Explore every episode of the podcast Parenting UP! Caregiving adventures with comedian J Smiles
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turning Alzheimer’s Pain into Purpose: J Smiles on Georgia Focus | 27 Apr 2026 | 00:18:35 | |
Season seven starts with the part of my story that still catches in my throat, even after 14 years: my dad died, and within months my mom began to fall apart in ways that grief alone couldn’t explain. People around her told me I was overreacting, that it was depression, that it was mourning. I had to trust what I knew about my mother, push for testing, and brace for the avalanche of becoming responsible for her care, her safety, and the life she used to run with ease. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| HOLLYWOOD & THE HOLY GRAIL OF DEMENTIA RESEARCH: Highlights from my time at the Alzheimer's Summit | 13 Apr 2026 | 00:16:35 | |
J Smiles was in Anaheim for the Alzheimer’s Association Community Leaders Summit, surrounded by people who volunteer hard, fundraise harder, and refuse to let dementia be the final word. The surprising part isn’t the scale of the event, it’s the energy. This isn’t a room full of resignation. It’s a room full of strategy, laughter, and a belief that progress is real, even when it comes in tiny steps. Exec Producer/Host: J Smiles Producer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| From Then Until Now: A Personal Moment on my Caregiving and Comedy Journey | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:16:44 | |
A single shock can reorder a life. When my father passed suddenly and my mother’s Alzheimer’s deepened, I became the point person for everything. My pivot—raw, messy, and unplanned—sparked a mission: use comedy to have a positive outlet during those trying times. In this special mini episode, you'll hear me as I celebrate five years of our caregiver-centered podcast, ten years of stand-up, and my mom’s 77th lap around the sun, while pulling back the curtain on how humor, faith, and community turned chaos into a living blueprint for care. Subscribe, share this with your village, and leave a review with one lesson caregiving taught you—someone reading it will need exactly that today. Executive Producer: J Smiles Comedy Producer & Editor: Mia Hall "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Is the test for the ALZ Gene worth it? | 27 Oct 2021 | 00:29:19 | |
J Smiles grapples with whether or not to take the ALZ GENE test. Zetty, her mom, was diagnosed with early onset and Zetty's father had ALZ too. Will knowing make life better or more stressful? J leans into her caregiver crew for support. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Balancing Pain, Passion and Professional Life: a conversation with Susan | 01 Aug 2021 | 00:53:22 | |
"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| "Wow, mom hid Alzheimer’s!" - a chat with Hillary | 23 Jun 2021 | 00:45:59 | |
Hillary's mom live independently for decades until an unrelated doctor's visit showed mom's brain wasn’t functioning well. Is it cancer or dementia? A facility, her home or live with family? "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| A plane, a boat, a monkey: Our Love Circus - A convo with Yvette McNally, pt 2 | 14 Jun 2021 | 00:57:59 | |
J Smiles and Yvette continue with part 2. Yvette reveals the eventual diagnosis her mom was given, how her family managed LIFE along the way, her top advice for newbie caregivers and more. Yvette recounts earthy, gritty and heartbreaking moments throughout their 3.5 year battle. J is often caught off guard, holding her heart or choking from laughter. Either way, the honesty and transparency keeps the flow easy. You gain insight on hospitalizations, re-directing with humor and treating yourself with grace. REAL caregiver ISH. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| A plane, a boat, a monkey: Our Love Circus - A convo with Yvette McNally, pt 1 | 01 Jun 2021 | 00:57:50 | |
*Audio UPDATE/Correction 6/13/21* 🥰 "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| My (J Smiles) memory scare, is it Alzheimer’s? | 17 May 2021 | 00:36:36 | |
J Smiles struggles with abnormal memory loss and brain fog. Her immediate fear is the early onset of Alzheimer’s -- any caregiver's nightmare. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Keeping Mom Independent: A Conversation with Kim Cooper | 26 Apr 2021 | 01:04:23 | |
J Smiles chats with Kimberly Cooper, a sandwich generation wife determined to honor her mom's passion for independence even after dementia enters their lives. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Deep Sleep Reveals NEW Fears! | 05 Apr 2021 | 00:30:51 | |
Finally J Smiles has a healthy sleep hygiene routine... and it works, perfectly. Well, she sleeps long and hard. The problem is the depth of slumber unlocks unknown caregiving consternation. She has to decide whether to ditch healthy sleep or face what the dreams are telling her about her relationship with Zetty. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| I look, talk, walk like me but I don't feel like me: Caregiver Confusion | 29 Mar 2021 | 00:40:06 | |
J Smiles takes a big trip to Washington, DC to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is elated to take a such a meaningful vacation. A newbie caregiver at the time, J is looking forward to reclaiming free time and fun with college friends. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| A Burglar is Breaking in on me & Zetty! | 22 Mar 2021 | 00:27:22 | |
