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Episodes

June 13, 2025

White Coat Wisdom: Best Practices for Care Partners

Do you ever feel dismissed or intimidated when advocating for your loved one in medical settings? That ends today. "I may know textbook, but you know your loved one," explains Dr. McNeill, just one of the passionate healthcar...

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June 6, 2025

Detroit Caregiver Chronicles

Parenting Up family, we are excited to bring you a new 3-part series in partnership with Wayne State University's AGReed grant! In this episode, Detroit caregivers speak with J Smiles about their experiences as caregivers for...

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May 26, 2025

What Caregivers Want Doctors To Know

The void between medical expertise and lived caregiving experience takes center stage in this powerful season finale. Join us as we recap the Alter Dementia Summit 2025! This episode captures the vibrant energy of a gathering...

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May 12, 2025

Altering the Perception of Caregivers and Dementia with Dr. Fayron Ep…

When Dr. Fayron Epps launched the Altar program, she was told repeatedly that no one would fund research connecting faith and dementia care in the Black community. Fast forward to today, and her groundbreaking initiative has ...

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April 28, 2025

Caregiving: Motherhood In Disguise

Motherhood takes many forms, and caregiving might be the most overlooked version. This Mother's Day episode challenges us to reconsider who deserves celebration and recognition. The numbers tell a striking story: Americans sp...

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April 14, 2025

Yes, And Caregiving: The Improv Act You Didn’t Audition For

When a loved one develops dementia, our instinct is often to correct their misperceptions and pull them back to our reality. But what if there's a more compassionate, effective approach hiding in an unlikely place – Improv? I...

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March 24, 2025

Old People Deserve Different: Don't Just Rip the Bandaid Off!

When a loved one ages beyond typical medical concerns into what Dr. Warren Wong calls "the decade of frailty," everything changes—including how we should approach their care. In this episode, geriatrician Dr. Wong reveals why...

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March 10, 2025

Caregiving & Commerce: The Delicate Balance

Happy Women's History Month! On this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Aisha Taylor Issah, who founded TheSistahShop.com, an e-commerce store featuring all Black Women Owned Businesses. We filmed this episod...

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Feb. 24, 2025

Comedy Cares: Improv's Role in Caregiving

Audio family! We shot this episode on location at Dad's Garage, but we made sure to include our listeners to get insight on what we learned. This episode explores the transformative power of improvisational comedy in dementia...

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Feb. 10, 2025

SUCCESSFUL CAREGIVING WITHOUT SELF-SACRIFICE

We had a great time connecting with Author Karen Weaver, author of Reaching Up For Comfort. She has been a caregiver for her late husband, late mom, and late father, though she has also volunteered with her church, neighbors,...

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Jan. 27, 2025

CREATING, CAPTURING AND KEEPING MEMORIES WITH ALZHEIMER'S

Join us as we speak with Omar Alvarez about volunteering with elders, his grandfather, Puerto Rican culture and how each of these played a part in helping him to develop KINNECT - a family legacy app that helps preserve famil...

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Jan. 13, 2025

Sisterhood Meets Social Media: Deltas Search for Zetty

In honor of Delta Sigma Theta's Founder’s Day, look back with us on the care of Zetty’s phenomenal line sisters from Hampton University! See how they all rallied to find out what happened to their ‘Kitty Boo’ and to make sure...

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Dec. 23, 2024

Parenting Up! Best of 2024

Parenting Up! family, thank you for an amazing year! We hit some major milestones, surpassing 100 episodes and 100 subscribers on YouTube, plus some incredible episodes with memorable guests and we could not have done it with...

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Dec. 9, 2024

Festive Frenzy! Holidays with Zetty

We know that you may think Zetty was from the south and surely was known for some famous recipes we grew up enjoying - but that's not exactly what I remember about my mom during the holidays. Zetty may not have been baking ho...

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Nov. 25, 2024

Sending Love & Spreading Smiles: Showing Caregivers You Care

Discover how love, laughter, and resilience can transform the caregiving experience in our latest episode, where we celebrate a remarkable milestone for our Parenting Up! community—being named one of the top three podcasts of...

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Nov. 11, 2024

Some of Ya'll Suck at Supporting Caregivers

Happy National Family Caregivers Month! That's right - in today's episode, we celebrate family caregivers and give tips on better supporting us! Whether it's helping out with everyday tasks, or reading articles that you think...

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Oct. 29, 2024

Ballots & Beliefs: Ballots & Beliefs: Zetty’s Passion for Voting

In this episode, J Smiles talks about Zetty's life before she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Zetty, or better known to her friends as 'T.Y.' was passionate about voting and instilled in J a great sense of responsibility for ...

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Oct. 17, 2024

Comedians Care: Rodney Perry - Caregiving Full Circle; Giving and Rec…

Join us as we chat with the multi-talented Rodney Perry, who combines the art of comedy with the heartfelt caregiving journey. Rodney opens up about his personal comedy experiences and providing care for his family, from foll...

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Sept. 25, 2024

The Comedians Care Series: Multigenerational Caregiving with Kelly Ke…

In this episode, we sit down with fan-favorite, comedian Kelly Kellz . Known for her side-splitting stand-up and hilarious videos online, Kelly isn't just funny—she’s real. Kelly opens up about her life beyond the laughs, sha...

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Sept. 9, 2024

The Comedians Care Series: Cocoa Brown on Coast-to-Coast Caregiving

Welcome to our new series - Comedians Care! First up we have multi-talented comedienne Cocoa Brown! Ever wondered how humor can become a lifeline when facing life's toughest challenges? Cocoa Brown shares her personal journey...

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Aug. 19, 2024

The Science of Caregiving: A Conversation with Dr. Tina

Join us as we speak with the incomparable Dr. Tina, a member of the sandwich generation. In this episode, we dive into the science and emotional toll of caregiving, highlighting the struggles and the small victories that make...

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Aug. 5, 2024

A Day In the Live with J Smiles

Can you imagine juggling a caregiving routine for a parent with Alzheimer's while preparing for a last-minute TV comedy appearance? That's the reality I faced as I navigated a whirlwind of chaos, laughter, and heartfelt momen...

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July 22, 2024

When Caregiver Roles Detour Your Career Goals

What if you suddenly found yourself in a role you never imagined, caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's? Join me as I share my unexpected journey from an accomplished career in engineering, law, and activism to becoming a f...

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July 8, 2024

Reducing Family Conflict: Platform for Splitting Caregiving Expenses

Have you ever felt the frustration of juggling caregiving with everyday life hassles? Well, you're not alone. Today, we hear the life-changing story of family caregiver, Sherri Atwood, who turned daily annoyances into an inno...

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