The Caregivers Podcast

The Hidden Family Dynamics That Break Caregivers | Amy Vasterling on Narcissism and Care

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 01 May 2026 14:48:23 -0400

Are you a family caregiver who feels trapped by unfair family dynamics? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski welcomes author Amy Vasterling to discuss how family conditioning can strip away a caregiver’s identity. Amy shares insights from her book, Know, explaining why boundaries are often treated as betrayal in enmeshed families and how caregivers can reclaim their inner truth.

The conversation dives deep into the difference between The Model (social and family control) and The Knowing (our innate truth). Amy and Dr. Mark explore the unique challenges faced by Highly Sensitive People (HSP) in caregiving roles, the hidden control within enabling behaviors like worry and guilt, and practical strategies for navigating siblings who refuse to share the load. If you have ever felt like the family scapegoat or struggle with the false moral standard of total sacrifice, this episode provides the language and tools you need to find safety and choice again.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

About Our Guest

Amy Vasterling is an author and researcher who helps individuals reclaim their inner truth from social and family conditioning. Her book, Know: Where the Status Quo Ends and You Come to Life, offers a handhold for those navigating complex emotional systems.

Support Amy
▶️"Know": https://mybook.to/knowbyamyvasterling
▶️ https://linktr.ee/amyvasterling
▶️ https://amyvasterling.com

Connect With Us
▶️ https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Subscribe to The Caregivers Podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts to never miss an episode. If you find these conversations helpful, please leave a review or share this episode with a fellow caregiver.

🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1fLSHPA7ZHbOpvrmcbfcd5?si=2a71d7c4e2e9427c
🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-caregivers-podcast/id1842203665

Is It Time For Assisted Living? w/ Janice Martin

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:15:10 -0400

When is it truly time to transition a parent or loved one into assisted living? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with senior placement expert Janice Martin to pull back the curtain on the elder care industry.

From navigating the 72-hour Medicare discharge crisis to the staggering reality of home care costs (which can exceed $21,000/month), Janice provides a roadmap for families feeling overwhelmed and guilty. We explore how to identify the subtle red flags of decline, how to choose a facility based on care rather than pretty furniture, and why the phrase "I love you too much to let you live like this" is the most powerful tool in a caregiver's arsenal.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Support Janice:
▶️ Book a call, buy a book, & more: https://stan.store/seniorliaison
▶️ The Complete Guide To Assisted Living: https://amzn.to/4u3Cnb4
▶️ The Journey To Assisted Living: Expectation vs. Reality: https://amzn.to/3P1lCi1
▶️ https://www.instagram.com/Senior.liaison
▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@Seniorliaisoncfl
▶️ https://www.facebook.com/janice.senior.liaison

Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts:
🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1fLSHPA7ZHbOpvrmcbfcd5?si=2a71d7c4e2e9427c
🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-caregivers-podcast/id1842203665

The Social Media Outrage Economy: Why Doom Scrolling Hooks Us w/ Dr. Pamela Rutledge

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 16:38:28 -0400

This week on The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with media psychologist Dr. Pamela Rutledge to discuss the "unseen guest" in every caregiving environment: the social media feed.

Caregiving already demands immense emotional steadiness, but how do we maintain that clarity when our phones are designed to keep us in a state of hyper-vigilance? We explore the psychological impact of the attention economy, why "doom scrolling" is a double-whammy for caregivers, and how to reclaim your agency in an environment designed to keep you activated.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Pamela Rutledge (PhD, MBA) is a leading media psychologist who focuses on the intersection of human behavior and digital technology. She helps individuals navigate the complexities of social media, focusing on how we can use these tools to enhance, rather than diminish, our well-being.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Support Our Guest:
▶️www.pamelarutledge.com
▶️https://drpam.substack.com

All Things CGP:
▶️https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

How to Have a Midlife Crisis Without Breaking Your Life w/ Beverly Blaney

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 18:50:32 -0400

Is it just a sports car and a new wardrobe, or is there something deeper calling from within?

