AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

AlzAuthors: Untangling Alzheimer's & Dementia

Welcome to the AlzAuthors podcast! We’re so glad you found us. We're the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer's and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others. Join us as one of our authors shares their dementia journey, revealing intimate details and painfully obtained knowledge to help others currently on this path. We hope our stories offer comfort and support as we strive to break the silence and stigma surrounding a dementia diagnosis. May one of our authors speak to your experience. For more info please visit https://alzauthors.com. Featuring Marianne Sciucco, RN Podcast producer and host Marianne Sciucco is a co-founder and director at AlzAuthors and a registered nurse who cared for hundreds of dementia patients over a 20-year career. She provided care to her stepfather during his dementia journey and witnessed the painful decline of four beloved aunts to the disease. Her novel, "Blue Hydrangeas, an Alzheimer’s love story," is based on a couple she met through her work and is a testament to the power of love in the face of this heart-wrenching disease. Learn more about Marianne at AlzAuthors.com. Purchase "Blue Hydrangeas" Featuring Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., LEP Christy is a Licensed Educational Psychologist (LEP), retired school psychologist, author, speaker and coach/consultant. Her book, “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation” recounts her journey as a working mother of two who also managed the care of her parents, both of whom had some form of dementia. Combining her lived experience with her professional expertise in human development, wellness and a strengths based approach to finding solutions, Christy develops content, workshops and coaching to support Sandwiched families. She incorporates meditation, mindfulness and other evidence based mind/body practices into her work. She’s worked with care communities, financial professionals, estate planners and employers. Christy has a master’s degree in counseling psychology, and graduate credentials in both education and school psychology. Learn more about Christy at AlzAuthors.com. AlzAuthors is an Amazon Affiliate and may receive a small commission on book sales at no cost to you.

Episodes

November 4, 2025 56 mins

Welcome to another powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast. In this episode, hosts Christy Byrne Yates and Marianne Sciucco are joined by acclaimed writer Eliezer Sobel, author of “The Silver Lining of Alzheimer’s: One Son’s Journey into the Mystery.” Jean Lee, founder, manager, and memoir acquisitions editor, shares her insights about what she found compelling about this book and author.

Episode Highlights:

  • Discover ...
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In this special film festival episode celebrating the 10th anniversary of AlzAuthors, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates welcome filmmaker Frank Silverstein for an intimate discussion about his documentary, “Lousy: Love in the Time of Dementia.” Frank shares his journey capturing the realities of caring for both parents with dementia, offering raw insight, practical wisdom, and hope for caregivers and families livi...

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In this episode, host Marianne Sciucco and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna sit down with Shari Ross, a senior healthcare professional and author of “Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.: A Real World Guide for Navigating Senior Care for Your Loved One.” Shari’s expertise spans her professional experience in senior living communities and her personal connection to dementia through family. This conversation explores the emotional, pr...

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Celebrate a decade of AlzAuthors with this replay of a film discussion from our first film festival! Marianne Sciucco and the AlzAuthors community gathered to discuss Susie Singer Carter's documentary series No Country for Old People, inspired by her painful but illuminating journey alongside her mother in a five-star Los Angeles nursing facility.

Key Topics

  • Behind the Film: Susie shares what drove her to make No Countr...
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Welcome to a special episode of the AlzAuthors podcast, part of our first-ever Film Festival! Celebrating our 10th anniversary, host Marianne Sciucco sits down with acclaimed arts educator, author, and filmmaker Mary Crescenzo to explore the transformative role of the arts in dementia care.

In this heartfelt conversation, Mary shares her journey from early experiences in nursing homes to the creation of her poetic play-turned...

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In a conversation that challenges stereotypes and brings to light the unexpected realities of caregiving, this episode reveals the experiences of three men who stepped up to care for their mothers with dementia. It's a heartfelt exploration of grief, growth, and the bonds that are both tested and strengthened through caregiving.

Shattering Stereotypes: Men as Caregivers

We often associate caregiving with daughters, wives, an...

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Join AlzAuthors Film Fest 2025 – Celebrating 10 Years of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Awareness

Experience powerful films on dementia, Alzheimer’s, and caregiving—stories of hope, love, and resilience.

Register now at AlzAuthors.com to receive streaming links and watch from the comfort of your home, anytime. Each month, meet a featured filmmaker in a live Q&A event at 2 PM ET, and explore their journey as storytellers and ...

