Coming Clean About Caregiving

Julie Peck

Coming Clean About Caregiving is the raw, honest, and unfiltered guide to surviving life in the caregiving trenches. Hosted by veteran medical and business journalist Julie Peck (Medscape, Business Insider), this show strips away the polite clichés to talk about what caregiving is actually like. Julie cared for her mother for six agonizing, beautiful, and overwhelming years until her death in 2022. Through that journey, she learned a lifetime of hard lessons—most of them too late to help. This podcast is the resource she wishes she’d had. Each week, Julie brings together frontline family caregivers, top-tier clinicians, and elder care experts to share actionable advice, debunk hospice myths, and solve daily care logistics. From navigating medical data and building a care team to fighting caregiver burnout and handling the heavy weight of caregiver guilt, Coming Clean About Caregiving delivers the practical tools and validation you need to survive today. We use a little humor, a lot of truth, and zero judgment to make the hardest job in the world just a little bit easier. Because you shouldn't have to figure it out alone.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Flourishing with Alzheimer’s: Finding Joy & Humor with Carlos Olivas III

    "An Alzheimer’s diagnosis doesn’t erase someone’s personality or their capacity for joy."  This week on Coming Clean About Caregiving, I’m sitting down with Carlos Olivas III. You might recognize Carlos and his father, Carlos Jr., from the PBS documentary Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s. Carlos describes his dad as "flourishing with Alzheimer’s"—a journey built on love, deep patience, and a healthy dose of humor. Through his social media page @charlierobot, Carlos shares an honest, heartwarming, and often hilarious look at their daily life together. Tune in as we talk about: What it really means to help a loved one flourish after a diagnosisHow humor can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and easing stressThe beauty of meeting your loved ones exactly where they are A brand new episode drops right now! Hit the link in bio to listen and subscribe. #ComingCleanAboutCaregiving #Alzheimers #AlzheimersAwareness #Caregiving #FamilyCaregiver #DementiaCare #CaregiverSupport #CaregivingJourney #MatterOfMind #CharlieRobot

  2. 5d ago

    How to Keep Both Your Faith and Your Sense of Humor While Being a 3-Time Caregiver: Practical Advocacy, Dementia Care, and Finding Joy with Debbie DeMoss Compton

    How do you navigate the overwhelming demands of caregiving while holding onto your peace, your humor, and yourself? In this episode of Coming Clean About Caregiving, we welcome nationally recognized caregiver advocate, speaker, international bestselling author, and Founder of The Purple Vine, Debbie DeMoss Compton, CCC, CCA. Drawing from her profound lived experience as a three-time primary caregiver and her professional expertise, Debbie shares practical wisdom, real talk on reducing stress, preventing burnout, and rediscovering joy - with a dash of Biblical encouragement. Most importantly, we discuss the critically important caregiver resources she's developed, so tune in for a conversation filled with actionable tools for dementia and chronic-illness caregivers on how to hold on while learning how to let go. Check out Debbie's websites here:  The Purple Vine - Caregiver support, resources and encouragement, with a special focus on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and dementia: https://thepurplevine.com/   The Caregiver's Advocate - Real-world guidance, compassionate support, and practical solutions from caregivers and professionals who understand the journey: https://thecaregiversadvocate.com/ Enjoy the listen, and purchase Debbie's best-selling, award-winning books here: The Caregiver's Advocate Volume 1 - https://jpeck26--thepurplevine.thrivecart.com/the-caregivers-advocate/ The Caregiver's Advocate Volume 2 - https://jpeck26--thepurplevine.thrivecart.com/the-caregivers-advocate-2/ The Caregiver's Advocate Volume 3 https://jpeck26--thepurplevine.thrivecart.com/the-caregivers-advocate-3/

  3. Aug 28

    Special rebroadcast of our first episode with Charlene Lam of Curating Grief

    At Coming Clean About Caregiving, our goal is to provide family caregivers with the information that even the most well-meaning clinicians sometimes forget to convey—so that you'll have an easier time in all phases of your caregiving journey. It's all the info I learned too late to help my mom and me during the six years I cared for her up to and including her death in March of 2022. I'm your host, Julie Peck. In this episode, I’m joined by certified grief coach, curator, and speaker Charlene Lam, founder of Curating Grief (https://curatinggrief.com). Clearing out a loved one's home after they pass is often one of the most emotionally exhausting hurdles of the entire experience. Charlene opens up about her own response to the possessions her mother left behind and shares tender, practical advice for caregivers confronting this physical and emotional weight. We also dive into a common friction point for families: navigating differing coping styles among siblings when it’s time to go through those belongings.   Whether you are dreading this phase, currently buried in boxes, or trying to help your family find common ground, Charlene offers a refreshing, creative lens to help you honor your loved one while protecting your own peace. Connect with Charlene Lam:  Website: Curating Grief   Check out Charlene's book: Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies

