Calm the Chaos with Dori Martin

Calm the Chaos with Dori Martin

Author: Elizabeth Miller Featured on The Whole Care Network May 20, 2026 Duration: 1:00:32

Dori Martin knows firsthand what true burnout and midlife mayhem feel like. At the busiest time of her life, she was a divorced single mom while caregiving for a parent through end-of-life. Then she started navigating a terminal diagnosis with her second husband — and that's when her body began to shut down. What she discovered changed everything: what many women are told is "just stress, aging, or hormones" is often something much deeper.


In this episode, Dori talks about the invisible weight caregivers carry, why so many are stuck in a state of chronic stress and fight-or-flight, and why not feeling safe in your own body is at the root of so much burnout. She shares small but powerful ways to nurture and reset your nervous system. She even credits a future pacing exercise with leading her and her family (including her husband) to take up scuba diving as a joyful, soul-filling practice — proof that healing can open doors you never expected.


If you're a caregiver who's been running on empty and putting everyone else first, this episode is your permission slip to finally put yourself back on the list.



Show notes with product and resource links:

https://bit.ly/HHCPod228

Receive the podcast in your email here:

http://bit.ly/2G4qvBv

Order a copy of Elizabeth's book Just for You: a Daily Self Care Journal:

http://bit.ly/HHCjournal

For podcast sponsorship opportunities contact Elizabeth:

https://happyhealthycaregiver.com/contact-us/

The Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast is part of the Whole Care Network. Rate and Review the podcast:

https://bit.ly/HHCPODREVIEW


Juggling the needs of aging parents or other family members with your career, your children, and your own aspirations can feel like an endless, solitary marathon. Happy Healthy Caregiver is a space dedicated to those navigating this complex reality, offering genuine conversation and practical strategies for sustaining your own well-being alongside your caregiving duties. Host Elizabeth Miller, a Certified Caregiving Consultant featured on The Whole Care Network, brings both personal experience and professional insight to each episode. She doesn’t just share her own stories; she creates dialogues with other family caregivers, exploring how they carve out moments for fitness, mental clarity, and personal joy amidst their responsibilities. Tuning into this podcast, you’ll hear honest discussions about setting boundaries, managing stress, and redefining what health and happiness look like during a demanding chapter of life. It’s a resource that acknowledges the weight of your role while providing tangible ideas to help you carry it, reminding you that caring for yourself isn’t a distraction from your duties-it’s what makes them sustainable.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Happy Healthy Caregiver
Podcast Episodes
Forever Caregiving with Kelley Coleman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:49
Kelley Coleman is a California mom to two amazing boys and full-time caregiver for her son with multiple disabilities. She is a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parent caregivers and indi…
Helping Hands for Caregivers with Paige Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:19
After struggling with the demands of caring for her aging mother, Paige Wilson made a bold move, leaving her corporate career and becoming an entrepreneur with a big idea to help family caregivers. In this episode of the…
Improvised Care with Jennifer Cain Birkmose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:45
Jennifer Cain Birkmose is a sandwich generation caregiver, juggling the responsibilities of caring for loved ones in two different countries and life stages, while employing two distinct caregiving styles. She is also an…
Employee Resource Groups with Gene Lanzoni [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:41
Gene Lanzoni's life centers around caregiving, both at home and at work. As an only child, Gene and his wife of over 30 years, Elizabeth, took on the responsibility of caring for his aging parents. Professionally, Gene l…
Supporting Caregiving Mothers with Jessica Patay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:14
Jessica Patay, a reformed perfectionist and dedicated caregiving mother, provides compassionate support and resources to other moms caring for children with disabilities or unique needs. In this episode of the Happy Heal…
My Caregiving Mission with Mark Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, meet Mark Wilson, a former senior leader at Taco Bell with a focus on organization and people development. After retiring early to care for his mom, who lived with…
Caregiver Recovery with Christina Keys [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:11
Christina Keys was living the American dream until one day in March of 2013, her mom had a life-changing stroke. Within 3 years of caregiving for her mom Pat, Christina was financially, emotionally, and mentally bankrupt…
Stop Judging with Sabrina Ortolano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:03
Sabrina Ortolano has been a caregiver for her wife, Cyndi, since 2014 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer. In this episode of the Happy Healthy Caregiver podcast, Sabrina and I talk about her identity…
Music Changes People with Anthony Cirillo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:15
Anthony Cirillo cared for several family member and these experiences prompted him to focus his professional career on helping older adults and advocating for seniors and their caregivers through singing, speaking, consu…