Love Conquers Alz
by Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess
2024 #1 ALL TIME DEMENTIA PODCAST /GOODPODS and 2020 WINNER BEST PODCAST - New Media Film Festival. Caregivers have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Having both been caregivers for a family member affected with Alzheimer’s, Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess both know this is a disease that cannot be faced alone. In fact, their Oscar Qualified film based on Susie's Mother, MY MOM AND THE GIRL starring Valerie Harper in her final performance - has and continues to touch people all over the world. Their goal was to let others know they are not on their own and to help them find the JOY in the journey. And that's just what they do in their Podcast "Love Conquers Alz".
Episodes
-
LON HECHT: No Waiting Room Required: Emergency Care2U
What if one of our biggest healthcare assumptions is flat-out wrong: that the hospital is always the best place to get care? When you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia, that assumption can come with a brutal price, from confusion and agitation to missed history, rushed...
-
SUZY MCNAMARA; AUTHOR: Two Halves of My Heart: Love, Loss, and Alzheimer’s
In our latest, LONG OVERDUE episode, Don Priess and I talk with memoirist Suzy McNamara , author of The Silkworm, The Magician, and The Sister Tree: A Tale of Love and Loss. (WARNING: You may fall head over heels for this amazing woman!) Suzy is an author, poet, mother of four, fundraiser…
more -
ANDREW KARESA: Speak Their Language - Person-Centered Dementia Care
A dementia diagnosis changes the whole map of a family, and the systems we rely on often make it harder, not easier. What happens when dementia care begins with the person...not the diagnosis? Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Andrew Karesa, founder of blueBell Village and host of The...
-
NANCY TREASTER: Frontotemporal Dementia And The Fight For Clarity
What happens when you know something is wrong, but no one believes you? In this heartfelt episode of Love Conquers Alz, Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Nancy Treaster, co-founder of The Caregiver's Journey, to discuss her husband, Kim Treaster's battle with Frontotemporal Dementia…
more -
LAURA FINNELLY, RN, BCPA, CSCM: How To Be A Healthcare Cop Without A Badge
A rushed discharge. A chart that does not match reality. A loved one with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s dementia who cannot explain what hurts. If you have ever felt bullied by a system that moves too fast, this conversation is for you. Susie and Don talk with Laura Finnelly, a registered nurse with...
-
MARK WILSON: The Care Leader Mindset
Alzheimer’s can take so much, so fast, and the hardest part is feeling like you have zero control. We’re Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess, and we’re joined by Mark Wilson, a former Fortune 500 leadership executive whose new book, Breakthrough Alzheimer's Care, offers a hopeful roadmap that…
more -
ELLEN ANCUI: Granny Dumping, Storytelling, and the Fight for Dignity in Aging
What happens when society looks away from its most vulnerable? In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome WGA, AWD, award-winning, neurodiverse, bi, writer/director, and podcaster, Ellen Ancui, who specializes in traumadies—darkly funny stories where...
-
KATHY BRADLEY: How To Become a Polite Nightmare When a Nursing Home Turns Into a House of Horrors
In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Kathy Bradley, a nationally respected advocate with over 3 decades of experience in long-term care and the founder of Our Mother’s Voice. After retiring from a career as a nursing home administrator, Kathy…
more -
LINDSAY FRIEDMAN: From Caregiver to Innovator: Fixing the Broken Long-Term Care System
The long-term care system is one of the most important issues families will face, yet few people understand it until they are in the middle of a crisis. In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess welcome Lindsay Friedman, a care advocate, writer, and educator...
-
ERICA SELL: Walkers, Wheelchairs & Lifts, Oh My! Smart Solutions for Care at Home
What if shopping for medical equipment felt empowering instead of depressing? Caregiving is hard enough. Getting the right equipment should not be. In this episode, Hosts Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess talk with Erica Sell, founder of Harmony Home Medical in San Diego, about how the right...
-
Special Episode: Marianne Sciucco & Lance A. Slatton – Trusted Voices, Shared Purpose
One of the most precious resources in dementia care are the stories we share. Today, we welcome back two deeply respected members of the Love Conquers Alz family for a conversation rooted in care, credibility, and shared purpose that has led to a major milestone: Marianne Sciucco, registered…
more -
RE-RELEASE: DR. MITCH CLIONSKY - Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain
This episode originally released on March 11, 2024. While Don and I are taking a much needed break, we wanted to share one of our most popular and valuable episodes in case you missed it. And if you already heard it, it couldn't hurt to listen again because the episode is filled with powerful...
-
ANTHONY LANZONE, ESQ.: Elder Abuse, Arbitration & Your Rights - Part 2
In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with elder care attorney Anthony Lanzone, we continue pulling back the curtain on why elder abuse and neglect cases are so hard to fight — and what families must know to protect their loved ones. In this episode we dig into: • Why arbitration agreements are...
