Take Care Time - The Tales and Exhales of Caregivers

Send us Fan MailThe house is quiet now. Christopher is in treatment. And Cyndi is standing in her kitchen with no idea what to do with herself. Episode 5 of Pour. Pause. Pay Attention. asks the question every caregiver eventually faces — who are you when there is no one to take care of?

Send us Fan MailHe said he was going to the hardware store. He was gone for two and a half hours. The hardware store was eleven minutes away. In Episode 4 of Pour. Pause. Pay Attention., the double life begins — and Cyndi is making the best wine of her life while it does.

Send us Fan MailCyndi finally makes the call. And what happens in Dr. Reyes's office on that Friday afternoon is something neither she nor Christopher was fully prepared for — but both of them, somewhere deep down, already knew was coming. In Episode 3 of Pour. Pause. Pay Attention., we pull back the curtain on the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma — the architects of an opioid crisis that did not begin in the streets but in a boardroom — and we trace the invisible line between their decisions and the pill organizer sitting on Cyndi's kitchen counter. Meanwhile, the Grenache called November finally clears. And the Cabernet Franc — the batch that has been waiting — gets the only name that makes sense. Honest.

Send us Fan MailCyndi Marlowe is a careful woman. She photographs the pill organizer every Sunday. She logs every observation. She tracks everything. But tracking everything and understanding everything are not the same thing. As Christopher's recovery enters its second month, patterns are emerging that Cyndi can no longer file under variability. Épisode 2 of Pour. Pause. Pay Attention. explores what caregivers miss when they are managing too much to truly see — and what the science of traumatic brain injury and pain medication never quite gets around to telling families until it is almost too late.

Send us Fan MailCyndi Marlowe names every batch of wine she makes. Not for anyone else — just for herself. It is the one thing in her life that asks nothing of her. When her husband Christopher survives a traumatic fall at work, Cyndi becomes his full-time caregiver overnight. She tracks the medications, attends the appointments, reads the discharge paperwork four times. She does everything right. But in Episode 1 of Pour. Pause. Pay Attention., we learn something every caregiver knows and rarely admits — that managing everything and seeing everything are not the same thing.

Send us Fan MailSix hours isn’t enough—but what if it’s enough to begin?In this final episode of the 6-Hours series, we follow Trina as she steps into a new rhythm—one where her limited time is used with intention, not just obligation. Through small but powerful changes, she begins to reclaim pieces of herself that caregiving had quietly taken.But this episode goes deeper.With real reflections, listener letters, and honest moments—including when six hours is unexpectedly taken away—this story reminds caregivers that perfection isn’t the goal… presence is.Because even in the middle of caregiving, your life is still happening.And what you do with your time—no matter how limited—still matters.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Take Care Time – The Tales and Exhales of Caregivers, Trina begins to experience something unfamiliar—space. After moving closer to her bakery, the six hours she has while her son attends his day program start to feel different… more usable, more intentional. As her son settles into their new home and finds comfort in his surroundings, Trina realizes she finally has room to focus on herself. From long-overdue doctor’s appointments to stepping into a gym and connecting with other entrepreneurs, she begins the quiet but powerful work of rebuilding her own life. This episode explores a truth many caregivers face: six hours may not be enough—but what you do within them can change everything.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 3 of 6 Hours, Trina takes a deeper look at the small house behind her bakery, a decision that could reshape how she lives and works within the six hours she’s given each day. But as she weighs the possibilities, new clues about the recent break-in at the bakery begin to surface. What first seemed like a random crime reveals a surprising connection no one expected. As the truth unfolds, Trina must decide whether moving closer will bring the stability she needs… or change more than she ever intended.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 2, Trina’s story deepens. Set against the relentless pace of Miami, we learn how she and Sam Sr. built a life together — and how the strain of raising a son with severe autism slowly reshaped their marriage. As Trina fights to keep her bakery running after a suspicious break-in, a small house behind the shop suddenly presents a possibility she hadn’t considered: redesigning her life around the six hours she’s given. But proximity brings its own questions — and the mystery surrounding the burglary is far from settled.

