The Caregiver's Spirit

When Nicole’s husband was diagnosed with ALS, she was six months pregnant.

In this episode, we sit together one year after his passing and talk about what life has actually looked like since.

Nicole shares moments from their journey—from the early days of diagnosis to the Honor Walk at the hospital, the decisions around organ donation, and the ways she continues to carry her husband’s presence forward for their children.

We talk about grief, identity after caregiving, motherhood inside loss, and the quiet ways love continues.

This is an honest conversation about what comes after everything changes.

For more of my work: ☕ www.mariaaleandra.com

My caregiver journal: 📓 https://amzn.to/4cvrTKB

Find Nicole: 📸 https://www.instagram.com/makewayforchucklings/

There are forms of grief that don’t begin with an ending.

They arrive quietly, while love is still here.

In this conversation, I sit with Allie Brunner—an artist, caregiver, and storyteller whose life shifted after her husband’s ALS diagnosis.

Together, we explore what it means to love someone while also grieving the changes unfolding in real time.

We talk about identity, the tension between hope and reality, and the quiet, often invisible weight of caregiving. We also reflect on the ways grief lives in the body, how it shows up in family life, and what it means to keep going—one day at a time.

This is a conversation about presence.

About love that adapts.

About learning how to hold what was never meant to be held.

Connect with Allie:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliecbrunner

Website: https://www.illuminatingals.com

If you’re looking for a place to sit with all of this a little longer, you can find me here: ☕ www.mariaaleandra.com

And if something in this conversation stirred and you want a space to put it down, my caregiver journal is here: ✍️ https://amzn.to/4cvrTKB

This caregiver-focused episode is a little longer than my usual reflections. I’m sharing what it really takes to travel, stay in hotels, and show up for meaningful moments when your life includes medical equipment, energy budgets, planning spreadsheets, and love that doesn’t quit. The logistics. The emotional calculus. The quiet pride. If you’re a caregiver carrying the invisible work behind big experiences, I see you.

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Other places to find me:

Instagram | Newsletter | Substack

✒️ You can purchase my caregiver journal here.

Inspirare means to breathe life into.

In this reflection, I explore the quiet impulse to create from pain—to write, speak, make, and notice beauty even when life feels heavy.

Inspired by ancient wisdom and lived experience, this episode is about staying present with what hurts, without hardening. About letting breath, tenderness, and attention become a form of resistance.

Not to escape the world, but to meet it with an open heart.

Today’s episode is a quiet meditation inspired by Albert Camus, exploring how to stay awake to life as it is—without giving in to despair or false hope.

Camus believed we are still responsible for how we live and love, even in an unjust world—not because it fixes anything, but because it keeps us intact.

This reflection invites you to pause, listen inward, and consider what it means to let love stay awake.

This was not the podcast I had in mind today. The fragments of my day had something else in mind...

Pull up a chair. An episode about the itch to keep going and what happens when you don’t.

In this episode, we sit with Time.

Happy end of 2025!

The Caregiver’s Spirit is a reflective podcast about living through seasons that change you.

These episodes are shaped by what I’ve learned through caregiving—and by all the unexpected places that learning spills into: time, identity, love, resilience, and the quiet recalibrations no one really prepares you for.

I’m not here to fix anything or hand out answers. I’m sharing what life has taught me so far, in case some of it helps you name what you’re already feeling.

This is a space for anyone moving through change—slowly, imperfectly, and with heart.

We explore the transformative power of community and the importance of sharing your story. I highlight the healing impact of connecting with like-minded individuals, the courage to share your personal journey, and the support that come from these connections. Whether you're new to caregiving or have been on this path for a while, this episode offers insights and encouragement to embrace your strength and spirit. Join the conversation as we navigate the complexities and emotions of caregiving together.

Read the full essay here: https://substack.com/@mariaaleandra/note/p-170495523

I love hearing from you :@walkinginmagic & @teamhighoctanejules

My email is: [email protected]

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In this episode of "The Caregiver Spirit," your host— I open up about the realities of caregiving, the struggle to balance personal dreams with daily demands, and the importance of self-compassion. We explore the emotional rollercoaster of setting ambitious goals, facing setbacks, and learning to give myself grace. Whether you’re a caregiver or someone who supports one, this episode offers a comforting reminder: you’re not alone, your feelings are valid, and tending to your own spirit is essential. Tune in for honest reflections, gentle humor, and a sense of community that uplifts and inspires.

I love hearing from you :@walkinginmagic & @teamhighoctanejules

My email is: [email protected]

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