The Hart Of It All with Teri Hart

When it comes to caring for aging parents, siblings can be the hardest part.

You might agree on everything for years, and then suddenly you’re facing decisions about care, money, or where your parent should live and nothing feels simple anymore. Old dynamics resurface, tensions build, and conversations that should bring you together can start to pull you apart.

In this episode of The Hart of It All, Teri sits down with family dynamics expert Dr. Amy D’Aprix to unpack why caregiving can turn siblings into what she calls “business partners you didn’t ask for” and how to navigate it without damaging the relationships that matter most.

This episode is for you if you’re feeling frustrated with a sibling, carrying more than your share of the caregiving load, or unsure how to have conversations that don’t spiral. It’s also for you if you want to get ahead of conflict before it starts.

Dr. Amy brings clarity to what can feel incredibly messy, sharing practical ways to start honest conversations, find common ground, and ask for help without resentment taking over. You’ll also hear about the “40–70 rule” for starting these conversations earlier than most families do, and why it’s never too late to begin.

Because caregiving doesn’t just impact your parents. It shapes the relationship you’ll have with your siblings long after they’re gone.

Resources:

Download Dr. Amy's Caregiving Task Planner:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ux37Nh2tbFheByEXYTybn2S88wGR6MDM/view?usp=sharing

Download Dr. Amy's "Essential Conversation Process" Guide
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14l0w2UKGEOl8bGD18Z-KUdIyIg3OuMIn/view?usp=sharing

Follow Dr. Amy D'Aprix:
Website: https://www.dramy.life/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dramydaprix

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

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🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if saying goodbye felt more like a celebration than a loss?

Teri sits down with wedding and event planner Trevor Frankfort to explore how we can rethink end-of-life gatherings in a way that feels personal, meaningful, and even uplifting. Instead of defaulting to tradition, Trevor shares how a celebration of life can reflect who someone truly was, from their favourite music and meals to the stories and moments that defined them.

Through real examples, including a concert-style tribute for a music lover and a backyard barbecue filled with family recipes, this conversation shows what’s possible when we shift the focus from mourning to remembering. It is not about ignoring grief, but about creating space for connection, laughter, and authenticity alongside it.

Teri and Trevor also walk through the practical side of planning. What questions should you ask ahead of time? How do you structure a meaningful event? What role can things like location, speakers, or even livestreaming play in bringing people together?

At its core, this episode is about intention. About asking what truly honours a life, and having the courage to do things differently.

Whether you are planning ahead, supporting someone else, or simply starting to think about these conversations, this episode offers both guidance and inspiration for creating a farewell that feels as unique as the person it celebrates.

Resources:

Follow Trevor Frankfort:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/treventsplanner/z
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@treventsplanner
Website: https://trevents.ca/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

-

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people don’t realize how much caregiving reshapes you until you are living it. When sportscaster Evanka Osmak’s mother was diagnosed with ALS, everything changed quickly. What followed was a period of intense caregiving, difficult decisions, and the emotional weight of watching someone you love decline.

In this episode, Evanka reflects on that time with honesty and clarity. She shares what it looked like to balance her career with being present for her mom, Jeanne, and how she navigated the uncertainty and pressure that often comes with end-of-life care. She also speaks to the ways she coped, including moments where she found herself compartmentalizing just to get through the day.

Evanka’s experience is also at the heart of her new book, "When the Game Changes: Losing My Mum and Finding Myself", where she explores her mother’s illness and death, and the unexpected role hockey played in helping her reconnect with herself. In this conversation, she opens up about finding small but meaningful pockets of relief, and why those moments mattered more than she ever expected.

We also talk about the importance of honest conversations around end-of-life wishes, the role of community during overwhelming times, and the reality that caregiving is not something you are meant to do alone. Evanka shares what helped her navigate that period and what it looked like to keep showing up through it.

This is a grounded, deeply human conversation about love, loss, and what it means to keep going when life asks everything of you. If you are supporting someone through illness, or trying to make sense of your own experience with grief and caregiving, there is a lot here that will stay with you.

Resources:

Read Evanka's new book, "When the Game Changes: Losing My Mum and Finding Myself"
https://www.amazon.ca/When-Game-Changes-Losing-Finding-ebook/dp/B0FCG5TVT9
https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/when-the-game-changes-losing-my-mum-and-finding-myself/9781668057926.html

Follow Evanka Osmak:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evankaosmak/
Website: https://www.evankaosmak.com/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

-

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if a TV show could actually change how we care for each other?

In this special National Caregiver’s Day episode, The Pitt creator and showrunner R. Scott Gemmill joins Teri Hart for a powerful conversation about the real-world impact of one of television’s most talked-about medical dramas.

