The Caregivers Podcast
The Caregivers Podcast explores the challenges and rewards of caregiving through personal stories. Each episode highlights the emotional and practical costs of caring for others, alongside the courage it takes. The show aims to inspire resilience in listeners who are caregivers themselves or know someone who is.
Episodes
Home Care vs. Assisted Living - The Real Costs w/ Janice Martin
How do you know when keeping a parent at home is asking more than you can give? And what if you promised you’d never move them into a care facility?In this episode, Dr. Mark welcomes back Senior Living Advisor Janice Martin. Together they walk through the move into care, from recognizing it’s time to what happens after you go home. They follow a model family as care needs grow, and they t
When Caregiving Sucks: Real Advice for the Isolated, Exhausted Caregiver w/ Tiffany Lin Smith
This week, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with hospice nurse, author, and creator behind Broken and Brave Health, Tiffany Lin Smith. Known for saying the quiet parts about caregiving out loud on TikTok, Tiffany joins Dr. Mark to unpack the unvarnished realities of modern healthcare, the overwhelming demands placed on family caregivers, and why true survival requires self-preservation over p
Cancer Caregiving & Self Preservation w/ Charlotte Bayala
When someone you love receives a cancer diagnosis, life shifts in an instant - and the waiting can feel endless. This week, Dr. Mark sits down with Charlotte Bayala, who has cared for her husband through thyroid cancer for nearly 14 years.Charlotte shares the raw, unspoken realities of family caregiving: the sudden thrust into medical procedures without training, navigating severe scan an
Signs You're in Caregiver Survival Mode w/ Greg Fougere
Can a caregiver heal while still caregiving? What does recovery look like when daily responsibilities may continue for years?This week, Dr. Mark is rejoined by trauma-informed coach Greg Fougere to explore the deeper layers of caregiver burnout, nervous system survival mode, and self-abandonment. Together, they discuss why high competence can become a trap, why having free time often fail
When You Love Them But Hate Caregiving w/ Elaine K. Sanchez
Can you deeply love someone and still hate being their caregiver? In this episode of The Caregiver's Podcast, Dr. Mark welcomes back Elaine K. Sanchez - author, speaker, and founder of CaregiverHelp.com- to tackle the hardest, most unspoken emotional realities of caregiving: resentment, exhaustion, family friction, and compassion fatigue.About Our Guest:Elaine K. Sanchez is an author, spe
How to Handle Sibling Conflict While Caring for Aging Parents w/ Fern Schumer Chapman
Caring for an aging parent rarely brings adult siblings together the way we imagine. When one sibling carries the daily burden while another steps back - or swoops in at the last minute demanding an equal voice - resentment, grief, and exhaustion quickly take over.This week, Dr. Mark is joined by Fern Schumer Chapman, author of Brothers, Sisters, Strangers, for an unflinching conversation
Caregiver Survival Mode: Why Food Becomes Your Only Comfort w/ Vanessa Scaringi & Kathryn Garland
In Episode 49 of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with eating disorder specialists and Hungry for Connection authors Vanessa Scaringi and Kathryn Garland. Together, they explore why disordered eating and emotional eating in caregivers are rarely issues of willpower or discipline, but rather signals of survival mode, unmet emotional needs, and deep attachment dynam
"Caregiving Cost Me Everything" — Why Amy Goyer Went Bankrupt Caring for Family
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark sits down with caregiving expert Amy Goyer to discuss the hidden financial crises that often accompany long-term family caregiving. Drawing from her own experience caring for her parents and sister—which ultimately resulted in personal bankruptcy despite early planning—Amy outlines how daily care decisions compound into major financ
Why Toxic Families Punish the Caregiver w/ Amy Vasterling
When a caregiver finally sees dysfunctional family dynamics clearly, the realization can feel both liberating and devastating. Understanding the dysfunction does not automatically wake up the rest of the family—and often, the system protects itself by pushing back through guilt, manipulation, and criticism.In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski welcomes back Amy Vasterling to examine the rea
