Claim OwnershipThe Caregiver Cup Podcast
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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.
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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...
Send Cathy a text:) Fear, worry, and uncertainty often feel like unwelcome yet permanent companions on the caregiving journey. After receiving a heartfelt message from a listener worried about her husband's upcoming bone marrow transplant, I knew this topic needed addressing – not just for her, but for all of us navigating these turbulent emotional waters. These powerful emotions aren't signs of weakness or failure. They're natural human responses that actually demonstrate how deeply you car...
Send Cathy a text:) Ever reached that breaking point where your body simply won't let you power through anymore? That's exactly where I found myself this week as my husband Dennis faced serious complications following his stem cell transplant for cancer. This raw mini-episode takes you through the emotional rollercoaster we experienced—from the joyful bell-ringing ceremony marking Dennis's hospital discharge to the crushing setbacks that followed just hours later. You'll hear about the gut-w...
Send Cathy a text:) What happens when your support just isn't helping? When encouragement falls flat? When your loved one withdraws completely? These are the unspoken challenges of caregiving that leave us feeling helpless and questioning our effectiveness. Drawing from my current experience supporting my husband through his transplant journey, I share the raw reality of watching him struggle with severe physical pain and emotional withdrawal. Despite my best efforts to lift his spirits, the...
Send Cathy a text:) Emotional support isn't just something we provide as caregivers—it's often the most exhausting yet invisible part of our role. When our loved ones are in pain, frustrated, or losing hope, we become their cheerleaders, their comforters, and their gentle push to keep going, sometimes when we barely have enough emotional energy for ourselves. This episode explores what emotional support truly looks like in caregiving relationships and how to provide it in ways that are susta...
Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving seasons constantly shift, and finding your rhythm during these transitions can make all the difference between barely surviving and maintaining your wellbeing. This episode explores how creating meaningful routines becomes your anchor when everything else feels unpredictable. Cathy opens up about her current reality as her husband Denis undergoes a stem cell transplant, sharing how she's had to completely reimagine her daily schedule. From juggling hospital vis...
Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt completely lost in a hospital, frantically searching for your loved one while juggling bags, security badges, and your own mounting anxiety? In this raw and surprisingly humorous episode, I take you through my first chaotic days at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, where what should have been a straightforward procedure for my husband Dennis turned into a maze-like adventure of miscommunication, construction detours, and badge readers that simply wouldn't...
Send Cathy a text:) When elephants sense danger, they form a protective circle with the most vulnerable in the center—a powerful metaphor for how caregivers need their own support systems. Drawing inspiration from this natural phenomenon, I explore the emotional barriers that prevent us from building our own protective circles while sharing my personal journey preparing for my husband Dennis's upcoming 90-day stem cell transplant. For many caregivers, especially those with achievement-orient...
Send Cathy a text:) Ever catch yourself saying "I'm fine" when you're anything but? As caregivers, we often hide behind these white lies, putting on a brave face while secretly exhausted, frustrated, or on the verge of tears. This episode dives deep into the concept of toxic positivity—that harmful tendency to suppress our authentic emotions behind a mask of forced cheerfulness. Studies show over 75% of people deliberately pretend to be happy when they're not. While it might seem easier to h...
Send Cathy a text:) Grace might seem like a lofty concept, but for caregivers, it's the lifeline we desperately need when drowning in overwhelming responsibilities, emotional turmoil, and crushing self-expectations. Drawing wisdom from Jamie Kern Lima's book "Worthy," this episode explores how caregivers can transform their relationship with mistakes, imperfections, and regrets. That argument with your loved one where you said something hurtful? The stress-induced cookie binge? Those moments...
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