Calm & Grounded with Michele
A gentle reflection inspired by the Inspired Caring podcast to offer hope and support.
The Strength to Keep Showing Up
In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with Julie Bennett, author of The Phoenix Man, to reflect on her 12-year caregiving journey alongside her husband, Scott. From a heart transplant to an Alzheimer's diagnosis, Julie shares the resilience, resourcefulness, and unwavering devotion that ca...
by Michele Magner —
Aug 26, 2026
alzheimer's caregiving
alzheimer's support groups
caregiver resilience
caregiver support
caregiving resources
family caregiving
heart transplant
inspired caring podcast
respite care
spouse caregiver
Confidence Begins with One Small Step
Fear has a way of convincing us that we're not ready. It whispers that we're not capable, that we don't know enough, or that we're going to fail before we've even begun.
In this week's episode of the Inspired Caring Podcast, I share why confidence isn't something we're born with. It's something ...
by Michele Magner —
Aug 19, 2026
caregiver confidence
caregiver encouragement
caregiver mindset
caregiving support
emotional wellness
inspired caring podcast
overcoming fear
personal growth
resilience
self-confidence
Finding Grace in Caregiving's Hardest Moments
In this heartfelt episode of Inspired Caring, I sit down with author Whitney Bishop to discuss her experience caring for her father during the final weeks of his life. Despite a complicated relationship, Whitney and her family came together to advocate for him, bring him home on hospice, and dis...
by Michele Magner —
Aug 12, 2026
caregiver encouragement
caregiver support
caregiving
end-of-life care
family caregiving
grief support
hospice care
hospice journey
inspired caring podcast
mindfulness for caregivers
Small Moments of Courage Create Lasting Change
I've been thinking a lot about discomfort lately. Not the kind that comes from prolonged stress or hardship, but the small moments that ask us to pause, choose differently, and trust that something better is on the other side.
In this episode of the Inspired Caring Podcast, I explore how those l...
by Michele Magner —
Aug 05, 2026
caregiver boundaries
caregiver encouragement
caregiver mindset
caregiving support
emotional wellness
healthy boundaries
inspired caring podcast
personal growth
resilience
self-care for caregivers
The Dementia Lesson Michael Wishes He Had Learned Sooner
In this Inspired Caring Podcast episode, we welcome author Michael James, whose memoir, Dear Judy: A Love Story Rewritten by Alzheimer's, shares the deeply personal story of caring for his wife through every stage of her Alzheimer's journey. Together, we discuss the realities of caregiving, the ...
by Michele Magner —
Jul 30, 2026
alzheimer's
alzheimer's communication
caregiver support
caregiving tips
dementia caregiving
dementia resources
family caregiving
inspired caring podcast
memory care
spouse caregiver
The Conversation Most Families Avoid Until It's Too Late
Death is one of the few experiences every single one of us will face, yet it remains one of the hardest topics to discuss. We plan for vacations, careers, weddings, and retirement, but many families never talk about what they want at the end of life until a crisis forces the conversation.
In thi...
by Michele Magner —
Jun 24, 2026
aging parents
anticipatory grief
caregiver resources
caregiving
death doula
end of life planning
grief coach
grief support
hospice support
inspired caring podcast
The Caregiving Marathon: Why You Need People in Your Corner
Unlike a sprint, caregiving requires endurance. It asks us to show up day after day, often without knowing exactly what lies ahead. There are moments of strength, moments of exhaustion, and moments when simply taking the next step feels like enough.
In this episode, Michele reflects on attending...
by Michele Magner —
Jun 17, 2026
caregiver burnout
caregiver encouragement
caregiver resources
caregiver support
caregiver wellness
caregiving community
caregiving journey
caregiving tips
family caregiving
inspired caring podcast
The Senior Living Issue Nobody Is Talking About
In honor of Pride Month, this week’s Inspired Caring Podcast episode, Michele sits down with advocate and senior living professional Heather to discuss the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ older adults and why inclusivity matters in aging services. Together, they explore the challenges many LGBTQ+ s...
by Michele Magner —
Jun 10, 2026
aging with dignity
caregiver education
caregiving resources
diversity and inclusion
inclusive aging
inspired caring podcast
lgbtq advocacy
lgbtq seniors
older adults
senior living
Why So Many Caregivers Feel Completely Alone
It often becomes a role filled with responsibility, urgency, and emotional weight.
In this week’s Inspired Caring Podcast episode, Michele sits down with life coach and secondary caregiver Yana Dashevsky for a thoughtful conversation about support systems, holding space, and learning how to navi...
by Michele Magner —
Jun 03, 2026
caregiver burnout
caregiver help
caregiver stress
caregiver support
caregiving emotions
dementia caregiving
family caregiving
family dynamics
holding space
inspired caring podcast
Adapting to Change with Care and Possibility
There are moments in caregiving when things begin to shift.
A change in communication.A change in mobility.A change that may be subtle at first, and then becomes more noticeable over time.
In this episode of the Inspired Caring podcast, I spoke with Jason Nickelson, a speech language pathologist...
by Michele Magner —
May 27, 2026
aging well
calm & grounded
caregiver support
inspired caring podcast
speech therapy
the caring framework
When You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
A small task here.A little more responsibility there.Until one day, you realize you are carrying much more than you expected.
In this episode of the Inspired Caring podcast, I sat down with Doug, who shared his experience supporting both of his parents through different stages of care.
What stoo...
by Michele Magner —
May 20, 2026
calm & grounded
care planning
caregiver burnout
caregiver support
inspired caring podcast
the caring framework
Releasing the Weight of Guilt
In this episode of the Inspired Caring podcast, I shared a personal experience of visiting my mother-in-law and noticing how quickly guilt can take hold, even in the first few moments.
It didn’t come from something I had done wrong.
It came from a thought.
A thought about what I could be doing m...
May 13, 2026
calm & grounded
caregiver guilt
caregiver support
emotional wellbeing
inspired caring podcast
the caring framework
