In this episode, we sit down with Monica Bryant, co-founder of Triage Cancer, to talk about the often-overlooked legal and practical challenges that follow a cancer diagnosis. As caregivers and advocates, we explore how navigating health insurance, workplace rights, and treatment logistics can quickly become overwhelming for families already dealing with the emotional weight of cancer. Monica shares how Triage Cancer empowers patients and caregivers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and reduce stress.

We also discuss the role employers and healthcare providers play in supporting working caregivers, how tools like AI may help expand access to information, and why understanding your legal and financial options can make a meaningful difference during the cancer journey.

[00:00] – Why employers want to support caregivers but often don’t know how to start.

[01:02] – We welcome Monica Bryant and kick off the conversation with a fun Chicago icebreaker.

[02:34] – Monica explains how Triage Cancer was founded and why legal education is critical after a cancer diagnosis.

[04:17] – How Triage Cancer helps patients and caregivers navigate legal, financial, and workplace issues.

[06:18] – Why caregiving during cancer often becomes urgent and overwhelming for families.

[07:32] – The psychosocial impact of caregiving and how access to information can reduce stress and anxiety.

[09:09] – The complexities of treatment decisions, insurance coverage, and navigating healthcare systems.

[11:20] – How Triage Cancer works with healthcare professionals to better support patients and caregivers.

[15:42] – Our discussion about AI in healthcare and where technology can help without replacing human empathy.

[19:26] – A powerful real-life story showing how the right legal knowledge helped a father protect his daughter’s cancer treatment.

[23:02] – Policy changes and how shifts in healthcare coverage could impact millions of Americans.

[25:43] – How listeners can access Triage Cancer’s free educational resources, events, and support tools.

[27:59] – Monica’s important reminder: why everyone over 18 should have an estate plan in place.

Links & Resources:

Triage Cancer website: Home

Triage Health website: Home

Stacie Vanags' Working Caregiver Story: Stories from
Real Working Caregivers

Charlotte Bayala Cancer Caregiver Podcast: The Cancer Caregiver

Monica Fawzy Bryant is a cancer rights attorney and the co-founder and
Chief Mission Officer for Triage Cancer. Monica has dedicated her career to
improving access to and availability of quality information on the practical,
insurance, financial, and legal issues surrounding serious medical conditions,
like cancer. She has provided more than one thousand educational seminars,
written articles and co-authored a book published by the American Bar
Association called Cancer Rights Law: An Tool for Effective Navigation, as
well as appeared on television and radio discussing healthcare related legal
issues. Previously, Monica worked as Legislative Counsel for U.S. Congresswoman
Linda T. Sanchez and Law Clerk for U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this powerful and heart-expanding conversation, we sit down with Claude Silver, Chief Heart Officer at VaynerMedia and author of Be Yourself at Work, to talk about empathy, emotional bravery, and what it really means to lead with heart. We explore how music, mindset, and self-awareness shape leadership—and why the “song in your head” matters more than you think.

Most importantly, we dig into what this all means for working caregivers. How do you show up at work when life at home is heavy? How do you lead with compassion without lowering standards? And how can organizations create cultures where caregivers feel seen instead of invisible? Claude doesn’t offer clichés—she offers practical, human-centered leadership that can transform workplaces. Press play. This one will stay with you.

Claude Silver is on a mission to revolutionize leadership, talent, and workplace culture. She is the world's first Chief Heart Officer at VaynerX and partners with CEO Gary Vaynerchuk to drive their success. Silver has earned Campaign US's Female Frontier Award and AdWeek's Changing the Game Award and she electrifies audiences at national and international conferences and at organizations, including Meta, Google, US Government agencies, and the US Armed Forces. She has been interviewed on dozens of podcasts and featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. He is the author of Be Yourself at Work: The Groundbreaking Power of Showing Up, Standing Out, and Leading from the Heart.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Claude opens with a powerful message about sharing your caregiving reality at work and lightening the load.

[2:00] – Zack and Selma welcome Claude and kick things off with music, authenticity, and The Cure.

[6:05] – The “song in your head” story: mindset, self-talk, and a life-changing Outward Bound experience.

