Cared For

On February 13, 2007, in Portland, Oregon, Heather MacAllister used medical aid in dying to end her life. Today, for our season finale, we're honored to have members of Heather's caregiving circle, also known as The Love Troopers, share their recollections of tending to Heather—and each other—through her illness and final day.This February, New York became the 14th U.S. jurisdiction to authorize medical aid in dying. It will go into effect this August.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: A collage featuring photos of Heather, and letters and ephemera from The Love Troopers' archives.

Our lives rarely follow a neat plot, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use narrative devices to try and make sense of them. All season long, Kelli’s shared personal reflections on grief, illness, and caregiving. This week, Kelli’s sharing how they’ve crafted those reflections—and how storytelling techniques can be a valuable care resource for everyone.Join us next week for our season finale, where we’ll be putting more of these techniques into practice, and welcoming some new voices to the mix.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: One of Kelli's Lego creations, reflecting on their time as a nun. To learn more about that period of their life, you can listen to our episode on faith.

What's it like for care to be your life's work? This week, we're turning our focus to the pros: the nurses and other caregiving professionals who have been in our homes, by our loved ones' bedsides, and a call away when we're in need of support. Join Kelli as they reflect on their own experiences in the nursing field and share some strategies for relationship-building between family caregivers and professional caregivers.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli on stage, blending their nursing and storytelling expertise. Yes, those are mittens on their hands, in a reference to " homemade chemo socks syndrome." You can learn more about that in our caregiving episode.

Navigating end-of-life care can often feel like waiting for the adults to arrive. You've got paperwork and meds and a whole host of emotions that, naturally, come with the knowledge that these months or even days may be your last with a loved one. This week, we'll explore how folks can access support in this period—support that's often available sooner than we might realize.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli, as a kid, perhaps waiting for the grown-ups.

When we’re in the midst of a medical crisis, things can quickly feel out of control. That’s why this week, we’re turning our focus to emergency planning. What can you do now to set yourself up for an unexpected trip to the emergency room? What strategies can you use to advocate for yourself or a loved one in the ER? And how does an actual ER differ from what we might see on a fast-moving medical drama like The Pitt or Grey’s Anatomy?!To look up healthcare proxy forms in your state, head to CaringInfo.org.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: The view from Kelli's Covid ICU bed in 2020.

When our bodies, even temporarily, can’t do what they were once capable of, how can we cope? This week, join Kelli as we explore the emotional side of tending to the physical. Whether you’re recovering from a surgery, dealing with chronic pain, or simply aging, what could a progression of healing look like? How can you find new pathways for joy and engagement? And what can your community offer in the way of sustained support?Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli's partner Heather.

Grief is hard enough without a swirl of logistics and condolence calls and remembering to take a shower. This week, join Kelli as we talk through some strategies for navigating the death of a loved one, or supporting a loved one who's experiencing grief, especially in its initial days and weeks.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli wearing a Halloween costume, the same year their father died.

As a Missionary of Charity, Kelli lived a life of service. And in many ways, that’s still Kelli’s mission. Today, we’re examining what it could look like to build a life of meaning, on our own terms—and how faith, even in the most unconventional of senses, can help guide us.And for folks who may have complex relationships with organized religion? We’ve got your backs.Interested in Kelli’s life in the convent? You can hear more about Kelli's journey as a nun on the critically acclaimed podcast The Turning: The Sisters Who Left.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli as a nun.

What does it look like to laugh in the face of death? This week, we're exploring how humor can be a resource, and potentially a salve, in some of life's toughest moments.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli with their partner Cheryl.

More than one in five Americans are family caregivers. And this work, even under the most supportive conditions, can be really intense. This week, Kelli's offering strategies for family caregiving, in community. Because wherever you're at—in a waiting room, on hold with the insurance company, or making another pot of coffee after another night of lost sleep—you don't have to tackle this responsibility alone.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: Kelli with their partner Heather.

When the world feels like it's falling apart, making a routine doctor's appointment can feel like the last thing on our to-do list. But it's precisely in moments like this where caring for ourselves is essential—and, perhaps, a source of empowerment. This week, join Kelli as we talk through practical tips for navigating the healthcare we all deserve. This is, in the truest sense, appointment listening.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham.Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.Pictured here: X-rays of Kelli's knee.

Welcome to Cared For. We're so glad you're here. Every week, we'll be exploring a different facet of caregiving, in its most holistic sense, together. Before we go on that journey together, here's Kelli's story.Cared For is executive produced and hosted by Kelli Dunham.It’s executive produced by Erica Getto and Myrriah Gossett for Good Get, in collaboration with PRX.For more resources, and to join the conversation, head to kellidunham.substack.com or @caredforpodcast on Instagram.Kelli’s on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack @kellidunham. Good Get is on Instagram @goodgetproductions.PRX is on Instagram @prxofficial.And you can give us a call at speakpipe.com/caredfor, or email us at [email protected]. Just put "Cared For" in the subject line!Pictured here: A young Kellli!

Kelli Dunham has lived many lives: as a nurse, educator, comedian, loving partner, LGBTQIA+ health advocate, and nun who served under Mother Teresa. Yeah, that Mother Teresa. Throughout, they've learned that the only way we can make sense of life—and death—is in community. And every week on Cared For, we're hoping to build that community, together. The first two episodes of Cared For drop on Monday, February 16.