-
ANTHONY LANZONE, ESQ.: The Legal Maze of Elder Abuse: Why Justice Is So Hard to Get
The moment a loved one lands in long‑term care, everything feels urgent and unclear. We’ve been there—rushed discharges, impossible forms, promises that don’t match reality—and we wanted a straight answer on what legal accountability looks like when neglect or abuse causes real harm. That’s why…
more -
CRYSTAL GALLO: Innerhive -Technology with a Heart of Gold For Caregivers
If you’ve ever left a doctor’s appointment wondering what was said—or wished your siblings understood how much you’re doing—this conversation is a must-listen. In episode 112, Susie and Don sit down with Crystal Gallo, founder of innerhive—a groundbreaking app using AI to help caregivers capture,...
-
NEAL K. SHAH: CareYaya and “Insured to Death” Take On Broken Elder Care, AI Denials, and the Power of Love
In this powerful episode of Love Conquers Alz, Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess sit down with Neal K. Shah, visionary founder and CEO of CareYaya, a groundbreaking platform that connects families with compassionate, college-educated student caregivers. Neal shares how his personal caregiving...
-
ALZ AUTHORS: A Decade of Stories that Change Culture
This episode launches Season 10 of Love Conquers Alz 🎙️! And fittingly, we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of Alz Authors, the global community changing the dementia narrative one book at a time. My co-host, Don Priess and I sit down with Marianne Sciucco and Christy Byrne Yates to reflect…
more -
NICOLE àBECKETT: Hero Generation - The Digital Cavalry has Arrived!
Every caregiver knows the feeling—overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, struggling to coordinate help from well-meaning family members, and searching desperately for reliable information at 3 AM. Nicole àBeckett lived this reality when she lost both parents in her thirties, emerging from what she...
-
RICHARD ROUTMAN: We Need to Talk About What's Happening to Our Elders
Alzheimer's and elder care demand our attention not just because millions endure them, but because the systems that are supposed to protect our most vulnerable are fundamentally broken. In light of the upcoming release of our documentary, No Country For Old People; a Nursing Home Exposé, August…
more -
BREANA PATEL: Can AI Transform Long Term Care?
Could artificial intelligence be the solution to our eldercare crisis? In this riveting episode, we dive deep into the intersection of technology and compassionate care with Breana Patel, founder and CEO of Owie AI. The statistics are sobering – we're facing a projected shortage of half a million...
-
SHERI SMITH: "Mama Drama: A Journey with Bipolar and Dementia, Finding Light Through Loss and Grief"
What happens when your caregiving journey is complicated by family betrayal, mental illness, and profound loss? Meet Sheri Smith, a resilient entrepreneur whose life took unexpected turns when faced with both her mother's dementia and her husband's bipolar disorder simultaneously. Sheri's new...
-
STEPHANIE DUNCAN‐PETERS & RICHARD JAMES:Life After an Alzheimer's Diagnosis & the Blue-Footed Booby Blues
What happens when a former federal judge faces an Alzheimer's diagnosis? For Stephanie Duncan-Peters and her husband Richard James, it becomes an opportunity to showcase remarkable resilience, joy, and a refreshing perspective on living with cognitive change. In Episode 105, Don and I have a…
more -
KRISTINA HAYES: Step by Step - Using Dance to Navigate Dementia
In this episode of Love Conquers Alz, Don and I sit down with Kristina Hayes, the inspiring founder of Waltz Through Life. Kristina shares her journey of using dance, movement, and creativity to support individuals and families navigating the challenges of aging, dementia, and caregiving. Through...
-
DR. ALLEN POWER: Reimagining Dementia Care with Compassion and Community
Imagine your loved one living with Alzheimer's in a place where they could truly feel at home, free from the fear of wandering. This episode shares heartfelt stories of personal experiences, including my own mother's joyful time in a vibrant Los Angeles loft community. Join my co-host, Don Priess...
-
DANIEL CLARK: For Transparency in Elder Care - First Stop ELDERado
Finding the right elder care for your loved ones shouldn't be a stressful challenge. But for most of us it is. Elder care is EXPENSIVE! Yet, families everywhere grapple with the lack of reliable information. Imagine if booking elder care were as easy as booking a hotel. In this episode of Love...
-
TIM AND TANNIS ROBERTS: Echos of Love - The Power of Preserving Memories & Safeguarding Stories with EchoBox Memory Vault
Navigating the emotional labyrinth of Alzheimer's care can be both heartbreaking and frustrating, especially when personalized care falls by the wayside. Our journey begins with a relatable exploration of these challenges—stories of care facilities that miss the mark on truly understanding their...
