The Care Collective Podcast

Who takes care of the caregiver?In this special Valentine’s Day episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla shares a love letter to caregivers who are feeling exhausted, invisible, or emotionally overwhelmed.Caregiving is one of the most loving roles a person can step into, but it’s also one of the most unseen. If you’re experiencing caregiver burnout, caregiver stress, grief while your loved one is still alive, or the quiet emotional weight that comes with supporting someone else, this episode is for you.This is not a productivity episode. This is not advice on how to “do more.”This is emotional support for caregivers, words of affirmation, encouragement, and reminders that:• Being tired does not mean you are failing • Burnout is not a personal weakness • You deserve support that does not require you to earn it • Love does not require losing yourselfYou’ll also hear reflection questions designed to help you reconnect with your own identity outside of caregiving.If you’ve ever felt invisible as a caregiver, struggled with limits, or wondered how to care for yourself while caring for someone else, this episode offers reassurance and practical emotional grounding.Share this with another caregiver who needs to hear it.Because caregivers deserve to be cared for too.____________________________________________Find more information about the Care Collective Podcast here: Link

How do you advocate for yourself at the doctor, especially when appointments feel rushed, medical records don’t always match, and you’re trying to explain months of symptoms in just a few minutes?In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla sits down with two nurse practitioners to answer one of the most common healthcare questions patients and caregivers ask:👉 How do you navigate medical appointments and make sure your voice is heard?Together, they break down practical, real-life strategies to help you feel more confident and prepared when managing your healthcare or advocating for a loved one.In This Episode, We Cover:✔️ How to prepare for a doctor appointment ✔️ What to bring (including medication lists and health history notes) ✔️ How to ask better questions during medical visits ✔️ How to coordinate care between specialists and primary care providers ✔️ Why medical record errors and medication mix-ups happen (and how to catch them) ✔️ How caregivers can advocate for loved ones without conflict ✔️ How to navigate a fragmented healthcare system with more confidenceIf you’ve ever left a medical appointment feeling confused, unheard, or overwhelmed, this episode will give you tools to better advocate for your health and make the most of your time with providers.Connect with Our Guests:👉 Learn more about Storyline and their patient advocacy services here: Story Line Health NavigationConnect with Mikayla & The Care Collective:👉 Follow along for caregiver support, advocacy education, and community resources: Find our Info HereAbout The Care Collective Podcast:The Care Collective Podcast helps caregivers and families feel empowered, seen, and less alone while navigating healthcare, aging, mental health, and complex medical decisions. Each episode shares expert insight, lived experiences, and emotional support for those caring for themselves or someone they love.

Talking about nursing homes, funeral planning, advanced directives, or medical decisions can feel overwhelming, and for many caregivers, these conversations feel almost impossible to start.If you’ve ever avoided end-of-life planning conversations with someone you love, you are not alone… and you are not doing anything wrong.In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, we’re stepping away from checklists and paperwork and focusing on something caregivers are rarely taught:👉 How to emotionally prepare for end-of-life conversations before a crisis happens.Because end-of-life planning isn’t just practical preparation, it’s emotional preparation, nervous system regulation, and learning how to navigate fear, grief, guilt, and love all at the same time.This episode is a gentle, supportive space to help caregivers begin processing these difficult topics without pressure, shame, or overwhelm.Download the episode guide here: linkFollow us on Instagram here: Link