For once J is able to get Zetty in the bed before 2am, excited and sound asleep all hell breaks loose when the house alarm blares "intruder alert." "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Beyond the Actor: Why Brandon Claybon is Passionate about Alzheimer’s Advocacy | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:37:15 | |
Parenting Up Family! Tune in for a special episode during National Family Caregivers Month! We are usually bi-weekly, but thanks to the Alzheimer's Association of Georgia, we are releasing this bonus episode this month! In this episode, Actor Brandon Claybon joins us to unpack the shift that happens when family members forget your name and start losing their memory, with honesty and heart. He speaks with us about how Alzheimer’s touched both sides of his family, what he learned as a ten-year-old watching elders change, and why his purpose goes far beyond the screen. Brandon also talks about carrying light for his community, the accountability that keeps him grounded, and the practical ways a tight-knit family can share care without losing dignity in the process. We also explore the grief of lost recipes and why recording family culture is important. Brandon shares how he protects his energy with rest and travel, and why intuition can save caregivers time, pain, and frustration. To join the fight against Alzheimer's, visit alz.org/georgia Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Caregiver Dating | 15 Mar 2021 | 00:38:08 | |
J Smiles believes that dating is self care. The problem is she cannot seem to secure a date. She takes the listener on a journey of her pre-caregiver dating existence. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| "New" mama would embarrass "old" mama! | 01 Mar 2021 | 00:25:38 | |
Caregiving is so nuanced. We can identify the major things swiftly -- medicine and food must be consumed; bills paid and so on. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Sleep: The New Soulmate | 22 Feb 2021 | 00:33:38 | |
Who knew skipping sleep could add up so quickly? Not, J Smiles! "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Agh, Zetty Escaped! | 08 Feb 2021 | 00:35:51 | |
J Smiles opens Season 2 with a riveting story of personal panic. J wakes up but cannot find Zetty anywhere. DoorJammer Portable Door Lock "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Rolling with Resistance - caregiver Omar Hamilton | 27 Nov 2020 | 01:23:57 | |
Omar Hamilton joins J Smiles on a deep dive into the life of a child flying blindly into the foggy cognitive abyss of a parent. Omar's dad was living independently and quite self sufficient. Or so everyone thought. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Pivoting on Pins and Needles - the life of caregiver Erika Watson | 09 Nov 2020 | 01:15:57 | |
J Smiles and Erika have been thick as theives for over 20 yrs. Howard University and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority cemented their relationship. But as only kids who love to travel, who appreciate fine dining, who have never missed a proper brunch and who seamlessly merge Rosé with a Rick Ross beat... they take the listener on Erika's abrupt realization of her mom's cognitive decline as if recounting one of their jaunts in Washington, D.C. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Uh oh! Zetty wants a smart phone. | 02 Nov 2020 | 00:26:24 | |
Zetty throws J Smiles off with a request for a cell phone. What seems like a simple ask turns into a quest for the holy grail. For Zetty, J soon realizes it is a dignity issue too. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| First time broke me, but now... | 07 Oct 2020 | 00:22:30 | |
Alzheimer's disease is very mysterious. Caregivers are often guessing what their LO's (loved ones) are feeling, experiencing, etc. CG's live a life of magical charades. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| The Lie of Love: with caregiver Chef Angela | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:50:53 | |
Chef Angela (Angela Gorham) joins J Smiles for an in-the-trenches-right-now-conversation. Like J, she is single, childless and her mom's full-time caregiver. Another commonality, another's death made their mother's Alzheimer's undeniable. Listen for Ms Gorham's shocking thrust from condo to caregiver. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Give Caregivers Grace: a "crew' chat with Monica Cost | 21 Sep 2020 | 00:49:38 | |
J Smiles lets listeners meet another main "crew" member, a major supporter on her journey as a caregiver, Monica Cost. Interestingly, their bond started as adults through civic board membership. But wow, did they make up for 'lost' time. With many natural connections - members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., HBCU'ers, and free spirits they became fast friends. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Is Caregiving Your Calling? | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:48:10 | |
What does it look like to choose love—and keep choosing it, day after day? We sit down with JET, a grandson who decided his grandmother with dementia wouldn’t go to a facility. He brought her into his home, rebuilt his life around her needs, and learned how dignity lives in small rituals: clean sheets, a sharp outfit, a slow stroll through every aisle at the market just to smell the spices. It’s funny, tender, and honest about what caretaking really takes. We talk about men in caregiving, identity, and what competence really looks like when schedules, bathing, meds, and meals collide. There’s laughter—coriander adventures and “field trips” down grocery aisles—and there’s grief. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Fighting Frustration | 16 Sep 2020 | 00:24:14 | |
