Claim OwnershipThe Caregiver Cup Podcast
Subscribed: 15Played: 240
Subscribe
© 2026 The Caregiver Cup Podcast
Description
The Caregiver Cup Podcast is your space to pause, reflect, and refill. Each season dives into themes that matter most to caregivers—like self-care, boundaries, emotions, and rediscovery—so you can show up as your best self. Join a supportive community that believes when your cup is full, you can care with more strength, joy, and compassion.
288 Episodes
Reverse
Send Cathy a text:) We’re about two-thirds of the way through Season 2, and before we move forward, I felt a pull to slow down. No new framework. No new acronym. No fresh hack to master. Just you and me. Because underneath rhythm, boundaries, resets, time management, and emotional protection… there’s one core truth: You can’t pour from a cup that’s quietly leaking. In this bonus episode, we gently explore what an “energy leak” really is — and why so many caregivers feel exhausted ...
Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving isn’t just physical work — it’s emotional and mental work, too. We plan for appointments, treatments, schedules, and tasks… but most caregivers never create a plan for their mental and emotional health. In this episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re talking about how to protect your mental and emotional space — so you can show up more fully, without feeling drained, resentful, or overwhelmed. We explore: what mental and emotional space really ishow dr...
Send Cathy a text:) Traditional time management advice wasn’t created with caregivers in mind. When your days are shaped by appointments, emotional labor, interruptions, and the unexpected, trying to follow rigid schedules or productivity systems can feel frustrating — and even guilt-inducing. In this episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re talking honestly about why traditional time management fails caregivers — and what actually works instead. This isn’t about doing more or squeezing pr...
Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving can feel overwhelming, especially when the days are full and your energy feels stretched thin. In this short bonus episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, I’m inviting you to do something simple — choose one small reset and change your day. This episode isn’t about fixing caregiving or creating a perfect routine. It’s about finding your way through the hard moments with intention, compassion, and care for yourself. You’ll hear a personal story about realizin...
Send Cathy a text:) In this episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re talking about one of the hardest — and most important — skills every caregiver needs: setting boundaries without guilt. If you’ve ever felt selfish for needing rest… If you’ve said yes when you meant no… If you’ve carried resentment because everyone else’s needs came before your own… this conversation is for you. We explore what healthy boundaries really are (and what they are not), why caregivers strugg...
Send Cathy a text:) In today’s episode, we’re kicking off the season by building something every caregiver needs but rarely talks about: a rhythm that actually supports you. Caregiving is unpredictable — your days can shift in an instant. But having a gentle rhythm can give you grounding, stability, and pockets of peace in the middle of the chaos. A rhythm won’t make caregiving perfect… but it will make caregiving easier. Inside this episode, I walk you through my simple, flexible ANCHOR Meth...
Send Cathy a text:) Welcome to Season 2 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast — a brand-new year and a brand-new chapter where we finally do caregiving your way. Last season, you explored what’s in your cup—your identity, your needs, your well-being, and how caregiving has shaped you. Now it’s time to take everything you’ve uncovered… and turn it into a rhythm, a flow, and a caregiving life that actually supports you. This season is your permission slip to create routines and boundaries that honor you...
Send Cathy a text:) This final episode of Season 1 is your guided reflection and celebration — a moment to pause, breathe, and honor how far you’ve come on your caregiving journey. Together, we revisit the heart of this season and explore what has shifted inside your cup — your energy, your mindset, your confidence, your emotional awareness, and your ability to care for yourself while caring for someone you love. Here’s what we reflect on: 💛 What you carry and who you’ve become (Episode...
Send Cathy a text:) If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” while your heart was quietly breaking… this episode is for you. Caregivers are experts at showing up for everyone else, but when it comes to identifying our own needs — let alone asking for help — it can feel impossible. Maybe you’ve ignored your body’s whispers for too long. Maybe guilt and shame tell you to keep pushing. Maybe you don’t even remember what you need anymore. In this episode, we slow everything down and walk through a gentl...
Send Cathy a text:) If you’ve ever ended your day thinking, “I should’ve done more,” this episode is for you, friend. 💛 In Season 1, Episode 7 of What’s In Your Cup?, we’re diving into the emotional drainers that quietly empty your cup — guilt, shame, and the constant pressure to be “enough.” Together, we’ll explore: ✨ The three types of caregiver guilt ✨ Why cultural, family, and personal expectations shape the way we show up ✨ How guilt turns into shame — and how to ...
Send Cathy a text:) This bonus episode is a little different… and a whole lot special. Inside, we’re diving into three powerful pieces of the caregiving experience: 💌 1. Listener Stories That Will Make You Feel Seen From practical self-care wins… to reimagining overwhelming roles… to color-coding calendars and using systems that save your sanity — you’ll hear real messages from caregivers just like you. Their honesty, their wisdom, their struggles, and their victories remind us that non...
Send Cathy a text:) Your body whispers before it screams — but as caregivers, we often ignore those whispers until it’s too late. In this heartfelt episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, Cathy VandenHeuvel shares personal stories and powerful insights on how to recognize the physical and emotional signals of caregiver burnout. From brain fog and fatigue to irritability and forgetfulness, these clues aren’t failures — they’re your body’s way of saying, “slow down.” You’ll learn simple ways to c...
Send Cathy a text:) Are you wearing so many hats that you’ve forgotten which one fits? In this heartfelt episode, Cathy shares an honest look at what happens when caregivers juggle too many roles — and how to reshape them without guilt. From hospital laundry rooms to heartfelt lessons about boundaries, you’ll learn how to identify what’s draining your energy, what truly matters, and how to create a caregiving rhythm that feels sustainable (not superhuman). 🎧 Tune in for real talk, refl...
Send Cathy a text:) Your cup isn’t empty—it’s just leaking. 💛 In this short 5-minute pep talk, Cathy shares a personal story about her famous pink Yeti cup (yes, the one that keeps disappearing and always finds its way back!) and how it became the perfect reminder for caregivers: sometimes, our energy doesn’t run out—it simply leaks away. Tune in for a quick burst of encouragement to help you spot where your energy might be slipping and take one small step this week to refill your cup. Becaus...
Send Cathy a text:) Are you tired of hearing “just take care of yourself” and wondering what that even means as a caregiver? In this episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re busting the myth that self-care is all about bubble baths and spa days—and redefining what it really looks like for you. After eight years of caregiving, I’ve learned the hard way that one-size-fits-all self-care doesn’t work. Real caregiver self-care is practical, personal, and purposeful—and it changes with each seas...
Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt your energy, patience, and compassion draining away while caring for a loved one? When was the last time you stopped to check what’s left in your own cup? Welcome to Season 1 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast. This season is all about you—your self-discovery, the many roles you juggle, and your personal health as a caregiver. The statistics are sobering: nearly 41% of caregivers report low overall well-being, and only 23% say their mental health is good. Behi...
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 ...
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...
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 ro...
Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever found yourself in the chaos of caregiving thinking, "I can't do this anymore"? That feeling of wanting to give up is universal among caregivers, especially during prolonged challenges and setbacks. When I hit emotional walls during Denis' stem cell transplant journey, I discovered a powerful truth: our feelings, while real, aren't always factual. We might feel like everything is falling apart, but distinguishing between emotional reactions and objectiv...
Comments
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States