Making end-of-life decisions can feel overwhelming, emotional, and incredibly isolating, especially when you’re trying to do “the right thing” for someone you love.In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, I’m joined by Kristy from @ownyourend.co (on Instagram), who is changing the way we approach end-of-life planning with more clarity, compassion, and humanity. We talk about the emotional weight caregivers carry when navigating end-of-life decisions, why these conversations are so hard to have, and how planning ahead of crisis can actually reduce guilt, fear, and burnout.Kristy also shares more about her new product launch, designed to help individuals and families navigate end-of-life wishes with less stress and more confidence, without feeling cold, rushed, or transactional.If you’re caring for a parent, partner, or loved one, and feeling anxious, stuck, or unsure about next steps, this episode is for you.You don’t have to have everything figured out today. You’re allowed to slow down. You’re not alone in this.Topics covered:End-of-life decision anxietyCaregiver stress and emotional burnoutHow to talk about end-of-life wishesPlanning ahead vs. crisis decision-makingCompassionate end-of-life resources for familiesFind more info about Kristy here: Link to Kristy's Information

SummaryIn this episode, Mikayla Cluxton reflects on her recent absence from the podcast, sharing personal challenges and the importance of community support for caregivers. She discusses her plans for a caregiver conference, the significance of grace in caregiving, and the healing process after personal trauma. Mikayla emphasizes the value of relationships and being present in the moment, especially during life's ups and downs.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back and Reflections01:35 Navigating Personal Challenges05:08 Healing and Coping Strategies06:44 Life's Roller Coaster: Engagement and Growth08:13 The Importance of Relationships09:01 Introduction and Accountability09:55 Upcoming Caregiver Conference and Podcast Changes11:09 Community Engagement and Resources11:34 Encouragement and Reflection

In today’s powerful episode, Mikayla sits down with Logan Lee Lamson, a writer, cancer survivor, and former primary caregiver for his mom, Linda May.Logan first stepped into caregiving at just 26 years old when his mom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fifteen months later, she passed away. Years after losing her, Logan received his own devastating diagnosis: Hodgkin lymphoma. Suddenly, he found himself navigating the same hospitals, treatments, and fears he once walked through as a caregiver.In this conversation, Logan opens up about: What it was like to care for his mom during her cancer journeyThe moment he realized his own symptoms were being overlooked Why patients and caregivers both struggle to advocate for themselves The reality of anticipatory grief and watching someone you love change How humor, community, and small joys kept him going What he wishes the media told the truth about when it comes to cancer And the unexpected parallels between his mom’s treatment and his ownLogan also shares about his book, Losing Linda May: A Cancer Caregiving Memoir. a first-person, present-tense account that captures the day-to-day reality of caregiving with honesty, love, and vulnerability. His book is available exclusively on Amazon as an ebook and through Kindle Unlimited.The link to Logan's Book:https://www.amazon.com/Losing-Linda-Mae-Cancer-Caregiving-ebook/dp/B0FDGW7F9JIf you want to continue following Logan’s journey, you can find him here: Instagram / TikTok : @justsomehindsightThis episode is a reminder that caregivers deserve support too, and that even in the hardest moments, there can still be connection, humor, and hope.If this conversation speaks to you, please share it with another caregiver or leave a review to help more people feel seen and supported. 💛

In this episode of The Care Collective, Mikayla dives into one of the most overlooked forms of grief that caregivers face: anticipatory grief. This is the grief that begins long before the final goodbye. Through real stories from past episodes, including Alicia’s grief over her mom never getting to hold her future baby and Sadie’s experience losing her dad to dementia as a teenager, this conversation brings voice to the kind of pain many caregivers carry silently.You’ll learn:What anticipatory grief actually is and why it shows upResearch-backed signs and symptoms caregivers often experienceHow caregiver burden, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion contribute to early griefPractical, evidence-based ways to navigate anticipatory griefTangible grounding tools you can use right awayWhether you’re caring for a parent with dementia, supporting a loved one through illness, or grieving the future you imagined, this episode offers compassion, clarity, and community.Listen in and remember: you don’t have to carry this alone.Find more information on Origins Training & Consulting (and how to build resilience) here: https://learn.originstraining.org/Listen to Alicia's Episode here: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-care-collective/2318624Listen to Sadie's Episode here: https://rss.com/podcasts/the-care-collective/2267182Want to be a guest? Fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeVabBbtdiZepNpjgPaewQdmfmjIV_RXqoQ-N-C8i1gyntRTA/viewform

