The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Cathy VandenHeuvel
  • 4.8 (37)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Caregiver Cup Podcast is your space to pause, reflect, and refill. Each season dives into themes that matter most to caregivers—like self-care, boundaries, emotions, and rediscovery—so you can show up as your best self. Join a supportive community that believes when your cup is full, you can care with more strength, joy, and compassion.

  1. 3D AGO

    Creating a Rhythm That Works for You: The ANCHOR Method for Caregivers

    Send Cathy a text:) In today’s episode, we’re kicking off the season by building something every caregiver needs but rarely talks about: a rhythm that actually supports you. Caregiving is unpredictable — your days can shift in an instant. But having a gentle rhythm can give you grounding, stability, and pockets of peace in the middle of the chaos. A rhythm won’t make caregiving perfect… but it will make caregiving easier. Inside this episode, I walk you through my simple, flexible ANCHOR Method for creating a rhythm that fits your real life: A — Ask about your energy Start with your natural flow, not your to-do list. N — Name your non-negotiables Identify what must happen each day so you can build around it. C — Choose your anchor habits Small grounding rituals — morning, midday, evening — that steady you. H — Hold it loosely Your rhythm should support flexibility, not perfection. O — Organize it visually Make your rhythm easy to remember with simple visual cues. R — Review & reset weekly Your rhythm evolves as your caregiving evolves. You’ll also hear a personal story of how rhythm helped me survive one of my hardest caregiving seasons — and how tiny habits became my lifeline. Whether you’re craving more ease in your mornings, more calm in your evenings, or just a little breathing room in your day… this episode will help you start creating a rhythm that works for you, not against you. 🌼 Plus: Reflection prompts + one simple action step to help you start your ANCHOR Rhythm today. Support the show

    31 min

  2. JAN 6

    Welcome to Season 2: It’s Time to Do Caregiving Your Way

    Send Cathy a text:) Welcome to Season 2 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast — a brand-new year and a brand-new chapter where we finally do caregiving your way. Last season, you explored what’s in your cup—your identity, your needs, your well-being, and how caregiving has shaped you. Now it’s time to take everything you’ve uncovered… and turn it into a rhythm, a flow, and a caregiving life that actually supports you. This season is your permission slip to create routines and boundaries that honor your energy, protect your mental and emotional space, and make room for joy—even in the hard moments. Inside this special trailer, you’ll get a heartfelt sneak peek at what’s coming, including: ✨ How to build a caregiving rhythm that feels grounding, not overwhelming  ✨ Ways to set healthy boundaries without guilt or second-guessing  ✨ Practical, realistic time management tips you can actually use  ✨ Tools to protect your emotional bandwidth and stay centered  ✨ Why reclaiming joy matters—and how to weave it into everyday moments If you’ve been craving more flow, more clarity, and even a few minutes of peace in your day… you’re in the right place. So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and settle in. Season 2 officially begins January 13, and together we’re creating a caregiving life that reflects your needs, your strength, and your way. Let’s build your rhythm.  Let’s find your flow.  Let’s protect your time, energy, and joy—starting now. 💛✨ Support the show

    5 min

  3. 12/09/2025

    Caregiver Reflection: What’s Changed In Your Cup? A Season 1 Wrap-Up

    Send Cathy a text:) This final episode of Season 1 is your guided reflection and celebration — a moment to pause, breathe, and honor how far you’ve come on your caregiving journey. Together, we revisit the heart of this season and explore what has shifted inside your cup — your energy, your mindset, your confidence, your emotional awareness, and your ability to care for yourself while caring for someone you love. Here’s what we reflect on:  💛 What you carry and who you’ve become (Episode 1) 💛 Your energy story — what drains you and what restores you (Episode 2) 💛 Your emotional red flags and what they’re trying to tell you (Episode 3) 💛 How to catch, cancel, and correct negative thoughts (Episode 4) 💛 Why forgetfulness is overload, not failure (Episode 5) 💛 How to lighten “no choice” seasons (Episode 6) 💛 How guilt and shame lose power when named (Episode 7) 💛 How to know what you need — and how to ask for it (Episode 8) This episode gives you space to ask yourself meaningful questions:  ✨ What changed in my cup this season? ✨ Where did I grow? ✨ What story am I ready to release? ✨ What does my cup need next? Whether you journal, think during a walk, reflect in the car, or savor a quiet moment before bed, this wrap-up invites you to pause and celebrate the progress you may not even realize you’ve made. Because you’re not the same caregiver you were eight episodes ago. You’re stronger. You’re wiser. You’re more aware of your needs and your worth. And you deserve to move into the next season of caregiving feeling supported, grounded, and full of hope. We’ll take a short break — then I’ll see you in 2026 for Season 2: Caregiving Your Way — all about routines, rhythms, and boundaries that fit your life, your energy, and your heart. Take a deep breath, friend.  Look at how far you’ve come.  And remember — your cup deserves to stay full too. 💛☕ Support the show

    24 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    Caregiver Needs: How to Know What You Need (and How to Finally Ask for Help)

