Caregiver, broadcaster, and podcast host Jeff Edwards shares a deeply personal journey of being a husband caring for a wife with Alzheimer’s, how the diagnosis felt like a life-changing “gut punch,” and how that experience inspired both his podcast Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers and his AI-assisted song “I Still Choose You.” The conversation explores early signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia, the emotional toll and stigma caregivers face, the life-changing support of organizations like the Dubin Center and men’s caregiver groups, and practical guidance on resources, power of attorney, trusts, medical decisions, and emerging Alzheimer’s research. Jeff opens up about using diet, exercise, brain health, faith, and community to stay resilient, what it means to “remember enough for two,” and how caregiving has reshaped his understanding of love, purpose, simplicity, and hope while inspiring a mission to support other caregivers who feel overwhelmed and alone. Takeaways: Caregiving is a “same river, different boat” journey – every Alzheimer’s or dementia case looks different, but caregivers can learn crucial lessons from each other about resources, decisions, and emotional survival.Hope, faith, and community are not optional extras – support groups, organizations like the Dubin Center, and a strong spiritual foundation help caregivers stay grounded, keep advocating, and avoid losing themselves in the process.Creativity can turn pain into purpose – Jeff’s podcast Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers and his song “I Still Choose You” show how storytelling and music can transform a devastating diagnosis into connection, advocacy, and practical help for other caregivers. Quotes: “You may forget the life we built, but I’ll remember enough for two.” “We’re really not in the same boat. We’re all in the same river, but we’re all in different boats.” “Once you give up hope, then it’s all downhill from there.” Timestamps: [00:00:07] – Introducing Jeff Edwards and the “Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers” Podcast Host Peggy Selfan introduces Jeff Edwards, his caregiving journey with his wife’s Alzheimer’s, and his original song “I Still Choose You,” setting the stage for a conversation about transformation through adversity. [00:02:03] – Becoming “Jeff Edwards” and a 55-Year Radio Career Jeff explains how he created the on-air persona “Jeff Edwards” in 1975 to overcome shyness, built a long broadcast and sales career, and learned to connect, cold call, and build relationships that later shaped his caregiving approach. [00:06:10] – Early Signs and the Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Jeff recalls noticing subtle changes in his wife—like rewatching TV shows without remembering—and walks through the neurologist visits, testing, and the fearful moment of hearing, “We’re pretty sure it’s Alzheimer’s.” [00:07:43] – Facing Fear and Finding the Dubin Center Jeff shares the initial “what do I do now?” panic, how a recommendation led him to the Dubin Center the very next day, and why that first visit marked the beginning of a new learning journey in Alzheimer’s caregiving. [00:10:00] – Stigma, Judgment, and Why People Stay Silent The discussion turns to how families dealing with Alzheimer’s often hide the diagnosis, the lingering stigma around dementia compared to other illnesses, and why most people don’t really understand caregiving until they live it. [00:11:45] – The Origin of the “Gut Punched” Podcast Name Jeff describes hearing the word “podcast” in a sales meeting, feeling divinely nudged to pay attention, and eventually choosing the name “Gut Punched” to capture the visceral blow of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis—and his mission to help others. [00:18:00] – Men’s Groups, Resources, and “Same River, Different Boats” Jeff talks about men’s caregiver groups at the Dubin Center and his church, the practical lessons on power of attorney, trusts, and doctors, and a powerful metaphor: caregivers share the same river but are each in different boats. [00:21:55] – Treatments, Lifestyle Changes, and Emerging Research He shares what he’s learned from Dr. Dale Bredesen’s work, adjusting diet and exercise, experimenting with supplements, and tracking new Alzheimer’s research—from medications to 40 Hz sound/light therapies and blood–brain barrier challenges. [00:26:55] – Writing “I Still Choose You” with Help from AI Jeff walks through his creative process: gathering lyric ideas while working in the yard, refining them over months, using AI to shape the music, and discovering the accidental but perfect line “I’ll remember enough for two.” [00:29:31] – Listening to “I Still Choose You” (Song Excerpt) Peggy plays an excerpt of “I Still Choose You,” highlighting lyrics about being his wife’s memory, staying through fear and pain, and choosing her again despite Alzheimer’s, leaving both of them visibly moved. [00:31:31] – What “I Still Choose You” Really Means Jeff explains the emotional weight behind still choosing his wife despite imperfections, fear, and hardship, and how “remember enough for two” reflects his role in holding their shared history when she can’t. [00:35:39] – Faith, Compartmentalization, and Staying Functional Jeff shares how his faith in Jesus Christ grounds him, why he compartmentalizes emotions to keep functioning as a caregiver, and how he opens those emotional “boxes” only when necessary so he doesn’t shut down. [00:40:22] – Redefining a Meaningful Life and Letting Go of “Stuff” He reflects on how caregiving has shifted his priorities—valuing simplicity over material things, seeking to be kinder and more honest, and focusing on service rather than achievement or status. [00:45:00] – Using the Song to Raise Funds for Caregivers Jeff describes creating multiple genre versions of “I Still Choose You,” including a Spanish version, and his vision to host them on his website as part of a fundraiser or scholarship-style support for caregivers who lack financial resources. [00:47:14] – Choosing “Hopeful” and Why Hope Can’t Be Lost Jeff unpacks why he chose the word “hopeful” to describe himself, how hope means looking for solutions not yet visible, and why losing hope can drain a caregiver’s momentum, health, and ability to show up for their loved one. [00:49:51] – Final Reflections on Becoming and What’s Still Possible Peggy closes by honoring Jeff’s vulnerability, creativity, and mission to help caregivers, tying his story back to the idea that becoming often arises from circumstances we never chose but learn to grow through. Conclusion: Jeff Edwards’ story is ultimately about choosing love and purpose in the face of one of life’s hardest realities: a spouse’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. As a husband, caregiver, broadcaster, and host of Gut Punched: Alzheimer’s and Caregivers, he shows how fear and confusion can be transformed into service, advocacy, and connection. His song “I Still Choose You” captures the heart of that commitment, remembering enough for two, even when one person can no longer hold the memories. Through faith, community, and a willingness to keep learning, Jeff demonstrates that caregivers don’t have to feel alone, even if each is in a different “boat” on the same river. His journey reminds us that hope isn't denial, but a choice to keep looking for what’s still possible, one day at a time.