How to Plan for Aging Alone w/ Dr. Sara Zeff Geber
This week, Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Sara Zeff Geber, a leading voice and author on the topic of solo aging. Together, they discuss what it truly means to age without reliable family support, debunk common myths surrounding solo agers, and explain why independence alone cannot replace a structured care plan.From creating advance healthcare directives and selecting younger decision-makin
The Untold Truth About Nursing Homes w/ Chrystal Moran
This week, host Dr. Mark sits down with long-term care nurse, patient advocate, and public voice Nurse Chrystal Moran. Together, they pull back the curtain on the unseen realities inside long-term care facilities.From extreme nurse-to-patient staffing ratios (sometimes reaching 54:1 or higher) to the hidden financial and management decisions shaping bedside care, Chrystal shares a candid
Caregiving Through Addiction w/ Dr. Nicole Kosanke
This week, Dr. Mark is joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Nicole Kosanke to discuss the complex reality of loving someone with an addiction. Unlike other forms of caregiving, addiction often introduces broken trust, impossible questions, and the fear of enabling. Dr. Kosanke breaks down the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) and Invitation to Change models, providing act
Terrified of Losing Your Parents? w/ Angela Caldwell
This week, Dr. Mark is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist Angela Caldwell to explore one of the most profound unspoken challenges adult children face: losing a parent.Together, they unpack the psychological weight of anticipatory grief before active caregiving even begins, the struggle to initiate difficult end-of-life conversations, and the emotional realities - from deep g
Loving Someone Who Wants to Die w/ Dr. Stacey Freedenthal
What changes for a caregiver when day-to-day worry transforms into the terrifying question: "Does the person I love still want to be here?" This week, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with therapist, author, and associate professor Dr. Stacey Freedenthal to explore the immense, unspoken toll of loving someone who has lost the will to live.This heavy but profoundly necessary conversation dives
The Truth About Caregiver Resentment w/ Elaine Sanchez
This week, Dr. Mark discusses one of the most difficult emotions for caregivers to admit: resentment. He is joined by Elaine K. Sanchez, founder of caregiverhelp.com and author of Letters from Madelyn, to explore why this feeling builds when caregivers are isolated, overwhelmed, and unsupported.Elaine shares her expertise on how to navigate the complex emotions of caregiving without feeli
Financial Caregiving 101: The Legal "Permission Slips" You Need Right Now w/ Beth Pinsker
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with certified financial planner, personal finance journalist, and author Beth Pinsker to unpack one of the least discussed yet most challenging aspects of looking after a loved one: financial caregiving.Whether you are quietly stepping in to help an aging parent sort through bills, managing an unexpected legal c
Caregiving in a Broken Family w/ Angela Caldwell
This week, Dr. Mark sits down with Angela Caldwell, a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in high-conflict families. Together, they discuss the emotional toll of caregiving within a fractured family, how to coordinate care when siblings strongly disagree, and strategies for protecting yourself from caregiver resentment and complicated grief. If you are the person trying to
Do You Owe Your Parents Care If They Hurt You? w/ Dr. Joshua Coleman
What happens when an estranged parent becomes sick, dependent, or close to death?In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski speaks with Dr. Joshua Coleman, clinical psychologist and author of The Rules of Estrangement: Why Adult Children Cut Ties and How to Heal the Conflict, about family estrangement, caregiving, guilt, boundaries, and end-of-life decisions.They discus
Self-care: The Impact of Endometriosis w/ Dr. Laura Katz
In this week's episode, Dr. Mark is joined by clinical health and rehabilitation psychologist Dr. Laura Katz (co-founder of Endometriosis 360 and assistant professor at McMaster University) for a deeply honest conversation about endometriosis.Endometriosis affects roughly 1 in 10 women and girls of reproductive age, yet it is frequently minimized as "bad cramps" or a minor period issue.
