Best RuthAnn Batchelder Podcasts (2025)

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44 - Moving Through Life: Exercise, Disability, and Aging 14:56

5d ago14:56

14:56

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna talk about the role of exercise in their lives and how their friendship began - when Jenna became RuthAnn’s personal trainer. RuthAnn shares how she and Lance were active before his illness, and how staying active continued to support their health and helped Lance maintain some independence after he…

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43 - What We Give: Honest Conversations About Sacrifice 19:01

12d ago19:01

19:01

Send us a text Sacrifice is a universal experience, but for caregivers, it takes on a unique depth and complexity. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the profound sacrifices she made while caring for her husband during his illness, challenging the common misconception that caregiving for a loved one is easy. She shares how being recognized for…

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42 - Caring Begins Within: The Power of Self-Awareness 15:35

19d ago15:35

15:35

Send us a text Join RuthAnn and Jenna for an honest conversation about the power of self-awareness in everyday life and caregiving. RuthAnn shares how understanding her own limitations allowed her to set essential boundaries as a caregiver, making her better equipped to advocate for her husband and maintain her own well-being. She explains that sel…

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41 - Behind Closed Doors: The Hidden Struggles of In-Home Care 19:46

26d ago19:46

19:46

Send us a text Having help at home is often seen as a blessing, but few understand the real challenges that come with it. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the relentless task of coordinating care providers and services to keep Lance at home - a job that brought as much stress as it did relief. She shares how the constant flow of people disru…

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40 - Memory, Memoir, and Meaning: Maureen Stanton on Caregiving and "The Murmur of Everything Moving" 56:37

1M ago56:37

56:37

Send us a text In this moving episode, RuthAnn sits down with acclaimed memoirist Maureen Stanton to discuss her latest book, "The Murmur of Everything Moving". Maureen opens up about her deeply personal journey as a caregiver for her partner Steve during his battle with cancer, a story she chronicles with honesty and grace in her new memoir. She r…

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39 - When Advocacy Matters Most: Caregiving Without Compromise 12:43

1M ago12:43

12:43

Send us a text When RuthAnn became a caregiver for her husband, Lance, she quickly realized she didn’t fit the traditional mold. She wasn’t quiet, submissive, or content to follow orders without question. In this episode, RuthAnn opens up about the fierce advocacy required to protect her husband’s well-being, especially when faced with medical prof…

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38 - He Wasn't a Science Experiment: The Human Behind the Chart 17:42

2M ago17:42

17:42

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn picks up where the previous conversation left off, reflecting on the dehumanizing treatment Lance received from some residents and medical professionals — treatment that often made him feel more like a science experiment than a person. She shares a couple of powerful stories from Lance’s experiences in the ho…

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37 - Trusting Your Instincts: A Powerful Call to Stand Up for Our Veterans 15:56

2M ago15:56

15:56

Send us a text 37 - Trusting Your Instincts: A Powerful Call to Stand Up for Our Veterans In this deeply personal and emotional episode, RuthAnn bravely shares a difficult chapter from her life. She recounts an event that took place at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital, which ultimately led to her husband, Lance, being placed on hospice c…

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36 - The Courage to Grow: Navigating Change and Embracing New Beginnings 18:20

2M ago18:20

18:20

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone and the growth that comes with facing fear and embracing change. RuthAnn shares her personal journey of life after caring for her disabled husband, Lance. After his death, RuthAnn found herself in an entirely new world - one that was unfa…

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35 - From Struggle to Strength: The Power of Mindset 20:49

2M ago20:49

20:49

Send us a text Join RuthAnn and Jenna for an honest and empowering conversation about the power of mindset. RuthAnn opens up about her experience as a caregiver, reflecting on how, during some of the toughest days, the last thing she wanted to hear was advice on being more positive. It often felt impossible to find anything good when life was overw…

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34 - Living Life on Our Own Terms: The Reality of Invisible Illness 21:59