[9:16] – What it really means to be yourself at work—especially for caregivers balancing home and career.

[12:04] – Embracing the mess: why perfection isn’t real at work or at home.

[16:15] – The Nana story: generosity, heart-led leadership, and the power of small human moments.

[22:05] – Scaling empathy at VaynerMedia: culture champions, psychological safety, and employee support.

[25:22] – Defining empathy: riding alongside someone without “wearing their shoes.”

[31:18] – A powerful story about a struggling leader and the hidden caregiving crisis behind performance issues.

[34:41] – How caregivers can share vulnerability at work without feeling like they’re making excuses.

[40:43] – The critical role of HR today: psychological safety, belonging, and empathetic listening.

[46:53] – Overcoming the “no budget” excuse: proving the ROI of support groups and ERGs.

[49:32] – Emotional bravery, emotional efficiency, and emotional optimism explained for caregivers.

[52:40] – Rapid fire: empathy, psychological safety, culture, and what caregivers need most from leaders.

Links & Resources:

Claude Silver – https://claudesilver.com

Book: Be Yourself at Work by Claude Silver: https://www.claudesilver.com/book

VaynerMedia – https://vaynermedia.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this episode, we sit down with two brilliant researchers from Switzerland to explore a topic that instantly resonated with us—the powerful connection between pet ownership, cognitive aging, and caregiving. What started as a conversation about research quickly turned into a deeper discussion about human connection, quality of life, and how everyday relationships—especially with pets—can shape how we age and how we care.

We dig into what the research actually shows (and what it doesn’t), why dogs and cats seem to stand out, and how pets can play a role not just for older adults, but for caregivers and families as well. This episode will absolutely get you thinking differently about pets—not just as companions, but as part of a broader support system for aging, caregiving, and even end-of-life conversations.

Episode Highlights:

[0:51] – Setting the stage: why working caregivers remain invisible
[1:32] – Selma and Zack welcome listeners and introduce the episode
[2:12] – Meet our guests joining us from Switzerland
[5:09] – A powerful personal caregiving story that shaped a research career
[7:32] – What a longitudinal study is—and why 18 years of data matters
[10:47] – Surprising findings: pet owners didn’t start with better cognition
[11:43] – Why dogs and cats showed stronger cognitive benefits than birds or fish
[14:09] – The potential role of touch, routine, and social engagement
[16:02] – What pet ownership may mean for mild cognitive impairment and dementia
[17:49] – How pets can support family caregivers—and when they add strain
[19:52] – Why this research isn’t a prescription, but a strong signal for support
[21:06] – Pets as emotional bridges before and after loss
[23:17] – What employers and HR leaders can learn from these findings
[24:43] – Big takeaways: pets as part of our social network and quality of life
[27:12] – A candid conversation about end-of-life, grief, and why we avoid the topic
[29:27] – What research is coming next and why it matters

Links & Resources:

· Research study: Longitudinal relationships between pet ownership and cognitive functioning in later adulthood across pet types and individuals' ages: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40447721/

· Dr. Meier's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clementmeier/

· Dr. Rostekova: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriana-rostekova-75192a141/

· Interview with a young Caregiver mentioned on the show: https://www.invisibleemployeesbook.com/real-working-caregivers-stories-1-32

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this episode, we sit down with longtime industry expert and caregiver Scott Greenberg for one of the most honest conversations we’ve had about what caregiving really looks like—especially while working. Scott brings decades of experience in home care, but more importantly, he shares what changed when he unexpectedly became a family caregiver himself. This is a grounded, real-world discussion about independence, denial, emotional toll, and the realities families face when care needs show up fast.
We talk openly about affordability, long-distance caregiving, sibling dynamics, and why being proactive—not reactive—can make all the difference. Whether you’re a working caregiver, an employer, or someone who knows this journey is coming, this episode is packed with insight, hard truths, and practical guidance you don’t want to miss.

