Let Me Know If You Need a Podcast

A lot of people want to show up during cancer and still end up making it heavier. In this episode of Let Me Know If You Need A Podcast, Amy Steinhour and Kristen Beck sit down with Keith Hardeman, author of The Shadow of Trepidation and Don't say "Everything happens for a reason", to discuss the unspoken dynamics that make support feel performative, exhausting, or accidentally blameful.Keith shares what it was like to become ‘permanent residents of the cancer community,’ why listening beats fixing, how specific offers actually reduce emotional labor, and what to avoid when fear turns into ‘helpful’ commentary. You’ll leave with clearer language, a Sidekick-not-Savior mindset, and real ways to take something off a cancer family’s plate without putting yourself at the center.Things You Will Learn:How to replace vague kindness with clarity that actually helpsWhat to say when you don’t know what to say (without reaching for platitudes)How to show up after treatment ends, when survivorship emotional labor is still realTools & Frameworks Covered:Sidekick Support Model – helps you support without slipping into savior energy.Permission Slips – helps set boundaries without guilt or apology.Beyond the Casserole – helps translate care into usable support.Check out Keith’s books:Book 1: https://a.co/d/04R3aOsnBook 2: https://a.co/d/00AmCbSYKeith's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-hardeman-504169289/#AskingForHelp #CancerAuthor #CommunityCare #Caregiving #IllnessRealTalk✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Ever feel like you owe everyone an explanation? From skipping dinner to choosing what’s best for your body, Amy and Kristen call BS on the pressure to justify every choice. With humor, honesty, and survivor grit, they unpack why women and caregivers over-explain and how to stop. Learn practical boundary scripts, how to say “no” without guilt, and why protecting your peace is anything but selfish.What You’ll Learn:Why saying “no” is powerful (and enough)Tools and scripts for holding boundaries with humor, not guiltHow to spot (and stop!) people-pleasing in its tracksTimestamp Guide: 00:00 – Unfiltered intro: Why do we explain ourselves?01:39 – Amy’s breast cancer story and real-life mastectomy questions04:55 – The “Uber moment”: Kristen stands her ground (and survives bear country)11:38 – Listener stories: family, chemo, and tricky boundaries17:42 – Research: cultural scripts, motherhood, and people-pleasing22:30 – Scripts and boundary tools you’ll actually use25:08 – Final permission slip: no more guiltTools / Frameworks Mentioned:The Permission Slip: Say “no” without guiltBoundary Buffers: Use a scapegoat (doctor, work, “schedule conflict”)The “No, Thank You” Tactic: Polite. Simple. Done.Scripts You’ll Actually Use: “Thanks for understanding.” “I’ll let you know when I’m ready.” “I don’t have the energy to explain this right now.”🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts.Closing Insight:“No” is a complete sentence: permission granted to stop explaining.#Boundaries #SelfCareWithHumor #WomenSupportingWomen #Caregiving #Podcast #RealTalk #PermissionSlip ✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Vivian Babin grew up as the deep-feeling kid in a family that rarely talked about loss after her mom died. At 10, she learned how to make other people comfortable with her grief. By 21, she was managing the logistics of illness, signing discharge papers between college classes, and learning medical language just to be taken seriously. In this conversation, Vivian and the hosts unpack youth grief, caregiving weirdness, and the emotional labor hidden inside let me know if you need anything. They talk about medical systems that confuse calm with capacity, how social media can offer both community support and painful comparison, and why asking for help feels so damn hard. Vivian shares how writing, therapy, chosen family, dark humor, and small rituals like Starbucks orders under her mom’s name and McDonald’s runs help turn chaos into community support, and how boundaries became the permission slips that allowed her to say no without guilt.What You’ll Learn:Youth grief does not disappear. It follows you into caregiving, relationships, and adulthood when families do not talk about loss.Caregiving creates emotional labor early. Being composed does not mean you are supported, and asking for help is a skill you have to learn on purpose.Rituals, boundaries, and dark humor matter. Small acts can turn chaos into community support and make survivorship livable.Timestamp Guide:00:00 - Welcome, Vivian Babin!2:11 - Dealing with the loss of her mother 5:46 - Youth grief and being the kid everyone watches but no one talks to8:32 - Living with grandma and growing into caregiving weirdness13:07 - The emotional labor of being taken too seriously at 2119:29 - The Millennial caregiving experience and social media27:35 - Vivian’s advice to her younger self29:15 - Rituals, comfort food, and honoring loved onesTools / Frameworks Mentioned:Asking for help is a superpowerSaying no without