  4. Aug 21

    Special rebroadcast of our in-demand second episode with Rebecca Feinglos of Grieve Leave

    I'm Julie Peck, and my guest this episode is Rebecca Feinglos. Rebecca runs the resource-packed website Grieve Leave (https://grieveleave.com), and she also has a podcast herself called Grief'd Up. We discuss the unrealistic expectations many workplaces have around returning to work after a loss, as well as how awkward it can be to come back to the office - people just don't know what to do with you, for you, or around you! Rebecca has experienced more than her fair share of loss, and is now forging a path to normalize grief and conversations around it - since it's part of all of our lives. Whether you are currently managing caregiving, processing a loss, or supporting someone on this path, this double-header is designed to provide real, practical tools.

  5. Aug 14

    Nicole Kidman Did It, Too: What End-of-Life Doulas Really Do with Omni Kitts Ferrara

    You’ve probably been hearing a lot about "death doulas" lately—especially after Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman announced she trained to become one! But if you think end-of-life care is a dreary, somber topic, think again. This week, we are joined by Omni Kitts Ferrara, the Director of Education for INELDA (International End-of-Life Doula Association). Omni breaks down the vital role end-of-life doulas play in supporting both dying individuals and their caregivers. In this episode, we cover: Custom Care vs. Standard Care: Why hospice is like IKEA, but end-of-life doulas are like custom cabinetry.Flipping the Script: Clearing up the misconception that death work is a downer—and why it’s actually deeply celebratory.The Growing Movement: Why holistic end-of-life care is gaining national attention.It’s an uplifting, eye-opening conversation about honoring life until the very end. Grab a cup of coffee and press play!

  6. Aug 7

    Battling Caregiver Burnout: How to Ask for Help (and Actually Get It) with Dr. Katherine Schafer

    Let’s be honest: if one more person tells you to "just take a nice warm bath" to fix your caregiving exhaustion, you'll be having visions of boiling them in oil. Burnout is real, it’s heavy, and no amount of scented candles are going to solve it. In this episode of Coming Clean About Caregiving, we’re ditching the toxic positivity and getting down to the tactical nitty-gritty of caregiver survival. Joining us is Dr. Katherine Schafer—a clinical psychologist, assistant professor at Vanderbilt University, and possessor of an impressive alphabet soup of letters after her name. Katherine tackles our audience’s most desperate "help me" questions and walks us through DBT’s famous "DEAR MAN" method. It sounds like a secret agent protocol, but it’s actually a step-by-step framework for asking for the help you need, and setting boundaries with those folks who act like you’re an endless supply of free labor.  What we're diving into:  Beyond the Bubble Bath: Why generic self-care tips are a scam when you're genuinely overwhelmed.  The DEAR MAN Script: How to ask for help, set boundaries, and actually get results without the guilt.  Viewer Q&A: Dr. Schafer tackles real, messy, "did this actually just happen?" caregiving scenarios from our viewers.

  7. Jul 31

    The Truth About Palliative Care: What Every Family Caregiver Needs to Know

    What exactly is palliative care—and why do so many people misunderstand it? In this episode of Coming Clean About Caregiving, I sit down with palliative care physician and medical educator Dr. Lindsey Ulin to separate fact from fiction about one of the most misunderstood specialties in medicine. We explore what palliative care really is, when patients should ask for it, and how a palliative care team supports not only people living with serious illness, but also the family caregivers who walk beside them. Dr. Ulin also shares the deeply personal story of caring for her father during the final six months of his life as he battled multiple sclerosis—a journey that continues to shape the way she practices medicine and teaches the next generation of physicians. Together, we discuss why caregivers so often feel invisible in the healthcare system, what it means to truly feel seen, and how healthcare professionals can better support the people providing care every day at home and in the hospital. Whether you're caring for a loved one now or simply want to be prepared for the future, this episode offers practical, compassionate advice for navigating serious illness and advocating with confidence. In this episode, you'll learn: • What palliative care is—and what it isn't. • When to ask for a palliative care consultation. • How palliative care teams support patients and family caregivers. • Why caregivers often feel overlooked and how clinicians can change that. • Practical ways to advocate for a hospitalized loved one, including requesting a family meeting, working with a hospital patient advocate or ombudsman, and keeping organized notes about your loved one's care. • How Dr. Ulin's own caregiving experience transformed her approach to medicine. If you've ever felt overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure of what questions to ask while caring for someone you love, this conversation will leave you feeling more informed, empowered, and, most importantly, less alone.

