There’s a particular kind of heartbreak many parents and carers know too well.

You’re sitting at the table with a child you love, watching them struggle to read or write. The letters swim, the words don’t stick. Before long, there are tears, shutdowns, “I hate this”… or the one that cuts the deepest:

Maybe you’ve been told to wait and see, “they’ll grow out of it,” or to do more worksheets and more practice – more of the same thing that already feels like failure – while your child’s confidence sinks lower.

If you’re listening with a child in mind whose brilliance you can see but the school system doesn’t seem to, this conversation is for you.

My guest is Russell Van Brocklen, known as The Dyslexia Professor – a New York State Senate‑funded dyslexia researcher whose inaugural school programme moved highly motivated teens from a middle‑school writing level to the average range of entering graduate students in one school year. One class period a day. Every single student went on to graduate from college.

Russell’s gift is translating structured literacy and high‑level academic research into bite‑sized actions parents and carers can use at home, especially for kids who are wildly passionate about one thing yet shutting down around school.

Inside This Episode

Russell’s Journey: From Failing Grades to Law School to Researcher
How he went from a documented first‑grade reading and writing level at the end of university, to dominating law school using the Socratic method, then returning to the New York State Senate to request funding for dyslexia research.

What Dyslexia Really Is – and Isn’t

Practical Strategies for Parents and Carers

Motivation, Confidence and Identity

Navigating School Systems & Affordable Support

Weekly Caregiver Invitation

This week:

Notice one moment when your child lights up about something (sport, stories, art, science, animals, space…).

Ask: What tiny reading or word‑based win could we tuck into this joy?
(A three‑word sentence, one new word, or a single “hero + sign + topic” line.)

Focus on one micro‑win, not the whole mountain.

Your child is not broken. Their brain is different – and full of potential.

Connect with Russell Van Brocklen (The Dyslexia Professor)
Website: https://dyslexiaclasses.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

Caregiver Resources:
Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)
#dyslexia #caregiving #strugglingreaders #neurodiversity #radiantmomentspodcast

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In Part 1, Kelly and I explored what traumatic brain injury feels like from the inside – neuro fatigue, sensory overload, personality shifts and why TBI is often a chronic condition, not a short‑term event.

In Part 2, we move into the how: practical tools, gentle boundaries and grounded hope for living a full, values‑aligned life after brain injury – as a survivor and as a caregiver.

My guest is Kelly Tuttle, a neurology nurse practitioner and traumatic brain injury survivor, who now supports patients and families through the same maze she once walked herself.

Inside This Episode (Part 2)

• Neural Pathways & “Side Streets” Continued
• Creating Safe Spaces for Healing at Home
• Navigating Role Changes in Caregiving
• Gentle Practices for Caregivers and Survivors
• Finding Joy in Small Moments
• Energy Management: Batteries, Brain Juice and Spoons
• Walking Alongside Without Nagging
• Navigating the Healthcare Maze
• Shifting Identity & Living Fully After Brain Injury
• Encouragement for Survivors and Caregivers
  Kelly’s message to survivors:

“There is hope and you’re not alone. We’re out here and we’re cheering you on.”

And to caregivers:

• your role is deeply valuable in your loved one’s healing, often more than you will ever be told
• self‑care is not a betrayal – it’s part of sustainable recovery.

Weekly Caregiver Invitation (Part 2)

This week:

1. In the morning, ask yourself: “Roughly what % battery do I have today?”

2. Adjust one thing in your day to match that number (fewer errands, shorter visits, more rest).

3. Choose one micro‑joy – music, a breeze, a poem, a quiet drink, a shared laugh – and actually do it.

You are allowed to live, not just manage symptoms.

Connect with Kelly Tuttle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brain_np_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-tuttle-72589810/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainlovingnp
Website: https://kellytuttle.org/
Complimentary Resource: Stress‑Less Medical Worksheet (via Kelly’s website)

Caregiver Resources:
Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #braininjury #TBIrecovery #neurofatigue #caregiverwellbeing #radiantmomentspodcast

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There’s a kind of injury that often goes unseen.

If someone you love breaks a leg, people rush in with casseroles and crutches and understanding. But if they have a brain injury from a car crash, fall or concussion, the outside might look “fine” while everything inside has changed.

