Gut Punched: EP 52 The Story of My Two Elaines

In this moving and deeply personal episode of GutPunched, host Jeff Edwards brings us into the heart of caregiving with former Wisconsin Governor Martin J. Schreiber, who lovingly cared for his wife Elaine for nearly two decades following her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Their story, captured in his powerful memoir My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver, is part love story, part survival guide — and wholly unforgettable. Jeff opens the episode with warmth and honesty, offering listeners timely reflections and new caregiver "rules" — practical, compassionate tools for navigating the emotional and logistical weight of caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Rule #4 is especially poignant: Create a Help Signal, a gentle yet empowering strategy to give those with memory loss a sense of safety and choice when receiving care. Then, Marty shares the raw, often painful journey of loving both versions of his wife — the woman he married, and the woman Alzheimer’s slowly reshaped. With grace, humor, and remarkable humility, he reflects on the heartbreak of being forgotten and the quiet joys that still managed to bloom through the fog of the disease. At 85, Marty doesn’t just talk about caregiving — he lived it, and he shares hard-won wisdom that challenges, heals, and uplifts. Jeff doesn't hold back when he says this conversation touched him in ways few others have. It’s more than a podcast episode — it’s a reminder that even amid loss, there can be meaning, connection, and yes… even joy. Visit MyTwoElaines.com to learn more about Marty’s book, and keep an eye out for it on GUTPUNCHED.COM soon. This one’s for the caregivers — past, present, and future. You are not alone. Available on GUTPUNCHED.COM, The Podcast Playground, and all major platforms including Spotify, Pandora, Google, iHeart, Apple, and more. Don't forget to like and subscribe! #GUTPUNCHED #ALZHEIMERS #DEMENTIA #CAREGIVERS