This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys sits down with clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Sarah Richie to explore a form of caregiving that often goes unseen, raising and supporting children with neurodevelopmental differences.

From autism and ADHD to dyslexia and executive function challenges, Dr. Richie shares what families are really navigating behind the scenes: the emotional intensity, the behavioral complexity, and the constant effort required to support a child whose brain works differently.

Together, Liz and Dr. Richie talk about the fear that often comes with early signs and diagnoses, the pressure parents feel to “get it right,” and the reality that many of these challenges don’t just impact a child, they reshape the entire family dynamic.

They also explore the overlap between caregiving for children and caring for aging parents, and how many families today are navigating both at the same time, creating a level of emotional and logistical demand that can feel impossible to sustain.

This conversation is honest, validating, and deeply informative, offering clarity for families who may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or alone in what they’re experiencing.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys reaches into the archives for a powerful conversation with ultra endurance athlete Travis Macy, host of The Travis Macy Show, and his father, Mark "Mace" Macy.

Known for competing in some of the world’s toughest races, including Eco-Challenge and the Leadville 100, Travis and Mark share what it looks like to pursue extreme physical challenges while also navigating life with Alzheimer’s.

Mark opens up about his diagnosis and his decision to keep showing up, continuing to train, race, and live fully despite the uncertainty of the disease. Together, he and Travis reflect on what endurance sports have taught them about resilience, mindset, and facing challenges that don’t come with a clear roadmap.

The conversation also explores the parallels between endurance racing and caregiving: the setbacks, the unpredictability, and the importance of staying engaged, finding your people, and moving forward even when things feel impossible.

Grounded, honest, and deeply motivating, this episode is a reminder that strength isn’t just physical, it’s found in how we show up for ourselves and for the people we love.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys revisits a powerful conversation from the archives with Edward O’Day, whose family faced the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s disease soon after losing his father to brain cancer.

Edward shares the deeply personal story of navigating his mother’s early-onset Alzheimer’s diagnosis, the difficult safety decisions that followed, and the emotional weight of becoming the person responsible for protecting a parent’s dignity while watching the disease unfold.

From recognizing the earliest warning signs to making the painful decision to move his mother into memory care, Edward reflects on the realities many families face but rarely talk about openly: isolation, guilt, family tension, and the constant second-guessing that comes with caregiving.

Along the way, he also shares how his experience ultimately led him toward advocacy, determined to help improve care and support for families navigating dementia.

This conversation is an honest look at what Alzheimer’s caregiving asks of families, the strength it demands, and the compassion that can grow from even the most difficult experiences.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

Caregiving doesn’t end when placement happens, it simply changes shape.

In this episode of Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys sits down with registered dietitian and cognitive health advocate Barbie Boules for a open, wide-ranging conversation about what happens after a parent with Alzheimer’s transitions into memory care. Barbie shares her personal experience as a primary caregiver, the safety concerns that led to placement, and the unexpected emotional realities that followed, including the absence of the “relief” many assume will come.

From wandering and hospice conversations to family dynamics and lingering guilt, this discussion captures the layered complexity of long-term caregiving.

The conversation then pivots into Barbie’s professional expertise: cognitive fitness, midlife brain health, and the growing confusion around GLP-1 medications, compounded peptides, and influencer-driven wellness trends. Barbie offers grounded, evidence-based clarity on what these medications are designed to treat, where misuse is happening, and why women in midlife are especially vulnerable to quick-fix health promises.

Thoughtful, nuanced, and refreshingly honest, this episode bridges lived experience with science, and reminds us that informed decisions matter, especially when it comes to our brains.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Mind What Matters, Liz Humphreys reaches into the archives to revisit a conversation that still feels as relevant and raw as the day it was recorded.

Liz sits down with author and caregiver Lauren Dykovitrz to talk about early-onset Alzheimer’s, the shock of diagnosis in your 20s, and the complicated emotional terrain that follows. Lauren was just 25 when her mother was diagnosed, and she shares what it felt like to face a disease that offered no clear next steps. No surgery to schedule, no treatment to start, just the heavy realization that life would never look the same again.

Together, they talk about misdiagnosis, denial within families, embarrassment and isolation in the early years, and the immense guilt caregivers carry, even when they are doing everything they possibly can. Lauren opens up about becoming her mother’s caregiver, reaching burnout, hiring outside help, and the painful but necessary shift from trying to fix the disease to learning to meet her mom where she was.

They also explore the grief that exists long before a loved one passes away and the second wave of grief that comes after.

This conversation is honest, vulnerable, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating Alzheimer’s, dementia, or long-term caregiving. If you’ve ever felt lost, impatient, ashamed, or unsure whether you’re “doing enough,” this episode reminds you that you’re not alone.

Learn more about Lauren and her work here.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach sit down with gerontologist and licensed clinical social worker Ashley Stevens, founder of The Dementia Guru, for a grounded and empowering conversation about what families truly need after a dementia diagnosis.

Ashley shares how her own childhood experience with Alzheimer’s shaped her life’s work, and how she now supports caregivers navigating burnout, stigma, and complex family dynamics. Together, Liz, Nikki, and Ashley explore what happens in the early days after diagnosis, why caregiving cannot be done alone, and how to realistically divide responsibilities within families.

They also talk about therapy, respite care, advocacy, and the urgent need to reduce the stigma surrounding dementia and aging. This conversation is both deeply personal and deeply practical.

For anyone supporting a loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or another neurodegenerative illness, this episode offers clarity, validation, and actionable insight.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach reflect on what happens when caregiving moves beyond the home and into memory care or assisted living, and how that transition can bring an entirely new layer of responsibility, grief, and vigilance.

They speak openly about the emotional complexity of placement, the mix of relief and guilt that can coexist, and the realities families may encounter inside systems that are often stretched thin. Together, Liz and Nikki explore advocacy, trust, and the courage it takes to stay engaged when exhaustion would be easier.

This conversation is not about fear, it’s about awareness. It’s about learning how to ask better questions, how to protect your loved one without losing yourself, and how caregiving continues to evolve even after the setting changes.

For anyone navigating Alzheimer’s, FTD, Lewy Body Dementia, or another form of cognitive decline, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom, clarity, and the reminder that your presence still matters.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.

In this episode of Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach reflect on caregiving, advocacy, and the moments that force us to find our voice, even when it feels uncomfortable or risky.

Nikki shares her experience navigating simultaneous medical crises involving her father and her infant son, Bennett, and what it taught her about intuition, persistence, and advocating inside a complex healthcare system. Together, Liz and Nikki talk about the difference between being “nice” and being effective, why trusting your gut matters, and how trauma reshapes the way we show up for others.

They also explore the importance of community, personal responsibility, and learning how to stay grounded in moments of fear and uncertainty. This conversation is a reminder that speaking up isn’t about control, it’s about care, courage, and showing up when it matters most.

To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission head to our website.

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Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.