Caregiving doesn’t have to mean losing yourself—think of it as managing with purpose, like a boss. You’re not just there to show love; you’re there to make powerful choices that protect your well-being, too. Embrace rational caregiving by blending compassion with practical strategies: prioritize clear decision-making, time management, and boundaries. It’s about shifting from “caregiver” to “caregive”—a new verb for balancing empathy with action. Recognize your needs, respect your own limits, and embrace respite whenever possible. This approach empowers you and honors both you and your loved one. So why not caregive like a boss?

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

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Chatting with Barbara Newman gave me a new way to look at caregiving, self-care, and the impact of storytelling. Barbara’s path—from working on Madison Avenue to exploring the bold spirit of American cowgirls—shows her belief in what she calls “radical self-care” and the power of community. For her, storytelling isn’t just about telling a tale; it’s a way to heal, share wisdom, and connect people across generations. Whether she’s helping Gen Z find their voices or guiding boomers to tell their life stories, Barbara shows us that giving back doesn’t require us to be heroes. Her advice? Focus on the little things, and above all, be kind.

About Our Guest:

Barbara Newman’s storytelling career began on Madison Avenue, where she was a Creative Director on iconic global brands. Her life changed after hearing a story on NPR about the American cowgirl. She was so inspired by their strong, persevering spirit, that she traded high heels for cowboy boots and headed to Montana to film a documentary about their lives. While out west, she fell in love with the wild landscape, and how it transformed her relationship with the natural world. So began her next chapter as an author. Her award-winning young-adult novel, The Dreamcatcher Codes is her love letter to Mother Earth and all her daughters. She is currently working on her second book.

Barbara is on the Boards of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative, the Berkshire International Film Festival, and EmPower Gen Z. She was also part of the think tank for the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children’s Media.

www.barbaranewmanauthor.com

www.cowgirlsrforever.com

Instagram: coco_newms

https://empowergenz.org

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

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Join me as we step into the world of music therapy with Alexis Baker. As a music enthusiast, discussing the nuances of how music activates the brain, revives memories, and fosters emotional connections is incredibly enriching. Alexis highlights how therapeutic music benefits not just those in care but also the caregivers themselves, offering both solace and emotional release. Whether through personalized playlists to uplift spirits or integrating music into daily routines to ease challenging behaviors, music proves to be a powerful tool in transforming caregiving experiences. It's fascinating to see how melodies and rhythms can bridge communication gaps, especially in challenging journeys like dementia, where conventional language often falls short.

About Our Guest:

Alexis Baker is a board-certified music therapist (MT-BC), certified dementia practitioner (CDP), and founder of Bridgetown Music Therapy. Her mission as a music therapist is to spark joy, create connections, and improve quality of life through meaningful music engagement. Alexis is passionate about using music to make a difference for older adults living with dementia.

After many years spent serving clients in person as a traveling music therapist, Alexis pivoted her business online in 2020. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, she and her husband, a professional videographer, decided to collaborate by putting their skills together. They initially launched Bridgetown's Virtual Music Engagement Program with only four videos. Now, the program features an extensive Video Library containing hundreds of on-demand therapeutic music sessions. Their dementia-friendly program focuses on meaningful engagement through music-based activities such as singing, rhythm and movement, gentle stretching, deep breathing exercises, and relaxation. Alexis includes an incredible range of genres, styles, and fun themes—there is something for everyone. This program has been described as a game-changer for people with dementia and their care staff such as Activity Directors and family caregivers.

https://www.bridgetownmt.com/

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

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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 different part of you. The emotional load can be overwhelming, especially when it shifts from professional detachment to intimate, familial involvement. It’s a human response to feel worn by the efforts to balance personal grief with the demands of caregiving. Embracing these stages isn’t about getting stuck in the roles we play but learning to navigate them with grace, preparing for the grief that may come, and ensuring we don’t lose ourselves to the emotional undertow. This journey reshaped not only how I view caregiving but also how I see resilience and the power of planning ahead.

