Your Brain on Mom

Aflalo Communications Inc.

Your Brain on Mom, sibling co-hosts open up about the unexpected beginning of their mother’s dementia journey — a journey that didn’t start with obvious memory loss, but with a broken ankle. What followed were strange behaviors, unexplained shifts, and subtle cognitive changes that signaled something deeper was happening. As a brother-and-sister caregiver team, we share the real-life dementia storyof how we first encountered our mom’s cognitive decline. From unusual reactions in the hospital to confusing days at home, we walk through the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and how they can appear differently than you might expect. We also discuss the differences between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s and how confusing it is to understand the distinction.  This podcast highlights the emotional side of becoming sibling caregivers — the frustration, the gut instinct, and the bond that forms when adult children team up to care for a parent. We also share how we use humor as a survival tool, because sometimes the only way through the fear and confusion of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to laugh together. By telling our caregiving story, we hope to normalize the chaos, confusion, and unexpected moments that caregivers face, and to create a space where others feel seen. We explain why we decided to start this podcast — to document the earliest moments of our journey and to give a voice to other sibling caregiversnavigating similar paths. Whether you’re researching dementia vs. Alzheimer’s, searching for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, curious about sibling caregivers, or looking for real-life dementia stories to relate to, this podcast offers a candid, relatable, and hopeful look at the very beginning of the caregiving journey. Produced by Aflalo Communications Inc. (www.aflalo.com)

  1. 2D AGO

    When Dementia Changes the Person You Know | Mixed Dementia & Caregiver Grief

    In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry talk about one of the hardest parts of dementia caregiving: the moment your parent still recognizes you, but you no longer fully recognize them. After their mother’s diagnosis shifted from Alzheimer’s disease to mixed dementia — including Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) and vascular dementia — they began facing personality changes, emotional outbursts, constant yelling, and the painful reality that dementia affects far more than memory. The siblings open up about caregiver guilt, hospital life, behavioral changes, and the complicated emotions that come with trying to stay connected to someone who feels different every day. Raw, funny, heartbreaking, and painfully honest, this episode captures the reality of living with dementia as a family — beyond the movie version people expect. This Is Your Brain on Mom is a podcast about dementia caregiving, family dynamics, advocacy, humor, and surviving the chaos of caring for a parent with cognitive decline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min

  2. APR 29

    Alzheimer’s… or Not? Understanding FTD, Vascular Dementia & Personality Changes

    Wait… it’s not Alzheimer’s? In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry unpack a major shift in their mom’s diagnosis—from Alzheimer’s to mixed dementia, including frontal temporal dementia (FTD) and vascular dementia. And honestly? It explains a lot. From extreme personality changes to aggression, language issues, and unpredictable behavior, this episode dives into what FTD actually looks like in real life—not just what Google tells you. Because dementia isn’t one-size-fits-all. There’s humor (because there has to be), but also the raw truth of what it’s like to watch your parent change in ways no one prepares you for. If you’ve ever felt like the diagnosis doesn’t quite fit… or like you’re learning as you go in real time—this episode is for you. 🎧 Tune in and learn what mixed dementia really means—and why getting the right diagnosis matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  3. APR 21

    What happens after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis?

    In this episode, Wendy and Barry get brutally honest about the moment everything changes—and the shocking lack of support that follows. Because the truth is: no one hands you a plan. No one tells you what’s dementia, what’s delirium, or what to do next. You’re given a diagnosis… and then you’re shown the door. Inspired by a powerful post from Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson, we unpack the reality so many caregivers face: surviving day by day with no roadmap, no guidance, and no real-time help. From their mom’s rapid decline following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis to navigating hospital discharges, psychosis, medications, and impossible decisions—this episode dives into the chaos of becoming a caregiver overnight. This episode is for anyone who has ever thought: “What the hell do I do now?” 🎧 If you’re a caregiver—or love someone who is—you are not alone in this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  4. APR 14

