The Sharegiving Secret: How to Survive Family Caregiving

Caregiving strips you bare—it tests your patience, your humor, your strength, and your love. That’s what I learned talking with Mark Steven Porro, who cared for his mother during the final stretch of her life and turned it into a powerful, painfully funny, and deeply human memoir. Mark didn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff—he carried her, fed her, changed her, and sometimes got peed on mid-diaper-change...

No one trains you for the moment your child’s life changes forever—but what you do with that moment can define everything. I spoke with Dr. Maggie Kang and her remarkable daughter Nell, whose rare disease journey sparked a powerful shift from despair to advocacy, healing, and hope. As a caregiver, Maggie learned that taking care of herself made her a stronger support for Nell. Together, they trans...

Success doesn’t follow a straight path—it flows from self-awareness, surrender, and listening to that inner nudge that won’t be quiet. I sat down with Susan Bloom, a powerhouse coach and former therapist who helps women unlock their deep truth and shift into the life they were born to lead. What makes her approach even more magical? Horses. Susan guides transformational breakthroughs through equin...

Let’s be honest—when you’re a caregiver, sleep feels like a luxury you can’t afford. But after my conversation with Dr. Lucinda Sykes, I see how crucial real rest is, not just for our energy, but for our long-term health. Lucinda pulls back the curtain on the myths around sleeping pills and reveals the eye-opening science behind why they may actually harm more than help. She reminds us that good s...

You can’t pour from an empty cup—and you definitely can’t raise confident kids if you’re running on fumes. Talking with Francine Juhlin lit me up with the reminder that self-care and storytelling are powerful tools, not just for adults, but for the kids in our lives too. Francine’s journey from military squad leader to children's author and holistic coach proves how empathy, structure, and fun can...

Sometimes life throws you so many changes at once, you wonder who you are anymore. Talking with Mardi Winder-Adams reminded me just how often caregiving, grief, and major transitions like divorce pile up—and how vital it is to give yourself grace while sorting it all out. Mardi, a divorce coach who’s walked the caregiving road herself, helps people rediscover who they want to be after the roles th...

You don't have to follow someone else’s definition of success to create a life that lights you up. Sitting down with Dr. Michelle Montero reminded me of the power in honoring your personal values—especially when the world expects you to hustle nonstop. Michelle’s journey from academia to entrepreneurship shows what happens when you stop living in survival mode and start trusting yourself deeply. W...

Joy isn't just a feeling—it’s a choice. Bonita Joy Yoder, a recovering attorney turned ventriloquist and humor expert, shares how laughter, play, and a shift in mindset create powerful healing. Through her puppets and her work in humor therapy, she shows that embracing joy—especially in tough times can be life-changing. Whether it’s using humor to navigate caregiving, shifting from adversarial thi...

Life is all about adaptation, whether in cybersecurity, parenting, or caregiving. Kelvin Green, a cybersecurity advisor and father, shares how understanding human behavior—at work and at home—makes all the difference. He emphasizes empathy, adaptability, and finding joy in the journey. Whether navigating family dynamics, embracing change, or securing the digital world, Kelvin reminds us that life...

Caregiving can feel like a heavy journey, but it’s also a path filled with love, learning, and connection. Today, I’m joined by Brenda Marie Sheldrake, who shares her deeply personal story of caring for her father during his final years. Brenda’s experience reminds us that even when we face tough decisions, we can approach them with empathy and respect for our loved ones. She offers insightful adv...

Caregiving isn’t a race—it’s about staying present through every challenge. Talking with Jessica Soodeen, I saw how situational awareness, preparation, and resilience shaped her journey caring for her mother. She shares how staying organized eased the chaos, but also opens up about the emotional toll—PTSD, identity loss, and finding purpose after caregiving ends. Her message is clear: take control...

Every conversation with a child has the power to shape their confidence, communication skills, and emotional growth. I sat down with Dinalynn Rosenbush to explore effective parenting strategies that help children thrive. We dive into how parents can improve communication with kids, foster deeper connections, and create learning opportunities through everyday conversations. Whether it's building tr...

