Katie Brandt’s life changed when her husband was diagnosed with frontotemporal degeneration at the age of 29. What began as heartbreak became advocacy. Now Director at the MGH Frontotemporal Disorders Unit and Founder of Katie Brandt Advocacy, she shares how caregivers become detectives, why early diagnosis matters, and how love and purpose can transform even the hardest stories.

Kelsey Cook is a nationally touring comedian with specials on Hulu and YouTube, but off stage she’s a daughter caring for her mom with Frontotemporal Dementia. In this episode, Kelsey shares her caregiving journey, early signs, the trauma of crisis moments, and finding healing through humor and advocacy. We talk about resilience, community, and how storytelling can bring hope when life takes a turn you never expected.

When Gary Anderson was diagnosed with Frontotemporal Dementia, life changed forever for his wife, Nanci, and daughter, Lindsay. In this heartfelt conversation, they share the long road to a diagnosis, the struggles of living with FTD, and the love that carried them through. Together, they created Gary’s FUB Team to honor his legacy, raise awareness, and support others. Their story is one of grief, resilience, and what love leaves behind.

Dr. Francesca Falzarano, founder of the Falzarano Family Caregiver Lab at USC, joins us to explore how her personal caregiving journey inspired groundbreaking research into dementia care. From grief and identity to technology and connection, we discuss how caregiving changes us—and how research can truly serve caregivers. This episode is a powerful look at turning loss into impact and rethinking the future of dementia support.

Caregiving can feel like an identity that eclipses everything else. In this heartfelt conversation, Nikki Nurse shares her 12-year journey caring for her mom with early-onset dementia and Alzheimer’s. She opens up about balancing self-care, navigating grief, and redefining caregiving beyond sacrifice. Nikki discusses sustainable self-care, emotional resilience, and how caregivers can reclaim their confidence and embrace permission to be seen and celebrated.