In this episode of The Caregiver's Podcast, Dr. Mark welcomes back psychotherapist Bev Blaney to peel back the layers of the "midlife crisis." Moving past the Hollywood cliches, Bev and Mark explore the profound internal reckoning that occurs when the life we’ve built no longer feels like our own.

They discuss the tension between the Ego - the rulebook we’ve followed since childhood - and the Soul, which often begins to "call" us toward a more authentic existence during our middle years. Whether you are currently questioning your own path or balancing the heavy responsibilities of caregiving for others while navigating your own transitions, this conversation offers a grounded, empathetic perspective on finding meaning in the "breakdown."

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Canada's MAID Debate w/ Dr. Ramona Coelho

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 17:37:09 -0400

This week on The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Dr. Ramona Coelho, a family physician and leading voice in Canada’s MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) debate. Together, they take a deep dive into the clinical and moral shifts occurring within Canada’s healthcare system. Dr. Coelho shares harrowing insights into "Track 2" cases—where patients who are not terminally ill are being approved for MAID—and discusses how social vulnerabilities like poverty, housing insecurity, and loneliness are increasingly becoming drivers for assisted death. Dr. Coelho argues for a return to a medical culture that prioritizes accompaniment and community support, ensuring that care is always the first and primary response to human suffering.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Caring For Emotionally Immature Parents w/ Heather Gray

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:41:27 -0400

In this episode of The Caregiver’s Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with licensed mental health professional Heather Gray to discuss a complex and often silent struggle: caregiving for an emotionally immature or "emotionally limited" parent.

When a parent lacks the capacity to meet their child's emotional needs, the wounds don't simply disappear with age. In fact, the transition into a caregiving role can often reactivate old survival modes, scan the nervous system for threats, and feel like an act of self-betrayal. Heather helps us navigate the "treacherous waters" of setting boundaries, choosing care over duty, and why the most powerful tool for a caregiver is self-honesty.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️All things CGP: https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

The Truth About 'MAID' In Canada w/ Krista Carr

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Sat, 21 Mar 2026 13:01:18 -0400

In this episode of the Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Krista Carr, CEO of Inclusion Canada, to discuss the complex and often controversial reality of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in Canada.

Since its legalization, Canada has recorded over 76,000 MAID deaths. While many see an idealized version of a peaceful end-of-life choice, this conversation explores the "shadow track" of MAID—where death may become easier to access than essential care, housing, or disability supports. Krista Carr highlights the critical distinctions between Track 1 (imminent death) and Track 2 (disability-related) MAID, the lack of robust safeguards, and the ethical concerns raised by the United Nations regarding discrimination against people with disabilities.

We dive deep into whether MAID is truly a "free choice" when the alternative is poverty and social isolation, and what the future holds as the program expands toward mental illness and mature minors.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️ All things CGP: https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

PTSD Crisis Management w/ Dr. Shaili Jain

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:22:36 -0400

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Shaili Jain - a Stanford psychiatrist and world-renowned PTSD expert—to provide a practical "playbook" for caregivers. We dive deep into the neuroscience of trauma, explaining why logic fails during a trigger and how caregivers can protect their own nervous systems from "vicarious traumatization."

Support our guest:
▶️ https://www.shailijainmd.com/
▶️ https://www.shailijainmd.com/buy-book
▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@thestressdocmd

Follow us:
▶️ All things CGP: https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Chronic Pain Explained w/ Dr. Dean Tripp

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:21:45 -0500

This week on The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with returning guest Dr. Dean Tripp, a professor of Psychology, Anesthesiology, and Urology at Queens University.

Together, they pull back the curtain on the neuroscience of chronic pain, explaining how it physically alters the brain and why the traditional medical model often fails those in pain. Dr. Tripp introduces the C.A.R.E. Method, a practical framework for caregivers to provide empathy without burning out, and tackles the taboo topic of caregiver resentment.