Caregivers experience quite a few dark, negative emotions. Often they are ashamed to shared such feelings aloud. J Smiles tackles frustration in hopes of normalizing this "negative" expression. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Resentment Happens | 07 Sep 2020 | 00:31:54 | |
Caregivers experience a tsunami of emotions. Positive, negative, neutral, unspeakable. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Routine Doctors Visits... UGH! | 23 Aug 2020 | 00:25:32 | |
Routine does not mean regular when it comes to doctors office visits for Zetty. Much to J Smiles dismay, these common appointments are quite eventful. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| No Way That Happened: Zany Zetty Stories | 17 Aug 2020 | 00:27:34 | |
Quirky, honest storytelling. J Smiles files solo recounting a series of unrelated true events that remind us it will all be okay in the end, one way or another. Each memory spotlights how simple slips into complex and how common is not always ordinary. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Variety is NOT the Spice of Life. | 10 Aug 2020 | 00:27:02 | |
Choices and options are celebrated all over the world. Everyday we are encouraged to expand more, try more, do more. We are trained to avoid boredom at all cost. And definitely never become too bland or predictable. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Caregivers Need Parental Controls Too! | 03 Aug 2020 | 00:23:48 | |
J Smiles moves swiftly to shed light on a normalized bias in the United States that really irks her. The legal marginalization of the elderly. She gives examples of how lawmakers and policy pushers have not included Alzheimer's sufferers in their protective based legislations. She parallels television parental controls for minors and seeks the same progressive choices for caregivers. ### "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Caregivers need care too: a “crew” chat with Christine Beatty | 28 Jul 2020 | 01:06:07 | |
J Smiles lets listeners meet one of her main crew members, one her biggest supporters on her journey as a caregiver, Christine Beatty. Their bond started as members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Howard University almost thirty years ago. Christine gives her special account of Zetty and Jaigee before and since Alzheimer's disease. She retraces humorous, touching and thoughtful moments with care. She makes observations that are spot on and startling to J Smiles. Ultimately, J uncovers a few new areas of growth and clarifies past pains. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Mama is Covid+, we must Quarantine! | 20 Jul 2020 | 00:37:52 | |
Faced with an awful trifecta, J Smiles and Zetty must quarantine for two weeks with zero additional caregivers. The stress is compounded when Zetty returns from the hospital less healthy than when she went in. J has to throw old tried and true measures out the window and learn new tricks to get her mom's recovery started. J shares examples of hard learned "what works" and "what does not work" with grueling detail. J formulates new methods galore - medicine, food and hygiene. Be ready for a wide range of emotions. This episode's Snuggle Up is a powerful plea aimed at helping others avoid this fiasco. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| They Stole My Mama!!! | 13 Jul 2020 | 00:47:05 | |
J Smiles pours out her heart in this episode. Believing Zetty has a simple Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), she is forced to call 911. It turns out to be much more serious. The ER presents one obstacle after another as J tries to guide the staff on best practices and techniques to get Zetty to acquiesce to the many tests. Routine blood and urine samples become stressful, silly displays of the massive void regarding Alzheimer's disease awareness within the ER staff. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| 911: To Call or Not To Call | 07 Jul 2020 | 00:25:56 | |
J Smiles addresses the nightmare dilemma every caregiver faces sooner or later... whether or not to use 911 (or another emergency medical service). The decision is compounded by the dementia person's inability to communicate. J also touches on the elusive vasovagal syncope and Zetty's experience with it. As always, she uses love, levity and transparency to transport her listeners. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Stories in Our Steps: Walk to End Alzheimer's Recap | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:36:31 | |
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 cheers to the last hug, we connected with caregivers, researchers, and supporters who refuse to let this disease define our futures. As a media sponsor, Parenting Up! dug into practical takeaways and lifted the voices that make this movement real. Visit Alz.org for more information and check us out at parentingup.com. Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Producer: Mia Hall Videographer/Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| PART 2: A conversation with Dr. Sandy: The Neurosurgeon & Caregiver | 03 Jul 2020 | 00:23:18 | |
J Smiles' completes the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea Greene-Harris, neurosurgeon and caregiver. Dr. Sandy clears up a common misconception of dementia. The two share personal stories of prioritizing caregiving responsibilities. The laughs are infectious as they recount a few childhood memories from Montgomery, Alabama. This conversation provides raw insight and supportive methods to get through life as a caregiver. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| PART 1: A conversation with Dr. Sandy: The Neurosurgeon & Caregiver | 02 Jul 2020 | 00:25:17 | |
