Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

J Smiles
  • 5.0 (45)
  • Alternative Health
  • Semimonthly

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. Oct 27

    The Power Of The Pillow: Does Sleep Stop Alzheimer's?

    Your brain is not “shutting down” when you fall asleep. It’s clocking in for a night shift, clearing waste, balancing hormones, and moving through deep sleep and REM sleep that support memory, mood, and long-term cognitive health. That’s why this conversation hit me so hard: if I’m living on five to six hours, I’m not just tired, I’m cutting short the work my body can only do at night. I’m joined by Dr. Glenna Brewster, a nurse scientist and sleep researcher whose work sits right at the intersection of sleep hygiene, dementia caregiving, and Alzheimer’s risk reduction. We talk about why sleep and cognitive decline can be a two-way street, and why it’s not enough to help only the caregiver or only the person living with cognitive changes. Dr. Brewster explains her dyad approach, where care partners work on sleep routines together, and shares what surprised her most: better sleep can also mean fewer depressive symptoms for caregivers. We get practical about insomnia behavior changes you can actually try, including waking up at the same time every day (yes, even weekends), building sleep drive by limiting naps, and using stimulus control so your bed stops training your brain to stay awake. We also dig into sleep disparities, sleep apnea awareness, and more.  If you’re a caregiver, a tired professional, or someone worried about brain health, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who “runs on five hours,” and leave a review so more families can find real support. 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. Oct 12

    A Date, Detour, and Deep Breaths: Zetty's Seizure Emergency

    One minute I’m on the couch kikiing with my line sister and getting ready for a real date. The next minute I’m sprinting upstairs, dialing 911, and locking eyes with my mom as she seizes on the floor. That’s the truth of dementia caregiving: plans can evaporate instantly, and you still have to think clearly while your body floods with adrenaline. I walk you through the seizure emergency step by step, including what I see, what I say to the 911 operator, and why that question “What do you need?” can feel impossible when you’re in shock. We also talk about practical caregiver preparation like keeping a grab-and-go bag of medications, building habits that save precious time, and knowing your loved one’s baseline when they can’t answer basic ER questions. You’ll hear the moments of grace too: a physical trainer who handles my mom with tenderness and skill, and a friend who shows up without being asked, drives behind the ambulance, and later rescues us from a discharge with no ride. I share what it’s like advocating for someone with advanced dementia in the emergency room, why dementia-friendly ER care matters, and how I try to stay flexible when the fear hits hard. If you’re supporting a parent with Alzheimer’s, dementia, seizures, or complex medical needs, this story will feel familiar and grounding. Subscribe, share this with a caregiver 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!

  3. Sep 28

    Dementia Deserves Dignity: A Conversation With Pastor Jeanette

    He spent a lifetime caring for other people as a respected pediatrician. Then Alzheimer’s walked into his home and rewrote the rules overnight. Pastor Jeanette Jordan joins me to tell the truth about dementia caregiving, including the moments that break you, the choices that protect dignity, and the practical skills families are forced to learn on the fly. We talk through the slow early signs, the denial that can feel like protection, and the gut punch that came right after retirement when Dr. Jordan put on his lab coat and insisted he was going to work. From there, Pastor Jeanette shares how she found help through the Alzheimer’s Association, support groups, research, and caregiver training, plus the real-world communication shift that changed everything: stop arguing with a brain disease and start meeting your loved one where they are. If you’ve searched for Alzheimer’s caregiving tips, dementia communication strategies, or how to get a diagnosis when your loved one refuses, this is the kind of lived guidance you can use today. We also get honest about memory care and home care: paying more does not always mean dementia-specific expertise. Pastor Jeanette explains what questions to ask, how to set expectations in a facility, and how she handled hard moments like eating, swallowing, hydration, and keeping her husband engaged with dignity. She shares why she founded Dementia Dignified Academy to train caregivers and support Black families who are often told to stay silent, plus why respite care and therapy are not optional when caregiver stress is piling up. Listen, share this with one caregiver who needs a lifeline, and then subscribe, rate, and review so more families can find this community when they need it most. What is one part of caregiving you wish someone had taught you sooner? 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. Sep 15

    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!

  5. 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!

  6. 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!

  7. 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!

  8. 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!

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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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