The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Cathy VandenHeuvel
  • 4.8 (42)
  • 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. 1D AGO

    When It All Feels Too Much: Breaking the Caregiver Overwhelm Cycle

    Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving can feel overwhelming… But overwhelm doesn’t always show up all at once. Sometimes… ☕️ It’s the slow spill. The piling on of responsibilities.  The mental load.  The emotional exhaustion.  The moments when easy suddenly feels hard. In this episode, we’re breaking down: ✨ What caregiver overwhelm really is  ✨ The many layers of overwhelm  ✨ How it sneaks in  ✨ What happens when we ignore it  ✨ And practical ways to stop the spiral before burnout Because overwhelm isn’t weakness… 👉 It’s a signal. As you listen, I invite you to gently ask yourself: 👉 What does overwhelm look like for YOU? Is it in your body?  Is it in your thoughts?  Is it in your emotions? When we notice the spill… we can begin to protect our cup. 🎧 If caregiving has been feeling like too much lately… this episode is for you. Support the show

    1h 3m

  2. MAY 12

    It’s Okay to Be Angry as a Caregiver

    Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt angry as a caregiver…  and then immediately felt guilty for it? My friend… you are not alone.  And there is nothing wrong with you. In this episode, we’re talking about caregiver anger—the frustration, the quick reactions, and the guilt that follows. ✨ Why anger shows up  ✨ What’s underneath it  ✨ How to release the guilt  ✨ And simple ways to respond with more awareness You’ll also hear a personal story about walking Eddie that reminds us: 👉 You can feel angry… and still be loving.  👉 You can have a hard moment… and still be doing an amazing job. As you listen, gently ask yourself: 💛 What is my cup telling me today? Because your anger… 👉 doesn’t define you.  👉 it’s trying to guide you. Support the show

    37 min

  3. MAY 5

    The Hidden Emotions of Caregiving: Anger, Resentment, and Guilt

    Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt angry… frustrated… or even resentful in your caregiving journey—and then immediately felt guilty for it? You’re not alone. And more importantly… there’s nothing wrong with you. In this episode, we’re opening up about the emotions many of us experience—but don’t always talk about. The ones that feel uncomfortable.  The ones that don’t seem to match the love you have. But here’s the truth… ☕️ These are part of the caregiving journey. Inside this episode, we’ll walk through:  ✨ Why emotions like anger, frustration, and resentment show up  ✨ How they slowly build over time  ✨ The guilt that often follows—and how to release it  ✨ And how to begin noticing what your cup is trying to tell you You’ll also hear a personal story I’ve never shared before…  one that reminded me that two things can be true at the same time: You can love deeply…  and still feel overwhelmed. As you listen, I invite you to gently ask yourself: 💛 What emotion has been showing up for me lately?  💛 Have I been pushing it down… or noticing it? Because these emotions… 👉 don’t define you.  👉 they’re guiding you. Support the show

    30 min

  4. APR 28

    Is Your Cup Spilling? How to Recognize the Signs Before Burnout Hits

    Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt like something is just… off? You’re more tired than usual.  You’re snapping quicker.  You’re forgetting things… or just not feeling like yourself. And you catch yourself thinking…  “Why do I feel this way?” My friend… this is what I call the spill. In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when your cup starts to spill—and how to recognize the signs before it turns into burnout. Because here’s the truth…  ☕️ your cup will spill. Not because you’re doing anything wrong…  but because you’re human… and you’re carrying a lot. Inside this episode, we’ll walk through:  ✨ What “the spill” actually is (and why it matters)  ✨ The difference between a spill and burnout  ✨ Real-life signs your body, mind, and emotions are trying to get your attention  ✨ And how to respond with awareness instead of judgment You’ll also hear a personal story that changed everything for me—and how I learned to stop ignoring what my cup was trying to tell me. As you listen, I invite you to gently ask yourself: 💛 Where is my cup right now? 💛 What is my cup telling you today? Because those moments when things feel like too much… aren’t something to push away. They’re something to understand. Support the show

    28 min

  5. APR 21

    When the Cup Spills: A Preview of What’s Ahead in Season 3

    Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving asks a lot of you…  your time, your energy, your heart. And sometimes… your cup spills. Not just a little—but in ways that leave you feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering where those emotions even came from. If you’ve ever felt burnout, frustration, or even resentment in your caregiving journey… you are not alone. And more importantly—you’re not doing anything wrong. In this preview of Season 3: When the Cup Spills, we’re opening the door to the real, honest side of caregiving that doesn’t always get talked about. This season is all about:  ☕️ Recognizing when your cup is overflowing  ☕️ Understanding the emotions that come with caregiving  ☕️ Giving yourself grace and compassion in those moments  ☕️ And finding simple ways to move through it—without guilt As you listen, I invite you to gently ask yourself:  What is my cup telling me today? Because those moments when things feel like too much…  they’re not something to ignore. They’re something to understand. 💛 Season 3 is here to walk with you through it. Support the show

