignoring the warning signs - is devoting her time to teaching women this vital information.  https://www.susansmithheart.com. Her books are available on Amazon.  htt...

Listen to this mini-doc (or watch on YouTube) about the RWJBH Field of Dreams, a state-of-the-art recreational complex in Toms River, NJ, for people with special needs.  When Christian Kane's car was rear-ended in 2012, his toddler son suffered a horrific traumatic brain injury. Kane and his wife Mary made it their mission to create the Field of Dreams, so people of all ages with special need...

Known as "The Inspiration Nurse", Donna Cardillo has motivated thousands - including countless nurses - to lead more empowered, authentic lives. The author of four books, Donna has faced many challenges in life with grit, determination, and even humor. She inspires audiences at large conferences and facilitates more intimate retreats, all while caregiving for her husband, Joe, who has li...

Author Rosemary Rawlins' husband Hugh suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2002 after being hit by a car while riding his bicycle. Rosemary talks about the anguish of realizing her husband no longer recognized her, Hugh's long, arduous, and remarkable  recovery, and a book she wrote about the experience called "Learning by Accident". More than two decades after the accident, Ro...

Filmmaker Sandra Levine launches her podcast Still Time for Joy with critical information for dementia caregivers who are new to helping a loved one on this difficult journey. Deb Hallisey is a caregiver advocate, certified dementia practitioner, consultant, and author who provides invaluable practical advice on effective communication, setting boundaries, difficult emotions, and more, and on how...

Launching May 7th, 2024, Still Time for Joy features practical advice for weathering life's storms, and inspiring stories of resilience. The show is also available as a video podcast on YouTube @SandraLevineProd. Host Sandra Levine interviews experts on caregiving, trauma, grief, and other intense challenges to provide a road map for survival. Heroes and healers, adventurers and innovators en...