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. 5d ago

    Dementia Caregiver Guilt: Am I a Good Caregiver?

    Am I a good caregiver? If you're caring for a parent with dementia, chances are you've asked yourself this question more times than you'd like to admit. In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry get honest about caregiver guilt, the pressure to do more, and the struggle to find balance while caring for a parent. From admitting there are days when you don't want to visit to learning how to advocate for your loved one without losing yourself in the process, we explore the realities of dementia caregiving that families don't always talk about. We also discuss staying connected to Mom through old photos, family stories, and a little humour—because sometimes you have to laugh so you don't cry. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough for someone you love, this episode is for you.

  2. Oct 19

    When Caring for Your Parent Becomes Your Second Job — Bob Millar on Caregiving and Paige

    Bob Millar spent decades caring for his mom, Dottie, often feeling alone in navigating the challenges of caring for an aging parent. In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, Bob shares how that experience helped inspire his work with Paige, a simple video-calling device that lets older adults connect with family by touching a photo on the screen — no complicated menus or passwords required. From missed calls and medication confusion to driving three hours to check on his mom, Bob describes the anxiety of not knowing whether she was safe or getting the care she needed. He also opens up about why men in the corporate world may struggle to talk about caregiving, the isolation families experience, and the need for better support and communication. Listen now, follow Your Brain on Mom, and share this episode with someone navigating the challenges of caring for an aging parent.

  3. Oct 13

    Walking Into the Unknown: The Anxiety of Dementia Caregiving

    What happens when you never know what kind of visit you’re walking into? In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry talk about the unpredictability of dementia and the emotional toll it takes on caregivers. From the anxiety that starts in the car, to Barry listening for yelling the second the elevator doors open, they talk about living in a constant state of emotional adaptation — and how caregiving can put you into fight-or-flight before you’ve even walked through the door. They also talk about how dramatically things have changed since Mom moved buildings, the difference good care can make, and why the anxiety doesn’t necessarily disappear just because things are better. Plus, Mom absolutely owns an interdisciplinary care meeting — and, naturally, gives us another Moment of the Week. Listen now, follow Your Brain on Mom, and share this episode with another dementia caregiver who knows what it’s like to wonder what kind of day you’re walking into.

  4. Oct 6

    He Was Only 53: The Road to a Young-Onset Dementia Diagnosis

    Cassandre Pemberton’s husband, Joe, was just 53 when he was diagnosed with young-onset dementia. But the signs had started years earlier. A retired law enforcement chief, Joe was active, social, driven, and always on the go. Then Cassandre noticed changes in his personality, memory, and engagement. At first, she blamed stress and the demands of his career. Doctors did too. In this episode, Cassandre shares their difficult road to a dementia diagnosis, what she wishes she had recognized sooner, and what happens when the person who notices the changes most clearly is the spouse. Listen now for this powerful conversation about young-onset dementia, caregiving, and finding your way forward.If this episode resonates with you, follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

  5. Sep 29

    Mom Moved. Everything Changed.

    Mom moved—and suddenly, everything changed. In this episode of Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry talk about the unexpected turning point in their mother’s dementia care: a move to a different building within the same nursing home that completely changed her day-to-day experience. Before the move, Mom’s dementia-related behaviors had escalated dramatically. She was yelling and crying for hours, spending much of her time alone in her room, and the family was increasingly worried about her decline and the care she was receiving. Then came “Fight Club”—a frightening incident involving two residents in Mom’s room that ultimately led to her transfer. Wendy and Barry unpack what happened, the questions it raised about dementia care, isolation, behavioral units, family advocacy, and the use of control measures in long-term care. They also talk about a difficult conversation around levels of care and what it means to continue treating someone with dementia while respecting their wishes and quality of life. Most importantly, they talk about what happened after the move: Mom’s baseline improved, she became more engaged, and the family started seeing more of the personality, humour and spark they knew was still there. It’s a conversation about dementia caregiving, nursing home care, advocating for a parent, family dynamics, and the uncomfortable questions that come with caring for someone whose dementia is progressing—and, as always, there’s plenty of dark humour along the way.

  6. Sep 22

    We’re Back, Baby!

    We’re back! After a month-long break, Wendy and Barry return to Your Brain on Mom to catch up on what’s changed in their mom’s dementia journey — including a move to a new building, a new care team, an improved baseline, and a few surprising new behaviours. They talk about the reality of dementia caregiving, caregiver guilt, “time poverty,” sibling caregiving, and why taking a break doesn’t mean you ever really stop being a caregiver. They also get into the very different ways they each process the changes in their mom — and what it means to meet someone with dementia where they are. And because this is Your Brain on Mom, there’s plenty of laughter along the way: wheelchair escapes, pizza cravings, Mom’s legendary sarcasm, and the joy of seeing her laugh, sing and connect with the people around her again.

  7. Jul 28

    What Dementia Took From Mom (Besides Her Marbles)

    What does a person lose to dementia? Sometimes it’s memory, independence, or the ability to recognize familiar things. And sometimes… it’s a phone that may or may not have ended up in the morgue. In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry make a countdown of the things their mom has lost throughout her dementia journey—and some of them are definitely more unexpected than others. From patience and tolerance to her desire to wear clothes, hearing aids, glasses, stuffed animals, clothes that somehow belong to someone else, and multiple cell phones, this list is a hilarious, honest look at the everyday chaos of dementia caregiving. There are missing phones, stolen—or possibly borrowed—stuffed animals, a mysterious collection of clothing, Costco-sized quantities of junk food that somehow disappeared, and one very questionable phone-tracking adventure that led directly to a place Wendy absolutely refused to enter. But beneath the laughter are some very real parts of dementia: changes in behavior, loss of inhibition, confusion, wandering, changes in personal care, and the gradual loss of independence. Because sometimes caregiving means grieving the things a person has lost. And sometimes it means searching under a dresser for glasses while wondering how a pair of shoes got there in the first place. This Is Your Brain on Mom is a caregiving podcast about dementia, family, advocacy, sibling dynamics, and finding humor in the moments that are anything but funny. If you’re caring for a parent with dementia, navigating a nursing home or long-term care, or simply trying to find humor in the chaos of caregiving, this episode is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    What Dementia Took From Mom (Besides Her Marbles)

  8. Jul 21

    Dementia Trivia, Family Caregiving & Finding Humor in the Hard Stuff

    What happens when two siblings who love trivia decide to turn their podcast into a dementia trivia game? Chaos, questionable answers, family history, and a lot of laughing. In this episode of This Is Your Brain on Mom, Wendy and Barry take a break from their usual caregiving conversations and test each other’s knowledge with a mix of dementia facts and questions about their mom. They tackle questions about memory loss, dementia and aging, the senses that can be affected early in dementia, and the reality that people living with dementia can have good days and bad days. Then the trivia gets personal as Wendy quizzes Barry on their mother’s biggest pet peeves, her hatred of loud noises, her aversion to perfume, and the family memories that somehow become funnier with time. Along the way, they talk about dark humor, childhood trauma, family dynamics, and why finding humor in caregiving doesn’t mean you love your person any less. Because sometimes, when you're caring for a parent with dementia, laughter is one of the ways you survive the hard parts. If you’re a dementia caregiver, family caregiver, or simply someone who loves trivia and a good sibling rivalry, this episode is for you. Listen, play along, and see how many questions you can answer correctly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Dementia Trivia, Family Caregiving & Finding Humor in the Hard Stuff
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5
out of 5
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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
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Aflalo Communications Inc.
  • Show Website
    Your Brain on Mom

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