In this first episode of Tears in the Shower: Untold Stories of Caregiving, Elena Prendergast shares the experiences that led her to create this podcast.

Before becoming a nurse practitioner and palliative care specialist, Elena was a daughter who lost her parents—learning about grief and caregiving the way many do, through lived experience rather than training. Early loss shaped her understanding of the emotional weight caregivers carry and later informed her work in palliative care and patient advocacy.

This episode provides a brief introduction to the heart of the podcast: honest conversations about caregiving, anticipatory grief, burnout, love, loss, and quality of life. Tears in the Shower is a space for caregivers of all walks of life—family caregivers, professional caregivers, clinicians, and advocates—to feel seen, heard, and supported.

This episode is an invitation to breathe, reflect, and begin a journey that honors caregiving as a deeply human experience.

Topics Covered

• Caregiving conversations are often avoided
• The emotional cost of caregiving
• Caregivers experience anticipatory grief and burnout
• Clinical knowledge does not compare to lived experience
• Quality of life matters for caregivers

Who This Podcast Is For

• Family caregivers
• Professional caregivers
• Healthcare professionals
• Patient advocates
• Anyone supporting a loved one with serious illness

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