When you’re in your 30s, you don’t expect to be caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s. But for Alicia, that became her reality, and it changed everything.In this episode of The Care Collective Podcast, host Mikayla Cluxton sits down with Alicia to talk about the hidden side of caregiving in your 30s, from the emotional weight of moving her mom into memory care, to the financial strain of selling her childhood home, to the grief of losing pieces of her mom long before goodbye.Alicia opens up about the guilt, anxiety, and strength it takes to make impossible decisions, and how she’s slowly learning to give herself grace.Whether you’re caring for a parent, supporting someone with dementia, or just trying to survive the holidays while missing the person your loved one used to be, this conversation is a reminder: you’re not alone, and what you’re doing matters.💛 Listen for:What it’s really like caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s at 33The emotional and financial realities of choosing memory careHow to cope with guilt, grief, and the loss of “what could have been”Why self-care isn’t selfish, it’s survivalPractical advice for friends and family who want to help caregivers✨ Keywords: Alzheimer’s caregiver, young caregiver, dementia support, adult children caregiving, memory care decisions, caregiver guilt, caregiver stories, caregiving in your 30s, caregiver mental health, caregiver grief

In this heartfelt episode of The Care Collective Podcast, author Jocelyn Jane Cox joins Mikayla to share the story behind her memoir Motion Dazzle, a powerful reflection on losing her mother to dementia while becoming a mother herself.Jocelyn opens up about navigating grief, the emotional and financial realities of caregiving, finding humor in hardship, and learning to hold both joy and sorrow at once. Together, we talk about redefining self-care, the challenges of the “sandwich generation,” and what it truly means to be a caregiver.🦓 Order and read Motion Dazzle now—available wherever books are sold or at jocelynjanecox.com.💛 Enjoyed this episode? Take a second to leave a review and share it with another caregiver who could use a little encouragement today. It truly helps more people find our community!00:00 – Introducing Jocelyn Jane Cox & Motion Dazzle 02:45 – Losing a parent while becoming a mother 09:00 – Finding family through friendship and caregiving 14:30 – The financial cost of 24-hour dementia care 19:50 – Balancing newborn life and caregiving burnout 24:00 – Grieving without your mom to call for advice 31:00 – The meaning behind “Motion Dazzle” 42:00 – Caregiving as heroism and honoring the journey 45:40 – Final reflections + where to get the book

Episode Description In this powerful episode of The Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla sits down with Ashley Larimore, a caregiver, entrepreneur, and third-generation farmer who splits her time between Charleston, South Carolina and her family’s farm in Maryland.At just twenty-three, Ashley became the primary caregiver for her mother during an aggressive breast cancer battle, an experience that changed her life and led her to advocate for caregivers and patients everywhere. She shares what it was like to navigate long drives to treatment, advocate in medical appointments, balance work with care responsibilities, and process the layers of grief that come after loss.As we honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ashley’s story is a reminder that behind every patient is a caregiver carrying an invisible load, and that asking for help, setting boundaries, and finding gratitude are essential parts of healing.Whether you’re a caregiver yourself or simply love someone who is, this episode will leave you feeling seen and inspired.Key Topics CoveredWhat it’s like to be a caregiver for a parent with breast cancerHow caregiving can inspire advocacy and purposeBalancing work, grief, and family responsibilityLearning to accept help and set healthy boundariesThe emotional ripple effect of caregiving within familiesWhy advocacy matters in medical settingsThis episode blends real stories and emotional truth with practical lessons about resilience, empathy, and what it means to show up for the people you love, even when it’s hard.📣 We want to hear from you!If this conversation moved you, please follow, rate, and review The Care Collective Podcast wherever you’re listening. Every single review helps more caregivers find this community and reminds them they’re not alone.Tag @carecollective.podcast on Instagram and share your favorite moment from the episode, we’d love to hear your story too.

