Claim OwnershipThe Cancer Caregiver
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The Cancer Caregiver Podcast is for the relentless cancer caregivers who tirelessly prioritize their loved ones but struggle to care for themselves amidst overwhelming responsibilities, societal expectations, and feelings of isolation.
What if self-care didn’t feel like one more impossible task? What if you could find moments of joy, even in the chaos?
Caregivers face constant challenges: battling burnout, feeling unseen, and navigating the overwhelming pressure to always put themselves last. These struggles exist because society glorifies the selfless caregiver, leaving little room for personal care. But denying yourself isn't sustainable. Instead, it’s time to break free from guilt, shatter misconceptions, and embrace practical self-care that empowers you to thrive. Enter The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, your go-to resource that simplifies self-preservation into actionable, 15-minute strategies.
The Cancer Caregiver Podcast delivers short, impactful episodes that focus on one practical self-care technique at a time. From mindfulness and breathing exercises to navigating difficult emotions, we cover strategies that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Hosted by Charlotte, a fellow cancer caregiver, yoga and meditation teacher, this podcast is your supportive sanctuary for reclaiming your time and joy.
Charlotte has walked the difficult path of cancer caregiving for over a decade. With firsthand experience of the relentless demands and emotional toll, she knows the battle caregivers face in trying to care for themselves. Charlotte’s background in yoga and meditation uniquely equips her to provide caregivers with tangible, no-nonsense self-care tools, making her the ideal guide for this journey.
Life is short. Cancer sucks. But you deserve to live joyfully. Join us on The Cancer Caregiver Podcast and reclaim the space you need to care strong—for yourself and your loved one.
What if self-care didn’t feel like one more impossible task? What if you could find moments of joy, even in the chaos?
Caregivers face constant challenges: battling burnout, feeling unseen, and navigating the overwhelming pressure to always put themselves last. These struggles exist because society glorifies the selfless caregiver, leaving little room for personal care. But denying yourself isn't sustainable. Instead, it’s time to break free from guilt, shatter misconceptions, and embrace practical self-care that empowers you to thrive. Enter The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, your go-to resource that simplifies self-preservation into actionable, 15-minute strategies.
The Cancer Caregiver Podcast delivers short, impactful episodes that focus on one practical self-care technique at a time. From mindfulness and breathing exercises to navigating difficult emotions, we cover strategies that fit seamlessly into your busy life. Hosted by Charlotte, a fellow cancer caregiver, yoga and meditation teacher, this podcast is your supportive sanctuary for reclaiming your time and joy.
Charlotte has walked the difficult path of cancer caregiving for over a decade. With firsthand experience of the relentless demands and emotional toll, she knows the battle caregivers face in trying to care for themselves. Charlotte’s background in yoga and meditation uniquely equips her to provide caregivers with tangible, no-nonsense self-care tools, making her the ideal guide for this journey.
Life is short. Cancer sucks. But you deserve to live joyfully. Join us on The Cancer Caregiver Podcast and reclaim the space you need to care strong—for yourself and your loved one.
318 Episodes
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If your mornings start with medication alarms, symptom checks, and mental triage... this episode is for you.We’re letting go of the fantasy morning routines that don’t survive contact with real caregiving life, and replacing them with something far more useful: tiny, portable rituals that help you arrive in your day without needing extra time, silence, or perfect conditions.You’ll learn why mornings are especially destabilizing for caregivers, how your nervous system wakes up already on alert, and how micro-rituals can create moments of presence inside even the most chaotic start.This episode offers practical, grounded ways to reclaim yourself in the middle of real mornings, not by doing more, but by noticing yourself inside what you’re already doing.
January is loud with messages about becoming better, doing more, and fixing yourself.But caregiving doesn’t work on a clean-slate calendar... and neither do you.In this episode, we unpack why traditional resolutions often fail caregivers, and what to do instead. You’ll learn the difference between brittle goals and flexible intentions, and how to choose an intention that actually fits inside a life shaped by uncertainty, exhaustion, and responsibility.We explore how to set intentions that don’t demand perfection, don’t add pressure, and don’t require more time... only more honesty. You’ll be guided to identify what you want to feel more of this year, and how to anchor that intention into moments that already exist in your day.This episode is for caregivers who want January to feel different, not because life changes, but because the way you meet it does.