Praised for its accuracy, The Pitt is built directly from the experiences of frontline healthcare workers. Scott shares how conversations with doctors, nurses, and caregivers shape the show’s storylines, from overcrowded emergency rooms to the growing reality of caregiver burnout, aging populations, and families using the ER as a last resort.

But beyond the medicine, this episode gets to the heart of what’s really resonating.

From end-of-life decisions to moments of quiet humanity inside chaotic hospital walls, Scott reflects on how storytelling can help people better understand what they’re facing and even make those hardest moments a little less overwhelming. He shares real examples of the show influencing decisions in emergency rooms, offering clarity and comfort when it matters most.

At its core, The Pitt isn’t trying to give answers. It’s showing the reality and inviting empathy.

This conversation explores why caregiving is becoming one of the defining challenges of our time, and how small acts of patience, understanding, and kindness can have a profound impact on the people around us.

If you’ve ever sat in a hospital waiting room, cared for someone you love, or wondered how to navigate the hardest decisions life throws at you, this episode will stay with you.

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This episode is brought to you by Rexall Care Network.

Rexall Care Network is a charitable organization, under Rexall Pharmacy dedicated to supporting unpaid caregivers and caregiving charities across Canada. For more than 20 years, Rexall Care Network has supported local communities, raising over $20 million in support of caregiving charities that support unpaid caregivers.

Caregivers play an important role in the lives of the people they support and are often underserved. If you are a caregiving charity in Canada, or know of one, you can submit a funding request to Rexall Care Network to help support caregivers in communities across the country.

To learn more, follow Rexall Care Network on Instagram @RexallCareNetwork, or visit rexall.ca/carenetwork for caregiving resources and to start a funding request.

Resources:

Watch The Pitt:
In Canada: Stream on Crave or watch it on CTV
In the US: Stream on HBO Max

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

-

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aging in place is something most Canadians want, but making it possible takes more than good intentions. In this practical and reassuring conversation, Teri Hart is joined by Deb Galet, President and CEO of Baycrest Hospital and Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged, to talk about what it really takes for older adults to live safely and independently at home.

Drawing on her background as an occupational therapist and healthcare leader, Deb breaks down the physical, cognitive, and environmental factors that can make aging in place more successful. From stairs, bathrooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and lighting to decluttering, fall prevention, and home safety assessments, she shares clear, actionable advice for seniors and caregivers alike.

Deb also speaks candidly about the realities of caregiving, why planning ahead matters, and how small changes now can make a meaningful difference later. Whether you are supporting an aging parent, thinking about your own future, or simply trying to better understand what aging in place actually involves, this episode is full of helpful guidance, expert insight, and compassionate perspective.

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This episode of The Hart of It All is brought to you by Capital Direct. The Capital Direct Flexi Line™ turns your home equity into flexible support, so you can arrange the care your family deserves now and pay it back when the time is right.

Please visit: https://www.capitaldirect.ca/?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=hart-of-it-all

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Resources:

Baycrest Hospital + Apotex Centre, Jewish Home for the Aged:
https://www.baycrest.org/all-entities/hospital-long-term-care/

College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario:
https://www.coto.org/

Ontario Health At Home:
https://ontariohealthathome.ca/

Home First from Hospital to Home - Info Sheet:
https://ontariohealthathome.ca/document/champlain-home-first-fact-sheet-english/

Follow Deb Galet at Baycrest:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baycrest/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/baycrestcentre/
Website: https://www.baycrest.org/

To watch this episode, subscribe to The Hart Of It All's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHartofitAllPod

Follow The Hart Of It All:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartofitallpod/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehartofitallpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thehartofitallpod

Follow Teri Hart:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terihart

Co-Executive Produced by: Carrie Hayden & Jess Carroll of 6of1 Digital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/6of1digital
Website: https://www.6of1digital.com/

I’m here to share stories and conversations, not medical or professional advice. I’m not a doctor, therapist, or licensed professional, and this podcast is NOT a substitute for guidance from qualified experts. Please seek out professional support when you need it. Take care and I’ll see you in the next episode.

-

🟡 About The Hart of it All

A podcast about navigating the realities of caregiving.

No one should have to do it alone. That’s the heart behind The Hart of It All, hosted by Canadian broadcaster Teri Hart. Inspired by her own experience caring for her dad and helping her mom navigate a new reality, Teri shines a light on the stories, resources, and conversations caregivers need most.

From doctors and nutritionists to fellow caregivers living it every day, each episode offers guidance and connection. Honest, supportive, and grounded in lived experience, The Hart of It All is here to remind us that caring for each other is something we’re all in together.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.