Send us Fan MailSeason 3 begins with Trina, a Florida bakery owner and mother to her 21-year-old son, Sam Jr., who has aged out of school services. When illness cancels the six hours of the day program she depends on, Trina is forced to confront just how fragile her carefully balanced life really is. As burnout simmers and the pressure of running a small business mounts, she’s reminded that six hours isn’t a luxury — it’s infrastructure. A grounded, honest look at what happens when six hours disappear.

Send us Fan MailSeason 3 of Take Care Time – The Tales and Exhales of Caregivers is here. The new storytelling series, 6 Hours, explores what happens when caregivers are given a small window of relief — and what those six hours reveal about burnout, identity, and hope. The first full episode drops next Thursday and begins with a woman named Trina.

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Send us Fan MailIn the final chapter of The Cookie Jar, Marla Jewell takes a brave step forward as Care Time Fridays quietly launches in Salmon, Idaho. What began as a memory-filled attic discovery becomes a sustainable act of hope for caregivers who desperately need rest. As Marla learns to build without burning out, she also learns to release the weight of the past and choose a future that finally includes herself. A powerful conclusion about caregiving, resilience, and the courage it takes to begin again.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of The Cookie Jar, Marla Jewell begins the real work of imagining what life after caregiving could look like. As she digs deeper into her aunt Judy’s notebooks, the abandoned Sacajawea Ridge center, and the stories of caregivers in her community, Marla learns the true cost — financial, emotional, and personal — of bringing respite back to Salmon, Idaho. With Daniel’s help and wisdom from those who lived it before, Marla starts sketching a sustainable plan that honors Judy’s legacy without repeating her burnout. A grounded, heartfelt look at what it truly takes to rebuild hope one small step at a time.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 2 of The Cookie Jar, Marla Jewell is slowly finding her footing after the end of her caregiving season—until a certified letter, a hidden key, and an unexpected visitor reveal that her Aunt Judy was keeping far more than recipes in that gingerbread jar. As Marla uncovers a secret caregiving past, an abandoned respite center, and a “caretaker’s promise” meant just for her, she’s forced to confront a new question: what if life after caregiving isn’t about moving on, but about reshaping what care can look like for everyone?

Send us Fan MailOn a quiet Veterans Day morning in Salmon, Idaho, Marla Jewell climbs into her attic with a heavy heart and a holiday spirit that feels out of season. Grieving the recent loss of loved ones and trying to reclaim joy, she stumbles upon an old gingerbread-themed cookie jar—filled not with cookies, but handwritten memories that lead her on a path of healing, hope, and unexpected comfort.This emotional holiday episode of Take Care Time explores what happens when caregiving ends and identity feels lost. It's a warm, reflective tale wrapped in nostalgia, grief, and a little gingerbread magic.Perfect for caregivers navigating a season of transition—and anyone who believes that memories are the sweetest gift of all.

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Send us Fan MailThis Halloween, four weary caregivers are offered the break of a lifetime at a mysterious retreat.  But what begins as a peaceful getaway quickly takes a spine-tingling turn. In this haunting one-off episode, we meet Cheryl, Paula, Christine, and Brian—each caring for a loved one and each burdened by a secret fear. As eerie events unfold and the line between rest and reality begins to blur, these caregivers must confront not just the whispers in the dark… but the guilt they carry from home.Settle in for suspense, soul-searching, and a storytelling style that blends the spooky with the sincere—because even in the scariest moments, caregivers deserve a break.

Send us Fan MailIn the heartfelt conclusion of the Crossing Care series, we follow Rosa’s journey as it comes full circle. After years of sacrifice, fear, and resilience, Rosa is finally granted protection and a pathway to citizenship for herself and her children. While her husband, Javier, remains in their home country due to rising immigration dangers, Rosa begins to build a more stable future in America. This episode reflects on the bittersweet nature of progress—hope laced with longing—and highlights the human cost behind headlines. Through Rosa’s voice, we honor the silent strength of so many immigrant caregivers who hold up our care systems while longing for home.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Take Care Time: The Tales and Exhales of Caregivers, we return to Rosa—an immigrant mother working as a caregiver while awaiting her asylum hearing in the U.S. Now, we shift focus to her husband, Javier, still in their home country. Through calls, memories, and plans for reunion, we uncover the emotional cost of separation, the strength of long-distance love, and the dreams they carry together. This is a story of caregiving, migration, and the resilience it takes to build a life—one letter, one paycheck, and one promise at a time.