Whether you are living with pain or caring for someone who is, this episode offers a roadmap for moving from a state of learned helplessness back into a loving partnership.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

How To Build Capacity As A Caregiver w/ Susan Ackland

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 14:20:00 -0500

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Host Dr. Mark sits down with Susan Ackland, a psychotherapist with decades of experience who has spent the last 10 years navigating the complexities of caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s and a father-in-law with Lewy body dementia, all while raising children and maintaining her professional practice.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️All things CGP: https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Do You 'owe' Aging Parents Care? w/ Elizabeth Miller

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:22:05 -0500

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Elizabeth Miller, founder of Happy Healthy Caregiver, to tackle the question nobody wants to say out loud: When parents age and need care, what do their adult children actually owe them?

As a veteran podcaster and sandwich generation caregiver, Elizabeth shares the raw reality of balancing a career and children while managing the declining health of aging parents. We discuss the mudslide of caregiving, the difference between being a caregiver and a care partner, and how to handle the burnout that comes with the impossible squeeze of the sandwich generation.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Support our guest:
▶️Book: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/product/journal/
▶️Podcast: https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/podcast/
▶️Newsletter: https://happyhealthycaregiver.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=67480242b62b2c452bd227174&id=36cc22d7fb

Socials:
▶️Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyhealthycaregiver/
▶️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyhealthycaregiver
▶️LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbmiller/
▶️X: https://x.com/HHCaregiver
▶️Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/HHCaregiver/
▶️TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@happyhealthycaregiver
▶️YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAcYkpMK6I3Y0ep-kyvrZaQ

Decolonizing Medicine: A New Vision for Future Doctors w/ Dr. Jamaica Cass

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 11:26:53 -0500

Why do Indigenous communities distrust the healthcare system, and how do we fix it?

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark sits down with Dr. Jamaica Cass - the first Indigenous woman in Canada to earn both an MD and a PhD. Dr. Cass shares her mission to decolonize medicine, from reshaping medical school curricula to building localized health education programs.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Parenting a Child with Pulmonary Hypertension w/ Cynthia Neilson

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:43:13 -0500

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, host Dr. Mark sits down with Cynthia Neilson to discuss the emotional and practical realities of raising a child with a rare heart-lung condition.

Cynthia shares her journey from the initial shock of a complex diagnosis at SickKids to the "stress tests" of everyday parenting—navigating medical equipment at bedtime, setting boundaries with school, and eventually empowering her daughter, Clare, to become her own advocate. It is a story of resilience, finding peace in the face of uncertainty, and the vital importance of caregiver communities.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Is Caregiving a Life Sentence? w/ Kate Washington

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 14:27:35 -0500

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, author Kate Washington joins us to discuss her powerful memoir, Already Toast, and the invisible crisis of caregiver burnout. We explore the raw emotional realities of spousal caregiving, the "slow slide" into medical responsibility, and how systemic failures in the healthcare system leave families feeling abandoned.

Kate Washington is the author of Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America, a powerful blend of memoir and reporting that exposes how quickly love and responsibility can become total, invisible labor when a partner becomes seriously ill. Her story traces the psychological narrowing caregivers live through: identity erosion, relentless coordination, and the quiet reality of doing high-stakes care with little training, pay, or recognition, all inside a system that often treats caregiving as private “family stuff,” not real work. Washington is also a longtime journalist and food writer based in Northern California, and a frequent speaker on the systemic challenges facing family caregivers.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Support our guest:
▶️ Website: https://www.kawashington.com/

▶️ Buy Kate's book, Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America:
https://www.kawashington.com/already-toast

Caregiving in 2026: What's IN and What's OUT

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 12:18:16 -0500

Is caregiving consuming your life, or are you surviving the work? In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark breaks down why the "hero narrative" is breaking caregivers and why 2026 is the year we shift from mindless sacrifice to strategic sustainability.

We explore the 10 things that are IN (like boundaries as a clinical skill and energy management) and the 10 things that are officially OUT (like toxic empathy and productivity worship). If you are a professional clinician, a family caregiver, or an advocate, this conversation provides a new framework for protecting your health while caring for others.

Click here to watch a video of this episode.

