Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
Get engulfed in the intense journey of a caregiver who happens to be a comedian. J Smiles use of levity reveals the stress and rewards of caregiving interwoven with her own personal journey. Over 10 years ago, she was catapulted into caregiving overnight when the shock of her dad's death pushed her mom into Alzheimer's in the blink of an eye. A natural storyteller, her vivid descriptions and impressive recall will place you squarely in each moment of truth, at each fork in the road. She was a single, childless mechanical engineering, product designing, lawyer living a meticulously crafted international existence until she wasn't. The lifestyle shift was immediate. Starting from scratch, she painstakingly carved out useful knowledge and created a beneficial care plan for her mom. J Smiles will fly solo and have expert guests. You will get tips, tricks, trends and TRUTH. Alzheimer's is heavy, we don’t have to be. All caregivers are welcome to snuggle up, Parent Up!
Episodes
126 episodes
Stories in Our Steps: Walk to End Alzheimer's Recap
The Promenade at Piedmont Park turned into a surge of color, courage, and hope at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s hosted by the Atlanta chapter of the Alzheimer's Association—and we brought our cameras and team to capture it all. From the first che...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 11
•
36:31
5 Year Podcast Anniversary Celebration!
Five years later, the room is louder, the laughs are bigger, and the village is real. We took our microphones into a buzzing anniversary reception at Buckhead Art & Company and let our community speak: caregivers who’ve lost, caregivers who...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 10
•
21:31
We in Detroit Baby! Behind the Scenes of our first tour!
Hey Parenting Up Family! Today's episode is an audio version of a look behind the scenes of our first tour in Detroit! We had an amazing time with Dr. McNeil and the team at the AGREED Grant! You may have listened to the series, but now, we get...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 9
•
24:31
Unwavering Husband, Caregiver and Advocate - Dan Goerke
What if you could communicate telepathically with someone living with advanced Alzheimer's? Dan Goerke discovered this extraordinary connection with his wife Denise after conventional conversation became impossible. In this episode, Dan reveals...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 8
•
46:04
Gas, Guts, and the Golden Sample: A Caregiver Crashout
Ever wondered how far you'd go to care for someone you love? How much dignity you'd sacrifice? I found my answer on the side of I-20 during Atlanta rush hour.When my mother started talking to people who weren't there, walking into walls...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 7
•
35:15
That's What Friends Are For
Have you ever witnessed someone persevere to no end to maintain a connection with someone they cared about? That's exactly what happened when my mother's DC circle refused to let her disappear after my dad's death.When Betty began bomba...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 6
•
30:39
KEEN AGING: HOW MODERN ELDERS ARE REWRITING GROWING OLD
In today's episode, we had the great opportunity to speak with an amazing author who is changing the outlook on aging! Dr. Corinne Auman, a care management expert and author of "Keenagers: Telling a New Story About Aging," joins us to challenge...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 5
•
45:28
Lights, Camera, Collection: From The Sidelines of Caregiving
Parenting Up family - today's episode is a special one! The worlds of sports memorabilia and caregiving collide in this deeply personal glimpse into my journey to honor my father's extraordinary legacy while navigating the daily cha...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 4
•
38:45
Who Caregivers Can Call: Real Life Resources
Welcome to the last episode of our 3 part 'Detroit Cares About Caregivers' Series! What resources actually exist for caregivers, and how do you access them when you need support? This question haunts many people thrust into caregivi...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 3
•
35:13
White Coat Wisdom: Best Practices for Care Partners
Do you ever feel dismissed or intimidated when advocating for your loved one in medical settings? That ends today.In Episode 2 of our 'Detroit Cares About Caregivers' series, medical providers share the importance of caregivers in the h...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 2
•
50:53
Detroit Caregiver Chronicles
Parenting Up family, we are excited to bring you a new 3-part series in partnership with Wayne State University's AGReed grant! In this episode, Detroit caregivers speak with J Smiles about their experiences as caregivers for their ...