Send us Fan MailIn this gripping episode of Take Care Time: The Tales and Exhales of Caregivers, we meet Rosa—a mother of two who crosses the southern border seeking safety, only to find herself navigating a new life as an undocumented caregiver. Through a blend of narrative storytelling and real-world insight, we explore what drives immigrants into the heart of America’s caregiving workforce, the challenges they face while awaiting asylum, and the quiet sacrifices made every day in someone else’s home. It’s a story of risk, resilience, and the invisible hands that care for our most vulnerable.

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Send us Fan MailA Brother’s View: Love, Guardianship, and Growing Up In a Home with an Autistic SisterIn this special Careversation, host Beverly Nance sits down with her son, Troy, co-guardian, sibling, and lifelong advocate for his sister with profound autism. Together, they open up about growing up in a household shaped by caregiving, the quiet burdens siblings often carry, and the deep bond that forms through shared responsibility and love. This heartfelt episode explores the sibling perspective rarely heard—and never forgotten.

Send us Fan MailIn this emotional installment of The Spectrum, we follow Karen Sadler as the weight of unrelenting caregiving catches up to her, physically, mentally, and emotionally. When she collapses in her kitchen from exhaustion, it becomes clear that caregiving without rest is not sustainable. This episode explores the hidden toll of caregiver burnout, the shame that keeps so many suffering in silence, and why planning for respite isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

Send us Fan MailThis episode examines what happens when school ends—but life doesn’t. As young adults with autism age out of the educational system, families are left navigating a world without structure, support, or clear next steps. We follow the Sadler and Martin families as they face the harsh realities of transition—shrinking opportunities, long waiting lists, and aging parents with dwindling energy. But amid the uncertainty, we also highlight moments of resilience, community, and hope.

Send us Fan MailIn Episode 4 of The Spectrum, we explore the often-unspoken reality of violence involving individuals with autism, from homes and hospitals to schools and group homes. Through the lens of the Sadler and Martin families, this powerful episode sheds light on the emotional and systemic toll of caregiver burnout, institutional neglect, and media silence. But in the midst of the pain, a movement begins. This is a story of truth-telling, advocacy, and the first steps toward lasting change

Send us Fan MailEpisode 3: “The Camera Doesn’t See Us” Why do media stories about autism so often focus on the feel-good, high-functioning side—and ignore the harder, messier truth? In this episode, we follow two families on opposite ends of the spectrum as they confront what it means to be celebrated, erased, and left out of the narrative altogether. Because when only certain stories are told, entire lives are silenced.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we shift the focus to the siblings—Riley and Maya—who grew up in the shadow of their brothers’ autism diagnoses. Through quiet sacrifices, hidden resentment, and fierce love, we explore how being “the other child” shaped their identities, their dreams, and their place in a home where crisis often took center stage.

Send us Fan MailEpisode 1: “Same Street, Different World” Two families. One neighborhood. Both raise sons diagnosed with autism in 1996—but their journeys unfold in drastically different ways. In this opening episode of The Spectrum, we explore the early signs, emotional toll, and quiet sacrifices of parenting children on opposite ends of the autism spectrum—and the societal forces that embrace one story while overlooking the other.

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Send us Fan MailWhen trust is broken, what comes next? In this episode, Rosa confronts the aftermath of a staffing issue at The Bridge Center that left her son Jo Jo unsettled—and left her shaken. As the center works to rebuild trust, Rosa and Jorge step into new roles as advocates, both within their family and in their community. This episode explores the emotional ripple effects of inadequate care, the power of parent-led change, and what it takes to ensure day programs are truly safe and supportive for the people who need them most.

