In this episode, we sit down with the incredibly inspiring Ebony Travis Tichenor, a powerhouse advocate for working caregivers and someone who truly lives her life out loud. Ebony shares her deeply personal and powerful 17-year caregiving journey for her mother, all while balancing a full-time career and a full heart. We dive into what caregiving really looks like behind the scenes — the highs, the heartaches, and the healing — and how vulnerability has become one of her biggest strengths.

We talk about the unspoken emotional toll that working caregivers face and how important it is to find your voice, ask for help, and protect your joy. Ebony opens up about everything from the stigma around caregiving in the workplace to the little rituals of self-care that keep her grounded.

In corporate for almost 28 years this October, Ebony’s journey is grounded in resilience, identity, and heart. Born in Joliet, Illinois and raised in small-town South Texas, she proudly embraces her Black and Mexican heritage. Beyond the day-to-day, she loves caring for her mother as a devoted caregiver, being a loving spouse, fur baby momma, and a loyal friend to many. Ebony believes in real connection, purpose, and the power of showing up as your authentic self.

Episode Highlights:

[1:39] - Zack and Selma introduce Ebony and set the stage for an energetic and heartfelt conversation.
[2:56] - Ebony shares where she’s from and opens up with humor about Dallas and the Cowboys.
[3:48] - Her 17-year journey as a caregiver begins, sparked by a turning point in her youth.
[5:30] - Navigating the healthcare system and how identity impacted her early caregiver advocacy.
[6:53] - What inspired Ebony’s vulnerable National Caregiver Day post and her decision to speak up.
[8:16] - One of Ebony’s most emotionally difficult moments as a caregiver and how she overcame it.
[10:35] - How self-care fuels her caregiving and the special joy she finds in daily moments with her mom.
[13:35] - Advice she’d give to her younger self at the beginning of this journey — and to other caregivers.
[15:57] - The importance of being honest with employers about caregiving responsibilities
[17:49] - How Ebony overcame the stigma of caregiving through community and shared stories.
[19:29] - Zack and Ebony discuss shifting cultural perceptions of caregiving in the workplace.
[20:09] - Tips for employers to create a culture where caregivers feel safe speaking up.
[21:07] - Where to follow Ebony and continue learning from her empowering story.

Links & Resources:

• Follow Ebony on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ebonytravis01/
• Connect with Ebony on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonytravis/
• Ebony's LinkedIn Post on National Caregiver Day with her mom highlighted in our newsletter: https://zacks-newsletter-4a359b.beehiiv.com/p/what-is-in-your-2025-people-strategy-1d936a23d5dcad82

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Rhonda Klug from Harry & David to talk about the often invisible and deeply personal journey of working caregivers. From supporting her parents through dialysis and COPD to leading real cultural change within her organization, Rhonda shares her firsthand experience that sparked a company-wide movement of support and empathy. She takes us behind the scenes of how Harry & David and the broader 1-800-Flowers family are creating a more compassionate workplace for employees who are balancing caregiving responsibilities with their careers.

We explore how Rhonda transformed her lived experience into a catalyst for creating CARE (Caregivers and Allies Responding with Empathy), an Employee Resource Group (ERG) that is reshaping how caregiving is understood and supported in the workplace. If you're an employer wondering how to retain and uplift your caregiving employees—or you're a caregiver looking for inspiration on how to advocate for yourself—this is the episode for you.

Episode Highlights:

[2:12] – Meet Rhonda Klug of Harry & David: Her background and caregiving connection.
[3:23] – Rhonda shares her emotional journey as a caregiver for both her parents.
[7:12] – How personal caregiving shaped her awareness of employee needs.
[9:24] – The pivotal moment at the Care Colloquium that sparked a corporate movement.
[12:50] – Why storytelling from leadership is essential in changing culture.
[15:48] – Turning insight into action: Creating a caregiver-focused ERG.
[18:50] – Innovative benefits like Talkspace and Torchlight to support employees.
[20:23] – Practical tips for managers and employees to foster communication.
[24:29] – Encouraging employees to self-identify and seek support.
[26:30] – Real-life impact: Preventing turnover and boosting retention through flexibility.
[28:50] – The ripple effect: How leadership empathy transforms company culture.

Links & Resources:

• Talkspace – Mental health support platform used by Harry & David employees
• Torchlight – Caregiving resource platform Rhonda mentions
• Celebrations Chatter Podcast by Jim McCann and interview with us
• Celebrations Pulse Newsletter by Jim McCann
• Care Colloquium – The conference that sparked Rhonda’s caregiving leadership journey and Facebook Group
• Debbie Howard – Aging Matters International – Caregiving strategy consultant
• Harry & David: https://www.harryanddavid.com/
• Crater Lake: https://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
• Benefits Alliance Connect Conference 2024: https://benefitsalliance.ca/event/connect-conference-2024

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

If you're a working caregiver—or if you support them—you need to hear this one. In this episode, we sit down with elder law experts (and longtime friends of the show) Eric Goldberg and Clelia Pergola from the NJ Elder Law Center. Together, they drop some serious knowledge on navigating Medicaid, protecting assets, and creating real systems of support for families in crisis.

This conversation gets personal, gets practical, and—most importantly—gets to the heart of what caregivers are up against. We dive into everything from care coordination and legal documentation to family dynamics, generational friction, and what employers really should be doing to help. If you’ve ever wondered what makes elder law so crucial—or if you’ve avoided the paperwork altogether—this episode is the nudge you’ve been waiting for.

Episode Highlights:

[2:15] - Meet Clelia and Eric, and hear how their caregiving and legal paths became one.
[7:27] - How personal chaos led to a systemized, compassionate elder law practice.
[8:32] - Eric explains the types of cases they handle and the three phases of long-term care planning.
[12:06] - The must-have legal documents every family should prepare before a crisis.
[13:36] - What Medicaid actually covers, and why it’s often misunderstood.
[16:24] - The real challenge behind Medicaid applications—and why counties can make or break it.
[20:11] - Clelia’s powerful case for why employers should bring elder care resources to work.
[22:19] - How to have “the talk” with your parents—without a total meltdown.
[26:53] - Why geriatric care managers are secret weapons for families navigating uncertainty.
[32:59] - Debunking the myth that elder law is just for the wealthy.
[36:52] - Toughest questions families ask—and the surprising legal consequences of good intentions.
[38:20] - The sibling divide: managing conflict between hands-on caregivers and money managers.
[41:35] - Final takeaways: plan ahead, talk early, and don’t try to DIY elder care in a crisis.

Links & Resources:

• About Eric: https://njelc.com/our-team/eric-goldberg/
• About Clelia: https://njelc.com/our-team/clelia-pergola/
• Goldberg Law Group: https://njelc.com/
• Aging LIfe Care Association (Geriatric Care Managers): https://www.aginglifecare.org/
• Interview with Geriatric Manager/Aging Life Care Professional Elyse Weber-Sacks: https://www.invisibleemployeesbook.com/real-working-caregivers-stories-1-7
• Clelia's books: “The Law Firm Revolution” : https://www.amazon.com/Law-Firm-Revolution-Clelia-Pergola/dp/1543911595 and “Life, Lessons, & Legacy“: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Legacy-Grandmother-Changed/dp/1667803662

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.