Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver Podcast
1) Compassion in Action: Donna’s Path from Caregiver to Changemaker
With a lifelong passion for nursing, Donna Steigleder’s journey began in her childhood and evolved into a career in healthcare, where she gained a wealth of experience across various medical settings....Show More
2) The Power of the Pause: Finding Relief in Caregiving with Jenn Fredericks
Jenn Fredericks is the featured guest in this episode, sharing her deeply personal journey as both a long-term patient and a dedicated caregiver. Diagnosed with chronic kidney disease as a teenager, J...Show More
3) The Power of Three and Twelve: Jason’s Caregiving Blueprint
Jason Binder, the founder of Aware Coaching, is a dedicated husband and father of five. His caregiving journey began unexpectedly when his wife, Tracy, a lively marathon runner and mother, received a ...Show More
4) Boundaries, Faith, and Family: Lessons from Jenifer Massie’s Caregiving Journey
From a young age, Jenifer Massie was immersed in a culture of service, beginning with volunteering in her school’s “gramps and grannies” program and extending to caring for her own family members. Her...Show More
5) Surviving the Grief Buffet: Angela’s Journey Through Caregiving and Loss
Over the course of several years, Angela Ibarra faced a series of profound losses, including her husband, her mother, her job, and eventually her father. Her caregiving journey began early, shaped by ...Show More
6) Did Mom Drop Acid? Navigating Dementia and Family Dynamics
Michelle Cain’s journey as a caregiver began when her mother was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia during the pandemic, a time already fraught with uncertainty and stress. At 47, Michelle found hersel...Show More
7) The Power of Family: Navigating ALS Across Generations
The story of Mollie and Maureen powerfully illustrates the emotional depth and complexities of family caregiving when ALS profoundly impacts a household. Maureen, a pediatric nurse from Philadelphia, ...Show More
8) Confessions of a Young Widow: Rising Above Grief
Shannon Traphagen became a caregiver at 43 when her husband Mike was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer. Their 14-month battle was fraught with heartbreak, including losing an adoption opportunity ...Show More
9) Not What We Signed Up For: Embracing an Unexpected Path
When Rachel Shapiro’s daughter suffered a severe stroke just before her second birthday, Rachel and her husband were told their child might not survive. Despite the devastating prognosis, they refused...Show More
10) Surviving, Thriving, and Loving Again
Stacy Ryan’s powerful story is a testament to love, resilience, and the human capacity to heal after profound loss. Her journey began with her own cancer diagnosis at 45, which she survived, followed ...Show More