Caregiver's Compass

Stephanie Muskat

This is Caregiver's Compass. An inspirational podcast talking about all things caregiving. Therapist and caregiver Stephanie Muskat takes you through real-life caregiving stories from her own therapeutic experience and gives you the raw and personal on her own caregiving experiences as a young caregiver. Plus hear from tons of incredible experts and caregivers who are living through their day-to-day journeys. It's all here at Caregiver's Compass.

  1. 3d ago

    Breaking the Silence: Chinese Family Caregiving and Dementia (Episode 151)

    In this heartfelt conversation, Jacqueline Vong and her mother Olivia Vong share their journey through caregiving, cultural perceptions of dementia, and the importance of community and advocacy in aging gracefully. They highlight the challenges and joys of navigating dementia within a traditional Chinese family and emphasize the need to break stigma and open up conversations. About Jacqueline Vong: Jacqueline is the Founder and President of Playology International, a Toronto-based licensing, marketing, and brand management agency. A mother of two energetic children, Serena (9) and Camilo (7), Jacqueline is also a caregiver to her mother, Olivia, affectionately known as “Glammah   As a member of the “sandwich generation,” Jacqueline balances the demands of entrepreneurship, motherhood, and caregiving while navigating her mother’s dementia and changing health needs. Raised in a traditional Chinese family, she brings a unique perspective on cultural expectations surrounding filial responsibility, aging, and caregiving. Through her family’s journey, she has become a passionate advocate for compassionate care, intergenerational connection, and honest conversations about the realities of supporting loved ones through life’s transitions especially in the East Asian society. About Olivia Vong (“Glammah”): Olivia is a beloved mother, grandmother, caregiver for her older sister and great source of strength and wisdom for her family. At almost 90 years old, she has lived a remarkable life, raising her family with resilience, determination, and deep love. Today, as she navigates dementia and age-related health challenges while living independently in a seniors residence, Olivia continues to bring joy, good fashion, and perspective to those around her. Our family calls these moments “glimmers”   Known affectionately as “Glammah” by her grandchildren Serena and Camilo, she remains a cherished presence in their lives. Her journey reflects both the challenges and the beauty of aging, and the importance of family, dignity, and connection across generations. Thank you to today’s sponsor, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. To learn more about AFTD please visit https://www.theaftd.org/ *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

  2. Jul 17

    Caregiving Out Loud: Jessica Guthrie on Race, Resilience, and Advocacy (Episode 150)

    In today’s episode, Jessica Guthrie shares her inspiring journey as a young Black caregiver for her mother with Alzheimer's for over a decade, highlighting the challenges, systemic issues, and the importance of advocacy, authenticity, and community support. About Jessica: Jessica C. Guthrie, M.Ed is a caregiving strategist, Alzheimer's advocate, and nationally recognized thought leader who has been the primary caregiver for her mother living with early-onset Alzheimer's disease for over 11 years. As a young, Black, millennial solo caregiver who began this journey at age 26, Jessica brings urgent visibility to demographics often overlooked in caregiving conversations. She is the founder of Jessica C. Guthrie Caregiving Consultancy and bridges lived caregiving experience with strategic leadership to help organizations move America's 63 million family caregivers from invisible to integral. Her expertise has been featured in PBS documentaries, major publications, and policy forums from the United Nations to Capitol Hill. Through speaking engagements, strategic consulting, and educational workshops, Jessica transforms how organizations support caregivers—ensuring they move from being an afterthought to becoming integral partners in care. Jessica believes caregivers deserve more than sympathy. They deserve systems that work. You can follow her journey on Instagram at Jessica_C_Guthrie or visit her website at JessicaCGuthrie.com. Thank you to today’s sponsor, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. To learn more about AFTD please visit https://www.theaftd.org/ *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

  3. Jul 10

    The Hidden Journey of a Young Carer: Rebekah Gold's Story (Episode 149)

    In this conversation, Rebekah Gold shares her profound journey as a young carer, detailing her experiences supporting her father with a rare mental health condition and her mother with disabilities. She discusses the complexities of caregiving, the normalization of her family's struggles, and the challenges of navigating her identity as a young carer. Rebekah emphasizes the importance of understanding and support for young carers and the need for better representation of their experiences in society. In this conversation, Rebekah Gold shares her experiences as a young caregiver, discussing the challenges of communication during psychosis, the dynamics within her family, and the emotional toll of caregiving. She emphasizes the importance of advocacy for young carers and the need for systemic change to support them better. Rebekah also reflects on her struggles to seek mental health support and the complexities of her role within her family, highlighting the need for understanding and compassion in caregiving situations. About Rebekah: Rebekah Gold is a PhD candidate in Child and Youth Studies at Brock University. Her research is grounded in critical, participatory, and arts-based collaboration with young carers and their families, informed by her own lived wisdom as a young carer and advocate. Her community-based research work sits at the intersection of critical mental health, critical childhood studies, critical disability studies, storytelling, and care work. She is the Co-founder and National Council Lead of the Young Caregiver Council of Canada, an advocacy community of young carers across Canada, and a Research Affiliate at the Young Caregivers Association. Young Caregivers Association: https://youngcaregivers.ca/ Caregiver Grief Connexion: https://caregivergrief.com/ Thank you to today’s sponsor, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. To learn more about AFTD please visit https://www.theaftd.org/ *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