Follow us:
▶️All things CGP: https://linktr.ee/thecaregiverspodcast

Nurses on the Edge: Fear, Burnout, & Hope w/ Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions President Linda Silas

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 13:01:47 -0500

In this powerful episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses' Unions (CFNU), to discuss the precarious state of nursing in 2026.

Far beyond simple "burnout," Linda describes a "moral injury" occurring across Canada—a systemic failure where nurses are forced into 30-hour shifts, face escalating workplace violence, and are unable to provide the level of care their patients deserve

Watch the full video episode here:
▶️YouTube: https://youtu.be/W0kbtWNrGL4

Support our guest:
▶️Twitter: https://x.com/CFNUPresident
▶️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CFNUPresident/

2026: Caregivers Reset

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:43:49 -0500

Caregivers don’t need more motivation, they need more margin. In this Season 2 premiere, Dr. Mark Ropeleski addresses the "diffusion of energy" that leads to caregiver burnout. If you find yourself saying "yes" to every crisis but "no" to your own well-being, this episode is your permission to simplify.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️YouTube: https://youtu.be/lzn6qzCgHag

Books referenced in this episode:
📖 Essentialism by Greg McKeown
📖 The One Thing by Gary Keller
📖 Atomic Habits by James Clear
📖 The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg

Every Nurse Carries Trauma w/ Jon Schmid

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 12:18:45 -0500

In this episode of The Caregivers Podcast, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with John Schmid—a veteran ER nurse, former Canadian Armed Forces nursing officer, and past healthcare COO—to pull back the curtain on the "trauma-exposed" nature of healthcare. John provides an honest look at the moral injury that occurs when clinicians are unable to meet their own standards of care due to systemic constraints.

Watch the full video episode here:
▶️YouTube: https://youtu.be/dgXHui7mIgQ

Support our guest:
▶️ Website: https://role4.biz
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonschmidcd/

The Longest Goodbye: 20 Years of Love, Loss, and Parkinson's w/ HeldLight

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 15:55:22 -0500

On this weeks episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski welcomes Brent, founder of HeldLight, for a raw and unflinching conversation about the realities of long-term caregiving. Brent shares his 20-year journey caring for his wife, Trudy, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s at age 34.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/02Sr7J9VlMg

Support HeldLight:
▶️ Everything HeldLight: https://linktr.ee/HeldLight

Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/

No Violence Nurse: A call to action w/ Kelsey Springer

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:21:22 -0500

In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski sits down with Kelsey Springer, a critical care nurse and Montana State University instructor known nationally as the "No Violence Nurse." Kelsey shares the harrowing story of a brutal ICU assault that left her requiring total jaw reconstruction and how that event transformed her from a caregiver into a patient—and eventually, a fierce advocate. They discuss the dangerous normalization of workplace violence, the "invisible hits" that lead to nurse burnout, and why the phrase "it’s just part of the job" is a lie that destroys the healthcare workforce.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/bO0b2HB3ocM

Support our guest:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.no.violence.nurse/
▶️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelsey-springer-msn-rn-ccrn-58b98b74

Kelsey's Work:
▶️ https://www.ccnursing.theclinics.com/article/S0899-5885(25)00065-6/abstract
▶️ https://www.aacn.org/blog/my-experience-with-workplace-violence-in-nursing
▶️ https://nurse.org/news/workplace-violence-in-healthcare-nurses-safety/

Helpful links:
▶️ Free CDC Workplace Violence Training for Nurses: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2013-155/default.html
▶️ American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN): https://www.aacn.org/policy-and-advocacy/position-statements/preventing-violence
▶️ Emergency Nurses Association (ENA): https://www.ena.org/practice-resources/workplace-violence
▶️ American Nurses Association (ANA): https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/wpv/

The Truth About Chronic Pain: The Reality Behind the Diagnosis w/ Dr. Laura Katz

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:13:49 -0500

On this week's episode Dr. Mark welcomes Dr. Laura Katz, a clinical and health psychologist, for a discussion on the multifaceted nature of chronic pain, and the truth behind the diagnosis. Dr. Katz addresses the failure of disjointed healthcare systems to treat the "whole person" and the resulting medical trauma experienced by patients.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️ Youtube: https://youtu.be/YCCFQ_5uEos

Support Dr. Katz:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurakatz/
▶️ Endometriosis360: https://endometriosis360.ca/

Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/

Burnout vs. Moral Injury

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 12:54:03 -0500

If you’ve tried self-care, therapy, and time off but still feel hollow inside, the problem might not be burnout—it might be moral injury. In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski distinguishes between the exhaustion of burnout and the deep "soul wound" of moral injury, which occurs when a caregiver’s values are repeatedly violated by a broken system.