Scott Greenberg is CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private-duty, non-medical home healthcare agency serving Miami through Vero Beach. He is Past President of the Florida State Guardianship Association and former Treasurer of the National Guardianship Association, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Area Agency on Aging. Scott is an award-winning author of Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So Is My Mom, former host of the 95.9FM True Oldies radio show of the same name, and a nationally certified Alzheimer’s educator since 2014.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Why accepting help is not losing independence—but restoring it
[1:15] – Introducing working caregivers as “invisible employees”
[4:30] – Scott shares his personal caregiving journey and unexpected challenges
[6:55] – The emotional toll of caregiving no one prepares you for
[8:00] – Running a business while caregiving: compartmentalizing and perspective
[10:30] – Family dynamics, denial, and hard lessons from past caregiving decisions
[13:50] – How Scott landed in home care—and why the work became personal
[16:00] – Writing a book to help families move from crisis to preparation
[19:30] – Why caregiving youth and childhood trauma deserve more attention
[21:00] – Home care myths, resistance to help, and how attitudes shift over time
[24:15] – The most important questions families should ask home care agencies
[26:45] – Planning ahead: advanced directives, decision-makers, and hard conversations
[31:35] – Long-distance caregiving and why “the village” matters
[34:55] – What employers can do to better support working caregivers
[37:45] – The role (and limits) of AI and technology in caregiving
[40:20] – Affordability, Medicare vs. Medicaid, and planning for long-term care
[44:00] – Final takeaways: proactivity, education, and realistic expectations

Links & Resources:

• Scott runs ComForcare in south florida is an expert in caregiver resources
• Scott has a popular radio show called OMG I'm Getting Older And So Is My Mom! 492 episodes!
• Scott has written a book by the same name. https://www.amazon.com/Oh-God-Getting-Older-Mom/dp/1884886647

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.

In this episode of Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees, we’re joined by Erika Jacobson, a VA social worker, lifelong caregiver, and member of the sandwich generation, to unpack what caregiving really looks like inside veteran families. Erika blends professional insight with personal experience to help us understand why so many working caregivers feel isolated—and how support systems can make a real difference.

We talk through the VA’s Caregiver Support Programs, benefits many families don’t know exist, and why employers play a critical role in supporting caregivers at work. This episode is packed with practical information, advocacy, and a reminder that caregivers shouldn’t have to do this alone.

Episode Highlights:

[1:39] – Who working caregivers are and why they’re often invisible
[2:23] – Welcoming Erika and a cross-country weather check
[3:09] – South Dakota fun facts: Mount Rushmore and the Corn Palace
[4:51] – Erika’s family caregiving journey begins
[8:27] – How early caregiving shaped her career path
[11:57] – Overview of the VA Caregiver Support Program
[16:00] – Stipends, respite care, and caregiver benefits
[20:36] – National Family Caregivers Month and caregiver isolation
[23:00] – Zack challenges employers to partner with the VA
[29:33] – Aid & Attendance explained
[32:31] – Advice for working caregivers: ask for help

Links & Resources:

Corn Palace (Mitchell, SD)
A uniquely South Dakota landmark made entirely of corn murals—highlighted during our lighter conversation about Erika’s home state.
https://cornpalace.com/

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
One of the most iconic U.S. landmarks, also located in South Dakota and mentioned during our opening conversation.
https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/mount-rushmore-national-memorial

National Family Caregivers Month (November)
A time dedicated to recognizing, supporting, and uplifting family caregivers—an important focus of this episode.

VA Caregiver Support Program
Provides education, resources, respite care, and support for caregivers of eligible veterans.
https://www.caregiver.va.gov

Find Your Local VA Caregiver Support Team
Search tool to connect directly with your local VA Caregiver Support Coordinator.
https://www.caregiver.va.gov/support/New_CSC_Page.asp

Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC)
A VA program that may offer a stipend, health coverage, and expanded respite care for caregivers of veterans with qualifying service-connected disabilities.