You made it through another year of caregiving.Maybe it wasn’t graceful. Maybe it didn’t look the way you hoped. Maybe you crossed the finish line exhausted, resentful, relieved, and still unsure how you’re standing. But you’re here and that deserves recognition.This episode is not about resolutions, goal-setting, or pretending January magically fixes everything. It’s about acknowledging what you survived, naming the invisible work you carried, and giving your nervous system permission to stop bracing for just a moment.We talk about the caregiver “January hangover,” why the pressure to start fresh can feel unbearable, and how recognition, not reinvention. is often what caregivers need most at the beginning of a new year.If you’re entering January already tired, already stretched, already wondering how much longer you can keep doing this, this episode is a place to land.
What does “together” really mean when your life as a caregiver has completely changed?Drawing from her own experience of 14 moves over 30 years of marriage, and the isolation caregiving can bring, Charlotte explores how togetherness must evolve when energy, proximity, and tradition no longer fit your reality.This isn’t about finding your way back to how things used to be. It’s about discovering the many ways connection still shows up: in text messages, shared silences, candlelight across distance, and the invisible thread that ties you to people who truly see you.Charlotte guides listeners through a powerful Connection Visualization Practice, offers gentle new rituals for sustainable connection, and invites you to honor presence over performance.Whether you're feeling isolated, overwhelmed, or simply exhausted by the effort of staying connected, this episode will help you remember: you are not alone. Even now. Especially now.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
What if you could stop pretending everything was fine and still find beauty in the day?This episode explores one of the most tender truths about caregiving: joy and grief often show up together. One breath might carry laughter. The next, tears. It doesn’t mean you're confused. It means your emotional capacity is expanding.Charlotte shares a deeply relatable story about a moment at the airport that brought back joy-filled memories of her daughter and grief right alongside them. She unpacks why we feel pressured to “pick one emotion” and how this emotional performance keeps us from feeling whole.With her signature mix of compassion and clarity, Charlotte invites caregivers to stop compartmentalizing their feelings and instead, practice both/and awareness. Through the One Breath for What Hurts, One for What Helps exercise, listeners learn how to hold the full spectrum of their emotional reality without apology.Find the Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
In this episode of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, host Charlotte Bayala speaks with Samira Daswani, founder and CEO of Manta Cares, about her journey from cancer patient to healthcare innovator.Samira shares how navigating her own diagnosis exposed the emotional and logistical gaps in oncology care gaps that patients and caregivers are often expected to manage on their own. The conversation explores patient-first design, the role of caregivers in treatment decision-making, cultural barriers to cancer communication, and how better navigation tools can reduce overwhelm during an already fragile time.This episode highlights the often unseen burden carried by caregivers and patients alike, and why empowering people with timely, accessible information can change how they experience cancer care.Find Samira at www.mantacares.com
Whether you’re grieving someone who’s passed or experiencing the aching shift of someoneIn this deeply emotional episode, Charlotte gently guides caregivers through the quiet grief that lives in everyday spaces: the scent of a familiar cologne, a tradition now missing someone, a chair no longer filled. Charlotte explores the invisible weight of anticipated grief, the myth of “moving on,” and the raw honesty of loving someone even when they’re no longer here in the same way. You’ll learn how to stay present with the absence without rushing past it or forcing a silver lining. This isn’t about closure. It’s about continuing.She offers a beautifully guided Memory-Holding Ritual and shares tender reflections on the complex truth of memory, the layered grief of caregiving, and why love always leaves a mark even when the chair is empty.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone.In this deeply moving episode, Charlotte speaks to a form of loneliness caregivers rarely name but nearly all experience: the kind that blooms inside a full house. The kind that grows louder in a room full of visitors. The kind you carry behind the brave face and constant managing.This episode explores the profound disconnection that happens when the world sees your function but not your fatigue. It offers honest language for invisible burdens, quiet acknowledgment of emotional isolation, and practical ways to stay tethered to yourself when connection with others feels impossible.Charlotte doesn’t try to fix the loneliness. She names it. Validates it. And offers small, sacred practices for honoring what you carry in silence.Because sometimes the loudest place in the world is the dinner table. And the most crowded room is the one where you feel least seen.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