When we talk about caregiving, we often focus on keeping someone alive, but what about helping them finish well?In this week’s episode of The Care Collective Podcast, host Mikayla Cluxton sits down with Kristy, a nurse practitioner with over 20 years of experience in palliative and end-of-life care.Together they explore what it means to prepare for the end with peace, love, and legacy in mind, and how these conversations can transform the way we live, not just how we die.You’ll hear stories from Kristy’s time at the bedside, learn how to start difficult end-of-life conversations, and gain new insight into how caregivers can find meaning in moments of loss.💛In this episode:• How to start honest conversations about death• Why legacy planning matters for families and caregivers• Simple ways to leave love and guidance behind for those you care about• How caregivers can find peace and purpose in letting goFind more information about the work Kristy is doing here:👉 Check out @ownyourend.co on Instagram🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us on Instagram → @carecollective.pod💌 Have a caregiving question or situation you’d like advice on? Submit it to us! We feature listener questions in weekly posts and future episodes, and if we can’t answer, we’ll find a professional who can.

At just 11 years old, Sadie became a caregiver for her dad after he was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.In this emotional and inspiring conversation, she shares what it’s really like to be a young caregiver — navigating grief, anger, and resilience while learning how to heal.Join us as we explore the emotional journey of caregiving through Sadie’s story — a powerful and heartfelt look at what it means to grow up too soon. From the exhaustion of balancing responsibilities to the moments of connection and love that make it all worth it, Sadie’s honesty and courage remind us that caregiving isn’t just about sacrifice — it’s about strength, love, and holding on to hope.Through vulnerability and reflection, Sadie opens up about:💛 Becoming a caregiver at age 11💛 Learning to separate the disease from the person💛 The hidden grief of dementia and loss💛 Anger, fear, and finding peace💛 Growing through therapy and faith💛 Her advice for other caregivers who feel alone--- About The Care Collective PodcastThe Care Collective is supportive space for caregivers and those who love them, a place to feel seen, encouraged, and less alone.Each week, we share real stories, honest conversations, and reminders that you don’t have to carry it all by yourself.

In this conversation, Michelle Scolaro, a therapist and transformational coach, shares her journey from working in senior care to focusing on helping individuals break free from burnout. She discusses the blend of therapy and coaching, the signs of burnout, and the importance of self-care, especially for caregivers. Michelle emphasizes the need for community support and the significance of finding one's identity amidst caregiving responsibilities. She also shares personal self-care practices and the role of autonomy in maintaining mental health. In this conversation, Mikayla Cluxton and Michelle Scolaro, LMHC, delve into the intricacies of therapy, caregiving, and mental health. They explore the importance of self-discovery in therapy, the challenges caregivers face, and the significance of mental health awareness. The discussion emphasizes the need for self-compassion, validation in relationships, and the power of community support. Michelle shares insights on combating burnout and reframing mindset, highlighting the privilege of caregiving and the transformative experiences offered through her retreats. The conversation concludes with a focus on creating accessible mental health resources for individuals seeking support.

In this episode, Sydney, a dedicated caregiver with a rich background in elder care, shares her story and experience. They discuss the emotional weight of caregiving, the challenges faced in long-term care, and the impact of COVID-19 on both caregivers and residents. Sydney shares her experiences balancing family life with her caregiving responsibilities, the importance of connection and teamwork in care settings, and the prevalence of burnout among caregivers. They also explore the role of family in caregiving and suggest ways to improve the landscape of long-term care, emphasizing the need for more volunteers and intergenerational connections.

In the first episode of the Care Collective Podcast, Mikayla Cluxton introduces the purpose of the podcast, which is to support caregivers and address the issue of loneliness among the elderly. She shares her personal journey in caregiving, the impact of loneliness on mental health, and the importance of community support for caregivers. The episode emphasizes the need for recognition and resources for caregivers, aiming to create a space where they feel seen and heard.