•
Season 6
•
Episode 1
•
48:45
What Caregivers Want Doctors To Know
The void between medical expertise and lived caregiving experience takes center stage in this powerful season finale. Join us as we recap the Alter Dementia Summit 2025!This episode captures the vibrant energy of a gathering that feels s...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 20
•
26:28
Altering the Perception of Caregivers and Dementia with Dr. Fayron Epps
When Dr. Fayron Epps launched the Altar program, she was told repeatedly that no one would fund research connecting faith and dementia care in the Black community. Fast forward to today, and her groundbreaking initiative has expanded to 23 stat...
•
45:33
Caregiving: Motherhood In Disguise
Motherhood takes many forms, and caregiving might be the most overlooked version. This Mother's Day episode challenges us to reconsider who deserves celebration and recognition.The numbers tell a striking story: Americans spent $33 bill...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 18
•
29:32
Yes, And Caregiving: The Improv Act You Didn’t Audition For
When a loved one develops dementia, our instinct is often to correct their misperceptions and pull them back to our reality. But what if there's a more compassionate, effective approach hiding in an unlikely place – Improv?In today's ep...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 17
•
40:38
Old People Deserve Different: Don't Just Rip the Bandaid Off!
When a loved one ages beyond typical medical concerns into what Dr. Warren Wong calls "the decade of frailty," everything changes—including how we should approach their care. In this episode, geriatrician Dr. Wong reveals why elder care require...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 16
•
47:09
Caregiving & Commerce: The Delicate Balance
Happy Women's History Month! On this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Mrs. Aisha Taylor Issah, who founded TheSistahShop.com, an e-commerce store featuring all Black Women Owned Businesses. We filmed this episode...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 15
•
36:44
Comedy Cares: Improv's Role in Caregiving
Audio family! We shot this episode on location at Dad's Garage, but we made sure to include our listeners to get insight on what we learned. This episode explores the transformative power of improvisational comedy in dementia caregiving. We div...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 14
•
28:39
SUCCESSFUL CAREGIVING WITHOUT SELF-SACRIFICE
We had a great time connecting with Author Karen Weaver, author of Reaching Up For Comfort. She has been a caregiver for her late husband, late mom, and late father, though she has also volunteered with her church, neighbors, centers, and more....
•
Season 5
•
Episode 13
•
47:06
CREATING, CAPTURING AND KEEPING MEMORIES WITH ALZHEIMER'S
Join us as we speak with Omar Alvarez about volunteering with elders, his grandfather, and Puerto Rican culture, and how each of these played a part in helping him develop KINNECT! Kinnect is a family legacy app that helps preserve family stori...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 12
•
52:45
Sisterhood Meets Social Media: Deltas Search for Zetty
In honor of Delta Sigma Theta's Founder’s Day, look back with us on the care of Zetty’s phenomenal line sisters from Hampton University! See how they all rallied to find out what happened to their ‘Kitty Boo’ and to make sure they sent her the ...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 11
•
16:46
Parenting Up! Best of 2024
Parenting Up! family, thank you for another amazing year! We hit some major milestones, surpassing 100 episodes and 100 subscribers on YouTube, plus had some incredible episodes with memorable guests and we could not have done it withou...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 10
•
35:36
Festive Frenzy! Holidays with Zetty
We know that you may think Zetty was from the south and surely was known for some famous recipes we grew up enjoying - but that's not exactly what I remember about my mom during the holidays. Zetty may not have been baking holiday treats, but o...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 9
•
28:54
Sending Love & Spreading Smiles: Showing Caregivers You Care
Discover how love, laughter, and resilience can transform the caregiving experience in our latest episode, where we celebrate a remarkable milestone for our Parenting Up! community—being named one of the top three podcasts of the year by Hilari...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 8
•
39:04
Some of Ya'll Suck at Supporting Caregivers
Happy National Family Caregivers Month! That's right - in today's episode, we celebrate family caregivers and give tips on better supporting us! Whether it's helping out with everyday tasks, or reading articles that you think about...
•
Season 5
•
Episode 7
•
33:41