2M ago21:59

21:59

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the emotional and physical challenges of living with a chronic illness. From Lance’s staggering 70 doctor visits in one year to his ongoing battle with two ultra rare conditions, LCH and ECD, RuthAnn and Jenna reflect on how invisible illness impacts not only the body but also relationship…

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33 - The Power of Vulnerability: Building Stronger Connections 14:24

3M ago14:24

14:24

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the concept of vulnerability—not just as a perceived weakness, but as a powerful strength. While society often associates vulnerability with fragility, it actually takes immense courage to show up in the world without our armor. RuthAnn and Jenna explore the many benefits of vulnerability,…

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32 - How Community Supports Us Through Life's Transitions 16:27

3M ago16:27

16:27

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna explore the importance of community, especially during times of change. RuthAnn shares her journey of being part of multiple communities while she was married to Lance, and how she has navigated finding new communities since his passing. She discusses why community was vital in both seasons of her l…

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31 - Finding Joy in the Journey 15:29

3M ago15:29

15:29

Send us a text In this candid episode, Jenna and RuthAnn share their personal stories of learning to find joy again after facing overwhelming challenges. RuthAnn talks about the difficulties she encountered while supporting her husband Lance through his illness, and how the lack of support from those around them made the journey even harder. Jenna …

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30 - Finding Laughter in the Darkest Days 17:39

3M ago17:39

17:39

Send us a text In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Jenna and RuthAnn explore the healing power of laughter in the face of life’s toughest challenges. Jenna opens up about finding humor during her divorce, while RuthAnn shares how laughter kept her grounded while caring for her husband who lived with cancer for over 25 years. Both women discuss …

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29 - Finding Purpose in the Calling 17:47

4M ago17:47

17:47

Send us a text Most people don't dream of changing dirty diapers or spending 24/7 caring for a loved one who's ill. It's not glamorous, and at times, it feels overwhelming. Yet, these tasks are often part of a bigger purpose — a purpose some might even call a sacred calling. In this episode, Jenna and RuthAnn dive deep into how they found meaning a…

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28 - Finding Peace in the Chaos 19:04

4M ago19:04

19:04

Send us a text We can't control every aspect of our lives, but we can control how we respond to it. Chaos is inevitable, and how we react to the chaos can sometimes dictate our outcome. Join Jenna and RuthAnn for this episode where they share what they each incorporated into their lives that helped them find peace in the chaos. "Take a Deep Breath"…

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27 - Am I Strong? 15:51

4M ago15:51

15:51

Send us a text What makes a person strong? It isn't something we are born with. So where do we find strength? Join Jenna and RuthAnn for this candid conversation where they share what they gained through the challenges they faced in each of their lives. They also offer advice on how to respond to someone going through a challenging situation, and w…

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26 - Tips for Traveling with a Disability 35:26

4M ago35:26

35:26

Send us a text Living with an illness or disability shouldn't mean that you have to give up everything and just stay at home. Travel was something that Lance and RuthAnn continued to enjoy for many years after Lance became disabled, but it took a while to figure out a system that worked. Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they offer travel tips when dealing…

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25 - Part 2 - Practical Tips for Caregivers 22:43

5M ago22:43

22:43

Send us a text Continuing from the previous episode, RuthAnn shares how she adapted the house to her husband's needs in an effort to help him maintain some of his independence and also allow him to contribute to the household. An important point made is that your home needs to work for you in whatever your life looks like. Do not allow other people…

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24 - Part 1 - Practical Tips for Caregivers 22:10

5M ago22:10

22:10

Send us a text If you became a caregiver tomorrow, would you be prepared? Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this conversation where they share practical tips and advice to help keep you organized while caring for your loved one. RuthAnn talks specifically about some of the things she did as caregiver to her husband, and Jenna offers her perspective as a s…

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23 - How Much Information Should You Share? 16:29

5M ago16:29

16:29

Send us a text It's hard to know how much to share with people when you or someone you love becomes ill. In this episode RuthAnn talks about going through several stages with Lance's illness. Each stage required different levels of care, and that determined how much they shared and who they shared the details with. As a caregiver your life is often…

