The Caregiver Cup Podcast

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The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Cathy VandenHeuvel

275 episodes

5 days ago

Send Cathy a text:) Your cup isn’t empty—it’s just leaking. 💛 In this short 5-minute pep talk, Cathy shares a personal story about her famous pink Yeti cup (yes, the one that keeps disappearing and always finds its way back!) and how it became the perfect reminder for caregivers: sometimes, our energy doesn’t run out—it simply leaks away. Tune in for a quick burst of encouragement to help you spot where your energy might be slipping and take one small step this week to refill your cup. Becaus...

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Self-Improvement

Personal Journals,

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness,

All content for The Caregiver Cup Podcast is the property of Cathy VandenHeuvel and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send Cathy a text:) Your cup isn’t empty—it’s just leaking. 💛 In this short 5-minute pep talk, Cathy shares a personal story about her famous pink Yeti cup (yes, the one that keeps disappearing and always finds its way back!) and how it became the perfect reminder for caregivers: sometimes, our energy doesn’t run out—it simply leaks away. Tune in for a quick burst of encouragement to help you spot where your energy might be slipping and take one small step this week to refill your cup. Becaus...

Show more...

Self-Improvement

Personal Journals,

Society & Culture,

Health & Fitness,

Episodes (20/275)

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

BONUS Episode: Is Your Cup Leaking? A 5-Minute Pep Talk to Refill and Recharge

Send Cathy a text:) Your cup isn’t empty—it’s just leaking. 💛 In this short 5-minute pep talk, Cathy shares a personal story about her famous pink Yeti cup (yes, the one that keeps disappearing and always finds its way back!) and how it became the perfect reminder for caregivers: sometimes, our energy doesn’t run out—it simply leaks away. Tune in for a quick burst of encouragement to help you spot where your energy might be slipping and take one small step this week to refill your cup. Becaus...

5 days ago

7 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Redefining Caregiver Self-Care: Finding What Truly Refills Your Cup

Send Cathy a text:) Are you tired of hearing “just take care of yourself” and wondering what that even means as a caregiver? In this episode of The Caregiver Cup Podcast, we’re busting the myth that self-care is all about bubble baths and spa days—and redefining what it really looks like for you. After eight years of caregiving, I’ve learned the hard way that one-size-fits-all self-care doesn’t work. Real caregiver self-care is practical, personal, and purposeful—and it changes with each seas...

1 week ago

28 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Is Your Caregiver Cup Full or Running on Empty?

Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt your energy, patience, and compassion draining away while caring for a loved one? When was the last time you stopped to check what’s left in your own cup? Welcome to Season 1 of The Caregiver Cup Podcast. This season is all about you—your self-discovery, the many roles you juggle, and your personal health as a caregiver. The statistics are sobering: nearly 41% of caregivers report low overall well-being, and only 23% say their mental health is good. Behi...

2 weeks ago

33 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

TRAILER: Welcome to The Caregiver Cup – Season 1: What’s In Your Cup?

Send Cathy a text:) Ready for a fresh start? After more than 260 episodes and navigating through some deeply personal caregiving seasons, I've taken a much-needed pause to reimagine what this podcast can be for you. Now I'm back with renewed energy and a powerful focus: your wellbeing as a caregiver. Season One, "What's in Your Cup," is entirely about you—your health, identity, energy, and emotional wellbeing. Because here's the truth that often gets overlooked: caregiving is not just about ...

3 weeks ago

5 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Personal Update: The Pause Button

Send Cathy a text:) Cathy shares a personal update about her absence from the podcast as she takes time to heal and find stillness after eight years of non-stop caregiving, including Denis's recent stem cell transplant recovery. She explains her decision to pause – not quit – the podcast to reconnect with her body, rediscover joy, and learn what it means to simply be rather than constantly do. • Operating at high speed for almost eight years through caregiving, loss, podcasting, and creating...

2 months ago

4 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Living at a Hospital House: Real Life, Real Routines, and Unexpected Lessons

Send Cathy a text:) Stepping into a hospital house is entering a world most caregivers never know exists until they're suddenly immersed in it. After 45+ days living at Kathy's House while my husband undergoes stem cell transplant treatment, I've discovered the raw, complex reality of caregiving away from home—and the unexpected community that forms in these spaces of collective vulnerability. Between the shared kitchens where caregivers exchange whispered stories over coffee, the laundry ro...

4 months ago

44 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

When Hope Feels Lost: How to Reclaim Your Strength as a Caregiver

Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever found yourself in the chaos of caregiving thinking, "I can't do this anymore"? That feeling of wanting to give up is universal among caregivers, especially during prolonged challenges and setbacks. When I hit emotional walls during Denis' stem cell transplant journey, I discovered a powerful truth: our feelings, while real, aren't always factual. We might feel like everything is falling apart, but distinguishing between emotional reactions and objectiv...

4 months ago

15 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Navigating Fear and Uncertainty: How to Embrace Your Emotions as a Caregiver

Send Cathy a text:) Fear, worry, and uncertainty often feel like unwelcome yet permanent companions on the caregiving journey. After receiving a heartfelt message from a listener worried about her husband's upcoming bone marrow transplant, I knew this topic needed addressing – not just for her, but for all of us navigating these turbulent emotional waters. These powerful emotions aren't signs of weakness or failure. They're natural human responses that actually demonstrate how deeply you car...

5 months ago

50 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

The Week My Caregiver Cup Ran Dry

Send Cathy a text:) Ever reached that breaking point where your body simply won't let you power through anymore? That's exactly where I found myself this week as my husband Dennis faced serious complications following his stem cell transplant for cancer. This raw mini-episode takes you through the emotional rollercoaster we experienced—from the joyful bell-ringing ceremony marking Dennis's hospital discharge to the crushing setbacks that followed just hours later. You'll hear about the gut-w...

