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!

Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles is a health podcast hosted by J Smiles, with 148 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

J Smiles hosts Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles, a health show with 148 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #11

  Behind the Scenes of our Tour: Detroit Cares About Dementia

  Aug 10, 202613 minS7

  Detroit is not playing around when it comes to dementia support, and we want you to see what we saw. We’re pulling back the curtain on our second Parenting Up tour stop in Detroit with Wayne State University and the team that helped make this three-part run happen. Along the way, we share the little moments that make tour life feel real plus the big moments that make you rethink what “living with dementia” can look like. The theme is simple and bold: Detroit cares about dementia. We talk about why it matters to hear directly from people living with dementia, especially when so many are still working, driving, and finding ways to live fully. Their courage challenges the stigma that keeps families quiet and isolated. We also dig into dementia-friendly communities and safe public spaces, from Alzheimer’s Association advocacy to faith communities building routines, training volunteers, and making everyday places feel welcoming instead of scary. We also get practical about early detection and cognitive testing. We unpack what “baseline” means, why clinics and outreach programs can help, and how inexpensive screening can give you something every caregiver needs more of: options. Knowledge really is power when you’re trying to plan care, protect independence, and make decisions on your own terms. If you’re a caregiver, a family member, or just trying to understand Alzheimer’s awareness without the doom, come ride with us and take what works back to your own community. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more families can find us. Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #10

  Did My Dad Visit Me at the NBA Finals? | A Special Edition Caregiving Story

  Jul 27, 202627 minS7

  A single ticket can feel like a confession when you’re a caregiver. I’m telling one of the most vulnerable stories I’ve shared yet: how I tried to take care of myself while parenting up and carrying the heavy reality of dementia caregiving after my father died. The only reason I’m responsible for my mama the way I am comes back to that loss, and the grief still shows up in unexpected places. When the New York Knicks finally made the NBA Finals and the schedule landed Game 4 on my dad’s birthday, I couldn’t shake the pull. I wrestle with the price, the practicality, and the voice saying I should stay home and do the “reasonable” thing. But I’ve been practicing surrender and listening for intuition. That decision takes me all the way to Madison Square Garden alone, surrounded by die-hard fans, and straight into a moment I still can’t explain. Here’s the part that changed me: in a sold-out arena, the seat right next to mine stayed empty for the entire game. Add a wild comeback, a loud New York soundtrack, a wave of raw emotion, and suddenly this isn’t only a basketball story, it’s a caregiver burnout story, an Alzheimer’s awareness story, and a grief story about honoring a parent and letting yourself receive comfort. If you’ve ever wondered what real self-care looks like when you’re holding everything together, this one is for you. Subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share this with a caregiver in your life, and leave a review if it hits home. What’s the most unexpected place you’ve found healing? Exec. Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #9

  The Art of Redirecting: A Caregiver’s Superpower

  Jul 13, 202658 minS7

  Alzheimer’s can make yesterday disappear, but it can also make love get very specific, very fast. I’m talking with Dan Phillips from the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, and his story hits on every level: a grandmother diagnosed, a career pivot into advocacy, and then the brutal reality that multiple people he loves are living with the disease. We keep it real about what families actually face, including denial, confusion, and those moments when you realize you’re hearing heartbreaking news for the “first time” over and over again. We break down what “redirecting” really means in dementia caregiving and why picking your battles isn’t giving up, it’s protecting someone’s nervous system. Dan shares how humor can be a lifeline, from a perfectly timed joke to what we call the “lie of love,” the kind, creative story that calms fear when the truth would only reopen the wound. We also talk caregiver stress, why caregivers can go down first, and why getting help doesn’t mean you love your person any less. Sometimes it’s the only way to get back to mother-daughter time instead of patient-caregiver time. Then we zoom out to hope and action: early warning signs people miss, why early diagnosis matters more than ever, and how Alzheimer’s research is changing fast, including biomarker blood tests and treatments that can slow progression for some. Dan also explains the Alzheimer’s Association’s Do What You Love program, where dinner parties, pickleball, golf, church cookouts, and community events turn into funding for research, care, and support. If this conversation makes you feel seen, share it with someone who’s carrying this quietly. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us what part of caregiving you want to hear about next. Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles

  Promoting Dementia Screening While Dispelling Dementia Myths

  Jun 30, 202647 min

  If the words “dementia test” make you picture needles, scary machines, and a verdict you cannot take back, we get it. That fear keeps a lot of families stuck in delay, denial, and quiet panic. From Detroit’s Rosa Parks Geriatric Center at Wayne State University, we sit down with practitioners to make dementia screening feel simple, practical, and worth doing sooner than later. We walk through what a real memory screening looks like, including the Mini-Cog: three words, a clock drawing, and a quick check that can become a baseline for your brain health. We also untangle screening versus testing, what happens if the screen shows concern, and why a full evaluation may include paper-and-pencil cognitive tests, depression screening, lab work for reversible causes like thyroid or B12 issues, and brain imaging such as MRI. Dr. Deol also explains newer Alzheimer’s blood tests that look at biomarkers like tau, plus the crucial nuance: a positive marker without symptoms is not the same as a dementia diagnosis. From missed bills and medication slip-ups to personality changes, cooking hazards, and driving confusion, we share the real-world signs families notice and why “it’s just aging” can be a costly myth. We also name the biggest barriers, including stigma and limited access, and point you toward support like the Alzheimer’s Association and your local Area Agency on Aging. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone you love, and leave a review so more families find it when they need it most. This is episode 3 of a 3-part series. Many thanks to the Rosa Parks Clinic, Wayne State University and everyone involved in this series. For more information about the A.G.R.E.E.D/GWEP grant, visit: https://agreed.wayne.edu/community-impact Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Director of Photography/Editor: Annelise Udoye Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #6

  Living With Dementia: Real Stories, Early Signs, and Getting the Right Diagnosis

  Jun 26, 20261h 5mS7

  Dementia doesn’t show up with a warning label, and it definitely doesn’t erase the person sitting right in front of you. We’re back in Detroit to hear directly from people living with dementia and the care partners walking beside them and the honesty is refreshing, specific, and sometimes even funny in the middle of the hard stuff. First, we talk with Dick and John (with Gerry bringing the real talk as a spouse and support system) about what made them finally say, “Something isn’t quite right.” They describe early signs like repeating themselves, word-finding issues, speech clarity problems, and the tension those changes can create at home. Then we dig into what happened after diagnosis: the relief of naming the problem, the power of telling family instead of keeping secrets, and how early testing can open doors to planning and medical options. We also get into Alzheimer’s treatment realities, including infusion therapy and what it feels like to pursue treatment with a trusted care team. Just as important, we unpack why some people with dementia symptoms won’t qualify for Alzheimer’s infusions if the biomarkers aren’t there, and what it’s like to keep searching for answers. Then members of the National Council of Dementia Minds join virtually to share a wider view: executive function decline at work, REM sleep behavior disorder, getting lost close to home, misdiagnoses, and the exhausting maze of specialists and tests. You’ll leave with practical strategies that actually help: whiteboards, calendars, lists, timers, note-taking, safety planning around driving, and staying social so life stays bigger than the diagnosis. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with someone who’s worried about cognitive changes, and leave a review so more families can find it. Many thanks to Council of Dementia Minds and Wayne State University. For more information, visit: https://agreed.wayne.edu/community-impact Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Videographer/Editor: Annelise Udoye Support the show " Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" IG: https://www.instagram.com/parentingup FB: https://www.facebook.com/parentingup YT: https://www.youtube.com/@ parentingup TEXT 'PODCAST" to +1 404 737 1449 - to give J topic ideas, feedback, say hi! Be sure to leave us a review!

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.