Send Cathy a text:)

Ready for a fresh start? After more than 260 episodes and navigating through some deeply personal caregiving seasons, I've taken a much-needed pause to reimagine what this podcast can be for you. Now I'm back with renewed energy and a powerful focus: your wellbeing as a caregiver.

Season One, "What's in Your Cup," is entirely about you—your health, identity, energy, and emotional wellbeing. Because here's the truth that often gets overlooked: caregiving is not just about what you give; it's about how you refill, protect, and care for your own cup. As Emma Hemming Willis wisely notes in her book "The Unexpected Journey, "Caregiving asks everything of us, yet somehow we must find ways to keep something for ourselves." When nearly 60% of caregivers report their health worsening due to caregiving responsibilities, this conversation isn't just important—it's essential.

Every Tuesday from October 7th through December 8th, 2025, you'll receive six core episodes filled with real talk, self-discovery tools, and practical strategies, plus bonus content including mini pep talks and journaling prompts between episodes. We'll kick off with "Refilled and Reimagined: What's in Your Cup Today," setting the foundation for your journey back to yourself. Whether you're new here or have been listening since day one, this season is your invitation to pause, breathe, and reconnect with what makes you whole. Because when you show up as your best self, you become a stronger caregiver, advocate, and healthier human being. Mark your calendar, grab your favorite drink, and let's rediscover what belongs in your cup—together.

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Send Cathy a text:)

Cathy shares a personal update about her absence from the podcast as she takes time to heal and find stillness after eight years of non-stop caregiving, including Denis's recent stem cell transplant recovery. She explains her decision to pause – not quit – the podcast to reconnect with her body, rediscover joy, and learn what it means to simply be rather than constantly do.

• Operating at high speed for almost eight years through caregiving, loss, podcasting, and creating
• Realized she had forgotten what stillness felt like and couldn't sit still or pause
• Gave herself permission in mid-June to just be – no schedule, pressure, or podcast deadlines
• Currently in a healing season trying to figure out what joy and energy feel like in her body again
• Denis is okay, Cathy is okay, and she will return when the time is right
• Misses the podcast community and interactions with listeners
• Encouragement for others who may be in seasons of stillness, burnout, or discovery

Thank you for being in this with me. You are part of what makes this community feel like home, so take care, take good care of yourself, and I'll talk to you real soon.

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Send Cathy a text:)

Stepping into a hospital house is entering a world most caregivers never know exists until they're suddenly immersed in it. After 45+ days living at Kathy's House while my husband undergoes stem cell transplant treatment, I've discovered the raw, complex reality of caregiving away from home—and the unexpected community that forms in these spaces of collective vulnerability.

Between the shared kitchens where caregivers exchange whispered stories over coffee, the laundry rooms where tears and laughter flow equally, and the quiet corners where we all seek momentary solitude, these medical housing communities become more than just places to sleep near the hospital. They become lifelines of support when everything familiar has been stripped away.

The daily rhythm at Kathy's House constantly shifts between early morning hospital visits, meal preparation in communal spaces, finding moments for essential self-care, and navigating the practical logistics of living in an unfamiliar city. From discovering the safest grocery stores to handling car maintenance between appointments, caregiving doesn't pause for real-world responsibilities. Through it all, fellow caregivers become unexpected sources of strength—offering to wash your dishes when you're exhausted or simply sharing knowing glances across the dining room during community meals.

What I've learned most profoundly is how caregiving transforms across different settings. Hospital caregiving focuses on advocacy and emotional support, while hospital house caregiving blends direct care with creating normalcy in an abnormal situation. The weight of homesickness—missing my garden, my pets, my own bed—is balanced by the deep connections formed with others walking similar paths. Through bringing small comforts from home, establishing new routines, and embracing micro-connections with fellow caregivers, I've discovered you can create a sense of belonging even in the midst of medical uncertainty.

If you've experienced hospital house living or extended caregiving away from home, I'd love to hear your story. What small comforts did you bring to create a sense of home? How did you maintain your own well-being while supporting someone else's healing? Send me a text—because sharing these hidden caregiving journeys reminds us all that even in our most isolating moments, we're never truly alone.

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