What do you do when you can't provide care to your parent anymore? This podcast is a powerful and candid account of my search for an assisted living facility for my dying father. We pull back the curtain on the difficult decisions surrounding elder care, from the financial strain of long-term care insurance to the emotional weight of choosing a nursing home. We explore the harsh realities of how our healthcare system treats the elderly and share insights on finding hope and dignity in the face of terminal illness.

This is a podcast about mourning what was — and what wasn’t. About grieving a parent whose love came with conditions, whose presence felt heavy, and whose absence doesn’t bring peace, only questions.
When a parent dies and the relationship was painful, complicated, or incomplete, the grief that follows is rarely simple. There’s sorrow, yes — but also anger, guilt, confusion, sometimes even relief. This is the kind of grief that doesn’t fit neatly into sympathy cards or eulogies.
Grieft Isn't Clean: Losing a Difficult Parent is a space to sit with that complexity. Through raw reflections and intimate storytelling, we explore the emotional terrain of loss that goes beyond love or hate — the space in between, where so many of us silently live. If you’re grieving a parent you cared for but never fully connected with — or are reckoning with emotions you don’t know how to name — this podcast is for you. Here, nothing is too messy to say out loud.

In this deeply intimate episode, Nathalie and Ian confront the raw aftermath of grief and the immense pressure of caregiving. Nathalie navigates mourning the death of her mother, while Ian battles a frustrating healthcare system to care for his dying father.

As they speak, they uncover the painful truth about grief and relationships: How do you care for a loved one while also grieving yourself? This is a must-listen for anyone experiencing bereavement, caregiver burnout, or struggling to support a partner during a difficult time.

Listen as Ian and Nathalie wrestle with how to show up for one another—imperfectly, honestly, and with room to heal. This is a must-listen for anyone experiencing grief, caregiving, or struggling to connect with a partner during a difficult time.

In Part II of Change is Hard series, the journey deepens. We catch up as she reclaims her strength—not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. From breakthrough moments in counseling to reshaping what “healthy” really means, this episode is about building a life rooted in clarity, courage, and consistency.
If Part I was about deciding to change, Part II is about becoming the change—and the quiet victories that follow. Don’t miss the continuation of this raw and inspiring story.

What happens when the reflection in the mirror feels like a stranger—and the silence in your mind grows louder than your motivation?
In this episode of the Family Mess Podcast, we follow the deep personal story of a young woman, Arteshia, navigating one of life’s hardest pivots: choosing to fight for herself. Once driven by a clear goal, she found herself stalled by depression, disconnected from the body she was learning to love, and haunted by a family history that made her future feel uncertain.
But change doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it starts with the quiet commitment to show up—at the gym, in the therapist’s office, and most powerfully, for herself.
Join us as we explore how identity, health, and healing intersect. This is more than a story about fitness—it’s about the moment we all face when giving up feels easier, but growing up feels necessary.

In this heartfelt episode on parenting a child with learning differences, Nathalie and Ian open up about the immense emotional and financial investment that shaped their son Noah's journey to high school graduation. From early behavioral challenges to finding specialized programs, they candidly recount the triumphs of raising a child who doesn't fit the mold. This episode is a must-listen for parents navigating a child’s education, managing financial planning for a child's success, and supporting unconventional learners.
With humor, honesty, and a touch of exhaustion, they peel back the layers of what it truly takes to set a child up for success. Was it worth every penny? Did they make the right choices? And now that Noah stands at the threshold of adulthood, how do they feel about the road ahead?

Tune in for a candid discussion on resilience, sacrifice, and the unpredictable ride of parenthood.

Raymond has traveled thousands of miles, carrying his thoughts as heavy as the cargo he hauls. 
But now, the journey isn’t about highways—it’s about healing. 
In this second episode, Raymond opens up even further about his struggles, reflecting on his past and questioning his future. Is he ready to move back home to Central Florida?
 
Is he truly prepared to break the cycle and reclaim his life? With raw honesty and deep introspection, he shares his fears, hopes, and the weight of decisions that will shape his next chapter. 
And as the conversation unfolds, Raymond leaves us with the perfect reminder about life, friendship, and finding meaning in unexpected places: "Fish are friends, not food."

Raymond has seen it all—from the towering skylines of America’s biggest cities to the vast solitude of the open road. As a trucker, he’s traveled coast to coast, experiencing the beauty of National Parks, the buzz of urban life, and the quiet mystery of forgotten towns. But beneath the miles, Raymond has been running—running from the reality of undiagnosed ADHD, from his own identity, and from the choices that have led him into darkness. Alcohol, gambling, reckless decisions—they’ve all played a role in his struggles. Now, back in Central Florida, he’s at a crossroads. Can he break the cycle, redefine his future, and finally find himself? Or will the past continue to haunt his journey? In this special two-episode series, The Family Mess Podcast dives deep into the mind of a man searching for clarity in a world that never stops moving.

What started as a simple way to coordinate a family reunion has evolved into something far more meaningful. In this episode, Nathalie and Ian explore how their WhatsApp group became a digital gathering space for raw emotions, struggles, and frustrations.

But it’s more than just venting. Over time, their family communication transformed from messy to beautiful, creating a safe space for encouragement and emotional support. This episode is a candid look at how technology like WhatsApp can help bridge distances and foster family connection, proving that even in our most chaotic moments, we can still find ways to show up for each other.

What does success truly mean? In this personal episode, Nathalie and Ian reflect on their younger years, when they equated success with material wealth and high-end living.

Now, approaching midlife, they've realized the true importance of relationships, kindness, and treating everyone with respect. This episode is a powerful conversation about changing priorities, personal growth in your 40s and 50s, and the profound realization that success isn't about the destination—it's about the person you become. Join them as they inspire you to rethink your own definition of success.