Join Dr. Mark as he explores why "resilience" isn't the answer to systemic failures and validates the invisible wounds many professional and family caregivers carry.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️YouTube: https://youtu.be/htdJTe23lgI

The Crisis in Nursing w/ Shift Happens

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 12:22:18 -0500

In this episode, Dr. Mark speaks with the host's of the Shift Happens podcast, Darlene Jackson & Brandi Johnson of the Manitoba Nurses Union. They delve into the challenges faced by new nurses transitioning from education to practice & highlight the support needed for new graduates to thrive in a demanding healthcare environment.

Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtu.be/7D1hxSscxg0

Support our guest:
Listen to the Shift Happens Podcast:
🔊 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6kjVUvxNuqbXtWzSy3Apim?si=bdde74d3bcce478d
🔊 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shift-happens/id1798831621
▶️ Website: https://shifthappenspod.ca/

Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/

Why Young Women are Drinking Themselves Into Liver Failure w/ Dr. Jennifer Flemming

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:59:14 -0500

In this episode, Dr. Mark & guest Dr. Jennifer Flemming delve into the uncomfortable yet crucial conversations surrounding alcohol-related liver disease and its impact on women and caregivers. Dr. Flemming shares insights on the biological, emotional, and societal factors contributing to this rising crisis, emphasizing the need for awareness and support for those affected.

Watch the full video podcast:
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaregiversPodcast

Support our guest:
▶️ Twitter/ X: https://x.com/Jenn_Flemming

Values vs. Numbers in Healthcare: The Nursing Crisis w/ Amie Archibald Varley

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:42:47 -0500

On this week's episode, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski & guest Amie Archibald Varley delve into the pressing issue of accountability within the healthcare sector, highlighting the reluctance of leaders to take responsibility for failures and the systemic issues that arise from this lack of accountability.

Support our guest:
▶️ Website: www.amievarley.com
📖 Harper Collins: https://www.harpercollins.ca/9781443468718/the-wisdom-of-nurses/
▶️ Book Amie To Speak: https://www.nsb.com/speakers/amie-archibald-varley/
▶️ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmieVarley
▶️ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-archibald-varley-rn-mn-women-s-health-535850108/
▶️ The IDEA Practice: https://theideapractice.com/component/content/article/93-amie-archibald-varley-she-her?catid=92&Itemid=543
▶️ ByBlacks: https://byblacks.com/content/itemlist/user/2121-amiearchibaldvarley

Watch the full video episode on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/oLBULNra3N0

Canada's Healthcare Crisis: Why You're Still Waiting for a Doctor w/ Dr. Anthony Sanfilippo

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 08:36:50 -0500

In this episode, Dr. Mark Ropeleski and Dr. Anthony Sanfilippo discuss the pressing issue of the family doctor crisis in Canada, where millions lack access to primary care. They explore the disconnect between medical education and societal needs, emphasizing the importance of family doctors in providing preventative and chronic care.

Support our guest:
📖The Doctors We Need: https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/the-doctors-we-need/
▶️ Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Doctors-Need-Imagining-Physician-Recruitment/dp/1738396460

Watch the full video episode:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@thecaregiverspodcast

The Guilt & Grace of Caregiving w/ Jeanette Yates

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 11:00:06 -0400

Join Dr. Mark and special guest Jeanette Yates for a powerful, honest look at the caregiver's life. Jeanette shares her deep personal journey, openly discussing the burden of generational trauma and the path through burnout. This is more than a discussion on duties; it's about the emotional toll. Jeanette tackles the crippling effects of perfectionism and guilt, highlighting the urgent need for robust support systems and a shift in how healthcare professionals view the caregiver's role. She also examines the complexities of technology and the importance of community in finding balance. Ultimately, this essential episode is a plea for self-compassion, reminding every caregiver that you are doing enough and deserve a supportive environment.

