Life in the A-Zone

Peggy Sweeney McDonald
  • 4.9 (57)
  • Personal Journals

Peggy Sweeney-McDonald, actress, producer and author of Meanwhile, Back at Cafe Du Monde... Life Stories About Food shares her journey of moving back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after 36 years when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. These are her heartfelt stories of love, laughter, loss and life in the A-Zone.

  1. Sep 21

    Episode 32 - Finding a Seat at the Table with Sabrina Johnson

    In Episode 32 of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes her dear friend Sabrina Johnson, MDiv, for a heartfelt conversation about friendship, faith, food, resilience, and finding your place at the table. Sabrina shares her journey of leaving Los Angeles during COVID-19, rebuilding her life in Prescott, Arizona, and facing a devastating accident that taught her how to receive the same love and care she had so freely given to others. She also tells the touching story of the small heart her surgeon created from the cement used to repair her broken femur—a beautiful symbol of compassion and healing. Throughout her recovery, Sabrina discovered healing through qigong classes, water walking, and artwork—practices that helped strengthen her body, nurture her creativity, and renew her spirit. Sometimes we are afraid of what we are walking away from—and equally afraid of what we are walking toward. But when we learn to trust, the gifts are revealed, enriching our lives in ways we never dreamed possible. Sabrina is the author of How to Sit & Stay with Compassionate Meditation, host of Listen In, Listen Up with Sabrina Johnson, and Spiritual Director at Unity of Flagstaff. She earned her Master of Divinity in 2021, and is continuing her path toward ordination as a Unity minister. Join Peggy and Sabrina for a warm, funny, and deeply personal conversation about beginning again—and moving forward with grace and hope. CONNECT WITH SABRINA Unity of Flagstaff: https://www.unityofflagstaff.org/ Watch Sabrina Johnson at Unity of Flagstaff: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=himGYv_1kfA Purchase How to Sit & Stay with Compassionate Meditation: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1944177760 Learn more about Peggy’s books, journals, podcast, and speaking engagements: https://peggysweeneymcdonald.com #resilience #foodstories #LifeInTheAZone #sabrinajohnson #friendship #spirituality #beginningagain #lifeafter60 #trustthejourney #graceandhope #compassionatemeditation #healing #artforhealing #recoveryjourney #spirituality #womensstories #qigong #journaling

  2. Jul 9

    Episode 31 - Friendship, Aging Parents & Finding Joy in the Meanwhile with Lisa Annitti

    How do we continue to embrace life while caring for the people we love? In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes longtime friend, film industry professional, and creative inspiration Lisa Annitti for a conversation about friendship, caregiving, creativity, and choosing joy. Lisa shares her funny food story, A Coconut Pie and a Bottle of Wine" that inspired Peggy's show and book, Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde...Life Stories About Food. Together, Peggy and Lisa discuss caring for aging parents, the importance of caregiving advocates, and Lisa's experience supporting her 94-year-old mother from across the country. They also explore why caregivers shouldn't put their own dreams on hold, including Lisa's decision to take a solo long weekend to Paris—a beautiful reminder that we all deserve moments of adventure, renewal, and joy. Lisa's message is simple but powerful: "Go. Don't stop yourself from doing the things that bring you joy." In this episode, you'll discover: The true story behind Meanwhile, Back at Café du Monde... How Lisa's coconut pie and a bottle of wine story inspired Peggy's live show and book The power of lifelong friendship Navigating long-distance caregiving for aging parents Why caregiving advocates can make all the difference Finding the courage to keep traveling, dreaming, and living while caregiving How to find joy—even in life's "meanwhile" moments #friendship #foodstories #solotravel #paris #caregiving #agingparents #roadtrips #findingjoy #family #assistedliving #creativity #author #caregiversupport #podcast #beignets #lifeintheazone #meanwhilebackatcafedumonde #cafedumonde #pinkcloudmoments

  3. Jun 26

    Episode 30 - Caregiving, Brain Health & Moving Forward After Loss with Jennifer Fink

    In this episode of Life in the A-Zone, I sit down with author, podcaster, and caregiving advocate Jennifer Fink for a heartfelt conversation about the realities of long-term caregiving. Together, we discuss balancing work and family responsibilities, navigating the caregiving fog that so many caregivers experience, advocating for loved ones, and the importance of caring for ourselves along the way. We also explore the often-overlooked season that follows caregiving—the healing, rediscovery, and adjustment that come after our loved ones are gone. Jennifer shares wisdom gained through years of caregiving experience, offering practical insights, encouragement, and hope for anyone walking this journey. Whether you are currently caring for a loved one, supporting a caregiver, or finding your footing after loss, this conversation reminds us that we are not alone. Connect with Jennifer Fink: Dementia Decoded Substack Dementia Decoded Podcast (Apple & Spotify) YouTube Instagram Facebook LinkedIn   #dementia #alzheimers #caregiving #caregivingjourney #brainhealth #griefandloss #podcasthost #agingparents #alzheimerssupport #familycaregiver #JenniferFink #dementiadecoded #memorycare #lifeintheAzone #dementia #dogstory #author

    Episode 30 - Caregiving, Brain Health & Moving Forward After Loss with Jennifer Fink