Aid & Attendance Benefit
Additional financial assistance tied to the VA pension for veterans or surviving spouses who need help with daily activities.
https://www.va.gov/pension/aid-attendance-housebound/

VA Wartime Periods (Pension Eligibility)
Defines qualifying service periods for non-service-connected pensions and Aid & Attendance.
https://www.va.gov/pension/eligibility/

Erika Jacobson’s Documentary
A powerful look into Erika’s caregiving journey and lived experience.
https://youtu.be/Tt6Nfsz5vi0

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.co

In this powerful episode of Working Caregivers: The Invisible Employees, we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Feylyn Lewis, whose caregiving journey began at just 11 years old after her mother experienced life-altering complications from a botched spinal surgery. Dr. Lewis brings a deeply personal, heartfelt perspective to the realities faced by youth caregivers—experiences most adults never even imagine children navigating.

Throughout our conversation, Dr. Lewis opens our eyes to the emotional, physical, and invisible labor that young caregivers shoulder and how those early responsibilities shaped the advocate, scholar, and leader she is today. Her story is moving, courageous, and a call to action for all of us—employers, caregivers, and community members—to create a world where no caregiver feels alone. This is an episode you do not want to miss.

Dr. Feylyn Lewis is a Nashville native, Vanderbilt alumna, and former youth caregiver whose lived experience shaped her global career in research and advocacy. With a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Social Work, she studies mental health and resiliency among youth and young adult caregivers across the U.S., Europe, the UK, and Australia. Dr. Lewis currently serves as Assistant Dean of Student Affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, where she leads student wellness, support services, and community engagement. Beyond academia, she is deeply involved in state, national, and international caregiving and equity initiatives, including board service with the Tennessee Caregiver Coalition and advisory roles across multiple organizations. A New America Story Fellow, she continues to write about and advocate for youth caregivers—all while caring for her mother in Nashville.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Dr. Lewis begins sharing her caregiving story starting at age 11
[3:27] – Dr. Lewis describes becoming a youth caregiver after her mother’s surgery
[3:51] – Reading her powerful letter to her younger self
[9:39] – Exploring what it meant to “shrink yourself” as a young caregiver
[11:31] – The emotional and traumatic weight carried by youth caregivers
[16:55] – How caregiving support has (and hasn’t) changed for her in adulthood
[23:33] – Discussing the realities of youth caregiving and age-inappropriate tasks
[25:56] – The strengths, empathy, and resilience learned through caregiving
[26:19] – Why children often stay silent—and why naming caregiving matters
[28:14] – Encouraging communities to proactively support caregivers
[29:14] – The fear youth caregivers have of social service involvement
[29:47] – How schools can play a role in recognizing and supporting caregivers
[30:39] – Dr. Lewis’ “PS to her younger self”—a message of faith and endurance
[31:35] – Closing reflections and gratitude for Dr. Lewis’ powerful voice

Links & Resources:

· Tennessee Caregiver Coalition: https://tncaregiver.org/

· Dr. Feylyn Lewis’ TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EPCFyeUElk

· Black Scholars Speak Interview YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pid2wBO8dlc

· National Alliance For Caregiving's Caregiver Summit Dr. Lewis talk (time stamp 1:02:21): youtube.com/watch?v=reWOmR31GJ8&am

Lindsay Jurist-Rosner is the Co-Founder and CEO of Wellthy, the market-leading care concierge company transforming how families navigate care for themselves and their loved ones. Two million people currently have access to Wellthy through major employers and health plans—including Best Buy, Cisco, Hilton, and Meta—and the company now employs more than 300 specialists supporting family caregivers every day.

Driven by her own 28-year caregiving journey for her mother, Lindsay set out to build the very resource she wished existed. Today, Wellthy is widely recognized for its innovation: in 2023, it earned a spot on Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” and “Top 10 Most Innovative Workplace Companies” lists, and Lindsay was named to Inc. Magazine’s “Female Founders 200.”

