In this episode of CAREPOD, Kiplee Bell, MD, MS, PA-C sits down with Dr. Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN — Professor and inaugural Karen and Ronald Hermann Distinguished Chair in Caregiver Research at UT Health San Antonio — for a rigorous, necessary conversation about who is actually holding dementia care together in America. Dr. Epps has spent two decades building evidence-based programs at the intersection of faith, race, and caregiving. She is the founder of the Alter Program, the only nurse-led dementia-friendly initiative designed specifically for African American congregations, and a leading voice on why family caregivers must be treated as clinical subjects in their own right. Together, Dr. Bell and Dr. Epps examine the structural gaps in dementia care for Black families, the burden carried silently inside faith communities, what the science actually says about spiritual engagement and quality of life, and why an endowed chair in caregiver research — not just dementia research — is one of the most important academic appointments in nursing today. This is not a wellness conversation. This is a care leadership conversation. Topics covered in this episode include dementia caregiving for Black families, African American Alzheimer's caregiver support, faith-based dementia care programs, caregiver research in nursing, the GUIDE Model for dementia care navigation, caregiver burnout among healthcare professionals, health disparities in dementia care, nurse-led dementia programs, the family caregiver as patient, spiritual care and dementia quality of life, the Alter Program for African American congregations, and caregiver research at UT Health San Antonio. Episode themes: dementia care navigation | caregiving equity | faith community health | Black eldercare | caregiver wellbeing | nursing research | GUIDE Model | care leadership | The Double Shift™

In this powerful episode of CarePod, Dr. Kiplee Bell sits down with Maiko Todoroki, CEO of Poppins Corporation, for a deeply human conversation at the intersection of leadership, caregiving, and legacy. Recorded live during a restorative leadership retreat in Hawaiʻi, this episode explores what happens when high-level leadership collides with deeply personal responsibility. Maiko shares her experience as a daughter caring for a mother living with dementia, and the quiet courage it took to ask her mother to step away from the company she founded—an act rooted not in loss, but in stewardship, dignity, and long-term vision. Maiko leads Poppins Corp, a publicly traded Japanese company recognized for its innovative approach to childcare, family support services, and workforce solutions for working parents. Her leadership journey offers a global perspective on caregiving as a strategic, ethical, and deeply human leadership responsibility. Together, Dr. Bell and Maiko reflect on: What it means to lead when personal and professional identities collide Dementia, caregiving, and the unseen emotional labor of daughters in leadership Why restorative spaces for leaders are no longer optional in an aging world How legacy is preserved not through control, but through care This conversation also looks ahead—to global gatherings designed for leaders who are navigating caregiving, aging, and responsibility across cultures. Join Us: Global Leadership Retreat – Philippines If this episode resonated with you, we invite you to continue the conversation in person. Dr. Bell will be hosting the next global leadership retreat in the Philippines, bringing together clinicians, executives, caregivers, and thought leaders for intentional rest, reflection, and leadership renewal in an aging world. 👉 Learn more and register here: https://www.impactfulcaregiving.com/unplug-unwind-unwrap-philippines-2026 Featured Guest Maiko Todoroki CEO, Poppins Corporation (Japan) Leader, daughter, and global voice on caregiving, legacy, and humane leadership Hashtags (Kajabi + Cross-Platform) #CarePodPodcast #MaikoTodoroki #PoppinsCorp #LeadershipAndLegacy #CareLeadership #LeadingWhileCaregiving #DementiaCare #WomenWhoLead #GlobalLeadership #UnplugUnwindUnwrap #RestOnPurpose #CaregiverLeadership

The emergency department reflects the best — and sometimes the most broken — parts of our healthcare system. In this episode of CAREPOD, Dr. Kiplee Bell speaks with Dr. Brett Greenfield about what the ER reveals about access, equity, innovation, and human resilience. From system redesign to the use of AI and telehealth in acute care, this conversation explores how emergency medicine serves as a diagnostic tool for society itself. When we listen to the stories that start in the ER, we understand where modern medicine must evolve next. “The ER is the pulse of modern medicine — every patient tells us what’s working and what’s not.” Dr. Kiplee Bell and Dr. Brett Greenfield go inside the frontline lessons shaping the future of care. #CarePod #EmergencyMedicine #HealthInnovation #HealthcareLeadership #DrKipleeBell #healthcare systems #emergency department #public health #innovation #AI in medicine #EMS #caredelivery #clinician perspective #healthcare reform