If you've ever fantasized about not attending the gathering, not picking up the phone, or not pretending to be okay for everyone else's comfort, this episode is your permission slip.In this powerful episode, Charlotte gets real about something every caregiver has felt but few say out loud: the need to hide from the world, and the overwhelming guilt that follows. Charlotte explores why rest is repair, not rebellion; why guilt floods in when you try to protect your peace; and how to rewrite the internal script that says your worth depends on your presence.With compassion and clarity, she offers caregivers a lifeline, practical strategies, breathing practices, self-talk rewrites, and boundary-setting scripts to help you opt out without apology.This episode is a sacred exhale. You don't need to earn rest. You don't have to perform wellness. And you’re allowed to say, “I just can’t this year.”Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
Cancer caregivers know how overwhelming diagnosis and testing can be. In this episode of The Cancer Caregiver Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Robert Bard, an internationally recognized expert in 3D Doppler ultrasound imaging, to discuss how non-invasive cancer screening is changing what’s possible for patients and their caregivers.We explore how this advanced technology improves early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue—and why male breast cancer is often overlooked. Dr. Bard also shares insights on environmental exposures (like toxins, firefighting, and military service), how caregivers can support loved ones in getting second opinions, and why patient involvement in diagnostics can be life-saving.If you’re a caregiver navigating cancer or someone searching for answers about screening and treatment options, this conversation will give you the tools, language, and confidence to ask better questions and advocate for your loved one.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome & introduction to Dr. Bard02:00 – What inspired Dr. Bard’s focus on early cancer detection05:00 – How 3D Doppler ultrasound improves on mammograms & MRIs08:00 – Understanding male breast cancer and why it’s overlooked13:00 – Environmental toxins, firefighters, and screening risks16:00 – 3D imaging for treatment guidance20:00 – Alternative & complementary approaches to cancer care23:00 – Why patients should always ask questions and get a second opinion28:00 – Firefighter and first responder screening programs30:00 – Upcoming global male breast cancer conference & resourcesCreditsGuest: Dr. Robert L. Bard, Bard Cancer DiagnosticsLearn more at: www.BardCancerDiagnostics.com
In this special crossover episode, Charlotte shares the mic with two voices she deeply respects: Dr. Tina Kaser and Dr. Leah Sherman, the brilliant hosts of The Cancer Pod.Both naturopathic doctors, Dr. Kaser and Dr. Sherman blend science, warmth, and humor in conversations that help people navigating cancer feel informed, supported, and truly seen. And in this episode, they’re taking on something that can feel complicated for anyone touched by cancer: gratitude.But don’t worry—this isn’t one of those “just think positive” chats.Instead, you’ll hear:What real gratitude looks like when life is genuinely hardThe science of how it impacts your healthHow toxic positivity and cynicism can cloud the experiencePersonal stories and clinical wisdom from two seasoned professionalsAnd a surprisingly sweet lesson from a dog named Panda about waking up gratefulThis episode is honest, funny, and refreshingly relatable. It won’t tell you what to feel—it simply gives you space to feel it all.So take a deep breath and settle in as The Cancer Pod explores gratitude in a way that feels real, not forced.
At the ThyCa Conference, Charlotte sits down with caregiver and Thyca volunteer Miguel Meléndez for an honest conversation about what caregiving really feels like behind the scenes. Miguel shares the one piece of advice he gives every caregiver, the challenges men face in caregiving roles, and how caring for a spouse while raising three young children reshaped his sense of identity and resilience. They talk openly about self-preservation, the emotional toll of patient portals, maintaining connection during long cancer journeys, and the quiet loneliness that can come with caregiving. If you’ve ever felt unseen or unsure how to take care of yourself while caring for someone else, this conversation will remind you that you’re not alone.You can find more information about the Thyroid Cancer Survivors' Association, Inc at http://www.thyca.org
What happens when traditions begin to feel heavy, performative, or completely out of alignment with your current life as a caregiver?In this episode, Charlotte explores the grief, guilt, and quiet relief that can come with releasing old traditions and why it’s okay to do so. Through personal stories, reflection prompts, and a breath practice for letting go, she invites you to examine the rituals you’ve been maintaining. Are they still nourishing you? Or are they quietly exhausting you?This episode is about evolving with honesty. It’s about recognizing that letting go of how things used to be doesn’t mean letting go of love it means making space for what your life needs now.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
It’s the season of gratitude… but what if you’re too exhausted to feel thankful?If you’ve ever sat at a table, forced to answer “What are you grateful for?” with nothing but a lump in your throat, this episode is for you.In this powerful episode, Charlotte speaks directly to the caregivers who feel emotionally spent, overwhelmed by expectations, and disconnected from the glossy gratitude culture of November. Charlotte redefines gratitude in a way that’s real, accessible, and grounded in survival. She introduces the practice of micro-gratitude, noticing the smallest moments of relief, without forcing positivity or emotional performance.With honesty, compassion, and practical tools, this episode gives you permission to stop trying so hard to “feel grateful” and start honoring the truth of what you’re carrying. Because sometimes, survival is the win, and noticing one moment of ease is more than enough.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