-
MARTIN J. SCHREIBER: My Two Elaines: Learning, Coping, and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
What better way to celebrate our 100th episode than with an interview that truly reflects the definition and the title of our show: Love Conquers Alz. Former Wisconsin Gov. Martin J. Schreiber is an award-winning crusader for Alzheimer's caregivers and persons with dementia and author of the best...
-
BETSY WURZEL: Empowering Caregivers Through Passionate Advocacy
Betsy Wurzel started her career as a Talk Show Host at Passionate World Talk Radio and the name of her show was Chatting with Betsy. Betsy is also is an unwavering advocate for Alzheimer's caregivers who shares her own heartfelt experiences caring for her husband, Matt Sloan. Her stories are…
more -
DR. MARC ROTHMAN: Transforming Caregiving and the Perception of Dementia Through the Arts
In Episode 98, Don and I have a fantastic conversation with Dr. Marc Rothman, MD,founder and president of the Dementia Spring Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) venture studio that invests in visual and performing artists and innovators who are changing the prevailing narrative of dementia and...
-
LIZETTE CLOETE: Have You Heard of Elopement in Dementia? What Caregivers Should Know.
Elopement usually conjures up visions of secret excursions or maybe even the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas. But elopement is also used to describe what happens when someone with dementia or cognitive loss leaves a safe area, such as a home or care facility, without supervision or awareness of the...
-
AARON ADAMS: Caregiver and Author - A Son's Harrowing Journey Through Our Broken Healthcare System
In honor of Residents’ Rights Month, Don and I, along with our special guest-host, Producer Rick Mountcastle, the former US attorney famed for his role in the Purdue Pharma case, are highlighting the importance of listening to residents who live in our country’s nursing homes, assisted living and...
-
JEN TREJO: The Power of Love and Advocacy - A Mother's Fight for Better Long-Term Care
How can a system meant to care for our most vulnerable turn into our worst nightmare? Join us as we kick off a special series of Love Conquers Alz episodes, inspired by our soon-to-be-released documentary, "No Country for Old People." We’re honored to have Rick Mountcastle, former U.S. attorney…
more -
HOSPICE NURSE PENNY HAWKINS SMITH: UNRAVELING HOSPICE CARE & NORMALIZING DEATH AND DYING ONE VIDEO AT A TIME
What if the shift towards for-profit hospice care models is compromising the quality of your loved one's final days? In this episode, Don and I have a robust conversation on hospice with Penny Hawkins Smith, BSN, RN, CHPN. Hospice Nurse Penny, as she is known to her millions of social media...
-
TEACE SNYDER: Filmmaker/Artist - Exploring Human Connection and Voluntary Euthanasia
Can human connection and dignity survive in a profit-driven healthcare system? On this episode of "Love Conquers Alz," we are joined by the talented artist and filmmaker Teace Snyder, who introduces his thought-provoking film "Hold Me." The film explores the emotionally charged and controversial...
-
POETRY FOR THE DEMENTIA JOURNEY: Marianne Sciucco, Ann Campanella Sue Fagalde Lick
In Episode 92, Don and I talked with three prolific writers who have made profound literary contributions to the Dementia community and now pooled their talents and love of poetry to launch a beautiful anthology, “Poetry For the Dementia Journey”, that sprung from an online event featuring over…
more -
HEATHER FINK: COMEDIAN/FILMMAKER/CAREGIVER - Surviving Quicksand
Comedian/Filmmaker/Caregiver HEATHER FINK came to filmmaking from comedy. She has been making funny videos since she was a kid growing up in small town New Jersey. After earning a Philosophy degree from The George Washington University, she began NYU's Grad Film program as Writer/Director.…
more -
DR ETHELLE LORD - Learn about Transactional Dementia Intelligence: A Systemic Model of Dementia Care
SEASON 9 Premiere! Episode 90 features our esteemed guest, Dr. Ethelle Lord, is an author, practitioner, educator, management coach, presenter, mother and grandmother, and a pioneer in the containment of dementia. Spending 21 years in the care of her husband Larry, living with vascular dementia…
more -
MAX SHERMAN: Former Texas Senator/Author of “Releasing the Butterfly: A Love Affair in Four Acts” -A Caregiver's Story and Journey
“I’m a lawyer by trade, politician by practice, and an academic by accident.” These are the musings of the remarkable, and I have to say, charming, Max Sherman. In Episode 89, we interviewed a young and energetic 89 years old, Max Sherman. Max's life has been significantly influenced by women.…
more -
LANCE A. SLATTON: Senior Care Influence & Author of The All Home Care Matters Official Family Caregivers' Guide
Heeeeeeee’s back! And Don and I couldn’t be happier! Our dear friend and “Senior Care Influencer”, Lance A. Slatton is not only a Writer, Author, and Healthcare professional with over 20 years in the healthcare industry…he is a number one class act and all around nice guy! Oh, and he is also the...
