Calm & Grounded with Michele
A gentle reflection inspired by the Inspired Caring podcast to offer hope and support.
What Nobody Tells You About Getting Older
What does "next level aging" actually look like?
In this episode of the Inspired Caring Podcast, I sit down with my mom, Deborah Ferris, for a very honest conversation about the realities of getting older. We talk about the things that can sneak up on us, from changes in strength and vision to d...
by Michele Magner —
Oct 07, 2026
aging well
aging with intention
caregiver education
caregiver support
family caregiving
healthy aging
healthy aging tips
inspired caring podcast
inspired senior
next level aging
senior independence
senior wellness
What If Your Dream Life Is Already Beginning?
Last year, my husband and I went through our photos from the beginning of the year. We weren't trying to measure our accomplishments. We simply wanted to remember the moments that had brought us connection, love, joy, and fun. And honestly, we were surprised by how much we had already experience...
by Michele Magner —
Sep 30, 2026
caregiver mindset
caregiver self-care
caregiving
holding the vision
inspired caring podcast
intentional living
life transitions
living the dream
personal growth
visualization
Who Are You Becoming? The Answer Might Surprise You
I've been thinking a lot about this question lately: Who am I becoming?
So much of our lives can happen on autopilot. We develop habits, expectations, and rules for ourselves, and sometimes we keep following them long after they stop serving us.
In this episode of the Inspired Caring Podcast, I ...
by Michele Magner —
Sep 23, 2026
aging well
becoming your best self
caregiver mindset
caregiver self-care
caregiving
inspired caring podcast
intentional living
life transitions
personal growth
self-reflection
Are You Noticing the Signs?
Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to have all the answers, make the right decisions, and know exactly where we're headed.
In this episode of the Inspired Caring Podcast, I talk about the little signs that can reassure us we're on the right track. For me, those signs have often come ...
by Michele Magner —
Sep 16, 2026
caregiver encouragement
caregiver support
caregiving
emotional wellness
finding peace
grounding
inspired caring podcast
mindfulness for caregivers
self-care for caregivers
signs of hope
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