Send us Fan MailJo Jo is settling into The Bridge Center, but something isn’t right. He hesitates before getting on the van, comes home tense, and even has a small unexplained bruise. His mother, Rosa, senses something is wrong—and she’s right. A newly hired staff member, Jamie Peterson, lacks the experience and training needed to work with individuals with disabilities, and it’s affecting Jo Jo and others at the center. In this episode, we explore the underfunded and underregulated world of adult day programs, why so many operate with underqualified staff and high turnover, and what caregivers can do to hold programs accountable.Because finding the right program isn’t just about getting in—it’s about making sure it’s safe, supportive, and truly the right fit.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Jo Jo begins his first days at The Bridge Center, an adult day program that promises structure and engagement. But while Jo Jo navigates his new environment, his parents, Rosa and Jorge Sr., grapple with unexpected emotions. Rosa struggles with the quiet in their home and the weight of newfound time, while Jorge encourages her to rediscover a long-lost passion—quilting. As they adjust to this new reality, they begin to redefine what daily life looks like beyond caregiving. Join us as we explore the emotional complexities of transition, self-care, and finding purpose beyond the role of caregiver.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, we follow Rosa and Jorge Sr. as they navigate the long and exhausting journey to secure adult day services for their son, Jo Jo. After years of waiting for a Medicaid waiver, the family finally gets the opportunity for Jo Jo to attend The Bridge Center. But what should be a moment of relief is instead filled with uncertainty, exhaustion, and emotional weight. As Jo Jo embarks on his first day, Rosa struggles with the unexpected emotions of letting go. This episode highlights the often-overlooked realities of caregiving, the bureaucracy families face, and the emotional impact of major transitions.

Send us Fan MailIn this heartfelt conclusion to the Semper Fi series, we follow Winston and Brooke as they navigate their most challenging crossroads yet. Winston faces the reality of his medical discharge and redefines his purpose by helping fellow Marines, while Brooke confronts her feelings of loss and rediscovery as she recommits to her family and her love of teaching. Together, they embark on a journey of growth, resilience, and renewal, proving that bold choices can lead to healing and hope.

Send us Fan MailIn this gripping episode of "Semper Fi," Brooke confronts the realities of her new life during a candid first session with her support counselor. Overwhelmed by her dual roles as caregiver and wife, she admits to resenting her caregiving duties and mourning the loss of her romantic relationship with Winston. Seeking solace and space to gather her thoughts, Brooke drives to the beach, where a chance encounter with a charming stranger named Edward offers a momentary escape from her burdens. As they share stories and laughter, Brooke finds herself drawn to Edward's easy flattery and attention. Caught in a whirlwind of emotions, she navigates the treacherous waters of temptation, leading to decisions that could alter the course of her marriage and her sense of self. This episode explores the profound internal conflicts caregivers face and the potential consequences of seeking comfort in the wrong places.

Send us Fan MailIn this compelling opening episode of "Semper Fi," we witness the life-altering moment when Staff Sergeant Winston Campbell sustains severe injuries from an IED explosion in Afghanistan. Follow the intense emotional journey as Brooke Campbell, his devoted wife, receives the harrowing news back home in Oceanside, California. As Brooke grapples with shock and fear, she swiftly transitions into a pillar of strength, coordinating with military support and rallying family assistance as she prepares to navigate the uncertain road ahead. This episode lays the foundation for a profound exploration of sacrifice, resilience, and the unyielding power of love amidst the trials of recovery and caregiving.

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Send us Fan MailWe delve deeper into the unfolding drama surrounding Martha, Carmen, and the unexpected guest who's made himself at home in their basement. As Tony's disappearance casts a shadow of uncertainty over Martha's world, a new character enters the scene—Jax, Tony's colorful parrot, whose playful antics and cheerful chirps bring unexpected joy to Martha's life.Meanwhile, Carmen navigates the delicate balance of secrecy and safety as she grapples with the repercussions of Tony's involvement in illegal activities. With Martha's family set to visit on Sunday, Carmen hopes that Jax's presence will provide some much-needed comfort and distraction during this challenging time.

Send us Fan MailJoin us in the inaugural episode of 'Take Care Time' as we unravel the extraordinary world of caregiving. In this heartfelt journey, discover the stresses and mystery woven into the lives of caregivers as we explore the unique stories that shape their daily experiences. Meet Mary who has to hire a caregiver for her mother Martha who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's.  Meet Carmen the new caregiver who embarks on this new journey with Mary and Martha.  Witness the humor, mystery, and intrigue that unfold, proving that even in the challenges of caregiving, there's room for joy and unexpected surprises.

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