Caregiving Killed Our Marriage w/ Kate Washington
In this week's episode, Dr. Mark sits down for a deeply moving, brutally honest conversation with returning guest Kate Washington. Kate is a writer and former caregiver whose reality was completely upended when her former husband was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, shifting their dynamic from equal partners to nurse and patient.Kate opens up about the invisible mental load of caregiv
The Complete Guide to Hospice Care w/ Les Harp
In this weeks episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with hospice nurse, clinical educator, and content creator Les Harp (@thathospiceguy). After unexpectedly becoming a caregiver and losing two wives to cancer, Les turned his profound personal grief into a life mission to educate families and healthcare professionals about the reality of end-of-life care.In this deeply moving and honest c
"Promise Me You’ll Never Put Me in a Home”: When Families Face Long-Term Care w/ Janice Martin
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with senior living expert Janice Martin to unpack the hidden traps families fall into during this challenging stage. From navigating the guilt of a "never put me in a home" promise to managing intense sibling friction over inheritance versus care costs, this conversation brings to light the realities families are
Setting Boundaries Without the Guilt: A Caregiver's Guide to Healing w/ Greg Fougere
Caregiving is often framed through the lens of love and duty, but what happens when it becomes an old survival role? In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with trauma-informed coach Greg Fougere to explore the deep-rooted family patterns, nervous system responses, and "self-abandonment" that often drive the default caregiver.We dive into the concept of parentification - where chil
The Hidden Family Dynamics That Break Caregivers | Amy Vasterling on Narcissism and Care
Are you a family caregiver who feels trapped by unfair family dynamics? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski welcomes author Amy Vasterling to discuss how family conditioning can strip away a caregiver’s identity. Amy shares insights from her book, Know, explaining why boundaries are often treated as betrayal in enmeshed families and how caregivers can reclaim the
Is It Time For Assisted Living? w/ Janice Martin
When is it truly time to transition a parent or loved one into assisted living? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with senior placement expert Janice Martin to pull back the curtain on the elder care industry.From navigating the 72-hour Medicare discharge crisis to the staggering reality of home care costs (which can exceed $21,000/month), Janice prov
The Social Media Outrage Economy: Why Doom Scrolling Hooks Us w/ Dr. Pamela Rutledge
This week on The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with media psychologist Dr. Pamela Rutledge to discuss the "unseen guest" in every caregiving environment: the social media feed. Caregiving already demands immense emotional steadiness, but how do we maintain that clarity when our phones are designed to keep us in a state of hyper-vigilance? We explore the psychological impact of th
How to Have a Midlife Crisis Without Breaking Your Life w/ Beverly Blaney
Is it just a sports car and a new wardrobe, or is there something deeper calling from within?In this episode of The Caregiver's Podcast, Dr. Mark welcomes back psychotherapist Bev Blaney to peel back the layers of the "midlife crisis." Moving past the Hollywood cliches, Bev and Mark explore the profound internal reckoning that occurs when the life we’ve built no longer feels like our own.
Canada's MAID Debate w/ Dr. Ramona Coelho
This week on The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Dr. Ramona Coelho, a family physician and leading voice in Canada’s MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) debate. Together, they take a deep dive into the clinical and moral shifts occurring within Canada’s healthcare system. Dr. Coelho shares harrowing insights into "Track 2" cases—where patients who are not termina
Caring For Emotionally Immature Parents w/ Heather Gray
In this episode of The Caregiver’s Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with licensed mental health professional Heather Gray to discuss a complex and often silent struggle: caregiving for an emotionally immature or "emotionally limited" parent.When a parent lacks the capacity to meet their child's emotional needs, the wounds don't simply disappear with age. In fact, the transition into a caregivi
The Truth About 'MAID' In Canada w/ Krista Carr
In this episode of the Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Krista Carr, CEO of Inclusion Canada, to discuss the complex and often controversial reality of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada.Since its legalization, Canada has recorded over 76,000 MAID deaths. While many see an idealized version of a peaceful end-of-life choice, this conversation explores the "shadow track
PTSD Crisis Management w/ Dr. Shaili Jain
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Shaili Jain - a Stanford psychiatrist and world-renowned PTSD expert—to provide a practical "playbook" for caregivers. We dive deep into the neuroscience of trauma, explaining why logic fails during a trigger and how caregivers can protect their own nervous systems from "vicarious traumatization." Support our guest:▶️
Chronic Pain Explained w/ Dr. Dean Tripp
This week on The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with returning guest Dr. Dean Tripp, a professor of Psychology, Anesthesiology, and Urology at Queens University.Together, they pull back the curtain on the neuroscience of chronic pain, explaining how it physically alters the brain and why the traditional medical model often fails those in pain. Dr. Tripp introduces the C.A.R.E. Met
How To Build Capacity As A Caregiver w/ Susan Ackland
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Host Dr. Mark sits down with Susan Ackland, a psychotherapist with decades of experience who has spent the last 10 years navigating the complexities of caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s and a father-in-law with Lewy body dementia, all while raising children and maintaining her professional practice.Click here to watch a video of this episode.
