In Episode 81, Jeff welcomes you to the unofficial kickoff of the holiday season—because if Thanksgiving 2025 is already here, that means the Big Guy in Red isn’t far behind… and thankfully, no, he’s not from the government. (We think.)

This episode blends humor, heart, and holiday reality checks as Jeff reflects on gratitude—from family and a sometimes-affectionate Chi-weenie, to the daily blessings found in a stranger's smile. Whether you’re feasting on turkey or grabbing cold convenience-store pizza, Jeff reminds listeners that if there’s breath in your lungs, there’s still something to be thankful for.

He also tackles a universal topic: holiday stress. This week’s conversation offers a general roadmap for surviving the season with sanity intact, with a more in-depth stress-management breakdown coming in a future episode.

Jeff also unveils a new 2026 initiative: listener Q&A. Caregivers can send in their burning questions—big, small, baffling, or heartbreaking—and Jeff will bring in pros (doctors, neurologists, researchers, caregivers) to deliver real answers next year. Questions can already be sent to GUTPUNCHEDAC@outlook.com.

All this, plus a shout-out to the show’s sponsor, Heart Body & Mind Home Care, in an episode that reminds caregivers everywhere that gratitude, humor, and community matter—especially when life hits hardest.

Welcome back, caregivers, fighters, and listeners walking this tough road with love and grit. In Episode 76, host Jeff Edwards dives headfirst into the gut-wrenching yet vital world of Alzheimer’s and caregiving, where the emotional toll is real, but so is the power of community, knowledge, and self-care.

💥 This week’s episode hits hard and informs even harder with three must-know articles making waves in the Alzheimer’s world:

• The FDA has cleared the first-ever blood test for Alzheimer’s screening in primary care—what this means for earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.

• Why are women at a higher risk of Alzheimer’s? We unpack the science and the implications for future research.

• And a wake-up call: Even light drinking may increase dementia risk. We dig into the new study that challenges old assumptions.

But that’s not all...

🔥 Jeff brings it back to the core tenets of GutPunched, the rules every caregiver needs to survive this relentless journey:

• Take care of YOU first.

• You cannot do this alone.

• Make your lists. Use your lists. Get things done.

• Create help signals that bring dignity and trust into caregiving.

💜 Whether you love caregiving or feel like it’s swallowing you whole, this podcast reminds you: it’s your life, until it’s not. So give it your all, and remember, you are not alone.

🌟 If this episode hits home, share it. Leave a 5-star review. Spread the word to friends, family, or anyone watching someone they love slowly fade into dementia. There IS help. There IS hope. That’s why we’re here.

👉 Let’s do this. Episode 76 starts now.

Navigating the insidious illness of Alzheimer’s is something nobody asks for. The disease sneaks up on you and your loved one, and it feels like you’ve been sucker-punched in the gut when you get the diagnosis from a doctor. So many things race through your mind: why us? What do we do? We worked so hard to get to this point in life. We just moved here after we both worked for 30 years, sold our house up North, and retired to Florida to enjoy our “golden years”. It’s not fair! Who’s going to take care of her/him? I don’t know a thing about this illness. She’s always done the cooking; I don’t even know how to boil water. He's always taken care of me and everything else like Finances. I don’t even drive! And it goes on and on. Facing this disease will bring you to your knees. Once you get over the initial shock (GUT PUNCHED), the questions and fears take hold. Where do we turn for help? Who do I call? What do I do? How do you take care of someone with Alzheimer's? Are there support groups? And questions like these just keep coming.