    Send Cathy a text:) If you’ve ever said “I’m fine” while your heart was quietly breaking… this episode is for you. Caregivers are experts at showing up for everyone else, but when it comes to identifying our own needs — let alone asking for help — it can feel impossible. Maybe you’ve ignored your body’s whispers for too long. Maybe guilt and shame tell you to keep pushing. Maybe you don’t even remember what you need anymore. In this episode, we slow everything down and walk through a gentle, guided self-inventory so you can finally hear yourself again. We look at your physical, emotional, mental, and soul needs, and help you name what’s been buried under the weight of caregiving. You’ll learn:  💛 why it feels so hard to ask for help — and why it’s not your fault  💛 how to identify what you truly need (not what you “should” need)  💛 simple, doable ways to ask for support without guilt or apology  💛 how to shift the fear stories that tell you you’re “too much” or “a burden”  💛 what to do when someone says, “Let me know if you need anything”  💛 the truth: your needs don’t make you selfish — they make you human This episode is your reminder that:  ✨ You’re allowed to have needs.  ✨ You’re allowed to ask for help.  ✨ You deserve support just as much as you give it. Take a breath, grab your journal (or just your earbuds), and let’s walk through this together.  Because caring for yourself isn’t extra — it’s essential to keeping your cup full. Support the show

    53 min

  5. 11/25/2025

    Caregiver Guilt & Shame: Why You Feel ‘Not Enough’ (And How to Break the Cycle)

    Send Cathy a text:) If you’ve ever ended your day thinking, “I should’ve done more,” this episode is for you, friend. 💛  In Season 1, Episode 7 of What’s In Your Cup?, we’re diving into the emotional drainers that quietly empty your cup — guilt, shame, and the constant pressure to be “enough.” Together, we’ll explore:  ✨ The three types of caregiver guilt  ✨ Why cultural, family, and personal expectations shape the way we show up  ✨ How guilt turns into shame — and how to stop that spiral  ✨ Real stories from Cathy’s caregiving journey  ✨ Practical tools to release the pressure and refill your cup with grace This isn’t about calling yourself out — it’s about calling yourself in. Because you are doing the best you can with what you have. And you deserve to feel enough, exactly as you are. Support the show

    37 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    BONUS Episode: When You Feel Like You Have No Choice

    Send Cathy a text:) This bonus episode is a little different… and a whole lot special. Inside, we’re diving into three powerful pieces of the caregiving experience: 💌 1. Listener Stories That Will Make You Feel Seen From practical self-care wins… to reimagining overwhelming roles… to color-coding calendars and using systems that save your sanity — you’ll hear real messages from caregivers just like you.  Their honesty, their wisdom, their struggles, and their victories remind us that none of us are doing this alone. 💛 2. A Personal Update from My Own Caregiving Season I open up about Denis’ recent inpatient stay, his GI GVHD diagnosis, the advocacy challenges we faced, the guilt of coming home at night instead of staying at the hospital… and the surprising moments that helped me refill my cup in the middle of it all — like handing out Halloween candy and simply allowing myself to be Cathy again for an hour. ☕ 3. A Pep Talk for the “I Have No Choice” Moments You know the ones:  Medication schedules. Wound care. Meals. All the tasks you can’t delegate or delete. In this episode, I walk you through something every caregiver needs to hear: Even when you can’t change the responsibility… you can change how you carry it. Small systems, tiny efficiencies, real help from your people — these aren’t chores. They’re lifelines that protect your energy and help you breathe again. You’ll hear stories about bubble packs, care binders, alarms, delivery services… and the power of saying “yes” when people offer to help. And because this episode airs during Thanksgiving week, we’ll also talk about the quiet moments of gratitude that hold us together — even in the hardest seasons. Support the show

    37 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    Are You Listening to Your Caregiver Body?

    Send Cathy a text:) Your body whispers before it screams — but as caregivers, we often ignore those whispers until it’s too late. In this heartfelt episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, Cathy VandenHeuvel shares personal stories and powerful insights on how to recognize the physical and emotional signals of caregiver burnout. From brain fog and fatigue to irritability and forgetfulness, these clues aren’t failures — they’re your body’s way of saying, “slow down.” You’ll learn simple ways to check in with yourself daily, find small moments of rest, and listen to your body’s needs without guilt. Because when you honor your body, you protect your health, your joy, and your ability to show up for those you love. 💛☕ Support the show

    40 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Juggling It All: How Caregivers Can Find Balance in the Roles They Carry

    Send Cathy a text:) Are you wearing so many hats that you’ve forgotten which one fits? In this heartfelt episode, Cathy shares an honest look at what happens when caregivers juggle too many roles — and how to reshape them without guilt. From hospital laundry rooms to heartfelt lessons about boundaries, you’ll learn how to identify what’s draining your energy, what truly matters, and how to create a caregiving rhythm that feels sustainable (not superhuman).  🎧 Tune in for real talk, reflection, and hope — because you don’t have to do it all to be doing it well. Support the show

    42 min
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4.8
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

The Caregiver Cup Podcast is your space to pause, reflect, and refill. Each season dives into themes that matter most to caregivers—like self-care, boundaries, emotions, and rediscovery—so you can show up as your best self. Join a supportive community that believes when your cup is full, you can care with more strength, joy, and compassion.

Information

  • Creator
    Cathy VandenHeuvel
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    283
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Caregiver Cup Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Caregiver Cup Podcast

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