    5 min

  6. MAR 17

    Caregiving Your Way: The Small Shifts That Change Everything (Season 2 Finale)

    Send Cathy a text:) Season 2 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast has been all about one powerful idea: Caregiving your way. Caregiving often begins suddenly. You step in, respond to needs, and do whatever it takes to support the person you love. But over time, many caregivers find themselves living a rhythm they never intentionally chose — one that can leave them exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering how to sustain the journey. In this Season 2 finale, Cathy reflects on the powerful lessons shared throughout the season and the voices of caregivers who reached out with their stories. Together, we revisit three meaningful shifts that can help caregivers create a steadier caregiving rhythm: • Allowing support instead of carrying everything alone  • Reclaiming small moments of joy in everyday life  • Protecting your energy with healthy boundaries Cathy also shares inspiring messages from caregivers across the country who are navigating their own caregiving journeys while balancing work, family, and emotional challenges. This episode is a reminder that caregiving doesn’t have to follow a single path. Every caregiver’s story is different. Every situation is unique. But even small shifts — asking for help, protecting your time, reclaiming joy — can create meaningful change. As Season 2 comes to a close, Cathy invites you to reflect on one simple question: What is one small shift you want to carry forward in your caregiving journey? Because caregiving your way isn’t about perfection. It’s about making intentional choices that sustain both you and the person you love. And if you’re listening today, remember this: You are doing meaningful work.  You are showing up with love.  And you are not alone. Season 3 will continue the conversation by exploring the deeper emotional seasons of caregiving — burnout, grief, identity shifts, and how caregivers refill their cup when it spills. Support the show

    33 min

  7. MAR 10

    Choosing Your Yes and Protecting Your No: A Caregiver’s Guide to Boundaries and Energy

    Send Cathy a text:) Caregivers make hundreds of decisions every single day. Appointments.  Medications.  Phone calls.  Family needs.  Work responsibilities. And somewhere along the way, many caregivers get used to saying yes to everything. Yes to the extra task.  Yes to the extra responsibility.  Yes to being the one who always handles it. But every yes comes with a hidden trade. When you say yes to everything, you quietly say no to your energy, rest, and mental space. In this bonus episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re talking about a simple but powerful practice that can help caregivers reduce overwhelm and reclaim clarity — creating a Yes List and a No List. You’ll learn: ✨ Why decision fatigue hits caregivers so hard  ✨ How your brain responds to clarity vs. overwhelm  ✨ How to identify what truly deserves your energy this week  ✨ Why saying no can actually improve your caregiving experience  ✨ How protecting your time and mental space creates room for joy and support Cathy also shares a personal story from her caregiving journey with her mom and how saying no to certain responsibilities actually opened the door for more family support and deeper connection. This episode is a gentle mindset reset and a reminder that: You don’t have to do everything. You get to choose what matters most. Because every intentional yes builds a steadier caregiving rhythm… and every protective no helps sustain the caregiver behind the care. Support the show

    36 min

  8. MAR 3

    Reclaiming Joy in Your Day-to-Day: Micro-Moments for Caregivers

    Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving can slowly shrink your identity. Appointments. Medications. Advocacy. Logistics. But you are more than a caregiver. In Season 2, Episode 9 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re talking about something that often disappears in heavy seasons: joy. Not big vacations.  Not unrealistic positivity.  Not pretending things aren’t hard. But tiny, daily micro-moments of joy that help caregivers recharge, reset their nervous system, and protect their emotional health. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✔️ Why joy is not selfish — it’s stabilizing  ✔️ How chronic caregiver stress impacts your ability to feel light  ✔️ The science behind why small positive moments build resilience  ✔️ Practical categories of joy (music, rituals, sensory moments, laughter, identity joy)  ✔️ A simple “3 J’s of Joy” framework you can use immediately  ✔️ Reflection questions to help you rediscover what fuels you Cathy shares a personal story from Denis’ stem cell transplant season — finding a quiet gazebo in the middle of hospital buildings and choosing to focus on spring buds, birds, and stillness. The situation didn’t change — but the moment did. Because if caregiving takes up most of your day, joy has to live inside your day. This episode will help you remember: You are more than the hard things you manage.  You are allowed to feel light in heavy seasons.  And joy doesn’t wait for caregiving to end — it lives inside it. 🎧 Listen now and take one small step toward reclaiming joy in your caregiving journey. Support the show

    47 min
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4.8
out of 5
42 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
    297
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Caregiver Cup Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Caregiver Cup Podcast

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