5 months ago

11 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

When Support Falls Short: Caregiver Motivation and Emotional Support/ PART 2

Send Cathy a text:) What happens when your support just isn't helping? When encouragement falls flat? When your loved one withdraws completely? These are the unspoken challenges of caregiving that leave us feeling helpless and questioning our effectiveness. Drawing from my current experience supporting my husband through his transplant journey, I share the raw reality of watching him struggle with severe physical pain and emotional withdrawal. Despite my best efforts to lift his spirits, the...

5 months ago

27 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Lifting Their Spirits Without Losing Yourself: Caregiver Motivation and Emotional Support/ PART 1

Send Cathy a text:) Emotional support isn't just something we provide as caregivers—it's often the most exhausting yet invisible part of our role. When our loved ones are in pain, frustrated, or losing hope, we become their cheerleaders, their comforters, and their gentle push to keep going, sometimes when we barely have enough emotional energy for ourselves. This episode explores what emotional support truly looks like in caregiving relationships and how to provide it in ways that are susta...

5 months ago

46 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Finding Your Routine in This Caregiver Season

Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving seasons constantly shift, and finding your rhythm during these transitions can make all the difference between barely surviving and maintaining your wellbeing. This episode explores how creating meaningful routines becomes your anchor when everything else feels unpredictable. Cathy opens up about her current reality as her husband Denis undergoes a stem cell transplant, sharing how she's had to completely reimagine her daily schedule. From juggling hospital vis...

6 months ago

29 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

When Nothing Goes As Planned: Finding Calm in Caregiver Chaos

Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt completely lost in a hospital, frantically searching for your loved one while juggling bags, security badges, and your own mounting anxiety? In this raw and surprisingly humorous episode, I take you through my first chaotic days at Freighter Hospital in Milwaukee, where what should have been a straightforward procedure for my husband Dennis turned into a maze-like adventure of miscommunication, construction detours, and badge readers that simply wouldn't...

6 months ago

39 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Building Your Inner Circle as a Caregiver

Send Cathy a text:) When elephants sense danger, they form a protective circle with the most vulnerable in the center—a powerful metaphor for how caregivers need their own support systems. Drawing inspiration from this natural phenomenon, I explore the emotional barriers that prevent us from building our own protective circles while sharing my personal journey preparing for my husband Dennis's upcoming 90-day stem cell transplant. For many caregivers, especially those with achievement-orient...

6 months ago

37 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Beyond ‘I’m Fine’: Overcoming Toxic Positivity in Caregiving

Send Cathy a text:) Ever catch yourself saying "I'm fine" when you're anything but? As caregivers, we often hide behind these white lies, putting on a brave face while secretly exhausted, frustrated, or on the verge of tears. This episode dives deep into the concept of toxic positivity—that harmful tendency to suppress our authentic emotions behind a mask of forced cheerfulness. Studies show over 75% of people deliberately pretend to be happy when they're not. While it might seem easier to h...

6 months ago

30 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

The More You Notice Grace, The More It Appears (Even in Caregiver Chaos)

Send Cathy a text:) Grace might seem like a lofty concept, but for caregivers, it's the lifeline we desperately need when drowning in overwhelming responsibilities, emotional turmoil, and crushing self-expectations. Drawing wisdom from Jamie Kern Lima's book "Worthy," this episode explores how caregivers can transform their relationship with mistakes, imperfections, and regrets. That argument with your loved one where you said something hurtful? The stress-induced cookie binge? Those moments...

6 months ago

15 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

When Stress Takes Over: A Caregiver's Confession

Send Cathy a text:) Have you ever felt your body physically react to stress before your mind could even process what was happening? That moment when your skin flushes hot, your heart races, and your shoulders tighten into knots—all while your thoughts spin "like a blender on high"? When an unexpected hospital notification arrived detailing fifteen pre-transplant appointments for my husband Denis across multiple locations—followed by a massive binder of medical instructions—my body's stress r...

7 months ago

27 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

Breaking Isolation: Finding Connection in Your Caregiver Journey

Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving often leads to profound isolation, a reality I experienced firsthand during my husband Dennis's first stem cell transplant. With his second transplant approaching, I'm determined to transform potential loneliness into connection and community. This episode explores the hidden costs of caregiver isolation, backed by sobering statistics: 61% of family caregivers report feeling lonely, and 40-70% experience depression. Beyond emotional impacts, isolation weakens o...

7 months ago

31 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

What Has Your Caregiving Journey Taught You About Yourself?

Send Cathy a text:) Caregiving transforms us in ways we rarely anticipate. The journey from those first overwhelming days to developing confidence and systems is filled with valuable lessons—if we take time to recognize them. Have you ever stopped to consider everything you've learned since becoming a caregiver? From mastering nursing skills without formal training to becoming an amateur pharmacist juggling complex medication schedules, the growth is remarkable. This episode explores that le...

7 months ago

25 minutes

The Caregiver Cup Podcast

The Hidden Cost of Caregiving: How Stress and Isolation Affect Your Mental Health

Send Cathy a text:) What happens when caregiving becomes too much? The tragic story of Gene Hackman and wife, Betsy serves as a powerful wake-up call for all of us who care for loved ones. Caregiving often appears as an act of pure love and dedication, but behind closed doors, many caregivers struggle with exhaustion, isolation, and overwhelming responsibility that can lead to crisis. This deeply personal episode explores the hidden emotional toll of caregiving and provides a framework for r...

7 months ago

41 minutes