Maybe you’re caring for someone who:

• forgets things they used to remember easily
• gets overwhelmed by noise, light or busy rooms
• can’t tolerate screens anymore
• seems like their personality has shifted

You might be wondering: Is this the injury? Is this them? Is it me?
And you’re trying to hold your own life together at the same time.

This episode is for you if you’re living in that confusing middle ground after a traumatic brain injury – as a survivor, partner, parent, or friend.

In Part 1 of this two‑part Radiant Moments conversation, Michelle speaks with Kelly Tuttle, a neurology nurse practitioner who joined what she calls the “head injury survivors club” after a serious car accident in 2015. Three months later she realised something was very wrong – and that was the beginning of a long journey of brain healing and self‑discovery.

Now Kelly sits across from patients and families every day who are walking a similar path, and she offers both clinical insight and lived experience in a way that makes people say, “You get it.”

Inside This Episode (Part 1)

• Kelly’s Story: From Crash to Concussion to “Something’s Really Wrong”
• Understanding Neuro Fatigue
• Common but Misunderstood Symptoms of Brain Injury
• The Invisible, Chronic Side of Brain Injury
• Communication Strategies for Caregivers
• The Role of Journalling in Recovery

Weekly Caregiver Invitation (Part 1)

This week:

1. Notice one symptom or behaviour that’s been confusing you (irritability, forgetfulness, fatigue, sensory overload).

2. Gently ask, “If this is the brain working harder, not them being difficult, what might that change in how I respond?”

3. If you can, jot down one small pattern you’re seeing – time of day, environment, or triggers.

This isn’t about fixing everything overnight. It’s about starting to see what’s really happening inside a healing brain.

In Part 2, Kelly and I move into the practical: how to support a healing brain day to day, navigate doctors, and rebuild a life that still feels full and meaningful after traumatic brain injury.

Connect with Kelly Tuttle
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brain_np_/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-tuttle-72589810/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brainlovingnp
Website: https://kellytuttle.org/
Complimentary Resource: Stress‑Less Medical Worksheet – via Kelly’s website

J and B Inspired Caregiver Resources: (Radiant Moments - Caregiver Oasis)
J and B Inspired website: https://jandbinspired.com
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #braininjury #TBI #neurofatigue #radiantmomentspodcast

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There’s a quiet pressure many carers feel supporting an older parent or loved one.

On paper, they might be “doing fine at home”.
In reality, you might be the one:

• catching near‑falls
• sorting medications
• driving to appointments
• soothing agitation at midnight
• and wondering if you’re doing enough, or doing it “right”.

We’re often told that good elder care is about doing more: more appointments, more services, more tasks. But without dignity, clear lines in the sand, and an honest look at your own limits, caregiving can quickly become unsustainable – even when it’s done with deep love.

In this Radiant Moments conversation, Michelle is joined by Dr Warren Wong, geriatrician and long‑time innovator in elder care. His mantra:

“The caregiver is the most important person in a frail older adult’s daily life.”

Together they explore what that actually means for you – emotionally, practically, and especially in tender seasons like the holidays.

Inside This Episode

• Caregivers as the “Most Important Person”
• The Green, Yellow and Red Zones of Caregiving
• Living with Dignity – For Older Adults and Caregivers
• Lines in the Sand – Boundaries that Anchor, Not Trap
• Navigating Difficult Conversations & Unspoken Promises
• Holidays, Special Occasions and Mixed Emotions

Sometimes the win is a single shared meal, a laugh, a photo, a taste of eggnog that becomes a golden memory.

• Taking Care of Yourself as a Caregiver
  We close with:
  • acknowledging post‑traumatic stress that can follow years of red‑zone caregiving
  • the importance of noticing if you’re in the yellow zone and choosing one small action by next Tuesday to make things a little better for yourself
  • the reminder that you are not alone – there is a wider community and you are allowed to reach for the outstretched hand

Weekly Caregiver Invitation

This week:

1. Ask yourself honestly: Am I okay good, or okay so‑so?

2. If you’re in the yellow zone, choose one concrete action to do for yourself by Tuesday – a call, a class, a service, or a conversation.

3. Gently sketch your current line in the sand: what you can realistically offer, and where you need help.

Your care, your love, and your very real limits are all welcome here.