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Caregiving isn’t always a storybook journey, especially when family ties are already frayed. In this candid, emotionally charged episode, Jennifer Sullivan joins Christy Byrne Yates and Jean Lee, an acquisitions editor at AlzAuthors, to share her raw and inspiring account of caring for her mother with Alzheimer’s—through complicated family dynamics, financial crises, and the unique heartbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Discove...

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In this eye-opening episode, Christy and Marianne welcome back the formidable advocate, filmmaker, and podcast host Susie Singer Carter. Known for her poignant short film My Mom and the Girl —inspired by her experiences with her mother’s Alzheimer’s and starring the late beloved television actress Valerie Harper - and her award-winning podcast, “Love Conquers ALZ,” Susie shared details of her latest project, No Country for Old...

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In this powerful episode, Marianne Sciucco welcomes back friend of the podcast Lance A. Slatton, owner/operator of Enriched Life Home Care Services in Livonia, Michigan and host of the award-winning podcast All Home Care Matters. Together, they dive into Lance’s recent experience attending the Elizabeth Dole Foundation’s National Convening in Washington, DC, a major advocacy event supporting family caregivers, especially those...

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In this heartwarming episode, Jean Lee, AlzAuthors founder and author of Alzheimer’s Daughter, joins us to discuss her personal journey of caring for both of her parents after their simultaneous Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Jean shares how she journaled her family’s dementia journey, the emotional process of turning those notes into a memoir, and the discovery of her parents’ World War II love letters during the difficult process o...

Poet Marjorie Maddox and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna join host Marianne Sciucco to discuss the healing power of poetry, the realities of long-distance caregiving, and finding hope through the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Maddox’s, recent collection, Seeing Things, explores the tangled emotional landscape of dementia caregiving. The discussion examines the ways poetry can illuminate and comfort those touched b...

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Poet Marjorie Maddox and acquisitions editor Sheila Luna join host Marianne Sciucco to discuss the healing power of poetry, the realities of long-distance caregiving, and finding hope through the complexities of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Maddox’s, recent collection, Seeing Things, explores the tangled emotional landscape of dementia caregiving. The discussion examines the ways poetry can illuminate and comfort those touched b...

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This podcast brought together two remarkable friends—Peter Berry and Deb Bunt—for a conversation that was as inspiring as it was deeply honest. Hosted by Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates, the discussion explored not only the personal journeys and books of Peter and Deb, but also the profound insights they’ve gained into living well with dementia.

Peter's journey began with a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s at the...

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In this engaging episode, hosts Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates are joined by fiction writer and caregiver,Alfredo Botello, and AlzAuthors’ acquisitions editor Ruth Stevens.

Dive into a heartfelt and surprisingly humorous conversation as Alfredo discusses his novel, Spin Cycle, which explores the journey of a son caring for his mother with dementia. Alfredo, who transitioned from architect to screenwriter to novelist...

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Welcome to a powerful episode of the AlzAuthors Podcast featuring acclaimed author Marita Golden and her novel, The Wide Circumference of Love, as part of the Aging & Amazing Book Club series. This engaging discussion dives into the storytelling craft, the nuances of family caregiving, and the realities of Alzheimer’s and dementia, especially in African American communities.

An award-winning author of 22 books, Marita Gol...

In this episode we're sharing the highlights from our recent interview with Carol Steinberg, whose children’s book, Come Grandpa Meow, Let’s Fly, adds a much-needed resource for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

A Personal Story Sparked by Loss

Carol’s journey began more than 25 years ago, during her own father’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. She originally wrote the book as part of her grieving pr...

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Do you want to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of dementia on marriages? If you’re seeking practical guidance and emotional resilience in this area, discover solutions to help you navigate this challenging journey in this replay of an enlightening Books & Chit Chat discussion with Debra Tann, Ed.D.

In this episode, you will be able to:

  • Understand the ins and outs of dementia care to enhance your caregiving ...
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David Bredbenner, author of "Going Home: A Journey with Dementia," shares his profound experience caring for his mother through her journey with dementia.

Before dementia, Betty Jane was a dynamo - a retired nurse turned successful artist who ran marathons well into her late 70s. The decline began subtly after a fall, but it was the passing of David's sister Terry that marked the stark transition into full-blown dementia 

On...

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Do you want to experience the healing power of family relationships and find hope and peace amidst the challenges of caregiving? In this episode we discuss a solution.

Our special guest is Susan Landeis, author of "In Search of Rainbows: A Daughter’s Story of Loss, Hope and Redemption." Susan is an inspiring voice in the Alzheimer's and dementia caregiving community. Her memoir delves into her journey of caring for her mother...

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