Do You 'owe' Aging Parents Care? w/ Elizabeth Miller
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Elizabeth Miller, founder of Happy Healthy Caregiver, to tackle the question nobody wants to say out loud: When parents age and need care, what do their adult children actually owe them?As a veteran podcaster and sandwich generation caregiver, Elizabeth shares the raw reality of balancing a career and children while managi
Decolonizing Medicine: A New Vision for Future Doctors w/ Dr. Jamaica Cass
Why do Indigenous communities distrust the healthcare system, and how do we fix it?In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Jamaica Cass - the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn both an MD and a PhD. Dr. Cass shares her mission to decolonize medicine, from reshaping medical school curricula to building localized health education programs.Click here to w
Parenting a Child with Pulmonary Hypertension w/ Cynthia Neilson
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark sits down with Cynthia Neilson to discuss the emotional and practical realities of raising a child with a rare heart-lung condition.Cynthia shares her journey from the initial shock of a complex diagnosis at SickKids to the "stress tests" of everyday parenting—navigating medical equipment at bedtime, setting boundaries with school,
Is Caregiving a Life Sentence? w/ Kate Washington
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, author Kate Washington joins us to discuss her powerful memoir, Already Toast, and the invisible crisis of caregiver burnout. We explore the raw emotional realities of spousal caregiving, the "slow slide" into medical responsibility, and how systemic failures in the healthcare system leave families feeling abandoned. Kate Washington is the author
Caregiving in 2026: What's IN and What's OUT
Is caregiving consuming your life, or are you surviving the work? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark breaks down why the "hero narrative" is breaking caregivers and why 2026 is the year we shift from mindless sacrifice to strategic sustainability.We explore the 10 things that are IN (like boundaries as a clinical skill and energy management) and the 10 things that are off
Nurses on the Edge: Fear, Burnout, & Hope w/ Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions President Linda Silas
In this powerful episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions (CFNU), to discuss the precarious state of nursing in 2026.Far beyond simple "burnout," Linda describes a "moral injury" occurring across Canada—a systemic failure where nurses are forced into 30-hour shifts, face escalating workplace vi
2026: Caregivers Reset
Caregivers don’t need more motivation, they need more margin. In this Season 2 premiere, Dr. Mark Ropeleski addresses the "diffusion of energy" that leads to caregiver burnout. If you find yourself saying "yes" to every crisis but "no" to your own well-being, this episode is your permission to simplify.Watch the full video episode:▶️YouTube: https://youtu.be/lzn6qzCgHagFollow us: ▶️https:
Every Nurse Carries Trauma w/ Jon Schmid
In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with John Schmid—a veteran ER nurse, former Canadian Armed Forces nursing officer, and past healthcare COO—to pull back the curtain on the "trauma-exposed" nature of healthcare. John provides an honest look at the moral injury that occurs when clinicians are unable to meet their own standards of care due to systemic c
The Longest Goodbye: 20 Years of Love, Loss, and Parkinson's w/ HeldLight
On this weeks episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski welcomes Brent, founder of HeldLight, for a raw and unflinching conversation about the realities of long-term caregiving. Brent shares his 20-year journey caring for his wife, Trudy, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s at age 34.Watch the full video episode:▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/02Sr7J9VlMgSupport HeldLight: ▶️ Everything HeldLig
No Violence Nurse: A call to action w/ Kelsey Springer
In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Kelsey Springer, a critical care nurse and Montana State University instructor known nationally as the "No Violence Nurse." Kelsey shares the harrowing story of a brutal ICU assault that left her requiring total jaw reconstruction and how that event transformed her from a caregiver into a patient—and eventually, a fierce advocate. They di
The Truth About Chronic Pain: The Reality Behind the Diagnosis w/ Dr. Laura Katz
On this week's episode Dr. Mark welcomes Dr. Laura Katz, a clinical and health psychologist, for a discussion on the multifaceted nature of chronic pain, and the truth behind the diagnosis. Dr. Katz addresses the failure of disjointed healthcare systems to treat the "whole person" and the resulting medical trauma experienced by patients. Watch the full video episode:▶️ Youtube: https://yo
Burnout vs. Moral Injury