Before launching Wellthy, Lindsay worked in advertising technology and media, leading marketing, product, and sales teams. She holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics–Operations Research from Columbia University. Her writing has appeared in Fortune, Good Housekeeping, and Employee Benefit News, and she has spoken at major events including CES. She also serves on the Board of Hilarity for Charity (HFC), founded by Seth and Lauren Rogen. Lindsay lives in New York City with her husband and four children.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Lindsay shares the ROI insight that’s reshaping how employers view caregiving support.
[1:39] – We open the episode and welcome listeners from around the world.
[2:32] – Introducing Lindsay and why we’ve talked about her for years.
[2:53] – Lindsay’s personal story about becoming a dog parent through caregiving.
[5:35] – Lindsay walks us through her 28-year caregiving journey with her mom and how it inspired Wellthy.
[8:30] – Zack asks what pushed Lindsay to build Wellthy at scale.
[10:13] – Breaking down what Wellthy actually does—and how it’s evolved globally.
[14:48] – How Wellthy balances technology with the irreplaceable human side of caregiving.
[17:44] – Why human empathy still sits at the center of care concierge support.
[18:51] – The growing role of employers in caregiving benefits and organizational challenges.
[19:59] – The Harvard ROI study: what the data revealed and why it’s “profound.”
[26:33] – Shout-outs to innovative employers leading the way in caregiver support.
[31:08] – Lindsay’s vision of a “care utopia” and what the next decade may hold.
[34:31] – Why customized caregiver benefits matter—and why so many programs remain underused.

Links & Resources:

· Lindsay’s Caregiver Story: https://wellthy.com/about

· Wellthy: https://wellthy.com

· Lindsay at National Alliance for Caregiving’s Caregiver Nation Summit: https://www.caregivernationsummit.org/agenda/

· Harvard Business School ROI Report using Wellthy data:
https://www.hbs.edu/managing-the-future-of-work/research/Pages/healthy-outcomes.aspx

· Cisco – Best Places to Work: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1000064

· Hilton – Best Places to Work: https://www.greatplacetowork.com/certified-company/1000367

· UPS

In this episode, we sit down with Robert Espinoza, a national leader in caregiving, equity, and aging, for a powerful conversation that every HR professional, business leader, and working caregiver needs to hear. With personal stories and deep policy insight, Robert walks us through the systemic gaps in the long-term care system, the challenges facing our care workforce, and the real-life impact of underfunding the care economy. His message is clear: caregiving touches all of us, and we have the power to create change right where we are.

We also dive into what a thriving, sustainable care economy could look like in the future—one that respects care workers, empowers working caregivers, and ensures continuity of care for our aging population. Whether you’re in HR looking to better support your team, or a caregiver trying to navigate your dual responsibilities, this episode will leave you feeling seen, informed, and inspired to act.

Robert Espinoza is a prominent advocate and thought leader in the fields of workforce, aging, and caregiving. He is a Distinguished Fellow and Senior Advisor at the National Academy of Social Insurance, where he leads efforts to build broad, nonpartisan support for a sustainable long-term care system that meets the needs of older adults, people with disabilities, and the care workforce. He is also a Leadership & Society Fellow at the University of Chicago. He previously served as CEO of National Skills Coalition, a bipartisan, DC-based policy organization focused on workforce issues, and as Executive Vice President of Policy at PHI, the nation’s leading authority on the direct care workforce, where he directed for nearly a decade the organization’s award-winning national advocacy, research, and public education division. In addition, Robert served as a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] - Robert opens with two sides of the care story: what happens when care is undervalued vs. fully supported
[1:37] - Selma and Zack introduce Robert Espinoza and kick off the conversation
[4:07] - Robert shares his personal caregiver story and how it shaped his advocacy
[6:13] - What is the care economy and how does it impact all of us?
[8:13] - Zack discusses the aging population and asks where societal opportunities lie
[12:31] - Robert on how employers should rethink benefits and training to support working caregivers
[19:08] - What HR should start measuring to plan for the rise in working caregivers
[22:04] - Creating a lived culture of care, not just policies
[23:07] - Tips for employees to fully utilize benefits and open lines of communication with HR
[33:26] - The undervaluation of direct care workers and the need for compensation reform
[35:17] - Robert’s call to action: understand your care story and start where you have influence

Links & Resources:

• A question of care podcast: https://www.aquestionofcare.us/
• Caregiving in the US 2025: https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-the-us-2025/
• Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employee podcast episode 23 Grief, Caregiving, and the Power of Connection – with Leslie Weirich: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2401927/episodes/17656188

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast and leave a review. Remember to check out our website at invisibleemployeeadvocates.com for more resources, and subscribe to our newsletter for updates! We’ll catch you in the next episode.