  8. Jul 24

    Translating Medicine: How Caregivers and Doctors Can Work Together

    Navigating a loved one’s hospitalization can feel like stepping into a foreign country where everyone speaks a different language. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Adjoa Boateng-Evans of Duke Health and Duke University School of Medicine to discuss how we can bridge the gap between medical jargon and everyday "human" language. Dr. Boateng-Evans shares her practical approach to empathetic medical communication and offers valuable insights on how family members and caregivers can become empowered, effective partners with hospital teams during a critical care stay. In this episode, we cover: Translating the Jargon: Why medical communication often feels cold or complex, and how doctors are working to bring human language back into care.The Caregiver as a Partner: Practical ways caregivers can advocate for their loved ones without feeling overwhelmed or sidelined.Effective Communication in the ICU/Hospital: Tips for asking the right questions during rounds and building trust with nurses and physicians.Bridging the Gap: How clinicians and families can align on goals of care for better patient outcomes, even when a patient is in their last days.

  9. Jul 23

    Navigating Grief at Work with Grieve Leave's Rebecca Feinglos

    I'm Julie Peck, and my guest this episode is Rebecca Feinglos. Rebecca runs the resource-packed website Grieve Leave (https://grieveleave.com), and she also has a podcast herself called Grief'd Up. We discuss the unrealistic expectations many workplaces have around returning to work after a loss, as well as how awkward it can be to come back to the office - people just don't know what to do with you, for you, or around you! Rebecca has experienced more than her fair share of loss, and is now forging a path to normalize grief and conversations around it - since it's part of all of our lives. Whether you are currently managing caregiving, processing a loss, or supporting someone on this path, this double-header is designed to provide real, practical tools.

  10. Jul 23

    Curating Grief: What to Do With the Belongings Left Behind with Charlene Lam

    At Coming Clean About Caregiving, our goal is to provide family caregivers with the information that even the most well-meaning clinicians sometimes forget to convey—so that you'll have an easier time in all phases of your caregiving journey. It's all the info I learned too late to help my mom and me during the six years I cared for her up to and including her death in March of 2022. I'm your host, Julie Peck. In this episode, I’m joined by certified grief coach, curator, and speaker Charlene Lam, founder of Curating Grief (https://curatinggrief.com). Clearing out a loved one's home after they pass is often one of the most emotionally exhausting hurdles of the entire experience. Charlene opens up about her own response to the possessions her mother left behind and shares tender, practical advice for caregivers confronting this physical and emotional weight. We also dive into a common friction point for families: navigating differing coping styles among siblings when it’s time to go through those belongings.   Whether you are dreading this phase, currently buried in boxes, or trying to help your family find common ground, Charlene offers a refreshing, creative lens to help you honor your loved one while protecting your own peace. Connect with Charlene Lam:  Website: Curating Grief   Check out Charlene's book: Curating Grief: A Creative Guide to Choosing What to Keep After a Loved One Dies

  • 10 Episodes

About

Coming Clean About Caregiving is the raw, honest, and unfiltered guide to surviving life in the caregiving trenches. Hosted by veteran medical and business journalist Julie Peck (Medscape, Business Insider), this show strips away the polite clichés to talk about what caregiving is actually like. Julie cared for her mother for six agonizing, beautiful, and overwhelming years until her death in 2022. Through that journey, she learned a lifetime of hard lessons—most of them too late to help. This podcast is the resource she wishes she’d had. Each week, Julie brings together frontline family caregivers, top-tier clinicians, and elder care experts to share actionable advice, debunk hospice myths, and solve daily care logistics. From navigating medical data and building a care team to fighting caregiver burnout and handling the heavy weight of caregiver guilt, Coming Clean About Caregiving delivers the practical tools and validation you need to survive today. We use a little humor, a lot of truth, and zero judgment to make the hardest job in the world just a little bit easier. Because you shouldn't have to figure it out alone.

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