    16 Months In: Dementia, ER Visits, and When Caregiving Breaks You

    It’s been 16 months… and somehow, we’re right back where we started. What began as a plan to bring our mom home has turned into an ongoing cycle of hospital visits, medication changes, and uncertainty. In this episode, we share the reality of what happens when dementia care becomes unstable — and the system meant to support you starts to feel like it’s working against you. After a chaotic holiday in the emergency room, we’re left asking impossible questions: Where does she go if her care facility doesn’t want her back?Why are medications constantly being changed when stability is the goal?And how are caregivers supposed to navigate this with no guidance? This episode also touches on something not talked about enough:The lack of direction and support immediately after a dementia diagnosis — and how caregivers are often left to figure everything out alone. Through humor, honesty, and unfiltered storytelling, we share what it really looks like behind the scenes of caregiving — the frustration, the heartbreak, and the moments that somehow still make you laugh. If you’re navigating dementia, Alzheimer’s, or complex elder care, this episode will hit home. You’re not alone in this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  5. APR 7

    Early Signs of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) + Misdiagnosis Story

    What are the early signs of frontotemporal dementia (FTD)—and how do you know it’s not just “personality changes”? In this episode, we’re joined by Beth, host of FTD Navigating the Crap, who shares what it really looked like before her mom’s diagnosis. Not memory loss—but subtle, shocking shifts in behavior. Comments that felt out of character. A tone that didn’t match the woman she had always known. Beth opens up about those early red flags, the confusion of a possible Alzheimer’s misdiagnosis, and the emotional reality of learning it was actually FTD—a completely different form of dementia. We also talk about how quickly things progressed—from personality changes to becoming non-verbal and fully dependent—and what it means to navigate that as an only child. And then there’s the part no one prepares you for:being diagnosed… and then sent home with no support. We talk about: Early FTD symptoms (personality + behavioral changes, not memory) Real examples of out-of-character remarks and why they matter Alzheimer’s vs FTD misdiagnosis Rapid progression and late-stage care realities The loneliness of caregiving—especially during the pandemic The global gap in post-diagnosis support for families If you’ve ever thought, “this isn’t my mom”—but couldn’t explain why—this episode will hit home. 🎧 Raw, honest, and deeply validating for anyone navigating dementia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  6. MAR 24

    When Dementia Behavior Spirals: Aggression, Antipsychotics & Caregiver Burnout

    What happens when dementia isn’t about memory loss? In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry share a raw update on their mom’s condition as her behavior—not her memory—continues to spiral. From yelling and disrobing to falls and confusion, the symptoms are escalating, unpredictable, and impossible to fully explain. With no clear answers, the proposed solution is a transfer to a facility specializing in psychogeriatrics. As they navigate disorganized care meetings, medication concerns—including the use of Haldol—and rapid physical decline, Wendy and Barry confront the reality of caregiving burnout and a system that often manages behaviors without understanding them. Honest, chaotic, and unexpectedly funny, this episode captures the tension of recognizing your loved one is still there—even as everything else changes. 🎧 If you’re a caregiver, family member, or healthcare professional, this episode offers an unfiltered look at the complexities of dementia care—especially when the system struggles to keep up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  7. MAR 17

    When Dementia Doesn’t Look Like Alzheimer’s: FTD, Language Loss & Behavioral Changes”

