Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

J Smiles
  • 5.0 (45)
  • Alternative Health
  • Updated Monthly

Get engulfed in the intense journey of a caregiver who happens to be a comedian. J Smiles use of levity reveals the stress and rewards of caregiving interwoven with her own personal journey.  Over 10 years ago, she was catapulted into caregiving overnight when the shock of her dad's death pushed her mom into Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye. A natural storyteller, her vivid descriptions and impressive recall will place you squarely in each moment of truth, at each fork in the road. She was a single, childless mechanical engineering, product designing, lawyer living a meticulously crafted international existence until she wasn't. The lifestyle shift was immediate. Starting from scratch, she painstakingly carved out useful knowledge and created a beneficial care plan for her mom.  J Smiles will fly solo and have expert guests. You will get tips, tricks, trends and TRUTH.  Alzheimer's is heavy, we don’t have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up!

  1. 1d ago

    A Filmmaker, A Family Caregiver. Susie Singer's Story

    The scariest part of caregiving is how quietly it starts, until one day you realize you’re making medical decisions, managing safety, and carrying a grief nobody warned you about. We’re joined by filmmaker, producer, and activist Susie Singer, who cared for her mom through 16 years of Alzheimer’s and turned that experience into storytelling that doesn’t look away. We talk about the early symptoms that don’t feel like “normal aging” and the moment a simple cognitive test makes everything real. Susie gets honest about the common missteps many dementia caregivers make at first, like “testing” a loved one, then shares the mindset shift that changed everything: lean into their world instead of forcing them to stay in ours. We also dig into what happens when care moves beyond home, including why continuity, connection, and dignity matter as much as any medication. Then the conversation turns into a hard investigation of long-term care in the United States. Susie explains how her documentary No Country for Old People exposes nursing home neglect, understaffing as a business model, COVID-era lockouts, avoidable injuries like pressure sores, and the reality of chemical restraint, including off-label sedation with drugs like Depakote. She shares where you can watch the film (Amazon Prime and free on Tubi) and why she helped launch ROAR (Respect, Oversight, Advocacy, and Reform for Long-Term Care), including a National Long-Term Care Walk for Reform on September 27. Visit roar4ltc.org to find out more information.  If you’re an Alzheimer’s caregiver, a dementia caregiver, or someone trying to choose memory care or skilled nursing, this conversation gives language, context, and a way to take action. Subscribe, share this with a family member, and leave a review so more caregivers can find it. Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  2. Aug 24

    CAREGIVER STRESS & CAREGIVER RELIEF; THE HIDDEN CRISIS IN DEMENTIA CARE

    Caregiving can feel like a private struggle, but the numbers and the lived reality say it’s a hidden crisis. We sit down with Diane, a nurse with 53 years of experience and the founder of CaregiverRelief.com, to talk about what dementia caregiving really does to families and why so many caregivers feel like they’re carrying the whole load alone. Diane traces her “why” back to her grandmother’s Alzheimer’s journey and the kind of moment every family hopes for: connection that still breaks through the fog. From there, we get honest about the long arc of caregiving, including how early grief and responsibility shape a caregiver’s life, why burnout is more than “being tired,” and how relationships can wither when your world becomes meds, meals, safety, and constant vigilance. Then we go straight at the system. Diane explains the gaps she sees in dementia care support, why navigating hospitals, rehab, and long-term care can overwhelm anyone without a medical background, and what scares her about cost-sharing and Medicare Advantage co-pays tied to skilled nursing and rehab. Most importantly, she gives practical tools you can use right now: build a caregiver relief group, assign people to check on the caregiver, and put a family caregiver contract in place so time off and support are clear and fair. If you’re caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s or supporting someone who is, hit play, share this with your village, and then subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what kind of help would actually make your week easier. Make sure to visit caregivingrelief.com to learn more about Diane and listen to her podcast.  Exec. Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy  Producer: Mia Hall  Editor: Annelise Udoye  Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  3. Aug 10

