The Sharegiving Secret: How to Survive Family Caregiving

In this episode of The Sharegiving Secret™ , Dr. Deborah S. Greenhut speaks with Kim Lackie about the hidden cost of caregiving and the importance of learning to pause before the body breaks down under stress. Kim brings a powerful blend of lived experience and professional insight. With a 26-year career in law enforcement and experience raising triplets, she understands what it means to live unde...

Widowhood is more than grief—it’s disorientation, invisibility, and loss of identity. Widow’s advocate Carol McGehe shares insights on “widows fog,” rebuilding purpose, and how community care transforms lives. Carol’s ministry, Living Forward , offers a compelling example of how structured compassion, social connection, and practical support can restore dignity, identity, and purpose. This episode...

In this episode of The Sharegiving Secret™, Dr. Deborah S. Greenhut speaks with Ryan Riggins, a senior transition advisor, real estate professional, and creator of a caregiver-focused planning blueprint. Together, they explore one of the most overlooked truths in caregiving: 👉 Love does not create systems. Ryan shares practical, hard-won insights from working with families navigating housing tran...

Why does caregiving so often become a one-person job? In this episode of The Sharegiving Secret , Dr. Deborah S. Greenhut speaks with Nancy LeClair , founder of The Other Daughter , about the hidden dynamics that push caregiving onto a single family member—and the devastating emotional, financial, and relational consequences that follow. Drawing on Nancy’s background in market research, hospital a...

In Memoriam 3-14-2026. The world lost a sonbird today. This episode is being rebroadcast in memory of our friend, Maritri Garrett. Her story: Jumping into caregiving transformed her life in ways she never expected! Chatting with Maritri Garrett, a musician turned caregiver, I dove deep into how she balances her creative passions with the demands of caring for her parentless nieces and her own pare...

What happens when caregiving begins before childhood is even finished? In this deeply human and eye-opening conversation, Dr. Eugene Manley Jr. shares what it was like to become a caregiver as a child—and how those early responsibilities shaped his empathy, career, and lifelong commitment to health equity. A biomedical scientist and founder of the STEM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation, Dr. Ma...

Caregiving quietly asks people to disappear—and then praises them for it. In this episode of The Sharegiving Secret , host Deborah Greenhut, PhD speaks with Dr. Matthew Campbell , licensed psychologist and co-author of Our Primal Five , about why caregivers are uniquely vulnerable to depletion, isolation, and hopelessness—and what actually helps. Drawing from clinical work with dementia caregivers...

Caregiving is shaped as much by the story we tell ourselves as by the tasks we perform. In this solo episode, Dr. Deborah Greenhut explores how unconscious caregiver narratives—hero, martyr, fixer, invisible one—quietly determine burnout, resentment, and motivation. Listeners are guided to examine the story they are living inside, identify where it no longer serves them, and begin revising it with...

How can vision anchor young adults through grief, stress, and uncertainty? Carey Conley shares powerful insights on supporting young adults with compassion, clarity, and hope. Key Topics Covered Why young adults face a “perfect storm” of mental health stressors Vision as an emotional anchor during adversity Supporting autonomy while staying emotionally present How parents can avoid projecting fear...

When memory fades, does love disappear — or deepen? Author and caregiver Eliezer Sobel shares a raw, honest, and unexpectedly hopeful account of caring for his mother through 20 years of Alzheimer’s. This conversation explores identity loss, reframing grief, creative connection, and why emotional presence matters more than recognition. Not sugarcoated — and not without light. Eliezer Sobel is the...

What happens when a single phone call changes everything? Author Tony Stewart joins The Sharegiving Secret to reflect on caregiving, anticipatory grief, and the unexpected moments of love and clarity that emerge in the face of terminal illness. Drawing from his memoir Carrying the Tiger, Tony shares how writing, community, and radical honesty helped him navigate cancer, loss, and life after caregi...

· This is the link to our health checklist which we mentioned several times:  https://footballplayershealth.harvard.edu/for-former-players/tackling-personal-health/ · The NFL LifeLine can be found here:  https://www.nfllifeline.org/ Episode Title:   Behind the Helmet: Caring for the Families Who Care for NFL Players Podcast:   The Sharegiving Secret Host:  Debora...

When the government shuts down, caregivers don’t get to. In this episode, author and advocate  Deborah Greenhut  explores how the ongoing federal shutdown affects dementia care — from delayed Medicaid reimbursements to halted Alzheimer’s research. She outlines a  “calendar of disruptions”  showing what happens in weeks 1–6 of the shutdown, with real stories from caregivers mana...

