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Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
J Smiles
131 episodes
2 weeks ago
What does perseverance look like when words are gone and the day goes sideways? We set out to honor a promise—no gray roots, ever—and walked straight into a masterclass on safety, dignity, and the tiny choices that keep identity alive. A new caregiver, a wardrobe wobble, and then the moment every caregiver dreads: knees buckling on a ramp and a slow fall to the ground. No injuries, just a spike of adrenaline and the question that lives in the gut—do we abort, or do we push through? I take yo...
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What does perseverance look like when words are gone and the day goes sideways? We set out to honor a promise—no gray roots, ever—and walked straight into a masterclass on safety, dignity, and the tiny choices that keep identity alive. A new caregiver, a wardrobe wobble, and then the moment every caregiver dreads: knees buckling on a ramp and a slow fall to the ground. No injuries, just a spike of adrenaline and the question that lives in the gut—do we abort, or do we push through? I take yo...
Show more...
Alternative Health
Education,
How To,
Health & Fitness,
Mental Health
Episodes (20/131)
Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Caregivers Without Barriers: Chanda’s Fight for Care Equity
What if the care system you need doesn’t exist yet? Chanda didn’t wait. In this episode, we speak with Chanda Hinton, founder of the Chanda Center for Health. After a childhood spinal cord injury and years of depending on medicines and medical care, Chanda found that daily movement, touch-based therapies, and a team that talks to each other worked to help her overcome challenges brought on by medicine. Then she pushed further—she helped pass a first-of-its-kind law in Colorado&nbs...
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5 days ago
1 hour 2 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
From Then Until Now: A Personal Moment on my Caregiving and Comedy Journey
A single shock can reorder a life. When my father passed suddenly and my mother’s Alzheimer’s deepened, I became the point person for everything. My pivot—raw, messy, and unplanned—sparked a mission: use comedy to have a positive outlet during those trying times. In this special mini episode, you'll hear me as I celebrate five years of our caregiver-centered podcast, ten years of stand-up, and my mom’s 77th lap around the sun, while pulling back the curtain on how humor, faith, and community ...
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2 weeks ago
16 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Beyond the Actor: Why Brandon Claybon is Passionate about Alzheimer’s Advocacy
Parenting Up Family! Tune in for a special episode during National Family Caregivers Month! We are usually bi-weekly, but thanks to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia, we are releasing this bonus episode this month! In this episode, Actor Brandon Claybon joins us to unpack the shift that happens when family members forget your name and start losing their memory, with honesty and heart. He speaks with us about how Alzheimer’s touched both sides of his family, what he learned as a ten...
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3 weeks ago
37 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Is Caregiving Your Calling?
What does it look like to choose love—and keep choosing it, day after day? We sit down with JET, a grandson who decided his grandmother with dementia wouldn’t go to a facility. He brought her into his home, rebuilt his life around her needs, and learned how dignity lives in small rituals: clean sheets, a sharp outfit, a slow stroll through every aisle at the market just to smell the spices. It’s funny, tender, and honest about what caretaking really takes. JET walks us through the first clue...
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1 month ago
48 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Stories in Our Steps: Walk to End Alzheimer's Recap
The Promenade at Piedmont Park turned into a surge of color, courage, and hope at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s hosted by the Atlanta chapter of the Alzheimer's Association—and we brought our cameras and team to capture it all. From the first cheers to the last hug, we connected with caregivers, researchers, and supporters who refuse to let this disease define our futures. As a media sponsor, Parenting Up! dug into practical takeaways and lifted the voices that make this movement real. We spok...
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1 month ago
36 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
5 Year Podcast Anniversary Celebration!
Five years later, the room is louder, the laughs are bigger, and the village is real. We took our microphones into a buzzing anniversary reception at Buckhead Art & Company and let our community speak: caregivers who’ve lost, caregivers who are still in the thick of it, friends who learned how to show up, and pros who stepped in with services, strength, and heart. It wasn’t staged—it was hugs, dance breaks, and testimonies that prove love can outlast timelines and community can carry weig...
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2 months ago
21 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
We in Detroit Baby! Behind the Scenes of our first tour!
Hey Parenting Up Family! Today's episode is an audio version of a look behind the scenes of our first tour in Detroit! We had an amazing time with Dr. McNeil and the team at the AGREED Grant! You may have listened to the series, but now, we get to give you the story behind this amazing project and how it all came together. You will hear clips from our episodes, an interview with Dr. McNeil, and part of our pre-5 year 'podversary' celebration at EVRY Media Studios. Thank you for ro...
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2 months ago
24 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Unwavering Husband, Caregiver and Advocate - Dan Goerke
What if you could communicate telepathically with someone living with advanced Alzheimer's? Dan Goerke discovered this extraordinary connection with his wife Denise after conventional conversation became impossible. In this episode, Dan reveals how their mental bond transformed his caregiving approach and ultimately led him to become a powerful advocate for Alzheimer's research. Perhaps most touching is Dan's compassionate philosophy: "Let her do it." When Denise would wander the neighborhoo...
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3 months ago
46 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Gas, Guts, and the Golden Sample: A Caregiver Crashout
Ever wondered how far you'd go to care for someone you love? How much dignity you'd sacrifice? I found my answer on the side of I-20 during Atlanta rush hour. When my mother started talking to people who weren't there, walking into walls, and fidgeting constantly, I suspected a UTI—those sneaky infections that can make dementia symptoms appear dramatically worse. After three grueling weeks of attempting to collect a urine sample from my incontinent mother, we finally succeeded. With my preci...
