Mind What Matters

Raising Resilient Kids Through Adversity with Leland Vittert

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach sit down with journalist and author Leland Vittert for a powerful conversation about a different kind of caregiving, the kind that shapes a child’s entire life. Leland shares the story behind his book Born Lucky, opening up for the first time about growing up with an autism diagnosis that was never discussed, the challenges he faced in school, and the role his father played in helping him navigate a world that didn’t always understand him. Together, they explore what it looks like to raise a child through adversity, not by removing the hard things, but by walking alongside them through it. From resilience and discipline to unconditional love and long-term impact, this conversation offers a deeply personal look at how caregiving in childhood can shape who someone becomes. Liz and Nikki also reflect on their own experiences as parents, the emotional weight of raising children through challenges, and the balance between protecting your child and preparing them for the world. This episode is a reminder that even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment, the love, effort, and consistency caregivers pour into their children can have a lasting and life-changing impact. To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] ----------------- Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Everything We Wish We Knew About Senior Living Sooner (Part 2) with Christen Bergeron

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach continue their conversation with senior living expert Christen Bergeron, this time digging into one of the hardest and most overwhelming parts of caregiving: the cost. With over 25 years of experience in senior living, Christen helps families understand what care can actually look like financially, from assisted living and memory care to in-home support. They talk about the realities many families are shocked to discover in real time: Medicare does not pay for long-term care, Medicaid has limits and requirements, and the monthly cost of support can quickly become impossible without a plan. Liz, Nikki, and Christen also discuss the emotional weight of these decisions, especially when families are already exhausted, scared, and trying to do the right thing. From power of attorney and legal documents to researching care options before you need them, this episode is a practical and compassionate reminder that planning ahead is one of the greatest gifts we can give our future selves and the people we love. Check out the "Free Guide to Navigate Senior Living" here: https://www.navigatingseniorliving.co/questionsguide [https://www.navigatingseniorliving.co/questionsguide] To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] ----------------- Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Fixing Caregiving: What Needs to Change (Part 2) with Neal K. Shah

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys and Nikki DeLoach are back together with Neal K. Shah to continue a conversation that’s bigger than any one family’s experience. After unpacking the personal realities of caregiving, this episode turns toward what comes next, how we begin to fix a system that isn’t working for the millions of families navigating it every day. Together, they dive into the larger forces shaping caregiving today, from government policy and funding gaps to the growing need for innovation in how care is delivered. Neal shares his perspective on where the system is falling short, why families are often left without real options, and what it would take to create meaningful, lasting change. Liz and Nikki bring their own lived experience into the conversation, reflecting on the emotional, financial, and logistical weight caregivers carry and why advocacy, awareness, and collective action matter now more than ever. This episode is both a continuation and a shift forward, offering not just validation for what caregivers are going through, but a clearer picture of where the conversation needs to go next. To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] ----------------- Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Why Caregiving Feels Impossible And What Neal K. Shah Says Needs to Change

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys sits down with entrepreneur and caregiver Neal K. Shah to talk about the reality so many families are facing: a caregiving system that is overwhelming, expensive, and often impossible to navigate. After becoming a caregiver for both his grandfather with Alzheimer’s and later his wife during a serious illness, Neal saw firsthand how broken the system truly is. What started as a deeply personal experience turned into a mission to rethink how care is delivered, accessed, and supported. Together, Liz and Neal unpack what’s not working, from the high cost of in-home care and caregiver burnout to the lack of meaningful support for families doing this work every day. They also talk about the emotional toll caregiving takes, the ripple effects on careers and families, and why so many people feel like they’re figuring it out alone. Neal shares how his company, CareYaya, is approaching caregiving differently, connecting families with healthcare students to provide more affordable, reliable in-home support, and why innovation may be one of the only ways forward. This conversation is both eye-opening and validating for anyone navigating caregiving, offering perspective on a system that needs to change, and the people working to change it. To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] ----------------- Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Everything We Wish We Knew About Senior Living Sooner with Christen Bergeron

This week on Mind What Matters, Elizabeth Humphreys sits down with senior living expert Christen Bergeron to talk about what so many families wish they had understood before finding themselves in the middle of a caregiving crisis. With over 25 years of experience in the senior living space, Christen shares what actually happens when a parent is no longer safe at home, and why so many families are left trying to figure it out in real time, often without clear guidance or enough information. Together, Liz and Christen walk through the decisions that come up quickly and unexpectedly, from hospital stays and next steps to understanding the different levels of care available. They also talk about the emotional side of it all: the pressure, the second-guessing, and the reality that there often isn’t one perfect answer. This conversation is both practical and reassuring, offering a clearer path forward for anyone navigating aging parents, dementia, or long-term care decisions, especially if you’re trying to get ahead of it before a crisis forces your hand. To learn more about Mind What Matters or to support our mission [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/donate] head to our website [https://www.wearemindwhatmatters.org/]. Connect with us on Instagram [http://instagram.com/mindwhatmatterspodcast] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mindwhatmattersnonprofit] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liWZrZj74lo&ab_channel=MindWhatMatters] ----------------- Mind What Matters is produced by the team at Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]