    Behind the Scenes of our Tour: Detroit Cares About Dementia

    Detroit is not playing around when it comes to dementia support, and we want you to see what we saw. We’re pulling back the curtain on our second Parenting Up tour stop in Detroit with Wayne State University and the team that helped make this three-part run happen. Along the way, we share the little moments that make tour life feel real plus the big moments that make you rethink what “living with dementia” can look like. The theme is simple and bold: Detroit cares about dementia. We talk about why it matters to hear directly from people living with dementia, especially when so many are still working, driving, and finding ways to live fully. Their courage challenges the stigma that keeps families quiet and isolated. We also dig into dementia-friendly communities and safe public spaces, from Alzheimer’s Association advocacy to faith communities building routines, training volunteers, and making everyday places feel welcoming instead of scary. We also get practical about early detection and cognitive testing. We unpack what “baseline” means, why clinics and outreach programs can help, and how inexpensive screening can give you something every caregiver needs more of: options. Knowledge really is power when you’re trying to plan care, protect independence, and make decisions on your own terms. If you’re a caregiver, a family member, or just trying to understand Alzheimer’s awareness without the doom, come ride with us and take what works back to your own community. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find us. Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  4. Jul 27

    Did My Dad Visit Me at the NBA Finals? | A Special Edition Caregiving Story

    A single ticket can feel like a confession when you’re a caregiver. I’m  telling one of the most vulnerable stories I’ve shared yet: how I tried to take care of myself while parenting up and carrying the heavy reality of dementia caregiving after my father died. The only reason I’m responsible for my mama the way I am comes back to that loss, and the grief still shows up in unexpected places. When the New York Knicks finally made the NBA Finals and the schedule landed Game 4 on my dad’s birthday, I couldn’t shake the pull. I wrestle with the price, the practicality, and the voice saying I should stay home and do the “reasonable” thing. But I’ve been practicing surrender and listening for intuition. That decision takes me all the way to Madison Square Garden alone, surrounded by die-hard fans, and straight into a moment I still can’t explain. Here’s the part that changed me: in a sold-out arena, the seat right next to mine stayed empty for the entire game. Add a wild comeback, a loud New York soundtrack, a wave of raw emotion, and suddenly this isn’t only a basketball story, it’s a caregiver burnout story, an Alzheimer’s awareness story, and a grief story about honoring a parent and letting yourself receive comfort. If you’ve ever wondered what real self-care looks like when you’re holding everything together, this one is for you. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a caregiver in your life, and leave a review if it hits home. What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found healing? Exec. Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall  Editor: Annelise Udoye  Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  5. Jul 14

    The Art of Redirecting: A Caregiver’s Superpower

    Alzheimer’s can make yesterday disappear, but it can also make love get very specific, very fast. I’m talking with Dan Phillips from the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and his story hits on every level: a grandmother diagnosed, a career pivot into advocacy, and then the brutal reality that multiple people he loves are living with the disease. We keep it real about what families actually face, including denial, confusion, and those moments when you realize you’re hearing heartbreaking news for the “first time” over and over again. We break down what “redirecting” really means in dementia caregiving and why picking your battles isn’t giving up, it’s protecting someone’s nervous system. Dan shares how humor can be a lifeline, from a perfectly timed joke to what we call the “lie of love,” the kind, creative story that calms fear when the truth would only reopen the wound. We also talk caregiver stress, why caregivers can go down first, and why getting help doesn’t mean you love your person any less. Sometimes it’s the only way to get back to mother-daughter time instead of patient-caregiver time. Then we zoom out to hope and action: early warning signs people miss, why early diagnosis matters more than ever, and how Alzheimer’s research is changing fast, including biomarker blood tests and treatments that can slow progression for some. Dan also explains the Alzheimer’s Association’s Do What You Love program, where dinner parties, pickleball, golf, church cookouts, and community events turn into funding for research, care, and support. If this conversation makes you feel seen, share it with someone who’s carrying this quietly. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what part of caregiving you want to hear about next. Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  6. Jun 30

    Promoting Dementia Screening While Dispelling Dementia Myths

    If the words “dementia test” make you picture needles, scary machines, and a verdict you cannot take back, we get it. That fear keeps a lot of families stuck in delay, denial, and quiet panic. From Detroit’s Rosa Parks Geriatric Center at Wayne State University, we sit down with practitioners to make dementia screening feel simple, practical, and worth doing sooner than later.  We walk through what a real memory screening looks like, including the Mini-Cog: three words, a clock drawing, and a quick check that can become a baseline for your brain health. We also untangle screening versus testing, what happens if the screen shows concern, and why a full evaluation may include paper-and-pencil cognitive tests, depression screening, lab work for reversible causes like thyroid or B12 issues, and brain imaging such as MRI. Dr. Deol also explains newer Alzheimer’s blood tests that look at biomarkers like tau, plus the crucial nuance: a positive marker without symptoms is not the same as a dementia diagnosis.  From missed bills and medication slip-ups to personality changes, cooking hazards, and driving confusion, we share the real-world signs families notice and why “it’s just aging” can be a costly myth. We also name the biggest barriers, including stigma and limited access, and point you toward support like the Alzheimer’s Association and your local Area Agency on Aging. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone you love, and leave a review so more families find it when they need it most. This is episode 3 of a 3-part series. Many thanks to the Rosa Parks Clinic, Wayne State University and everyone involved in this series.  For more information about the A.G.R.E.E.D/GWEP grant, visit: https://agreed.wayne.edu/community-impact Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall  Director of Photography/Editor: Annelise Udoye  Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  7. Jun 26