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3 months ago
35 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
That's What Friends Are For
Have you ever witnessed someone persevere to no end to maintain a connection with someone they cared about? That's exactly what happened when my mother's DC circle refused to let her disappear after my dad's death. When Betty began bombarding my mother's phone, email, and even her old-school answering machine with messages, I initially dismissed it as an unwelcome intrusion. We were deep in grief, struggling with the aftermath of my dad's passing, and I had no energy for reconnecting with ol...
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4 months ago
30 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
KEEN AGING: HOW MODERN ELDERS ARE REWRITING GROWING OLD
In today's episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with an amazing author who is changing the outlook on aging! Dr. Corinne Auman, a care management expert and author of "Keenagers: Telling a New Story About Aging," joins us to challenge the overwhelming negativity surrounding the aging process. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience caring for family members with dementia and Parkinson's, Dr. Corinne reveals a profound truth: how we think about aging largely...
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4 months ago
45 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Lights, Camera, Collection: From The Sidelines of Caregiving
Parenting Up family - today's episode is a special one! The worlds of sports memorabilia and caregiving collide in this deeply personal glimpse into my journey to honor my father's extraordinary legacy while navigating the daily challenges of caring for my mother with Alzheimer's. My father, Jock Michael Smith, accomplished something unprecedented - creating the largest sports memorabilia collection in modern history. Not as a full-time collector or dealer, but as a successful attorney...
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5 months ago
38 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Who Caregivers Can Call: Real Life Resources
Welcome to the last episode of our 3 part 'Detroit Cares About Caregivers' Series! What resources actually exist for caregivers, and how do you access them when you need support? This question haunts many people thrust into caregiving roles, often leaving them feeling isolated and overwhelmed. In this episode, we bring together powerhouse resources ready to lighten your load—without emptying your wallet. The biggest revelation? Many people providing significant care don't identify as c...
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5 months ago
35 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
White Coat Wisdom: Best Practices for Care Partners
Do you ever feel dismissed or intimidated when advocating for your loved one in medical settings? That ends today. In Episode 2 of our 'Detroit Cares About Caregivers' series, medical providers share the importance of caregivers in the healthcare process. "I may know textbook, but you know your loved one," explains Dr. McNeill, Principal Investigator of the AGREED GWEP Program and the one who invited our team to create this insightful series! Dr. McNeill and her colleagues shared gam...
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6 months ago
50 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Detroit Caregiver Chronicles
Parenting Up family, we are excited to bring you a new 3-part series in partnership with Wayne State University's AGReed grant! In this episode, Detroit caregivers speak with J Smiles about their experiences as caregivers for their loved ones with dementia. They discuss the physical demands, logistics, and emotional stress while also offering self-care strategies to prevent burnout. As always, caregivers also spoke about funny moments with their loved ones that provide levity during the...
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6 months ago
48 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
What Caregivers Want Doctors To Know
The void between medical expertise and lived caregiving experience takes center stage in this powerful season finale. Join us as we recap the Alter Dementia Summit 2025! This episode captures the vibrant energy of a gathering that feels simultaneously like a homecoming, family reunion, and professional conference. At its heart is a critical message from caregivers to the medical community: slow down and recognize us as the experts we've become. Through moving testimonials, attendees exp...
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6 months ago
26 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Altering the Perception of Caregivers and Dementia with Dr. Fayron Epps
When Dr. Fayron Epps launched the Altar program, she was told repeatedly that no one would fund research connecting faith and dementia care in the Black community. Fast forward to today, and her groundbreaking initiative has expanded to 23 states, 112 faith communities, and 14 Christian denominations—with millions in funding from government agencies, corporate sponsors, and foundations. What makes this program revolutionary is its dual approach: utilizing the "altar" of the church while "alt...
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7 months ago
45 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Caregiving: Motherhood In Disguise
Motherhood takes many forms, and caregiving might be the most overlooked version. This Mother's Day episode challenges us to reconsider who deserves celebration and recognition. The numbers tell a striking story: Americans spent $33 billion on Mother's Day last year, showering traditional mothers with gifts and attention. Meanwhile, family caregivers perform somewhat similar work—often with many challenges—yet receive little acknowledgment. As caregivers, we embody the very definition of mot...
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7 months ago
29 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Yes, And Caregiving: The Improv Act You Didn’t Audition For
When a loved one develops dementia, our instinct is often to correct their misperceptions and pull them back to our reality. But what if there's a more compassionate, effective approach hiding in an unlikely place – Improv? In today's episode, we speak with Dr. Candace Kemp and Amanda Lee Williams about their research showing how improv principles can transform Dementia care. At the heart of their approach is the fundamental improv concept of "yes, and" – accepting whatever reality is presen...
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8 months ago
40 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Old People Deserve Different: Don't Just Rip the Bandaid Off!
When a loved one ages beyond typical medical concerns into what Dr. Warren Wong calls "the decade of frailty," everything changes—including how we should approach their care. In this episode, geriatrician Dr. Wong reveals why elder care requires specialized knowledge that many family doctors don't possess. Have you ever wondered why traditional medical appointments focus almost exclusively on disease management rather than your aging loved one's changing abilities? Dr. Wong explains how geri...
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8 months ago
47 minutes

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
What does perseverance look like when words are gone and the day goes sideways? We set out to honor a promise—no gray roots, ever—and walked straight into a masterclass on safety, dignity, and the tiny choices that keep identity alive. A new caregiver, a wardrobe wobble, and then the moment every caregiver dreads: knees buckling on a ramp and a slow fall to the ground. No injuries, just a spike of adrenaline and the question that lives in the gut—do we abort, or do we push through? I take yo...