Dancing With Dementia™: A Caregivers Rising Podcast

Have you ever wondered if the caregiving system could truly change—or if you’ll always be fighting the same battles alone?

In this solo episode of the Dancing With Dementia™ Podcast, host Kama, a Board-Certified Nurse Coach, Fierce Caregiver Advocate, and Young Caregiver Daughter for her Mother, shares powerful updates, real-world solutions, and advocacy strategies that prove change is possible.

As a promised follow-up from episodes ...

What happens when you finally get a break — only to return to medication errors, system failures, and emotional whiplash? 

In Part 3 of my raw, unfiltered conversation with Valarie Varan, we talk sibling dynamics, facility frustrations, and the boundaries that keep caregivers from burning out. If you’ve ever felt like no one “gets it,” this episode will remind you that you are not alone — and that your voice, your well-being, and yo...

Are you feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or completely lost in your caregiving role? This episode is your soulful lifeline.

In Part 2 of our powerful 3-part series, Licensed Professional Counselor, Holistic Life Coach, and Author, Valarie Varan explores caregiver burnout, connection, and how to find your way back to your true self—even in the depths of exhaustion.

We talk about the Dark Night of the Soul, emotional overwhelm, rage,...

What if your burnout wasn’t “just stress,” but a sign your energy field is out of alignment? What if your intuition during caregiving isn’t random—but real, measurable, and rooted in quantum science?

In this powerful episode, Kama sits down with Valarie Varan, licensed professional counselor, holistic life coach, energy healer, and author of Living in a Quantum Reality, to explore how caregiving and consciousness collide.

We div...

Hey hey, beautiful souls!

Are you, or someone you know impacted by things gone awry in a care home or assisted living setting?

In today’s heartfelt episode, I’m sharing a powerful, personal story about my experience as a caregiver for my beautiful Mama —and using it to spotlight a widespread issue in eldercare: the caregiver turnover crisis and its real impact on our loved ones.

This episode is for family caregivers, dementia advocate...

Welcome back, beautiful souls. This is Part 2 of our heartfelt and inspiring conversation with Jane Wolf Frances, psychotherapist, author of “Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge Into a Journey of Love,” and creator of the global POP Coaching Program. 

In this episode, we go deeper into family dynamics, and how to co-create your caregiving dream team, no matter how complicated things feel right now. We talk about spousa...

Are you caring for an aging parent while navigating sibling tension, family drama, or emotional burnout? You’re not alone! In this powerful first episode of a two-part series, Kama sits down with psychotherapist, author, and former attorney Jane Wolf Frances—creator of the POP (Parenting Our Parents) Coaching Program and author of Parenting Our Parents: Transforming the Challenge into a Journey of Love.

Together, they explore:

• Th...

Hey hey, beautiful caregiver souls!

Did you know your muscles are glucose sponges and movement is one of the most joyful ways to support your brain? In this high-energy finale to our 3-part series with Rachel Daugherty, we dive into the power of movement, protein, sugar awareness, and self-love as tools for long-term brain health.

If you're a caregiver, a cycle-breaker, or a vibrant being craving sustainable, soul-aligned wellne...

What if I told you that Cognitive Decline isn’t just about genetics?  Did you know it’s about today’s habits, your beautiful body, and even your sleep and stress levels? 

In Part 2 of my radiant conversation with Rachel from @bootyandbrains.co, we’re digging into: 

👉 Why Alzheimer’s prevention starts DECADES before symptoms

👉 Why blood sugar regulation = energy, clarity, and joy

👉 How understanding your physiology gives you POWER (n...

Hey hey, beautiful caregiver souls! 

Did you know research shows that the effects of dementia can begin in the brain 20+ years before symptoms appear? Today’s guest is about to light up your mind, your heart, and your soul!

Meet Rachel Daugherty from Booty & Brains—a vibrant, radiant voice in the wellness world who turned her mother’s Alzheimer's diagnosis into a mission for brain-first, soul-aligned living. In this powerful...

✨ A Quick Note from Kama✨

Hey beautiful souls, today’s episode is a little different. I’ve temporarily "misplaced" my voice (yep, even caregivers need a pause sometimes!), so I wasn’t able to record the full episode I had planned for you this week.

In this short update, I share a little love, a reminder to care for yourself as fiercely as you care for others, and a promise that I’ll be back with something special to make up...

Have you ever found yourself as a caregiver—especially a young caregiver—feeling unheard, dismissed, or unsure whether to speak up? You are not alone. In this heartfelt solo-sode, host Kama shares a recent, personal story that sparked a powerful reminder: your voice matters.

Through real-life caregiving experiences and wisdom gained from over 20 years in healthcare, Kama invites listeners to step into their power, borrow courage whe...

Ever feel like you have to cancel joy just to survive caregiving? In this raw and heart-centered solo episode, Kama shares a deeply personal story about almost canceling her birthday trip—and why she’s so glad she didn’t. From care home chaos to soul family reunions, this episode is a love letter to every caregiver who’s ever wondered if it’s okay to receive, to fill up their own cup, to say yes to joy.

Kama opens up about the emoti...

Are you or someone you love on the other side of the caregiving journey?  Or, are you looking for ways to prepare yourself for your loved one’s transition?  If so, stay tuned! Welcome back to the Dancing with Dementia Podcast! If you haven’t yet listened to Part 1 of my conversation with Ben Lazar, I highly recommend you do because this episode picks up right where we left off. In Part 1, Ben shared his powerful caregiving journey—...

You know that feeling when you’re on the phone with a truly dear soul-friend, and things get REAL? Like, zero filter, hearts-wide-open? Well, this, my Caregiver friends, is exactly that!

Welcome to the Dancing with Dementia Podcast! In today’s episode, Caregiver Recovery & Honoring the Sacred Journey of Caregiving, my dear friend Ben Lazar and I drop in deep! Ben was a caregiver for his father in his final years, and in this epi...

Do you care for a caregiver?

Are you a friend, partner, or community member looking out for the caregiver in your life? You may not be the one providing hands-on care, but your support matters more than you know. Tune in for ways to truly show up for the caregiver in your life—whether it's offering a helping hand, sharing resources, or simply being there when they need it most.

In today’s episode, we dive deep into:

✨ How to supp...

Have you ever felt unheard as a caregiver or as a patient? If so, this episode is for you!

I have the absolute privilege of sitting down with Kimberly Diaz, a powerhouse advocate who has dedicated her life to ensuring that caregivers and their loved ones are truly seen, heard, and supported. She is a nurse, case manager, and placement specialist, AND she’s a fierce advocate who fights for families navigating the wounded system.

⚠️⚠️⚠...

What happens when caregiving, motherhood, and career collide—and the system doesn’t offer the support you need?

For Cindy MacCaffrey, that wasn’t just a question; it was a call to action. As a wife, mother, and daughter-in-law of those impacted by young-onset dementia, Cindy saw the gaps in resources, support, and community-based care—so she created YOUQuest, a first-of-its-kind day program designed for active individuals living wit...

🎙 Caregiving as a Bigger Life Journey with Rachele: Part 2 of VFit, A Great Resource for Caregivers!

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of Dancing With Dementia, I sit down with Rachele to explore the deeper meaning of caregiving beyond the day-to-day responsibilities. We talk about how caregiving is not just a role—it’s a journey that aligns with our greater life purpose.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

💃🏻 The bigger pict...