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22 - Adapting to Dementia and Memory Loss 28:16

5M ago28:16

28:16

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the challenges of caring for someone with dementia, memory loss, and behavioral changes. Lance was only 39 when he was diagnosed with dementia so people often did not believe that he had it. Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this candid conversation, a few light hearted moments, and an in…

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21 - Kindness Makes the World a Better Place 20:47

6M ago20:47

20:47

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about kindness, especially the kindness of strangers. RuthAnn shares some specific encounters with people that had a positive impact on her. Join RuthAnn and Jenna for this conversation where they discuss alternate ways to respond to someone who seems unfriendly or rude. RuthAnn mentions that pe…

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20 - The Importance of Cheerleaders 18:31

6M ago18:31

18:31

Send us a text This episode is about having cheerleaders in your life and the positive impact they have. No, this is not about people with pom poms. But that image is a good way to think about what a cheerleader is, "I'm here to believe in you until you can believe in yourself." What does it mean to be a cheerleader? It does not require being loud.…

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19 - Part 2 - Finding Joy in the Holidays 15:44

6M ago15:44

15:44

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn talks about how she and Lance were able to find joy in the holidays despite all the challenges they faced with his declining health. She shares some of her favorite holiday memories, and that she finds joy in looking back on those times now. Listen in to RuthAnn and Jenna's conversation about holiday tradition…

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18 - Part 1 - Getting Through the Holidays 25:07

6M ago25:07

25:07

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn and Jenna talk about some of the challenges of getting through the holidays while dealing with a disability, chronic illness, or loss of a loved one. It can be difficult celebrating with people who do not understand. RuthAnn shares some of the challenges she and Lance faced, and how she is coping with the holi…

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17 - Coming Out from the Shadows 16:02

6M ago16:02

16:02

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn opens up about what it feels like to move forward after living such an isolated life and feeling invisible behind Lance's wheelchair. People are often surprised at how intimidating newfound freedom can be. RuthAnn and Jenna discuss the challenges in redefining your purpose and integrating your past with your f…

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16 - Surviving a Broken Heart and Choosing to Live 22:34

7M ago22:34

22:34

Send us a text In this episode RuthAnn talks about her experience with Broken Heart Syndrome. She describes what it felt like and how she moved forward through the pain and grief. In the beginning she thought she would never get past it and wasn't sure if she even wanted to live. RuthAnn shares how people stopped saying Lance's name and it began to…

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15 - Life on a Different Planet 22:17

7M ago22:17

22:17

Send us a text Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they talk about how much the world has changed in recent years. In this episode RuthAnn shares her experience of trying to get back to normal living after decades of caregiving. She and Lance were still listening to music on iPods and she didn’t even know about streaming music. The world seemed alien to her,…

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14 - Grief and Loss During the Pandemic 30:50

7M ago30:50

30:50

Send us a text Grieving the loss of the love of your life is difficult enough, but grieving during the pandemic was almost unbearable. The entire world was isolating and dealing with their own losses and grief. RuthAnn shares the early days of how she dealt with her grief and the steps she took to move forward. She talks about some of the problems …

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13 - Grief is Hard and Healing Takes Time 34:36

7M ago34:36

34:36

Send us a text Join RuthAnn and Jenna for a very personal glimpse into the healing journey of grief. In this emotional episode, RuthAnn shares part of her audio/video journal three years after Lance passed away, and an episode recorded a few months later that highlights some of the struggles of moving forward after long term caregiving has ended. G…

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12 - Don't Let Your Circumstances Define You 27:18

8M ago27:18

27:18

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn talks about finding it difficult to maintain her identity when she was a caregiver, about being defined as just a caregiver, being defined as a widow now, and why those terms are bothersome. RuthAnn and Jenna talk about how terms used to describe what people do can define them too narrowly. Experiences shape …

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11 - Navigating the Messy Middle 34:03

