The Caregivers Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Holy Work of Caregiving w/ Jess Ronne Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, host Dr. Mark Ropeleski speaks with Jess Ronne, a dedicated caregiver and advocate for families with children of special needs. Jess shares her personal journey of caregiving for her son Lucas, who has profound disabilities, and the challenges she faced, including the loss of her husband. The conversation delves into the importance of faith, community support, and the need for systemic changes to support caregivers. Jess emphasizes the significance of self-care, the fears of forever parenting, and the necessity of building a supportive community for caregivers.

For the video version of this show, check us out on YouTube:
🎥YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheCaregiversPodcast

Support Jess Ronne:
📖 Buy Jess's Book, Caregiving with Grit and Grace: http://bit.ly/3LqQbLL
✨ The Lucas Project: https://thelucasproject.org/about/jess-ronne/

Jess's Socials:
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessronneofficial/
▶️ Website: https://www.jessplusthemess.com/my-story/
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessplusthemess/

Follow us:
▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thecaregiverspodcast
▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaregiverspodcast/
▶️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580795888378
▶️ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-caregivers-podcast/
▶️ Website: https://thecaregiverspodcast.start.page/

Suck It Up Buttercup: Challenging the Status Quo in Healthcare Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Caregivers podcast, Dr. Mark speaks with Dr. Todd Otten about the challenges faced by caregivers in the healthcare system. They discuss the importance of caregiver wellness, the impact of burnout and moral injury, and the need for solidarity among caregivers. Dr. Otten shares his journey in medicine, the creation of the documentary 'Suck It Up Buttercup', and the role of organizations like Medicine Forward in advocating for change. The conversation emphasizes the power of kindness, the importance of self-care, and the potential of AI tools to assist caregivers at home.

Support Dr. Otten:
Medicine Forward: https://medicineforward.org/
Suck It Up, Buttercup: https://suckitupbuttercupfilm.com/

The Hidden Cost of Care: How Generational Trauma Shapes Caregivers Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Mark explores the hidden cost of caregiving: the unhealed wounds and generational traumas that quietly shape how we give, love, and sacrifice. He reveals how these inherited scripts: “you’re good when you give, selfish when you ask - can hollow us out, leaving us exhausted and disconnected. Through reflection and science-based insight, this episode offers language, validation, and a path toward self-healing. Because healing isn’t selfish - it’s survival.

Catastrophizing, Chronic Pain & Caregiver Resilience with Prof. Dean Tripp Oct 03, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Mark welcomes Professor Dean Tripp of Queen’s University, a clinical consultant and leading researcher on chronic pain, stress, and resilience. Together, they unpack the concept of catastrophizing—what it is, how it develops, and why it matters for both patients and caregivers.

You’ll learn:

• The key differences between acute and chronic pain.

• How empathy can both help and harm caregivers.

• Why communication and connection are essential tools for preventing burnout.

• How intimacy, fairness, and “small wins” can restore balance in caregiving relationships.

• Practical strategies to maintain your own well-being while supporting others.

Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.

The Opportunity in Burnout: Psychotherapist Bev Blaney on Burnout & Real Self‑Care Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

When caregiving depletes you, what brings you back? In our premiere episode, psychotherapist Bev Blaney (“a caregiver of caregivers”) charts a humane approach to burnout: embed self‑care in the culture, notice early warning signs (disconnection, cognitive fog, a closing heart). We talk moral injury, micro‑traumas, why “workshops” aren’t enough, and how to re-frame “I can’t do this anymore” as the start of a better path.

Disclaimer
This conversation is for education and reflection, not medical or psychological advice. If
you’re in crisis, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your region.

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