In this solo episode, Deborah Greenhut returns to unpack the alarming implications of Project 2025, an ideological proposal that could drastically reshape women’s healthcare and caregiving in America. She explores the plan’s major initiatives—from rebranding HHS as the “Department of Life” to restricting abortion and contraception, undermining Medicaid, and cutting scientific research tied to DEI....

SUMMARY: Emma Lyons shares how trauma, generational patterns, and family dynamics shape caregiving—and why self-care is vital. Learn why boundaries, healing, and supportive environments matter for caregivers, and how to break the cycle of self-sacrifice. BIO: Emma Lyons is a trauma-informed healer and founder of The Trauma Matrix, where she helps women break up with the shame voice that’...

Episode 47 Mary Gaul Show Notes: Absolutely! Here’s a  longer podcast episode description for your show notes  based on the Mary Gaul interview: In this heartfelt episode of The Sharegiving Secret, host Deborah Greenhut sits down with Mary Gaul—caregiver, business coach, and entrepreneur—to explore the powerful intersection of caregiving and running a business. Mary shares her personal j...

Episode 46 Title: To Life: Wine, Caregiving, and Reinvention with Nick the Wine Guy Summary: In this heartwarming episode of The Sharegiving Secret, host Deborah Greenhut welcomes Nick Elliott—also known as "Nick the Wine Guy"—for a refreshing departure from the usual caregiving heaviness. Nick shares his remarkable journey from stay-at-home dad to hospitality pro, vineyard worker, and h...

Episode 45 Summary In this return visit, coach and energy-healer  Jennifer Takagi  explores what happens  after  the marathon of family caregiving is over. Drawing on the heartbreak of losing both parents just 12 days apart  and her gift for lightning-fast medical note-taking that kept doctors honest , Jennifer shares her signature  “12-Minute to Success” WI...

The Sharegiving Secret, EP 44: Kristina Jenen Enrollment, End-of-Life Care, and Sacred Listening: A Conversation with Pastor Kristina Jensen Pastor and strategist Kristina Jensen joins Deborah to explore caregiving through the lens of enrollment, sacred presence, and hospice care. A must-listen for anyone navigating family dynamics and end-of-life challenges. In this deeply resonant episode of&nbs...

In this heartfelt and eye-opening episode of The Sharegiving Secrets, I welcome web developer and brand strategist Lori Osborne to share her powerful story of starting over—twice. From overcoming a life-altering brain tumor diagnosis to caring for her mother in her final days, Lori’s resilience, honesty, and vulnerability offer hope and practical wisdom to anyone navigating caregiving, grief, or r...

Grief doesn’t end when caregiving does—it evolves into something else entirely. I sat down with Dr. George Ackerman, a former caregiver, police officer, and fierce Parkinson’s advocate, who turned personal heartbreak into global impact after losing his mom to the disease. George opens up about the raw truth of caregiving—especially as a son—and how he built TogetherForSharon.com as a lifeline for...

When caregiving emergencies hit, most of us scramble—and I’ve been there, making late-night calls, crossing my fingers for a decent match. That’s why my conversation with Amit Shrivastava lit me up. He’s building something truly game-changing with Go Instacare—a platform that doesn’t just find caregivers, it matches them based on personality, experience, and even language compatibility. Amit’s pas...

What if the person giving your aging parent a bath, managing their meds, or cooking their meals is just 12 years old? I shine a light on the overlooked crisis of child and teen caregivers—millions of young people in kinship care who take on adult responsibilities far too early, often in silence. These kids don’t just lose their childhoods—they risk their mental health, education, and future. Add t...

We're bringing back one of our favorite episodes from the archives! Enjoy the episode! Diving into the stages of caregiving, I realize it’s a journey full of unexpected twists and deep emotions, not just a checklist to be managed. Whether it’s starting the conversation early with loved ones about potential needs or shouldering the full weight of care responsibilities, each stage demands a differen...

Alzheimer’s doesn’t just challenge memory—it tests love, patience, and every ounce of strength a caregiver has. I spoke with Jennifer Fink, host of Fading Memories , who knows firsthand what it takes to care for a parent with dementia while still holding on to your own identity. Jennifer gets real about how to advocate with doctors who don’t listen, when to let go of guilt, and why self-care isn’t...