
Happy Healthy Caregiver
Caring for aging parents or other loved ones while working, raising children, and trying to live your own life? Wondering how to find the time for your personal health & happiness? Welcome to the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast. The show where real family caregivers share how to be happy and healthy while caring for others.
Host and Certified Caregiving Consultant, Elizabeth Miller shares her stories and content and also talks with others who are either current or former family caregivers. Real people who are figuring out how to integrate caregiving with their lives and ready to share what they have learned with you.
Latest episodes

Aug 28, 2024 • 1h
Stop Judging with Sabrina Ortolano
Sabrina Ortolano has been a caregiver for her wife, Cyndi, since 2014 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Sabrina and I talk about her identity crisis that sprouted from caregiving, the importance of body work, fundraising for brain surgery, asking for the right help, and managing judgment from others and unsolicited advice.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod189
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Aug 14, 2024 • 52min
Music Changes People with Anthony Cirillo
Anthony Cirillo cared for several family member and these experiences prompted him to focus his professional career on helping older adults and advocating for seniors and their caregivers through singing, speaking, consulting and writing.
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we learn about Anthony’s new legacy project and product called Sage Stream which provides social engagement and entertainment for seniors using music. We also chat about everything else; from laughter and social prescriptions, to hospice and compound grief.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod188
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Jul 31, 2024 • 29min
Caring for Dad with Steve Guttenberg
Steve Guttenberg is a beloved Hollywood actor, known for his role in films including Diner, Police Academy, Short Circuit, Three Men and a Baby, Cocoon, and television shows including Ballers and Veronica Mars. We have enjoyed Steve Guttenberg in many roles and now I’d like to spotlight maybe the role that was the most difficult for Steve – the role of family caregiver to his dad and hero, Stanley. Steve wrote about his care experience while reflecting on his childhood and Hollywood career in his new book, Time to Thank.
We learn about why Steve and his sister pursued home dialysis training, how Hollywood’s portrayal of care and death differ from real life, the self-love creed Steve recited with his dad, and all the terrific micro acts of self-care Steve practices to remain happy and healthy.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod187
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Jul 17, 2024 • 50min
Aging in Place with Vinnie Venugopal
Vinnie Venugopal cared for his father and is a Certified Aging In Place Specialist with a passion for entrepreneurship and building solutions.
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Vinnie shares how a 2-week vacation to India with his parents turned into an 8-week caregiving nightmare. Then, when his family was able to return home more attention was needed to help his dad age in place. We also talk about the small changes online and brick and mortar businesses and home builders can do to serve a growing older adult community. And, we learn about a curated website and newsletter Vinnie created to highlight news and popular articles related to the Baby Boomer generation.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod186
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Jul 3, 2024 • 53min
Organizing the Copious Care Data with Tara Ross
Tara Ross brings a wealth of personal experience and unwavering support to fellow caregivers, drawing from more than a decade of caregiving roles. Having navigated the complexities of caring for a veteran, her in-laws, and balancing the needs of young children and pets, Tara intimately understands the challenges caregivers face.
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Tara shares her journey of overcoming caregiver burnout and implementing strategies to prevent future exhaustion. She also discusses how her own caregiving journey inspired her to develop innovative products to assist other caregivers. And, Tara introduces a transformative visual tool designed to help caregivers assess their energy levels and maintain balance in their lives.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod185
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Jun 19, 2024 • 59min
Exploring Alzheimer’s Treatments with Dr. Zahydie Burgos Ribot
Dr. Zahydie L. Burgos Ribot cares for her husband, Francisco, also known as Paco, who is living with Young Onset Familial Alzheimer's Disease.
In this episode, Zahydie and Paco share their caregiving journey. They talk about how they took time to understand and cope with Paco's diagnosis and process their feelings of grief before telling others. They also discuss Paco's treatment, including E2814 therapy and Leqembi medication, which help slow down Paco’s Alzheimer’s. And they talk about how they focus on living each day with intention and are enjoying crossing off things from their bucket list.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod184
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Jun 5, 2024 • 44min
Managing Falls with Steve Powell - Caregiver Spotlight
Steve Powell cared for both of his parents as their health and mobility declined. His experiences mitigating many falls for his parents, prompted his invention of a device designed to lift individuals safely and comfortably off the floor.
In this episode, Steve and I chat about aging in place, fall prevention, perfectionism, and why he has the well-deserved nickname of ‘The Singing Wine Maker.’
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod183
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

May 22, 2024 • 60min
Talking to Kids about Dementia with Alder Allensworth - Caregiver Spotlight
Alder Allensworth cared for her mother who had Alzheimer’s and her father who had vascular dementia. Alder’s inspiration to co-create a children’s tool kit for families came from watching her mother interact with her grandchildren.
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, we talk about the resources Alder and her friend Brenda created to help children better understand dementia. Alder shares the benefits of having structure in our days, how a continuing care retirement community was the right fit for her parents for a while, how FMLA allowed her to be present for her parents in their final weeks, and what her daily energizing self-care practices look like.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod182
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

May 8, 2024 • 57min
Speak Your Truth with Allison Breininger - Caregiver Spotlight
Allison Breininger has an MA in Education and spent twenty years in the realm of education. At 31, she became a caregiver for her husband, Sean, when he was diagnosed with the rare genetic disease Fanconi Anemia. She has been by his side through countless treatments and experienced firsthand that caregivers are in what she calls ‘the negative space’: vital yet overlooked and unsupported.
In this episode, Allison shares why caregivers are part of the story and need to be recognized, why the oxygen mask analogy falls short, what tried and true tools help her in her caregiving life, and why ‘brightsiding’ is detrimental for care advocacy and caregiver wellness.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod181
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW

Apr 24, 2024 • 56min
Messy Caregiving with Sisters Natalie and JJ - Caregiver Spotlight
Natalie Elliott Handy and JJ Elliott Hill are sisters. Together, along with a third sister Emilie, they manage care for their mom who is living with Parkinson’s disease. Natalie is also a caregiver for her spouse, Jason, who receives palliative care to help navigate his cancer journey.
In this episode, we discuss all the total messiness around family caregiving. We talk about letting go of perfectionism, getting access to your parent’s finances, the benefits of palliative care, and they both confess their guilty pleasures.
Show notes with product and resource links:
https://bit.ly/HHCPod180
Receive the podcast in your email here:
http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv
Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:
http://bit.ly/HHCjournal
For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:
https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/
The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:
https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW