EPISODE 690 - Cindy Eastman - True Confessions of An Ambivalent Caregiver, Grief, Loss and The Next Chapter

About the author
Cindy Eastman is a writer and an educator.

Her career has taken a wide and diverse route from introducing computer skills to elementary schoolchildren, teaching freshman English as an adjunct at a community college to facilitating a writing course for seniors for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. In her weekly essay on Substack called Silver Linings, she discusses getting older with a sense of humor--a must!

Eastman makes her home in Connecticut with her husband, Angelo. Her second collection of essays, "True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver" will be published by She Writes Press in Sept. 2024 and she is submitting an anthology on grief to publishers. She can be found writing or teaching unless she gets to spend time with her grandkids. Then all bets are off.

Book: True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver: A Memoir in Essays

Written for caregivers of parents and spouses, this funny but brutally honest collection of essays from award-winning author Eastman challenges the romanticized notion of caregiving, portraying it as an elegant conflict that reshapes family dynamics.

At first grateful to be able remodel the dining room of her family's modest home in Connecticut to accommodate her eighty-six-year-old father for what everyone felt would be a short duration of care, Cindy Eastman ultimately experienced a whole gamut of feelings over the course of what turned out to be four years of caring for her dying dad. Caregiving impacts everyone, and this account—told in essays recorded before, during, and after the time Eastman's father was with her—details that impact, not just on the primary caregiver but also the rest of the family.

One of the reasons Eastman committed to writing down her experiences was because she predicted that once her dad died, there would be a tendency to soften or even deny any of the negative and challenging times—and there were many. As of 2020, more than 53 million adults provide homecare in this country, and the reality of that arrangement is different for every family. It is not, as some might suggest, a "noble gesture" but rather an elegant conflict—an intricate reassembling of the family dynamic that many people don't ever see coming. In these candid, often poignant essays, Cindy Eastman brings all the emotions of taking on the challenging responsibility of caregiving a parent at the end of their life to the surface.

With lots of humorous insight, Cindy Eastman validates the struggles and sacrifices and describes what you want to say - even if you never utter a word. Eastman isn't afraid to reveal genuine thoughts and feelings about caregiving, even if these aren't always flattering.

True Confessions of an Ambivalent Caregiver shows that, sometimes, just getting through the day is an accomplishment, and it's enough.
~ Courtnee Turner Hoyle
for Readers' Favorite

https://cindyeastman.com/

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EPISODE 689 - Matthew Neal Boedy - The Seven Mountains Mandate - Exposing the Dangerous Plan to Christianize America and Destroy Democracy

A movement driven by prosperity preachers, extremist politicians, and right-wing power brokers laid the groundwork for Trump’s presidency and is now advancing its agenda under his second administration. This multipronged effort against our national institutions is being led by millennial “kingmaker” Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and the new face of Christian Nationalism.

"A sobering assessment of the evolution of Christian nationalism." - Publishers Weekly

Matthew Boedy has written for many publications and authored three books. He's appeared on CNN and MSNBC and in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other media outlets.

He has been a leader in faculty organizing since 2020 as president of the Georgia conference of the American Association of University Professors, a national higher education advocacy group.

He completed his Ph.D. in English in 2015 at the University of South Carolina where he also received in 2010 a master's in creative writing. He most prizes his bachelor's degree in journalism in 2001 from the University of Florida and his work at the campus newspaper, the Independent Florida Alligator.

He is a full professor of rhetoric at the University of North Georgia. He researches and writes about religious rhetoric, particularly in the last few years about the rise of Christian Nationalism.

He was once a crime reporter and high school teacher. He resides with his wife and two daughters in Gainesville, Georgia.

https://www.matthewboedy.com/

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EPISODE 688 - Ruth A Milligan - The Juniper Ridge Trilogy - A Dystopian Science Fiction Thriller Series

Ruth A. Milligan writes Science Fiction and Horror stories. She found her love of writing in grade school where she pounded out her stories on an old typewriter heavier than her and spent almost every day reading at the public library. When she's not writing, Ruth enjoys dance, hockey, airplanes, really strong coffee, and meeting new people. She published her first book in December 2023.

https://www.ruthamilligan.com/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

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Episode 393 - Adam Nimoy - The Most Human, Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy

Adam was born during the Eisenhower administration to Leonard and Sandra Zoberblatt Nimoy. He attended the University Elementary School, a “lab school” run by UCLA, where he was subjected to numerous psychological experiments. The experimentation continued at UC Berkeley in the form of mind-altering substances from which he may, or may not, have fully recovered. In a state of absolute certainty, Adam attended Loyola Law School. He was wrong.

After seven years of practicing entertainment law and one moment of clarity, Adam left his life as an attorney to follow his passion of making films. After directing forty-five hours of network television, some of it sublime, some of it eminently unwatchable, Adam’s career plummeted due in large part to drug and alcohol addiction. On January 1, 2004, Adam entered 12-Step recovery hoping to achieve an attitude adjustment. This was a New Year’s resolution he knew he had to keep. For 8 years, he taught writing, directing and acting at the New York Film Academy and taught filmmaking at Beit T’Shuvah, an addiction treatment center where the residents kept him on the straight and narrow.

Book: The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy

"Engaging and immensely relatable, while at the same time offering deeply profound insights into Adam Nimoy's personal relationships, particularly with his famous father." — Eugene Roddenberry Jr., CEO Roddenberry Entertainment

Living with Dad was like living with a stranger— as a kid I often had trouble connecting and relating to him. But I was always proud of him. Even before Star Trek I'd see him popping up in bit roles on some of my favorite TV shows like Get Smart, Sea Hunt, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. And then one night he brought home Polaroids of himself in makeup and wardrobe for a pilot he was working on.

It was December 1964 and nobody had heard of Star Trek. Still, the eight-year-old me had watched enough Outer Limits and My Favorite Martian to understand exactly what I was looking at. Spock's popularity happened quickly, and soon the fan magazines were writing about dad's personal life, characterizing us as a "close family." But the awkwardness that defined our early relationship blossomed into conflict, sometimes smoldering, sometimes open and intense. There were occasional flashes of warmth between the arguments and hurt feelings— even something akin to love— especially when we were celebrating my father's many successes. The rest of the time, things between us were often strained.

My resentment towards my father kept building through the years. I wasn't blameless, I know that now, but my bitterness blinded me to any thought of my own contribution to the problem. I wanted things to be different for my children. I wanted to be the father I never had, so I coached Maddy's soccer, drove Jonah to music lessons, helped them with their homework— all the things dads are supposed to do. All the things I wanted to do. So what if my Dad and I had been estranged for years? I was living one day at a time. And then I got his letter.

Amazon link: https://amzn.to/3KvTi1s

https://adamnimoy.com/

original pub date - Wednesday, July 17, 2024

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E109 - Greg Cagle - How to grow a culture that embraces our unique weirdness

Greg Cagle isn’t for everyone. Some might say he’s an acquired taste. They might even say he’s one weird dude.

Over the course of his entrepreneurial career, he has started five successful businesses in industries as diverse as real estate development, engineering and tech, food services and hospitality, and advertising and marketing.

Everything he’s ever done, he’s built from ground zero. He knows what it feels like to lie awake on Tuesday night wondering how to make payroll on Friday.

As a coach and consultant, he’s come alongside the top leaders and businesses in even wider-ranging fields:

• Army Special Operations
• Steel and diesel engine manufacturing
• 5-star hospitality
• Cutting-edge technology and software
• Non-profit educational systems and higher education
• Financial and insurance
• Oil and gas engineering

He has also partnered with John C. Maxwell and his company for many years as an executive coach, speaker, trainer, and business consultant.

You’ll discover how to:

• Know who YOU truly are at the core,
• Leverage the power of YOU to increase your influence, and
• Enjoy the deeply-fulfilling and satisfying life you’ve always felt was possible.

Culture can become an organization’s secret weapon or an invisible burden. The good news is that when leaders learn to shape it, they can design and deploy a culture that employees are eager to promote and protect.

https://gocagle.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-cagle-b145737/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Original Published: Dec. 07, 2022

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EPISODE 85 -

Our Empty Nest and Doing Life With Your Adult Children

For me as a Dad I sensed this empty nest state would equate freedom, my wife Jen has a different take on this - everything and everyone revolved around Jen with the kids here - she knew her role in all of our lives (mine included) now that keep the plates spinning season is over, and it feels strange.