No one wants to think about losing a pet, but what if we could make their final moments as beautiful as the love they’ve given us? I sit down with Monique Brignoni, a pet death doula, who shares how we can bring love, presence, and dignity to our pets' final moments. Monique helps shift the way we see pet loss—not as just a medical event, but as a deeply personal and meaningful transition. She rem...

Some moments in life test everything you think you know about your own strength. Roselyn O’Brien Markowitz opens up about navigating the impossible—caring for her husband through an aggressive lymphoma diagnosis while managing her own serious health crises. We, as caregivers, juggle hospital stays, chemotherapy, heart complications, and the emotional weight of it all, but giving up never enters th...

Are we just supposed to sit back while the safety nets for caregivers and vulnerable people disappear? I won’t, and I hope you won’t either. Meals on Wheels, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are on the chopping block, and a vague tax credit for family caregivers won’t cut it. How will caregivers survive if these lifelines shrink or vanish? I dig into the real consequences, the financial tra...

We're bringing back one of our favorite episodes from the archives! Enjoy the episode! Caregiving is more than a mission—it’s a monumental task that you don’t have to shoulder alone!  Today, I explore the transformative power of stepping back to manage rather than tackling everything single-handedly. It’s a vital lesson I learned: doing more isn’t the solution; managing more effectively is. A...

Life throws curveballs, but Wendy Weber reminds me that we don’t have to face them alone. She shares how leaning into community and asking for help transforms not only our struggles but our growth. Wendy inspires me to see caregiving as an act of love, not just duty and challenges me to let go of the guilt and embrace the strength that comes from being vulnerable. Selfcare isn’t selfish—it’s essen...

When life hits you hard, it’s not about pushing through at all costs; it’s about finding the balance to thrive. Jennifer Takagi shares hard-earned wisdom from her caregiving journey, emphasizing the power of self-care, intuition, and spiritual healing. She inspires us to listen to that quiet inner voice, trust our instincts, and embrace moments of rest and reflection, even in the most challenging...

Sometimes life feels like an endless grind—whether caregiving or carrying emotional baggage, the weight seems unbearable. But Kelly Rudolph inspires me with her belief that freedom is possible. She shares powerful tools to release deep-seated emotional junk that holds us back, especially for those over 40 when life feels heavy. Her story of resilience and renewal shows how we can let go of the neg...

Sometimes, the toughest challenges reveal the best in us. Terry Tucker’s story is a masterclass in resilience and compassion. From balancing an NCAA basketball career to caregiving for loved ones in their final days, and now navigating his 13-year battle with cancer, Terry shows us how to find meaning in the messiest parts of life. He turns pain into purpose through his work with Motivational Chec...

When it comes to resolutions, I’m all about keeping it real and keeping it doable. Forget those vague promises that fizzle out by mid-January—what works is setting goals that truly resonate with you and are backed by a solid plan. I’m challenging myself to adopt what I call "sharegiving," where every day I find a way to lighten someone else’s load with an intentional act of kindness. Whether it’s...

When life throws unexpected challenges, like caregiving for a loved one with dementia, it teaches us the power of letting go and finding resilience in acceptance. Dr. Jill Rosenthal shares her incredible journey of turning heartbreak into strength, showing that thriving isn’t about changing circumstances but about shifting our mindset. She reminds us to release the guilt, adapt with love, and choo...

Feeling drained by caregiving or just life’s relentless demands? Let me tell you, the secret to thriving starts with giving yourself permission to recharge. Vivianne Winters Israel—an experienced nurse, cancer survivor, and lifelong caregiver—knows this firsthand. With over 47 years in critical and emergency care, plus her personal experiences of caregiving for family members, she shares how embra...

Sometimes life feels like balancing a fragile house of cards—caregiving challenges can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain. My guest Denise Brown, an inspiring author and caregiving expert, brings hope, offering strategies to lighten the load and manage the stress, loneliness, and emotional toll of caregiving. With Denise’s wisdom, we chat about the importance of embracing community, settin...

You deserve to feel whole while taking care of others. Picture a pie with four slices: financial, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. You need to keep each slice balanced and replenished because caregiving can take a toll on every piece. Financially, set realistic goals and create a budget to avoid future stress. Emotionally, give yourself space to process your feelings—ignoring them only...