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

Diving into the world of caregiving with Yarona Boster, I unpack how mastering verbal and nonverbal communication transforms our interactions and impacts those we care for. Yarona highlights the often overlooked aspect of emotional contagion, where our moods and attitudes can subconsciously affect others, especially in sensitive caregiving settings. This understanding is crucial; it reminds us that our presence and how we express ourselves can either bridge or build walls between us and our loved ones. For any caregiver, recognizing the power of nonverbal cues and the emotional undercurrents they carry can profoundly change the caregiving experience, making it more genuine and supportive for everyone involved.

About Our Guest:

Yarona Boster is a Communications Master, Advanced Certified Life Coach, Certified Speaker Coach, International Speaker, TEDx Speaker, and 2x bestselling international author.

Using her 17+ years of experience in human development, early childhood, psychology, and coaching, Yarona guides people in harnessing the art of communication by learning the behavioral skills needed to modify their verbal and non-verbal language.

From CEOs to parents, from intimate relationships to world stages, when we learn these skills, we become our own best asset in our personal and professional lives.

Connect with Yarona:

yaronaboster@gmail.com (Speaker Coaching/Communications Mastery)

yarona@footprintscoaching.org (Parent and Loss Coaching)

https://yaronaboster.com

https://footprintscoaching.org

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

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 parents during family crises. Maritri shares that self-care isn't just a nice-to-have; it's essential. Her story of adjusting life on the fly, incorporating rigorous self-care routines inspired by choreographer Twyla Tharp’s book, truly resonates with anyone in the throes of caregiving. If you’re finding caregiving to be a juggling act of emotional and physical demands, Maritri’s approach to maintaining her sanity through music, routine, and self-care is a testament to the power of resilience and creativity in the face of life’s unexpected turns.

About Maritri:

Maritri Garrett is a remarkable independent artist whose music reflects the depth of her diverse musical background. As a composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and educator, her songs tell honest stories of life, love, and loss, offering healing and solace to all who listen.

Maritri holds a unique blend of academic achievements, including a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Fisk University, a Bachelor of Science in Composition, and a Master of Fine Arts in Jazz Studies from Howard University.

Her skillful versatility with instruments like the piano, guitar, bass, cello, and percussion sets her apart. Having performed with and opened for musical legends like Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle, Maritri continues to captivate audiences with her emotionally powerful compositions and soulful performances.

https://www.instagram.com/maritrimusic/

https://www.tiktok.com/@maritrimusic

https://www.threads.net/@maritrimusic

https://www.facebook.com/MaritriMusic

https://www.facebook.com/maritri

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They...

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 caregiving coach once opened my eyes to my 'Care-zilla' mode—where anger and frustration from trying to control everything were running me ragged. Now, I champion delegation and collaboration, essential strategies that turn caregiving from a lone battle into a team effort. Let’s ditch the pride and start creating a support system that lets us all breathe, balance, and thrive with our loved ones.

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

Caregiving isn't just a role; it's a deep dive into the world of giving and love, a journey that's taught me how powerful yet challenging it can be. I'm here to share not just the sunny sides but also the gritty realities of caregiving.

Join me as I unravel the perils of too much pride and the necessity of building a supportive team—it really does take a village. Standing back sometimes doesn't mean stepping away from care but rather preparing for the unexpected. In my own experience, facing the music—acknowledging that I couldn't do it all alone—wasn't about giving up but gearing up to ensure both my well-being and that of my loved ones. Listen as I share stories of caregivers who learned the hard way that 'superhero' isn't a sustainable role. Their journeys underscore the importance of community in caregiving and the critical need to keep the dialogue open and honest. If you're feeling the weight of caregiving solo, let's talk about 'sharegiving'—because sharing the load doesn't just help our loved ones, it saves us too.

About Me:

I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.

Connect with Me:

https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/

Find my books here

Thanks for listening!

Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.

Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!

Subscribe to the podcast

If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.

Leave us an Apple Podcasts review

Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.