  4. Jan 9

    Navigating a terminal diagnosis and loss of a parent while also caring for young children, with Renee Reina (Episode 147)

    On today’s episode, we are elated to welcome Renee Reina, host of The Mom Room podcast (@themomroom) and content creator, to discuss her experience navigating care for her son Milo while experiencing her father’s cancer diagnosis and passing in early 2025. She very openly talks about learning about her father’s decision for Medical Assistance in Dying and experiencing the MAID process with him and as a parent of a young child.  About Renee Reina: Renee Reina is the host of The Mom Room podcast (@themomroom), where she brings humour, honesty, and some sarcasm to conversations about motherhood, marriage, and modern life. Beyond the mic, she also creates relatable content that resonates with women everywhere on her personal account @thereneereina. She lives with her husband, their seven-year-old son, and two adorable Pomeranians in Ontario.  *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

  5. 12/19/2025

    Giving and receiving care with a disability and working to shift societal caregiving assumptions and beliefs in regards to caregiving with a disability, with Elizabeth Mohler (Episode 146)

    Born blind, from a very young age, Elizabeth Mohler experienced the barriers and obstacles one with a disability can face in an ableist society. With lived experience as both a care recipient and a caregiver, Elizabeth shares her insightful perspectives on care and the education and changes she feels are instrumental in supporting a culture of accessibility.  About Elizabeth Mohler: Elizabeth Mohler is a sibling care partner, researcher, and educator whose work bridges lived experience, scholarship, and advocacy. She is a PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University, where her research examines how autonomy, support, and care are represented within Ontario’s Direct Funding program. Drawing on critical disability studies and occupational science, Elizabeth explores how ideas of independence and productivity shape the lives and identities of disabled people and their care partners. Elizabeth also works as a Pre-Employment Specialist at BALANCE for Blind Adults, supporting blind and partially sighted job seekers in building confidence, technology skills, and pathways to meaningful employment. In addition, she is a Family as Faculty member at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, contributing to the training of healthcare professionals and promoting more relational, family-centered approaches to care and research. As a sibling care partner, Elizabeth understands care as a shared, interdependent practice—one that values reciprocity, creativity, and dignity. Across her academic, professional, and community work, she continues to advocate for inclusive and compassionate models of care that recognize families and disabled people as essential voices in shaping change. *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving

  6. 12/12/2025

    Using personal pain, grief and insights from the loss of her mother, and later the loss of her father, as a way to support others in their mourning, grief and pain, with Barri Leiner (Episode 145)

    Facing the loss of her mother in her 20s, Barri Leiner found herself experiencing the sudden shock of grief. Turning her pain and learning into purpose, Barri transformed her life and career into meaningful giving and support through The Memory Circle. In today’s episode, Barri shares the experience of losing both her parents and how she started and continues to support so many through The Memory Circle. About Barri Leiner: Barri Leiner Grant is a highly respected grief specialist, author and founder of The Memory Circle, a creative and healing space for remembrance and ritual. Barri brings a distinct aesthetic sensibility to the field of grief work—bridging beauty and healing in ways that feel modern, personal, and deeply human. She is the creator of Permission Granted, a widely read Substack newsletter that invites readers to navigate loss with honesty, tenderness, and earned wisdom. Barri is recognized for her unique approach to grief support, which combines storytelling, symbolism, and community to help people mark loss with intention and carry memories forward with care. Sought after as a speaker, collaborator, and guide, Barri is redefining how we talk about grief—removing the shame and silence, and replacing it with permission, presence, and grace. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post and Psychology Today and on award winning podcasts.  *The content shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and it does not constitute therapy or counselling. If you are in need of mental health support or professional guidance, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host.* Visit us on our website to see all that we offer for caregiver support: www.compassionincaregiving.com For more visit our Instagram! http://www.instagram.com/compassionincaregiving Thank you to today's episode sponsor, Eugeria. Eugeria's Idem clock and the Idem Connected Pill Dispenser, are designed to reduce stress for caregivers and help older adults keep their independence and routines. To learn more about the Idem clock visit  https://idem.care/pages/the-idem-smart-clock?utm_source=social+&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=compassionincaregiving and enter code COMPASSION10 for 10% off your purchase.

5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

This is Caregiver's Compass. An inspirational podcast talking about all things caregiving. Therapist and caregiver Stephanie Muskat takes you through real-life caregiving stories from her own therapeutic experience and gives you the raw and personal on her own caregiving experiences as a young caregiver. Plus hear from tons of incredible experts and caregivers who are living through their day-to-day journeys. It's all here at Caregiver's Compass.

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