guilt as a permission slipChosen family and community supportWriting and therapy as emotional vulnerability toolsSelf-care rituals around a death anniversaryDark humor as a healing mechanismClosing Insight:“You’re allowed to be the grieving kid, the exhausted caregiver, and the person who says “I can’t do this” in the same breath—and that honesty is its own form of support”✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Who is caring for the caregiver? In this raw, heart filled, and often funny episode, Amy and Kristen sit down with end of life doula and Rings of Care founder Niki Staab to explore what real support looks like when someone you love is sick or nearing the end of life. Nikki shares how her grandmother’s final days sparked her calling, how Ring Theory shaped her nonprofit, and why caregivers are often the ones suffering in silence.Together, they dive into the exhaustion, guilt, and emotional load that caregivers shoulder, plus the practical and deeply human tools that can lighten the weight. From organizing support rings before crisis hits to building a volunteer calendar to matching caregivers with community health workers, Niki shows how community care restores dignity and keeps burnout at bay.You will laugh, cry a little, and rethink how you show up for the people holding everything together. If you have ever been the glue in your family or watched someone you love carry too much alone, this conversation will feel like a warm exhale.What You’ll Learn:How to build a support ring before a crisis hitsPractical tools caregivers can use to stay healthy and groundedWhy accepting help strengthens everyone involvedTimestamp Guide: 00:00 – The power (and pain) of showing up for loved ones 01:41 – Niki’s story and how she became a death doula09:02 – Supporting loved ones through their final days 12:07 - The ring theory and building your village20:21 -The power of proactive support23:18 - Caregivers and the hidden second patient26:21 – Support continues long after the crisis30:41 - What’s next for Rings of Care36:40 – Niki’s self-care rituals and emotional boundaries41:41 - Finding balance and staying sane 49:00 – The mentor who shaped Nikki’s philosophy52:31 – Niki’s comfort foodTools / Frameworks Mentioned:Rings of Care support modelRing Theory for caregiving circlesSupport task calendar at RingsOfCare.orgVigil planningBoundaries and burnout toolsCommunity health worker modelClosing Insight: “When we care for the caregiver, everyone’s life gets better.”✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Who cares for the caregivers? In this raw, funny, and heartfelt episode, Amy and Kristen unpack the invisible weight of caregiving: from burnout to the guilt of asking for help. They explore stories from the PBS Caregiving documentary (produced by Bradley Cooper and narrated by Uzo Aduba) and remind us that support isn’t selfish, it’s survival. This is your permission slip to ask for help and heal out loud.Timestamps0:00 Welcome & Introduction1:15 The Caregiving Documentary (Bradley Cooper & Uzo Aduba)2:24 Why Caregiving Is Universal6:11 Stories from Long-Term Caregivers13:43 Paid vs. Unpaid Caregiving16:01 The Growing Need for Caregivers17:44 The Invisibility of Caregivers20:43 Hope for the Future22:43 Asking for Help Without Guilt24:31 Amy’s Comfort Food Moment25:07 Episode Wrap-Up#Caregiving #AskForHelp #BurnoutRecovery #CommunityCare #GiftWellSoon #CaregiverSupport #HealingWithLaughter✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

What do you do when your entire world collapses on an ordinary Sunday morning? In this raw and deeply human conversation, Amy and Kristen sit down with Mindy Corporon, author of Healing a Shattered Soul, cofounder of SevenDays Make a Ripple, Change the World, VP of Strategic Development at Love Always, and former CEO of a wealth management firm.Mindy shares the story no parent should ever have to tell: losing her father and teenage son in a white supremacist shooting. She opens up about what grief looked like behind the scenes while she was still “the boss,” how she eventually walked away from a career she loved, and why the workplace is one of the most confusing places to grieve.Together, they unpack how companies often do nothing, why silence hurts, and how Mindy cofounded Workplace Healing to change how employers support people navigating life disruptions. She also breaks down the mission behind SevenDays, a kindness-driven nonprofit empowering teens to create ripples of compassion, and Love Always, a trusted platform connecting grievers with vetted emotional, legal, and financial support so they do not have to Google their way through hell.This episode is for anyone trying to help, anyone grieving, and anyone who has ever realized that a shrimp cocktail or a box of toilet paper can feel like holy ground.What You’ll Learn:How to support someone in acute grief without saying “Let me know if you need anything.”Why grief in the workplace is a business issue, not a personality flaw.Small, sustaining acts of kindness that matter months and years after a loss.Timestamp Guide:00:00 – Mindy Corporon and her many grief and healing roles01:52 – Mindy’s journey  and shattering loss04:57 – Finding meaning on the other side of devastation07:53 – The birth of Workplace Healing12:07 – Grieving while trying to stay functional at work15:15 – From hate crime to kindness and the first “ripple”18:33 – How SevenDays helps teens lead with compassion22:39 – How people showed up for Mindy in real life27:23 – Introducing Love Always and its supportive ecosystem35:25 – Tiny kindness ideas anyone can do today36:38 – Mindy’s comfort food check-inTools / Frameworks Mentioned:Life disruptions as a framework for grief and caregivingOnboarding employees after a grief eventSevenDays “ripples”: love, discover, others, connect, you, go, onwardKindness Youth Leadership Team modelLove Always’ promise to vet providers and protect grieversDigital vaults for storing assets and social media access after deathClosing Insight:“Everything does not have to be done in the first ten days. The hardest part comes when everyone goes back to normal and you’re still staring at the empty chair.”✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Ask for help? Jen and Laura have, boldly, hilariously, and with zero shame.In this unfiltered episode, Amy chats with the sister duo who transformed a “why is there not a better bra?” moment into Heart & Core, a post-surgical brand born from grief, love, and lasagna.From their mom’s breast cancer diagnosis to med smuggling Thanksgiving adventures, Jen and Laura share the messy reality behind caregiving, innovation, and loss. They reveal how humor became their survival tool, how specificity (“I’ll bring Starbucks”) trumps vague offers of help, and how entrepreneurship can become an act of healing.Expect laughter through tears, business lessons from heartbreak, and a refreshing rejection of toxic positivity. Whether you’re a caregiver, survivor, or supporter learning to show up better, this episode reminds you that empathy isn’t soft—it’s scrappy, creative, and deeply human.Yes, you can build something beautiful out of pain. And yes, it might even involve a bra.What You’ll Learn:Why specific help (“I’ll bring Starbucks,” not “let me know”) changes everythingSmart strategies for advocating in medical chaos and supporting with humorHow heartbreak and honesty can start a company (yes, really)Timestamp Guide:00:00 – The sisters’ story and their mom’s cancer journey09:55 – Pivoting to post-surgical innovation11:33 – Why helping others keeps them motivated13:27 – The infamous “med smuggling Thanksgiving”18:23 – Showing up meaningfully (and ditching the casseroles)22:28 – Lessons, regrets, and sisterly reflections26:59 – Scaling Heart & Core with new tools and structure31:17 – Where to find their bras and contact info32:18 – Comfort food and “Lasagna 2.0”Tools / Frameworks Mentioned:Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS)Fractional CFO and Entrepreneur Organization Accelerator ProgramPost-surgical bra design and user-feedback loopClosing Insight:“Empathy isn’t just a feeling. It’s what you build with your hands, show up for in hospital rooms, and sometimes smuggle in a Ziploc.”✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

If you have ever wondered why cancer patients end up drowning in pink swag and mystery casseroles, you are going to love this conversation. Amy and Kristen get real with Liz Benditt, six time cancer survivor and founder of The Balm Box, to unpack the difference between well meaning gifts and gifts that actually help.Liz shares the wild and honest story behind her six cancers, her medical system wake-up calls, and the functional fixes she discovered after too many nights reading medical journals at 2 a.m. From navigating clueless doctors to advocating for your own care, Liz brings humor, heart, and the kind of truth you only learn by living it.They dig into the rise of functional gifting, the massive gap between what patients need and what people send, and why community care works better when it is simple, practical, and real. Expect laughter, survivor wisdom, and practical takeaways for anyone facing illness, caregiving, or the awkwardness of trying to show up for someone you love.If you want support that actually helps and gifts that do not end up in a closet, hit play. This episode is your permission slip to keep it honest, useful, and human.What You’ll Learn:1. How to tell the difference between thoughtful gifts and functional gifts that genuinely help patients and survivors2. Why self-advocacy in the medical system can change your entire experience3. How real, unfiltered conversations reduce burnout, build boundaries, and remove the shame of asking for helpTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome, Liz Bendit! Six-time cancer survivor and gifting disruptor 2:06 – Liz’s first diagnosis and early years of survival18:43 – Recent medical findings and finding better treatment30:45 – The pink crap nobody actually wants32:17 - How The Balm Box was born 43:08 - Breaking down cancer stigma48:22 - Finding silver linings in every experience 53:12 – What’s next: new boxes, partnerships, the future of support 1:01:40 – Liz’s comfort foods Tools / Frameworks Mentioned:- Functional gifting compared to traditional gifting- Humor as a caregiving tool- Patient centered research and survey design- Real talk as a form of advocacy- Practical boundary setting for patients and caregiversClosing Insight: You do not get extra points for suffering. Real help is giving what actually heals and asking for what you need is a superpower.✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Illness is messy, funny, and sometimes a total circus. In this episode, Amy and Kristen sit down with Rachel Baumel, breast cancer survivor and creator of Sleep Again Pillows, for an unfiltered talk about what happens when your life hits reset. From parking lot meltdowns to missed diagnoses, Rachel brings radical honesty, humor, and heart to the conversation about healing.She shares her “three types of survivors” theory, revealing how people respond to crisis: the avoiders, the doomsdayers, and the action-takers. Rachel opens up about building her business in the middle of recovery, redefining boundaries, and learning that comfort isn’t a luxury, it’s a form of therapy. You’ll also hear how she’s giving back through pillow donations and community care, plus a real talk moment on menopause, comfort food, and emotional exhaustion.This episode is a survival kit for anyone learning how to care, cope, and ask for help. It’s funny, raw, and deeply human. If you’ve ever felt at capacity, this one’s for you.What You’ll Learn:1. How to ask for help even when it’s uncomfortable2. Why comfort, both physical and emotional, is essential for healing3. Tools for setting boundaries and managing burnoutTimestamps:00:00 – Welcome, Rachel! Why do we need “help” to be badass02:01 – Rachel’s diagnosis, shock, and survival story 09:47 – Building Sleep Again Pillows: invention meets healing15:01 – The three types of survivors21:34 – Running at capacity: burnout, boundaries, and balance 24:58 – Giving back through community care27:06 – Comfort food, menopause mayhem, and self-advocacyTools / Frameworks Mentioned:1. The “Three Types” of post-diagnosis coping2. Boundaries in caregiving (“I’m at capacity”)3. Sleep Again Pillow System4. Support systems and self-advocacy in illnessClosing Insight: "Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s the bravest flex you can make (bonus points if you do it mid-tornado)."✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

Welcome to the first episode of Let Me Know If You Need a Podcast, where asking for help isn’t awkward: it’s brave.Amy and Kristen open the series with an honest, funny, and heartfelt talk about illness, caregiving, and showing up when life falls apart. From Amy’s gut-led cancer diagnosis to finding strength in vulnerability, this premiere reminds us that real courage starts with letting others in.Timestamps0:00 Welcome to the First Episode2:25 Amy’s Diagnosis and Life Shift7:06 Navigating Medical Uncertainty8:07 The Myth About Pain and Cancer11:04 How Friends and Family Showed Up13:34 The Weight of Asking for Help19:38 Caregiving for Her Mom23:33 Facing the Medical System26:09 Avoidance and Hard Conversations28:16 Lessons from Caregiving32:11 Vulnerability and Emotional Honesty33:50 When Was the Last Time You Asked for Help34:37 Amy’s Comfort Food35:07 Dream Guest and Closing Thoughts#AskForHelp #CaregiverSupport #HealingWithLaughter #VulnerabilityMatters #LetMeKnowIfYouNeedAPodcast✅ SUBSCRIBE so you never miss an episode:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcastApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/let-me-know-if-you-need-a-podcast/id1844882205Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4qKPOo6cAINf4M2i7THfnv📲 FOLLOW OUR SOCIALS:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letmeknowifyouneedapodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmkifyouneedapodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lmkifyouneedapodcast

In Let Me Know If You Need a Podcast, we’re reframing what it really looks like to ask for and receive support during life’s toughest moments. Amy knows this reality firsthand. Two years after losing her mom to breast cancer, she was diagnosed with breast cancer herself. This podcast is meant to be a life raft for anyone who feels like they’re drowning right now.This season features powerful stories from founders, caregivers, and thought leaders, including:- Rachel Baumel and Liz Benditt, who created the physical comfort they couldn’t find during their own cancer journeys- Mindy Corporan, who reminds us to choose kindness even after unimaginable tragedy fueled by hate- Keith Hardeman, a devoted caregiver sharing why we need to stop saying “everything happens for a reason”- Niki Staab, Executive Director of Rings of Care, working to support caregivers in a way no one else has- Vivian Babin, who became a caregiver while barely an adult herselfThese stories and so many more prove that showing up is courageous, deeply human, and honestly kind of badass.Welcome to Season 1 of Let Me Know If You Need a Podcast.