Caregivers are constantly in motion, doing, managing, anticipating, giving. But in this powerful episode, Charlotte offers something different: a full-body invitation to pause.There’s no to-do list here. No lesson to absorb. No advice to implement. Just a guided, gentle space to rest.Through breath, body awareness, and quiet affirmation, this episode leads you out of survival mode and back into your body. It offers the kind of restoration caregivers rarely allow themselves, but so deeply deserve.You don’t have to wait until everything is done. You don’t have to feel guilty for taking 10 minutes. You don’t have to earn this moment.You can rest now. And you’ll still be enough.Find the Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t have time to be mindful,” this episode is for you.In caregiving, time always feels tight. So mindfulness? It sounds like a luxury you can’t afford. But what if mindfulness isn’t about carving out more time but simply showing up to the time you already have?In this episode, Charlotte shares how presence, not perfection, is the most powerful act of self-preservation. You'll learn the difference between mindfulness and meditation, how to shift your focus from spiraling to grounding, and how to use ordinary moments (like washing your hands or starting the car) to return to yourself.Using the Anchor Practice, Charlotte walks you through how to integrate mindfulness into your caregiving life without needing more time, silence, or space. Just presence.Find the Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
When you’re caregiving, your mind is focused on tasks, timelines, and to-dos. But your body is paying attention to what you’re not saying out loud.In this episode, Charlotte explores how the physical body holds stress, tension, and emotional weight long before we consciously recognize it. If your shoulders are constantly tight, your breath is shallow, or your patience is wearing thin, this isn’t weakness; it’s your nervous system asking for help.You’ll learn how chronic caregiving stress impacts your biology, why burnout doesn’t always announce itself, and how to start noticing the small signals your body is sending before they become a scream.With a calming guided practice and real-world insight, this episode offers more than information—it gives you permission to reconnect with yourself through quiet, consistent attention.Find your Free Scanxiety Toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/toolsMentioned in this episode:Find Overlooked at www.overlooked.pod
After caregiving for so long, you might feel like you’ve lost parts of yourself you didn’t even know were missing. This episode isn’t about returning to who you were before cancer. It’s about reconnecting with the person you're becoming now.In this season finale of Becoming You Again, Charlotte shares four powerful entry points to help caregivers reintegrate into their own lives: presence, choice, expression, and boundaries. Through personal stories, simple grounding practices, and real-world tools, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap for beginning the next chapter, not by fixing yourself, but by including yourself.This isn’t about becoming your “old self.” It’s about coming home to the person you are now with all the strength, wisdom, and humanity caregiving has shaped in you.
When you picture a caregiver, what image comes to mind? Often, it’s someone running on empty, holding everything together, and putting their own needs last. But what if preserving yourself isn’t selfish but essential?In this episode, Charlotte challenges the belief that caregiving means disappearing. Through real examples and deeply relatable moments, she redefines what strength looks like for caregivers. This episode explores how caring for yourself: your body, your mind, and your nervous system, isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.You’ll walk away with practical, grounded ideas for integrating small acts of self-preservation into your caregiving life. From setting boundaries to taking conscious breaths, Charlotte shares how these quiet actions are acts of resistance against a system that often overlooks you.
Becoming You Again Series: Part TwoCaregiving comes with a weight no one else can see. It's the emotional backpack you carry every day: filled with guilt, fear, responsibility, hypervigilance, and resentment. You can’t always name what’s inside it, but you feel it in your body, your mood, and your energy.In this episode, Charlotte helps you take a closer look at what you’ve been holding. Through real caregiver stories, simple grounding practices, and a framework for emotional awareness, you’ll begin to understand how this emotional load builds up and how to start setting it down, one feeling at a time.This conversation offers tools to help you:Differentiate between your emotions and the ones you’re absorbing from othersCreate space to process difficult feelings without judgmentLoosen the grip of guilt, fear, and griefReclaim small moments of relief, clarity, and personal truthThis episode is not about pushing through, it’s about pausing long enough to acknowledge what you’ve been carrying, and realizing you don’t have to carry it all alone.Find your Scanxiety toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
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