In Episode 2 of the Care For We Podcast, I sit down with my former graduate co-advisor, Dr. Cody Hollist, to explore why family caregivers deserve greater attention in research, policy, and practice.

Cody and I reflect on a mentoring relationship that began at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 2001 when Sarah was an undergraduate student. More than twenty years later, we worked together on my dissertation and course work at UNL, examining the experiences of family caregivers through a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach. Rather than conducting research on communities, CBPR emphasizes conducting research with communities, recognizing that those living the experience often possess the deepest knowledge about the challenges they face and the solutions that may work.

Together, we discuss the vision behind the dissertation project and how caregiver voices, stories, and expertise will help guide the research process. We explore how scholarship can become a vehicle for empowerment, relationship-building, and social change while creating knowledge that is both academically rigorous and practically meaningful.

Dr, Cody Hollist is a Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist, whose work focuses on trauma, resilience, family well-being, and community-engaged research. Throughout his career, Dr. Hollist has collaborated with communities both locally and internationally- primarily in Brazil- to better understand how individuals and families navigate adversity while building pathways toward healing and resilience.

Whether you are a family caregiver, healthcare professional, student, researcher, or someone interested in creating stronger communities, this conversation offers an inside look at how research and lived experience can come together to advance understanding, connection, and care.

Dr. Cody Hollist is a Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist, his work focuses on trauma, resilience, family well-being, and community-engaged research. Throughout his career, Dr. Hollist has collaborated with communities both locally and internationally- primarily in Brazil- to better understand how individuals and families navigate adversity while building pathways toward healing and resilience.

Learn More About Community-Based Participatory Research here:

Israel, B. A., Eng, E., Schulz, A. J., & Parker, E. A. (Eds.). (2013). Methods for community-based participatory research for health (2nd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Minkler, M., & Wallerstein, N. (Eds.). (2018). Community-based participatory research for health: Advancing social and health equity (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Wallerstein, N., Duran, B., Oetzel, J., & Minkler, M. (Eds.). (2018). Community-based participatory research for health: Advancing social and health equity (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass.

Cargo, M., & Mercer, S. L. (2008). The value and challenges of participatory research: Strengthening its practice. Annual Review of Public Health, 29, 325–350. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publhealth.29.091307.083824

In the very first episode of Care For We- episode 1 of 7- I share the personal story behind this podcast; how Erin became disabled and how I unexpectedly stepped into the role of caregiver. What began as a journey through uncertainty, grief, advocacy, and love eventually became a deeper understanding of caregiving and the countless invisible challenges families face every day.

This episode is not only our story; it is also an introduction to the conversations ahead. Together, we will explore caregiving, disability, chronic illness, family relationships, identity, grief, resilience, policy, healthcare systems, and the often-overlooked experiences of those who provide care.

Whether you are a caregiver, care recipient, healthcare professional, researcher, family member, or someone simply trying to understand this world better, this podcast was created with you in mind.

Welcome to Care For We—because caregiving was never meant to be carried alone.

What do family caregiving statistics really tell us, and what do they leave out?

In Episode 3 of the Care For We Podcast, co-hosts Sarah Rasby and Drew Bohlke are joined by special guest Jina Ragland, Senior Associate State Director of Advocacy and Outreach for Nebraska AARP. Together, they explore the current landscape of family caregiving in Nebraska and across the United States, examining the numbers that help define caregiving while also uncovering the human stories behind the data.

The conversation highlights the prevalence of family caregiving, the economic value caregivers provide, the challenges many caregivers face, and the implications these realities have for families, communities, healthcare systems, and policy. Most importantly, Sarah, Drew, and Jina discuss how statistics represent real people whose experiences often remain unseen despite the critical role they play in supporting loved ones.

Co-Hosts: Sarah Rasby and Drew Bohlke

Special Guest: Jina Ragland, Senior Associate State Director, Nebraska AARP

Audio Editing: Ben Frerichs

References and Resources

AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving. (2020). Caregiving in the United States 2020. Washington, DC: Author.

AARP Public Policy Institute. (2023). Valuing the Invaluable: 2023 Update—Strengthening Supports for Family Caregivers. Washington, DC: Author.

National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) & AARP. (2020). Caregiving in the U.S. 2020. Washington, DC: Author.

Nebraska AARP. (2024). Nebraska Family Caregiver Resources and Advocacy Information. Lincoln, NE: AARP Nebraska.

AARP Nebraska Caregiving Resources

Caregiving in the U.S. Report

Valuing the Invaluable Report