The Care Collective Podcast

Have you ever felt guilty about a relationship that isn't what you hoped it would be? Maybe you keep wondering if you should call. Reach out. Try one more time. Or maybe you're caring for someone whose illness has changed the person they used to be, and you can't shake the feeling that you're grieving, even though they're still here. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , we're exploring...

In this solo episode of The Care Collective Podcast, host Mikayla Cluxton opens up about one of the most emotionally complicated realities of caregiving: how do you continue caring for someone when their beliefs, words, or worldview deeply conflict with your own? Drawing from her personal experiences working in elder care, Mikayla shares the emotional tension many caregivers quietly carry: navigat...

Why does caregiving leave so many people physically exhausted, anxious, sick, and burned out? In this solo episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla dives into the hidden physical toll caregiving stress takes on the body: from chronic exhaustion and brain fog to sleep deprivation, hypervigilance, immune issues, and long-term health risks. She explores research from the CDC, AARP, and the Nat...

Grief is something we will all experience, but most people don’t know what to say or how to show up when someone is hurting. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I’m joined by grief educator and registered nurse Jane Dye to talk about what grief really looks like, and how to support someone through it without causing more harm. We dive into the difference between grief and mourning, why...

Caregiving doesn’t just change your life, it changes your relationship too. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we’re talking about the reality of navigating caregiving with a spouse. Because even if you have a partner, you can still feel completely alone in what you’re carrying. Research shows that nearly 80% of caregivers experience strain in their relationship, but this is one of th...

What if the first sign of dementia wasn’t memory loss, but a sudden fall that changed everything? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I sit down with Wendy, co-host of This Is Your Brain on Mom , to talk about her family’s real-life experience navigating the early stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s. We dive into the subtle signs that are often missed, how quickly cognitive decline can...

What happens when caregiving doesn’t ease in, but hits all at once? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we talk about the emotional reality of sudden caregiving, when a fall, diagnosis, or crisis instantly changes your life. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, stuck in survival mode, or unsure how to process everything happening around you, this episode will help you feel seen and support...

In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla sits down with therapist and coach Lissy McConnell to unpack the realities of sandwich generation caregiving, supporting aging parents while raising children, managing careers, and trying not to lose yourself in the process. They dive into caregiver burnout, decision fatigue, and why everything can feel urgent when you’re living in constant s...

Caregiving doesn’t just impact your relationship with the person you’re caring for, it can deeply affect your relationships with your siblings, too. In this episode, we unpack the emotional and psychological realities of sibling dynamics in caregiving, including unequal responsibility, resentment, communication breakdowns, and the resurfacing of old family roles. Backed by research and real-life e...

Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis for a loved one is a seismic shift. It’s not just the news itself that is shocking; it’s the whirlwind of life-altering changes and emotional hurdles that follow. When the person you care for becomes difficult, resistant, or even unrecognizable, how do you keep from losing yourself? How do you maintain emotional control while remaining present for someone who may...

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering… “Who am I outside of caregiving?” —this episode is for you. Caregiving doesn’t just change your daily routine, it can slowly start to take over your identity. Over time, many caregivers begin to feel disconnected from themselves, their interests, and the life they once had. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , we’re talking about the emotional r...

How would you feel if your world shifted into caregiving at just 16 years old? For most teenagers, the focus is on school and friends; for Tessa Lanham, it was caring for her brother during his battle with cancer. Multigenerational caregiving is a heavy mantle to carry, but with years of labor comes a lifetime of invaluable wisdom. From navigating high-stakes stress to honoring the dignity of thos...

Have you ever been told, “you chose this” as a caregiver… even when it never felt like a real choice? In this episode of The Care Collective, we’re talking about the emotional weight caregivers carry when others don’t understand their reality. From caregiver guilt and burnout to family dynamics and feeling unseen, this conversation validates the truth so many caregivers live every day, that steppi...

As a caregiver, when was the last time you had a truly decent meal? Between doctor’s appointments, work, family, and the daily demands of caregiving, finding the time (and energy) to eat well can feel like an impossible task. The truth is, caregiving takes a massive physical and mental toll. When you skip meals or survive on snacks, your brain loses the energy required to make the critical executi...

After 25 episodes of The Care Collective , I’m sharing the biggest lessons I’ve learned from talking to real caregivers. In this episode, we dive into the emotional realities of caregiving, including burnout, guilt, grief, identity loss, family dynamics, and the loneliness so many caregivers quietly carry. These are real insights from caregivers who have lived this experience every day. If you’re...

Caregiving in a digital world often feels like it should be easier, yet staying connected has never felt more complicated, especially when a loved one is living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive challenges. Whether it’s a grandparent who isn't "tech-savvy" or a parent living across the country, maintaining a meaningful bond can feel out of reach when traditional tools just don’t work...

If you’ve ever said “let me know how I can help” to a caregiver… this episode is for you. Caregiving is more than just physical support, it’s emotional, mental, and often invisible. And while most people mean well, many don’t realize that asking a caregiver what they need can actually add more pressure during an already overwhelming time. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we’re break...

Caring for a loved one is more than just a responsibility, it often feels like a full-time commitment that demands every ounce of your physical, mental, and emotional energy. From the constant worry about a loved one falling to the struggle of staying connected across long distances, the weight of caregiving can easily lead to burnout. It leaves many caregivers asking: How do I take care of myself...

Caregiving doesn’t just affect your schedule and emotions; it affects your brain. In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla sits down with Dr. Christine Powell , an education therapist and executive functioning coach, to explore the brain science behind caregiving stress. Many caregivers experience mental exhaustion, forgetfulness, decision fatigue, and emotional overwhelm. But acco...

Morning routines can become surprisingly difficult for people experiencing memory loss, dementia, or executive functioning challenges. Tasks like brushing teeth, getting dressed, or preparing for an appointment may seem simple, but they actually require multiple brain functions working together. When those functions change, everyday routines can become confusing and overwhelming. In this solo epis...

What happens when you start noticing small changes in a parent, missed appointments, unpaid bills, or confusion over everyday tasks, and suddenly realize the caregiving journey has begun? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla sits down with Ellen Frazier to talk about stepping into the role of caregiver for her mother while navigating the uncertainty of an ongoing dementia diagn...

What is it really like to build a 30-year career in professional caregiving? In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I sit down with Christina Potts, a retired home health aide turned caregiver advocate, to talk about the realities of working in home care for three decades. We discuss the hidden grief caregivers carry when clients pass away, why caregiving is often misunderstood as “just a...

Caregiver loneliness is real, and no one talks about it enough. In this solo episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we’re diving into a hidden layer of caregiving: losing friends and feeling isolated while caring for someone you love. If you’ve ever felt like your world has gotten smaller… Like you’re canceling plans more than you’re making them… Like friendships have quietly shifted since you be...

Caregiver burnout is real, and it doesn’t mean you’re failing. In this episode, we’re talking about the emotional stress of caregiving, the warning signs of caregiver burnout, and how to prevent exhaustion when you’re caring for an aging parent, spouse, or loved one with dementia. I’m joined by Kevin Lambing, co-owner of enhdme.com and longtime advocate for family caregivers. With a background in...

Who takes care of the caregiver? In this special Valentine’s Day episode of The Care Collective Podcast , Mikayla shares a love letter to caregivers who are feeling exhausted, invisible, or emotionally overwhelmed. Caregiving is one of the most loving roles a person can step into, but it’s also one of the most unseen. If you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, caregiver stress, grief while your lov...