If you’ve tried self-care, therapy, and time off but still feel hollow inside, the problem might not be burnout—it might be moral injury. In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski distinguishes between the exhaustion of burnout and the deep "soul wound" of moral injury, which occurs when a caregiver’s values are repeatedly violated by a broken system.Join Dr. Mark as he explores why "resilience
The Crisis in Nursing w/ Shift Happens
In this episode, Dr. Mark speaks with the host's of the Shift Happens podcast, Darlene Jackson & Brandi Johnson of the Manitoba Nurses Union. They delve into the challenges faced by new nurses transitioning from education to practice & highlight the support needed for new graduates to thrive in a demanding healthcare environment.Watch the full video episode:▶️ YouTube: https://you
Why Young Women are Drinking Themselves Into Liver Failure w/ Dr. Jennifer Flemming
In this episode, Dr. Mark & guest Dr. Jennifer Flemming delve into the uncomfortable yet crucial conversations surrounding alcohol-related liver disease and its impact on women and caregivers. Dr. Flemming shares insights on the biological, emotional, and societal factors contributing to this rising crisis, emphasizing the need for awareness and support for those affected.Watch the fu
Values vs. Numbers in Healthcare: The Nursing Crisis w/ Amie Archibald Varley
On this week's episode, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski & guest Amie Archibald Varley delve into the pressing issue of accountability within the healthcare sector, highlighting the reluctance of leaders to take responsibility for failures and the systemic issues that arise from this lack of accountability.Support our guest:▶️ Website: www.amievarley.com📖 Harper Collins: https://www.harpercoll
Canada's Healthcare Crisis: Why You're Still Waiting for a Doctor w/ Dr. Anthony Sanfilippo
In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski and Dr. Anthony Sanfilippo discuss the pressing issue of the family doctor crisis in Canada, where millions lack access to primary care. They explore the disconnect between medical education and societal needs, emphasizing the importance of family doctors in providing preventative and chronic care.Support our guest:📖The Doctors We Need: https://sutherla
The Guilt & Grace of Caregiving w/ Jeanette Yates
Join Dr. Mark and special guest Jeanette Yates for a powerful, honest look at the caregiver's life. Jeanette shares her deep personal journey, openly discussing the burden of generational trauma and the path through burnout. This is more than a discussion on duties; it's about the emotional toll. Jeanette tackles the crippling effects of perfectionism and guilt, highlighting the urgent ne
The Holy Work of Caregiving w/ Jess Ronne
In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski speaks with Jess Ronne, a dedicated caregiver and advocate for families with children of special needs. Jess shares her personal journey of caregiving for her son Lucas, who has profound disabilities, and the challenges she faced, including the loss of her husband. The conversation delves into the importance of faith, comm
Suck It Up Buttercup: Challenging the Status Quo in Healthcare
In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, Dr. Mark speaks with Dr. Todd Otten about the challenges faced by caregivers in the healthcare system. They discuss the importance of caregiver wellness, the impact of burnout and moral injury, and the need for solidarity among caregivers. Dr. Otten shares his journey in medicine, the creation of the documentary 'Suck It Up Buttercup', and the ro
The Hidden Cost of Care: How Generational Trauma Shapes Caregivers
In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Mark explores the hidden cost of caregiving: the unhealed wounds and generational traumas that quietly shape how we give, love, and sacrifice. He reveals how these inherited scripts: “you’re good when you give, selfish when you ask - can hollow us out, leaving us exhausted and disconnected. Through reflection and science-based insight, this episode offer
Catastrophizing, Chronic Pain & Caregiver Resilience with Prof. Dean Tripp
In this episode, Dr. Mark welcomes Professor Dean Tripp of Queen’s University, a clinical consultant and leading researcher on chronic pain, stress, and resilience. Together, they unpack the concept of catastrophizing—what it is, how it develops, and why it matters for both patients and caregivers.You’ll learn:• The key differences between acute and chronic pain.•
The Opportunity in Burnout: Psychotherapist Bev Blaney on Burnout & Real Self‑Care
When caregiving depletes you, what brings you back? In our premiere episode, psychotherapist Bev Blaney (“a caregiver of caregivers”) charts a humane approach to burnout: embed self‑care in the culture, notice early warning signs (disconnection, cognitive fog, a closing heart). We talk moral injury, micro‑traumas, why “workshops” aren’t enough, and how to re-frame “I can’t do this anymore
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