    Living With Dementia: Real Stories, Early Signs, and Getting the Right Diagnosis

    Dementia doesn’t show up with a warning label, and it definitely doesn’t erase the person sitting right in front of you. We’re back in Detroit to hear directly from people living with dementia and the care partners walking beside them and the honesty is refreshing, specific, and sometimes even funny in the middle of the hard stuff. First, we talk with Dick and John (with Gerry bringing the real talk as a spouse and support system) about what made them finally say, “Something isn’t quite right.” They describe early signs like repeating themselves, word-finding issues, speech clarity problems, and the tension those changes can create at home. Then we dig into what happened after diagnosis: the relief of naming the problem, the power of telling family instead of keeping secrets, and how early testing can open doors to planning and medical options. We also get into Alzheimer’s treatment realities, including infusion therapy and what it feels like to pursue treatment with a trusted care team. Just as important, we unpack why some people with dementia symptoms won’t qualify for Alzheimer’s infusions if the biomarkers aren’t there, and what it’s like to keep searching for answers. Then members of the National Council of Dementia Minds join virtually to share a wider view: executive function decline at work, REM sleep behavior disorder, getting lost close to home, misdiagnoses, and the exhausting maze of specialists and tests. You’ll leave with practical strategies that actually help: whiteboards, calendars, lists, timers, note-taking, safety planning around driving, and staying social so life stays bigger than the diagnosis. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s worried about cognitive changes, and leave a review so more families can find it. Many thanks to Council of Dementia Minds and Wayne State University. For more information, visit: https://agreed.wayne.edu/community-impact Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Videographer/Editor: Annelise Udoye Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  8. Jun 23

    Safe Spaces for People Living With Dementia

    If leaving the house feels like rolling the dice when dementia is in the picture, you are not alone and you are not overreacting. We record from Detroit during Brain Health Awareness Month with one big question on the table: where can people living with dementia go in public and truly be safe, welcomed, and understood? Not just at home, not just with a neighbor, but in everyday life like coffee shops, church, and movie theaters.  We sit down with local leaders connected to the Alzheimer’s Association of Metro Detroit and a dementia outreach ministry at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church to get specific about what help exists and how to access it. We talk the 24/7 Alzheimer’s Association hotline, support groups that work for both caregivers and early-stage individuals, and why faith-based communities can be a trusted bridge, especially when stigma and denial slow down early detection. We also share a smart, practical tip we love: telling the ushers so support is already in place before something unexpected happens.  Then we zoom out to what “dementia-friendly” can look like at a city level, with real examples like dementia-friendly movie experiences, museum tours, and symphony performances that welcome movement, talking, and questions. We do not skip the hard stuff either: public misunderstandings, mood swings, paranoia, and the fear of embarrassment that keeps families stuck at home. You will leave with simple scripts and mindset shifts that make outings safer and lighter.  If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a caregiver friend, and leave a review so more families can find these dementia resources and feel brave enough to step back outside. Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Producer: Mia Hall  Editor: Annelise Udoye  Support the show "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@parentingup TEXT  'PODCAST"  to  +1 404 737 1449  - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

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About

Get engulfed in the intense journey of a caregiver who happens to be a comedian. J Smiles use of levity reveals the stress and rewards of caregiving interwoven with her own personal journey.  Over 10 years ago, she was catapulted into caregiving overnight when the shock of her dad's death pushed her mom into Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye. A natural storyteller, her vivid descriptions and impressive recall will place you squarely in each moment of truth, at each fork in the road. She was a single, childless mechanical engineering, product designing, lawyer living a meticulously crafted international existence until she wasn't. The lifestyle shift was immediate. Starting from scratch, she painstakingly carved out useful knowledge and created a beneficial care plan for her mom.  J Smiles will fly solo and have expert guests. You will get tips, tricks, trends and TRUTH.  Alzheimer's is heavy, we don’t have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up!

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