-
CINDY 'N CHRISTINA HARDIN WEISS: Adaptive Equipment Gurus Making Caregiving Safe and Sound
📣 New Love Conquers Alz Episode #87! Don Priess and I were so excited to talk to Christina ‘n Cindy Hardin-Weiss WEISS (https://adaptiveequipmentcorner.com), the founders of Adaptive Equipment and Caregiving Corner, IMHO - THE best place to go for educational and instructional videos and home...
-
JENNY ABELING: Introducing Kids to Long Term Care
Advocate. Leader. Caregiver. Jenny Abeling is dedicated to helping those in need, through the complexities of long-term care. Currently she is the Governor’s Commissioner on Senior Services, working tirelessly to raise up senior related needs across the State of Oregon. Formerly the Essential...
-
DR. MITCH CLIONSKY - Dementia Prevention: Using Your Head to Save Your Brain
Don and I both agree that Episode 85 (wow!), ranks as one of our favorites to date. Our amazing guest, Dr. Mitchell Clionsky is a board certified neuropsychologist with more than 30 years of clinical experience and has treated more than 20,000 patients with cognitive problems. Dr. Clionsky...
-
CHRISTINA KEYS: Turning a Mess into a Powerful Message
If you don't know the preeminent caregiving champion, Christina Keys, you're in for a valuable treat! Christina was living her best life, enjoying a successful career, she was financially and spiritually healthy and happy - when in 2013 her beloved mother suffered a devastating stroke and was…
more -
DR. GEORGE ACKERMAN, Ph.D., J.D., MBA: From Tragedy to Advocacy for Parkinson's Awareness
In Episode 83, Don and I had a heartfelt and informative conversation with Dr. George Ackerman who started the movement Together for Sharon to honor his late mother Sharon Riff Ackerman, who succumbed to complications from Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease on January 1, 2020. George is…
more -
PIPPA KELLY: The Creative Caregiver Connection
In Episode 82, Don and I had a fantastic conversation (no surprise) with UK’s own PIPPA KELLY. Author, podcast host, award-winning blogger, contributor to numerous national newspapers and magazines, Pippa has truly made a name for herself in the dementia and elder care universe. It was Pippa’s…
more -
MARY LOU FALCONE: I Didn't See it Coming: Scenes of Love, Loss, and Lewy Body Dementia
My co-host , Don, and I have been blessed with so many amazing guests, but truth be told, our 81st guest, Mary Lou Falcone , ranks as one of our very favorites!! We fell in love with this EXTRAORDINARY woman and we have no doubt you will, too. For over 50 years, Mary helped guide the careers of...
-
JACKLYN RYAN: Author of Bestseller "Caregivers Scaretakers" - Exposing Fraud in Senior Care
Season 8 kicks off with episode 80 - a MUST LISTEN to show featuring JACKLYN RYAN - a sought-after speaker, consultant, workshop presenter, and best-selling author of the gut-wrenching book, “CareGivers, ScareTakers - Exposing Fraud In Senior Care”. With an aging population, families are…
more -
STEPHAN JACKMAN - CEO ALZAMEND NEURO : New Lithium-based Drug that Offers Alzheimer's Patients Hope.
In Episode 79, my co-host, Don Priess, and I had an enlightening conversation with Stephan Jackman, the CEO of Alzamend Neuro, a clinical stage biotech company committed to “Making Alzheimer’s Just a Memory™.” Stephan shared information about the new lithium-based drug that offers Alzheimer's...
-
MARIA KENT BEERS: Remember Me Podcast + Community for Frontotemporal Dementias - Accept the Good
In episode 78, Don and I had a fantastic conversation with the warm-hearted and incredibly delightful, Maria Kent Beers. Maria, along with her partner, Rachael Martinez, is the co-founder and co-host of the Remember Me Podcast + Community. Maria has always had a love of radio and editing…
more -
ASHTON APPLEWHITE (TED Speaker/Spokesperson For Anti-Ageism): AGEISM IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH
My co-host, Don Priess, and I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with, Ashton Applewhite, the internationally acclaimed spokesperson for the emerging movement to raise awareness of ageism and to dismantle it. A co-founder of the Old School Anti-Ageism Clearinghouse, she has been recognized by...
About this show
2024 #1 ALL TIME DEMENTIA PODCAST /GOODPODS and 2020 WINNER BEST PODCAST - New Media Film Festival. Caregivers have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Having both been caregivers for a family member affected with Alzheimer’s, Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess both know this is a disease that cannot be faced alone. In fact, their Oscar Qualified film based on Susie's Mother, MY MOM AND THE GIRL starring Valerie Harper in her final performance - has and continues to touch people all over the world. Their goal was to let others know they are not on their own and to help them find the JOY in the journey. And that's just what they do in their Podcast "Love Conquers Alz".
Hosted by
Susie Singer Carter and Don Priess