I heard our guest on another podcast and he was talking to our situation - he had such wisdom and a heart for what we are living and I had to have him on - and to my great surprise and delight he said, yes!

Please join me in welcoming Jim Burns to our podcast!

Jim Burns is the president of HomeWord. He speaks to thousands of people around the world each year. He has more than 2 million resources in print in 20 languages.

https://homeword.com/

Books

- Finding Joy in the Empty Nest: Discover Purpose and Passion in the Next Phase of Life Paperback

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Published: Oct. 20, 2022

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
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EPISODE 60 - Lauren MacLean Author of Me and My Sit Spot - Find your spot in nature

About the author

Lauren MacLean, an accomplished author and educator, is the creative force behind the Amazon Bestselling children's picture book, "Me and My Sit Spot," and "Finding Common Ground," as well as Sitting With Nature: An Educator's Guide to Sit Spots. With a vibrant background as an elementary school teacher, outdoor educational consultant, and presenter, Lauren is deeply committed to bringing the wonders of learning outdoors to young minds.

In addition to her written work, Lauren is the dynamic host of the Teach Outdoors podcast, where she shares insights, strategies, and inspiration for educators and parents eager to integrate outdoor learning into children's lives. As a co-founder of the Local Bookshelf, Lauren actively contributes to building literary communities and fostering a love for reading among young readers.

Lauren's journey into the world of outdoor education is rooted in her own childhood experiences. Struggling to sit still, she found solace and freedom in learning outdoors, an environment that allowed her to authentically be herself. Now a devoted mother of two young toddlers, Lauren brings her passion for nature exploration to life, serving as a role model for parents seeking to connect their children with the land.

Through her writing, podcast, and advocacy, Lauren MacLean continues to make a significant impact on the world of education, inspiring others to embrace the transformative power of learning through nature.

What is a sit spot and how does it help nurture our relationship with the land? Developing this nature routine for yourself and your learners leads to so many possibilities for learning about our land and how we fit into it. Where is your sit spot?
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https://outdoorlearning.com/product/me-and-my-sit-spot/
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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Published: Sep. 20, 2022

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EPISODE 687 - Carter Vance - A story of living, loving and growing up on Canada's Parliament Hill

In this engaging episode, author Carter Vance shares his writing journey with host Dave, connecting as fellow Canadians. Originally from the small town of Cobourg, Ontario—famous for its literal Big Apple roadside sculpture and summer beach—Carter credits a high school teacher's encouragement for launching his creative path. She connected him with local cafe owners for poetry readings, sparking his early involvement in plays, school magazines, and submissions to prestigious outlets like Arc Poetry Magazine, which offered a mentorship that honed his skills in audience focus, form, and resilience against rejections.

Reflecting on advice he'd give his younger self, Carter emphasizes demystifying publishing, treating writing like a disciplined job—as Stephen King advocates with daily hours—and clarifying one's unique "why" amid abundant content. Creative writing, for him, captures intangible life moments and fosters empathy by letting readers inhabit others' minds, unlike film or music. His diverse career, including policy work in Canada, the UK, Indonesia, and Parliament (as a House leader staffer from 2015-2019 and Senate role), humanized politicians as flawed individuals, revealing unexpected alliances, young staffers' influence, and information's power in decision-making.

Carter's debut novel, Smaller Animals (released November), draws from these experiences, following young Canadian political staffers' relationships and growth amid power dynamics—"smaller animals" behind the spotlight. Comparable to Arthur Phillips' Prague, Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, or Sally Rooney's works, it appeals to politics enthusiasts and character-driven readers alike, requiring no deep parliamentary knowledge. He discusses staff autonomy, grunt work evolving to info control, and hopes readers connect personally while gaining insights into unseen influencers.

Amid recent Canadian tragedies, Carter finds hope in political maturity, rising public engagement, and openness to change. Upcoming: a short story in Plentitude magazine, more writing, and ideas like a Berlin Wall saga.

Key Takeaway: Writing thrives on encouragement, discipline, and authentic voice—craft stories that build empathy and unique perspectives, turning personal experiences into shared connections.

https://cartervance.ca/

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podcast produced by: https://truemediasolutions.ca/

Coffee Refills are always appreciated, refill Dave's cup here, and thanks!
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