Connect with Dr Warren Wong
Website: https://www.drwarrenwong.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drwarrenfwong/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.warrenwong/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drwarrenwong

Connect with J and B Inspired and Access Caregiver Resources:
Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #eldercare #boundaries #dignity #radiantmomentspodcast

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Caregiving can feel like you’re always pushing: forcing your body to keep going, forcing your mind to stay on top of appointments, forcing yourself to be “okay” when you’re anything but.

What if your next layer of resilience didn’t come from trying harder, but from remembering you’re part of nature – and letting yourself move more like a forest than a factory?

In this Radiant Moments conversation, Michelle is joined by Tigrilla Gardenia – nature‑inspired mentor, certified life coach and plant‑wisdom guide – to explore how the intelligence of plants and ecosystems can help caregivers stop forcing, start flowing, and live closer to their true rhythms.

Drawing on music engineering, Cirque du Soleil, plant neurobiology and life inside the eco‑spiritual community of Damanhur, Tigrilla offers a surprising, grounded pathway back to presence, creativity and nervous‑system calm.

Inside This Episode

• Reawakening Our “Inner Plantness”
• Breaking Exhausting Cycles by Thinking in Ecosystems
• Personal Growth Through Plant‑Inspired Relationships
• Healing Journeys & Limiting Beliefs
• Plant‑Composed Music & the Nervous System
• One‑Minute Daily Practices for Caregivers
  Most importantly, Tigrilla brings everything back to simple, doable steps:
  • choosing one plant (a houseplant, a tree by the car park, the grass outside your door)
  • spending one intentional minute a day with it, using your senses – looking closely, touching leaves or soil, feeling grass under your feet, sharing a few honest breaths
  • letting that relationship become a tiny daily reset where you are not just a role, but a living being in community with other living beings

Weekly Caregiver Invitation

This week:

1. Pick one plant ally – a pot plant, a tree, a strip of grass.

2. Spend one intentional minute with it each day, using sight, touch or breath.

3. Ask gently: Where am I forcing? Where could I flow more like this plant or ecosystem?

You don’t need to become a gardener. You’re simply remembering you belong to nature, too.

Connect with Tigrilla Gardenia:

• Website: https://tigrillagardenia.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tigrillagardenia
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigrillagardenia
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tigrillagardenia
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tigrillagardenia

Caregiver Resources:

• Radiant Moments: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
• 90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
• Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Connect with J and B Inspired:

• Website: https://jandbinspired.com/
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@JandBInspired
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jandbinspired/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandbinspired/

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #plantwisdom #resilience #selfcare #radiantmomentspodcast

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In this episode of Radiant Moments – Caregiver Oasis, Michelle talks with Mariam Parineh, founder of Viva Valet, about what independence at home can look like when the right supports are gently holding things in the background – so families don’t have to carry everything alone.

Drawing on decades of lived experience (living with grandparents, supporting another grandparent from afar, being married to a 94‑year‑old partner, and now caring for her own ageing parents), Mariam offers a compassionate, practical look at confidence in ageing and the hidden load families are holding.

Inside This Episode

The Hidden Burden of Caregiving - What “independent at home”

Understanding Independence & Confidence in Ageing - Mariam explains why confidence – not just physical ability or age – is a key predictor of independence, happiness and safety for older adults, and why carers need to consider more than just “tasks getting done”.

Invisible Labour: The Unseen Work of Families - Beyond the obvious chores, we explore:

Navigating Conversations About Ageing (Before Crisis Hits) - Gentle language you can use now, while your loved one is still relatively well:

The Nine Pillars of Confidence in Ageing - Mariam walks through nine intertwined types of confidence and why they matter:

• psychological (self‑belief)
• behavioural (routines and habits)
• environmental & spatial (home safety and familiarity)
• emotional & social (feeling safe to interact)
• spiritual (sense of meaning and purpose)
• physical (mobility and strength)
• identity (who they are beyond work or roles)
• digital confidence (navigating tech in a digital‑first world)

You’ll hear real examples of how these play out in daily life – and how one small change can either erode or strengthen multiple areas at once.

Honouring Identity, Not Just Safety - From cherished routines to favourite chairs and long‑held clothing habits.

Digital Confidence & Practical Help - Why digital systems (parking apps, online payments, GP portals) quietly exclude many older adults, and how Viva Valet are helping.

