When we’re caring for someone, our moods and feelings can become intertwined. In this episode Justin and Allison discuss what it’s like when witnessing the suffering of their partners impacts their mood, when their own moods rub off on their loved ones, and how emotions can feel contagious.
When the person you’re caring for has a rare disease, there can be extra layers of hardship and complexity starting with the challenge of finding a diagnosis. In this episode, Allison shares with Justin what it has been like to care for her husband whose disease is rare and the two discuss what this type of caregiving can look like.
In this episode, Allison shares with Justin what life is currently like in her community with the presence of 2000+ ICE agents, how this intersects with her reality as a caregiver, and how it feels to live in this moment while also preparing for Sean’s upcoming surgery.
At the start of a new year, it’s common for people to reflect on the highlights of the last twelve months and to set goals for the year ahead. For caregivers, moments like these can be a stark reminder that their lives are very different from those of their peers. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about what it’s like to see their friends’ highlight reels and how it feels to move into another year of caregiving.
On January 1, 2026, Minnesota will become the thirteenth state to offer Paid Family Leave. In this episode, Allison and Justin talk with Cathy McLeer from AARP about how this new law benefits caregivers, how we can support other states in adopting this law, and other ways AARP supports caregivers of all ages.
Caregivers frequently find themselves needing to make split second decisions that are, in some cases, matters of life and death. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about decisions they have had to make, the role their personality types play in those moments, and how supporters can help.
Allison’s mom, Barbara, plays an active role in supporting Allison’s entire family, from joining them at the ER to helping with household tasks to providing emotional support. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk with her about what this looks like on a daily basis, how it feels to witness her daughter go through hard things, and how this third ring role is often unseen.
Justin and Allison came together on stage at CaregiverCON in Minneapolis on November 1, 2025 for a live recording of this episode. They discussed how they met and the impact of finding friendships and support within the caregiving community.
There are moments in caregiving - an appointment, scan or biopsy results, an accident, etc. - that send our lives down a new path. In this episode, Justin and Allison talk about crossroads moments they’ve experienced, what it can feel like when you know those moments are looming, and how supporters can help.
Allison and Justin have a frank conversation about what it feels like now that their caregiving lives are at such different stages: with Allison enduring ongoing crises and Justin no longer considering himself an active caregiver. They also discuss what they have heard from caregivers whose loved one has passed away about the grief they have experienced at no longer feeling at home with their caregiver friends.