Support our guest:
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theselfcaregiver/?hl=en
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theselfcaregiver
📖 From Guilt To Good Enough: https://www.amazon.ca/Guilt-Good-Enough-Caregivers-Overcoming/dp/B0DS2PFLX9

Follow us:
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ TikTok: tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/

The Holy Work of Caregiving w/ Jess Ronne

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:25:19 -0400

In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski speaks with Jess Ronne, a dedicated caregiver and advocate for families with children of special needs. Jess shares her personal journey of caregiving for her son Lucas, who has profound disabilities, and the challenges she faced, including the loss of her husband. The conversation delves into the importance of faith, community support, and the need for systemic changes to support caregivers. Jess emphasizes the significance of self-care, the fears of forever parenting, and the necessity of building a supportive community for caregivers.

For the video version of this show, check us out on YouTube:
🎥YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaregiversPodcast

Support Jess Ronne:
📖 Buy Jess's Book, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: http://bit.ly/3LqQbLL
✨ The Lucas Project: https://thelucasproject.org/about/jess-ronne/

Jess's Socials:
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessronneofficial/
▶️ Website: https://www.jessplusthemess.com/my-story/
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess/

Suck It Up Buttercup: Challenging the Status Quo in Healthcare

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 11:11:50 -0400

In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, Dr. Mark speaks with Dr. Todd Otten about the challenges faced by caregivers in the healthcare system. They discuss the importance of caregiver wellness, the impact of burnout and moral injury, and the need for solidarity among caregivers. Dr. Otten shares his journey in medicine, the creation of the documentary 'Suck It Up Buttercup', and the role of organizations like Medicine Forward in advocating for change. The conversation emphasizes the power of kindness, the importance of self-care, and the potential of AI tools to assist caregivers at home.

Support Dr. Otten:
Medicine Forward: https://medicineforward.org/
Suck It Up, Buttercup: https://suckitupbuttercupfilm.com/

The Hidden Cost of Care: How Generational Trauma Shapes Caregivers

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 16:09:06 -0400

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Mark explores the hidden cost of caregiving: the unhealed wounds and generational traumas that quietly shape how we give, love, and sacrifice. He reveals how these inherited scripts: “you’re good when you give, selfish when you ask - can hollow us out, leaving us exhausted and disconnected. Through reflection and science-based insight, this episode offers language, validation, and a path toward self-healing. Because healing isn’t selfish - it’s survival.

Catastrophizing, Chronic Pain & Caregiver Resilience with Prof. Dean Tripp

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 10:16:00 -0400

In this episode, Dr. Mark welcomes Professor Dean Tripp of Queen’s University, a clinical consultant and leading researcher on chronic pain, stress, and resilience. Together, they unpack the concept of catastrophizing—what it is, how it develops, and why it matters for both patients and caregivers.

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between acute and chronic pain.

• How empathy can both help and harm caregivers.

• Why communication and connection are essential tools for preventing burnout.

• How intimacy, fairness, and “small wins” can restore balance in caregiving relationships.

• Practical strategies to maintain your own well-being while supporting others.

Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.

The Opportunity in Burnout: Psychotherapist Bev Blaney on Burnout & Real Self‑Care

Dr. Mark Ropeleski — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 17:10:36 -0400

When caregiving depletes you, what brings you back? In our premiere episode, psychotherapist Bev Blaney (“a caregiver of caregivers”) charts a humane approach to burnout: embed self‑care in the culture, notice early warning signs (disconnection, cognitive fog, a closing heart). We talk moral injury, micro‑traumas, why “workshops” aren’t enough, and how to re-frame “I can’t do this anymore” as the start of a better path.

Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.