Connect with Mariam & Viva Valet

• Website: https://www.vivavalet.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vivavaletofficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vivavaletofficial/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ9hX0jKJZhgPKA_tjSD7tg
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@vivavaletofficial

Connect with J and B Inspired - Caregiver Resources:

• Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
• 90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
• Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)

#caregiving #ageingathome #independentliving #confidenceinageing #radiantmomentspodcast

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What if the difference between breaking and barely getting through the week was one tiny routine – one breath, one line you say to yourself, one small movement that resets your body and mind?

In this episode of Radiant Moments – Caregiver Oasis, Michelle talks with DK Kang – martial artist, author of Mindset Metamorphosis and husband‑carer – about the mindset shifts and micro‑practices that helped him walk through his wife’s cancer diagnosis, job loss, crushing debt and repeated medical crises.

DK doesn’t speak from theory. He shares what he actually did in waiting rooms, at 2am tube flushes and in the weeks when both he and his wife lost their jobs and still had to keep going.

This conversation is for carers who are exhausted but still showing up, and who need tools that fit betweenappointments, not on a fantasy retreat.

Inside This Episode

• From Surviving to “Why Not Us?”
• Mindset Shifts That Change Your Day, Not Just Your Thoughts
• The Power of Commitment in Caregiving
• Transforming Mindset: Internal vs External Wins
• Gratitude in the Fire
• Quick Reset Techniques for Overwhelm
• Movement, Habit Stacking & Micro‑Self‑Care
• Self‑Care, Advocacy & the Grief Journey
• Finding Purpose in Pain & Community Support
  
  

Weekly Caregiver Challenge

In the next 24 hours:

1. Make one small commitment that supports your identity as a caring human (e.g. 2 minutes of breathing, a 5‑minute walk, or one gratitude before bed).

2. Reach out to one other caregiver or community – in person or online – and let them know you’re walking this path too.

You are not meant to carry this alone.

Connect with DK Kang
Website: https://www.dkkang.com/
Newsletter & free chapter of Mindset Metamorphosis: https://newsletter.dkkang.com/
Mindset Metamorphosis (book): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFM7YBFZ
The Kimchi Connection Cookbook: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D677LV6Q

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dae.k.kang
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dkkangtkd/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/masterkangdk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dk-kang-1096662b4/

Connect with J and B Inspired Caregiver Resources:
Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)
#caregiving #mindset #resilience #griefjourney #radiantmomentspodcast

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If you could change just one sentence inside your head, what might shift in your day?

In this conversation on Radiant Moments – Caregiver Oasis, Michelle talks with licensed counsellors Helene Zupanak and Beth Valdez, co‑authors of Sticky Note Mantras. Together they explore how three, four or five words on a sticky note can do more than “cheer you up” – they can interrupt panic, soften guilt, tame your inner critic and help you act with more calm and clarity in real caregiving moments.

Inside This Episode - The Power of Small Phrases in Stressful Moments
Helene and Beth share how short mantras helped them navigate ADHD, OCD and decision paralysis, and why the brain responds so well to simple, repeated language instead of long affirmations you can’t recall under pressure.

• Mantras to Recentre & Regulate
• Essential Elements of a Caregiver Mantra
• Taming Your Inner Critic with Compassion & Humour
• Scenario‑Based Mantras for Real Caregiving Moments
• Communication Mantras with Clinicians & Family
• Mantras for Pain, Grief & Tiny Pockets of Light
• Technology & Objects as Gentle Cues
  

Weekly Caregiver Challenge

This week, choose:

1. One caregiving moment you want to support (e.g. appointments, bedtime spirals, asking for help).
2. One short phrase that feels true to you (you can borrow one from the episode or create your own).
3. One tiny action to pair it with (a breath, a touch, a movement, a song line).

Use your mantra once a day and notice one micro‑win: a softer inner voice, a calmer choice, or one less spiral. That’s small words creating real relief.

Connect with Helene & Beth – Sticky Note Mantras

• Website: www.stickynotemantras.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stickynotemantrasbook
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stickynotemantras

J and B Inspired Caregiver Resources:

• Radiant Moments show notes: https://jandbinspired.com/radiant-moments-podcast
• 90 Second Reset Program: https://jandbinspired.com/90-second-reset-program
• Oasis Membership Waitlist: https://jandbinspired.com/founding-member

Music by Konstantin Garbuzyuk (via Uppbeat)
#caregiving #mantras #selftalk #caregiverwellbeing #radiantmomentspodcast

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