8M ago34:03

34:03

Send us a text In this candid episode, RuthAnn shares some deeply personal experiences while caring for Lance, a journey that began when they were both in their 20s. Facing challenges that set them apart from their peers, RuthAnn and Lance struggled to find understanding and support from those around them. Many people only wanted to hear positive u…

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10 - Let's Talk About Self-Care 21:25

8M ago21:25

21:25

Send us a text Join RuthAnn and Jenna as they dive into the world of self-care and why it is essential for your physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being. In this episode they explore what self-care truly means and discuss what qualifies as genuine self-care. Listen in as RuthAnn and Jenna share their personal journeys to identifying true self-…

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09 - RuthAnn and Jenna: An Unlikely Friendship 37:15

8M ago37:15

37:15

Send us a text In this heartwarming episode, Ruthann and Jenna share the story of their unexpected friendship. Initially meeting on a professional basis, they seemed worlds apart. However, as they got to know each other, they discovered many shared connections. Jenna’s entire family soon became part of the journey, spending quality time with Ruthan…

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08 - Navigating Dementia with Love and Laughter 33:43

9M ago33:43

33:43

Send us a text In this heartfelt episode, we delve into the poignant and often humorous journey of Lance and RuthAnn as they navigated the challenges of dementia. RuthAnn shares her personal story of coming to terms with Lance’s diagnosis, the adjustments she made to support him, and the unexpected moments of joy and laughter that brightened their …

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07 - Hope 20:33

9M ago20:33

20:33

Send us a text In this engaging episode of "For Those Who Care", RuthAnn and Jenna dive into the concept of true hope. Unlike blind optimism, true hope is a grounded, realistic force that helps you navigate life’s toughest challenges. RuthAnn shares her personal journey alongside Lance, revealing how they cultivated this type of hope in their lives…

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03 - Part 2 The Story of Lance and RuthAnn 16:16

9M ago16:16

16:16

Send us a text In this episode, we continue the story as Lance leaves town to report for duty with the U.S. Navy. Despite the distance, Lance and RuthAnn spend countless hours on the phone, revealing their true feelings for each other. During a three-day visit, RuthAnn and Lance begin to plan their future together. Tune in to hear how their love de…

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04 - Part 3 The Story of Lance and RuthAnn 22:56

9M ago22:56

22:56

Send us a text In this episode, we follow Lance’s arrival in Denver and the beginning of his life with RuthAnn—though they often find themselves apart. Their journey takes a dramatic turn with Lance’s diagnosis of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, followed by a second diagnosis of Erdheim-Chester Disease, leading to disability retirement in their 30s.…

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05 - How the Early Years Shaped Us 19:24

9M ago19:24

19:24

Send us a text In this episode, RuthAnn and Jenna discuss the early events that shaped Lance and RuthAnn’s relationship and how their love helped them navigate life’s challenges. Jenna shares a poignant memory of a touching moment she witnessed between RuthAnn and Lance a couple of years before Lance passed away. Despite their fairy tale love, thei…

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06 - Gratitude 17:46

9M ago17:46

17:46

Send us a text In this heartfelt episode, RuthAnn opens up about the transformative power of gratitude as she and Lance faced the challenges of cancer, dementia, and declining health. Through an intimate conversation with Jenna, RuthAnn reveals how their gratitude practice started and shares some of the unexpected sources of gratitude she discovere…

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02 - Part 1 The Story of Lance and RuthAnn 22:28

9M ago22:28

22:28

Send us a text In this episode, we dive into the heartwarming story of how Lance and RuthAnn met and the thrill of finding someone you want to spend all your time with, despite the challenges of living far apart. Through detailed anecdotes, listeners will gain insight into the early events that shaped their relationship and how these experiences en…

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Introduction 2:21

9M ago2:21

2:21

Send us a text In this poignant introduction, RuthAnn shares her deeply personal journey of becoming a caregiver after her husband, Lance, was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer just 15 months into their marriage. Over the course of 27 years together, she spent 25 of those years as his dedicated caregiver. This introductory episode offers a glimpse…

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