  4. Jun 18

    Episode 29: When Waiting Feels Like Withholding with Author Jen Allee

    Host Peggy Sweeney-McDonald welcomes author Jen Allee to Life in the A-Zone to discuss her new book, When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness. In this heartfelt conversation, Peggy and Jen explore seasons of waiting, wrestling with doubt and fear, the power of journaling, and the small Pink Cloud Moments of grace that help sustain hope along the way. Jen shares how years of magazine writing eventually became the chapters of her book, practical ways to trust God in times of uncertainty, and encouragement for anyone navigating life's in-between seasons. Together, they reflect on faith, perseverance, and the reminder that whatever we are waiting for, God is waiting with us. About Jen Allee Jen Allee is an engaging storyteller who loves to weave a good story into a great truth. She is the author of When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness. Learn more about Jen and her work at: www.jenallee.com Purchase When Waiting Feels Like Withholding: Trusting God When You Doubt His Goodness on Amazon. #LifeInTheAZone #JenAllee #WhenWaitingFeelsLikeWithholding #PinkCloudMoments #FaithInTheInBetween #Journaling #HopeInTheWaiting #AuthorInterview #Faith

    Episode 29: When Waiting Feels Like Withholding with Author Jen Allee

  5. May 4

    Episode 28: Love, Hospice and Letting Go

    In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy sits down with hospice nurse consultant Craig Schaap for a deeply moving conversation about caregiving, end-of-life care, and the unexpected moments of grace that can arise during life’s most difficult seasons. Craig shares his experience spending six years at the bedside of terminally ill patients and their families, and his current work with Gentiva Hospice in Baton Rouge. Together, Peggy and Craig explore what hospice truly is (and what it isn’t), when families should begin to consider it, and the emotional realities caregivers often carry silently. Craig also shares a deeply personal story about his father’s final fishing trip—and how, to this day, he honors him by throwing the first fish he catches back into the water. It’s a simple but powerful reminder of how love, memory, and connection continue long after goodbye. Peggy reflects on her own journey when her mother was placed on hospice and the roller coaster of emotions during those final weeks before her passing from Alzheimer’s, along with the Pink Cloud Moments that helped her find peace and meaning along the way. This conversation offers comfort, clarity, and compassion for anyone navigating caregiving or facing end-of-life decisions. It is a reminder that even in letting go, there can be love, meaning, and moments of light.   #HospiceCare #GriefJourney #MomentsOfGrace #HealingThroughGrief #CaregiverLife #Alzheimers #Dementia #Loveandloss

    Episode 28: Love, Hospice and Letting Go

  6. Apr 3

    Easter Memories: Holding On to Joy as Life Changes

    There was a time when Easter felt like magic. New dresses laid out the night before. White shoes worn just once a year. The smell of ham in the oven after church. Baskets filled with chocolate bunnies, jellybeans, and just enough surprise to make you believe in something wonderful. And at the center of it all… family. But as life moves forward, holidays begin to change. The tables look different. The traditions shift. And sometimes, the joy is held alongside something heavier—grief. In this heartfelt episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy reflects on the beauty of Easter memories while navigating the quiet ache of what has been lost. Through storytelling and reflection, she explores what it means to hold both joy and grief at the same time—and how, even in the midst of change, love remains. This episode includes a special revisit of A Basket of Memories, a deeply personal story that captures the spirit of Easter, past and present. Whether you are celebrating, remembering, or simply getting through the day, this episode is a gentle reminder: You are not alone. And sometimes, in the middle of it all…there is still a Pink Cloud Moment waiting.   #Easter #Eastermemories #grief #caregiving #Alzheimers #dementia #caregiverjourney #memoir #family #motherdaughter #lifeintheAzone #pinkcloudmoments #storytelling

  7. Mar 23

    Only Rainbows: Karen McCord on Loss, Love, and Carley's Legacy

    In this deeply moving episode of Life in the A-Zone, Peggy Sweeney-McDonald sits down with author Karen McCord to talk about the life and legacy of her daughter, beloved sports journalist Carley McCord, who tragically lost her life in a 2019 plane crash while traveling to cover the LSU playoff game in Atlanta. Karen shares memories of Carley’s vibrant life—from her early days as a pageant queen to her rising career in sports journalism—and reflects on the unimaginable grief that followed her sudden loss. In the midst of this tragedy, Karen had recently lost her father, and her mother was living in a nursing home with Alzheimer’s—yet she found a way to navigate both grief and caregiving at the same time. Karen’s memoir Only Rainbows: The Carley McCord Story tells the story of her family’s journey through heartbreak toward healing, reminding us that grief changes us—but it doesn’t have to destroy us. Peggy and Karen also reflect on how they met while walking around a neighborhood lake, encouraging each other to keep writing and share their stories. This episode is a powerful conversation about loss, grief, faith, resilience, and the unexpected moments of grace that sometimes appear in the darkest times. Listen now and share with someone who may need a little hope today. #grief #faith #lossofachild #resilience #healing #author #memoir #caregiving #alzheimers #loss #motherdauther #love #family #findinghope #dayatatime #womensvoices

    Only Rainbows: Karen McCord on Loss, Love, and Carley's Legacy

  8. Feb 27

    Healing Through Storytelling: The Life in the A-Zone Book Launch

    A memoir writing class at the 2019 Louisiana Book Festival planted the seed. During COVID in 2020, I began sharing my caregiving stories from a walk-in closet—creating the Life in the A-Zone podcast. That journey became my memoir, Life in the A-Zone: How I Embraced My Mother’s Alzheimer’s—One Pink Cloud Moment at a Time, along with two Pink Cloud Moments companion journals. This episode captures the heart behind the book launch. Because sometimes healing our grief begins the moment we tell the truth out loud. #memoir #caregiving #alzheimers #dementia #podcast #family #caregiverjourney #grief #healing #storytelling #journaling #author #writing

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4.9
out of 5
57 Ratings

About

Peggy Sweeney-McDonald, actress, producer and author of Meanwhile, Back at Cafe Du Monde... Life Stories About Food shares her journey of moving back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana after 36 years when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. These are her heartfelt stories of love, laughter, loss and life in the A-Zone.

Information

  • Creator
    Peggy Sweeney McDonald
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2020 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Life in the A-Zone