J Smiles begins the two part conversation with Dr. Sandea "Dr. Sandy" Greene-Harris. Dr. Sandy was introduced to you in Ep 1 and now you get to hear why this neurosurgeon was uniquely situated to become president of Zetty's board of brain health. The episode centers on Dr. Sandy's positions as mother, wife, daughter, caregiver and surgeon. J Smiles asks poignant questions on balancing life as a sandwich generation ambassador. Dr. Sandy uses a soft-science approach and plain language to identify advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease. Each woman talks about locating emotional equilibrium as the primary caregiver for her mom. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| My body is falling apart, where's the duck tape? | 22 Jun 2020 | 00:29:07 | |
J Smiles shares how the stress of caregiving created physical sickness landing her at the hospital. Plus, she walks you through her journey of grief as a caregiver for Zetty, who has Alzheimer's. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| PART 2: A conversation with caregiver DeWanda Smith, The Zetty Whisperer | 15 Jun 2020 | 00:24:44 | |
J Smiles' conversation with DeWanda Smith, The Zetty Whisperer, continues with more comical stories and more tips. DeWanda's easy going manner shines through as an excellent approach to administering care. Specific examples of what is challenging and what is rewarding about caregiving are included. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| PART 1: A conversation with caregiver DeWanda Smith: The Zetty Whisperer | 14 Jun 2020 | 00:30:07 | |
Zetty's first, and best caregiver, joins J Smiles to recount, relive and laugh. Listen to DeWanda Smith, the Zetty whisperer, share how and why she became a caregiver after retiring from the corporate world. DeWanda and J Smiles get into the caregiver nitty gritty of daily life, needing help, outings with Zetty and staying sane. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| H.E.L.P. - I'm not qualified. | 08 Jun 2020 | 00:27:22 | |
Zetty requires 24/7 care and J Smiles is clueless as to how to provide it. J Smiles gets ideas and suggestions from internet searches and a childhood friend. Undaunted and overwhelmed, J Smiles traipses into the uncharted territory of getting H.E.L.P. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Uh oh! My prayer was answered. | 07 Jun 2020 | 00:29:52 | |
Shocked by the doctor's advice of emergency brain surgery for her mother (Zetty), J Smiles asks God for a sign. With the prayer answered, she is consumed with saving her mother's life. The events that unfold make it obvious that both of their lives will never be the same. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Something is wrong with my mama! | 31 May 2020 | 00:28:39 | |
The first full episode. J Smiles reveals the shocking events leading to her mom's Alzheimer's diagnosis. Her swift meandering journey of becoming a full-time caregiver is vividly detailed. Heartfelt, and perhaps hard to hear, you get a strong sense of the love and levity combination at the core of her brand of caregiving. The Snuggle Up, a suggestion segment, premiere is here too. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Intro | 21 May 2020 | 00:02:37 | |
Trailer: the what, the who & the why. A raw portrayal of a comedian daughter's care journey for a mom with ALZ. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| 5 Year Podcast Anniversary Celebration! | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:21:31 | |
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 are still in the thick of it, friends who learned how to show up, and pros who stepped in with services, strength, and heart. It wasn’t staged—it was hugs, dance breaks, and testimonies that prove love can outlast timelines and community can carry weight you shouldn’t have to hold alone. "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| We in Detroit Baby! Behind the Scenes of our first tour! | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:24:31 | |
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 to give you the story behind this amazing project and how it all came together. You will hear clips from our episodes, an interview with Dr. McNeil, and part of our pre-5 year 'podversary' celebration at EVRY Media Studios. Thank you for rocking with us for these past 5 years. Be sure to share this episode with a friend and check out the visuals on our YouTube channel @parentingup. Exec. Producer: J Smiles Producer: Mia Hall DP / Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Unwavering Husband, Caregiver and Advocate - Dan Goerke | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:46:04 | |
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 how their mental bond transformed his caregiving approach and ultimately led him to become a powerful advocate for Alzheimer's research. Executive Producer / Host: J Smiles Producer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| Gas, Guts, and the Golden Sample: A Caregiver Crashout | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:35:15 | |
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.
"Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||
| That's What Friends Are For | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:30:39 | |
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. Executive Producer/Host: J Smiles Comedy Producer: Mia Hall Editor: Annelise Udoye "Alzheimer's is heavy but we ain't gotta be!" | |||