    What if it’s not Alzheimer’s? In this powerful and deeply relatable conversation, we sit down with Alma Valencia — sandwich generation caregiver, advocate, and full-time daughter caring for her mother living with Frontal Temporal Dementia (FTD) — to unpack what happens when dementia doesn’t fit the mold. Before receiving an FTD diagnosis, Alma’s mother was misdiagnosed with depression and alcoholism. The family questioned everything: Was it bipolar disorder? A personality disorder? A midlife crisis? Until the behavioral changes, financial chaos, language shifts, and loss of executive function could no longer be explained away. Alma shares raw and sometimes shocking examples of how FTD showed up in her mother’s life — from unpaid rent and parking tickets to elaborate stories, impulsive decisions, and the gradual shrinking of vocabulary.  We also discuss something many families experience but don’t talk about enough: personality shifts. The sweet church-going mother who never cursed begins using profanity. The filter disappears. Social boundaries fade. Humor becomes a coping mechanism. If you are: Caring for a parent with FTD or atypical dementia Questioning a diagnosis that doesn’t fully make sense Seeing behavioral symptoms that feel “beyond normal aging” Navigating language loss or personality changes Feeling isolated after a dementia diagnosis This episode is for you. Because dementia is not one-size-fits-all. And sometimes the hardest part isn’t the memory loss — it’s losing the version of the person you thought you knew. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. Alma shares how caregiving transformed her life — from a fast-paced 20-year career in fashion to embracing caregiving as a vocation. She speaks candidly about building community, creating resources, and ensuring other families don’t feel as alone as she once did. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min

  8. MAR 10

    Memory Miles: Alzheimer’s, Mental Health & The Grief That Starts Before Goodbye

    When someone you love is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the grief doesn’t wait for the end. It begins immediately — and it repeats. In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, we sit down with Ethan, founder of the Memory Miles Project, to talk about caregiving, men’s mental health, anticipatory grief, and why “just stay strong” might be the most unhelpful advice caregivers receive. After his grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Ethan knew he wanted to raise awareness — but not in a way that felt performative or numbers-driven. Instead of running a marathon, he created something deeply personal: outdoor adventure challenges designed to spark real conversations about dementia, grief, and struggling out loud. Through nighttime hikes in the fog, freezing winter challenges, and open conversations in nature, the Memory Miles Project connects Alzheimer’s awareness with mental health advocacy — creating space for caregivers and families to speak honestly about what this disease really does to the people around the diagnosis. Ethan shares a moving story about regret, masculinity, and not always saying “I love you” — and the healing that came from realizing it was understood anyway. If you are caring for a parent, grandparent, spouse, or loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia… if you are navigating anticipatory grief… if you’ve ever felt like you don’t have time to take care of your own mental health… this conversation will resonate deeply. This episode is for caregivers, adult children, spouses, and anyone living in the long goodbye of dementia. 🎧 Listen now and join the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Your Brain on Mom, sibling co-hosts open up about the unexpected beginning of their mother’s dementia journey — a journey that didn’t start with obvious memory loss, but with a broken ankle. What followed were strange behaviors, unexplained shifts, and subtle cognitive changes that signaled something deeper was happening. As a brother-and-sister caregiver team, we share the real-life dementia storyof how we first encountered our mom’s cognitive decline. From unusual reactions in the hospital to confusing days at home, we walk through the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease and how they can appear differently than you might expect. We also discuss the differences between dementia vs. Alzheimer’s and how confusing it is to understand the distinction.  This podcast highlights the emotional side of becoming sibling caregivers — the frustration, the gut instinct, and the bond that forms when adult children team up to care for a parent. We also share how we use humor as a survival tool, because sometimes the only way through the fear and confusion of the progression of Alzheimer’s disease is to laugh together. By telling our caregiving story, we hope to normalize the chaos, confusion, and unexpected moments that caregivers face, and to create a space where others feel seen. We explain why we decided to start this podcast — to document the earliest moments of our journey and to give a voice to other sibling caregiversnavigating similar paths. Whether you’re researching dementia vs. Alzheimer’s, searching for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, curious about sibling caregivers, or looking for real-life dementia stories to relate to, this podcast offers a candid, relatable, and hopeful look at the very beginning of the caregiving journey. Produced by Aflalo Communications Inc. (www.aflalo.com)

Information

  • Creator
    Aflalo Communications Inc.
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026. Aflalo Communications Inc.
  • Show Website
    Your Brain on Mom