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It takes a particular kind of moxie to show up every day for someone you love, while watching them decline and diminish, and your life takes on new responsibilities and roles.

CB and his wife, Kathy Wismar, were living a full life on their family farm in rural Northwest Connecticut — she painting and throwing ceramics, he writing and producing, both of them deep into a rich second act after raising two thriving kids and tag-teaming their way through over five decades of marriage. Then Kathy received a diagnosis of Alzheimer's, and everything changed. CB became her full-time caregiver, joining the 63 million Americans navigating that same unexpected role in 2025.

In this episode, CB talks about what he calls caregiving moxie — the quiet courage it takes to get up each morning and do hard things out of love, partnership, and loyalty. He shares what he's learned about leaning on family, friends, and healthcare professionals, sitting with a wide range of emotions, and trying to make sense of a chapter neither of them planned for.

CB brings a lifetime of storytelling to this conversation. His five-decade career in communications spanned radio, television, and film. He led the events team at AARP and co-founded a creative agency that worked with Fortune 500 companies. He continues to write for Main Street Magazine and produce content for the National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation.

Resources

To read about Kathy's life and art:

Kathy Wismar: A Life in Clay, Main Street Magazine, December 2016, pages 6-7

Resources for Caregivers

The Data

• Caregiving in the U.S. 2025 — The landmark AARP/National Alliance for Caregiving report cited in this episode

For All Family Caregivers

• AARP Caregiving Resource Center — Practical tools, legal checklists, local resources, and community support
• National Alliance for Caregiving — Research, advocacy, and resources for family caregivers nationwide
• Family Caregiver Alliance — Fact sheets, online support groups, and state-by-state resource guides
• Eldercare Locator — A free government service connecting caregivers to local support (1-800-677-1116)

For Alzheimer's & Dementia Caregivers

• Alzheimer's Association — 24/7 helpline (1-800-272-3900), support groups, and stage-by-stage guidance
• Alzheimer's Foundation of America — Free helpline staffed by licensed social workers, webinars, and caregiver fact sheets
• Alzheimers.gov — Federal government hub for Alzheimer's information and local referrals
• National Institute on Aging — Getting Help with Alzheimer's Caregiving — Guides on home care, adult day services, hospice, and more
• Caregiving in the U.S. 2025

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Silda’s moxie comes from a lifetime of engagement, a willingness to evolve, creativity, and a deep trust in the power of people to catalyze change when they are seen, supported, and brought together. She has a strategic approach to moxie that is purpose and service-driven.

Silda Wall Spitzer has spent her life working at the intersection of civic responsibility, community, and conscience. Trained as a lawyer and shaped by decades of public service, she has long been driven by a commitment to environmental stewardship, social justice, and the belief that strong communities are built through shared responsibility and mutual care.

As First Lady of New York State, Silda championed initiatives that elevated dignity in work, expanded opportunity, and highlighted the essential role of public institutions in supporting people and places. Her advocacy has always centered on listening closely, amplifying voices that are too often overlooked, and creating spaces where meaningful change can take root.

That same impulse led her to found New York Makers, the first digital magazine dedicated to celebrating the artisans, growers, and entrepreneurs shaping the state’s creative economy. The magazine was born from a simple realization. Extraordinary makers were doing inspiring work across New York, yet had no shared forum to learn about one another or to be seen as part of a larger ecosystem.

Silda’s Jam grew naturally from that mission. For years, Silda had a family tradition of making jam for friends and loved ones each holiday season. What began as a personal ritual became a way to support the magazine and the communities it uplifted. She turned that tradition into a small business rooted in care, craftsmanship, and connection.

Made in small batches in the Hudson Valley and sweetened with local maple syrup, Silda’s Jam reflects her values. It honors local sourcing, thoughtful production, and the joy of sharing food as an act of generosity. More than a product, it is an extension of her belief that building community can start with something as simple and human as gathering around the table.

Resources

Silda's Jam

Silda Wall Spitzer/Tim Jones Art

Social Media

Instagram @SildasJam

Facebook Silda's Jam

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Tracy whips up moxie every time she steps into her kitchen. A Ballymaloe-educated chef, organic farmer, and food educator, she is passionate about mixing those ingredients to create meaningful experiences for people through her new adventure, Undermountain Pantry Cooking School and Microbakery.

Tracy is a creative local food systems entrepreneur evolving her work by owning and managing CSAs for Chubby Bunny and Husky Meadows Farms, coordinating education and outreach for Plantin’ Seeds, and serving as culinary director at Seed and Spoon. All those endeavors fed into her mission to design seasonal, fun, and educational culinary workshops and meals at Undermountain Pantry.

Tracy’s jam is helping people become attached to local and seasonal food, building community through sharing delicious, nutritious food, and helping her students develop culinary skills to take back into their home kitchens and make some moxie of their own.

Through her farming and culinary pursuits, she has learned to listen to her gut, letting her intuition guide her to places that feel authentic and true. She has gained the gift of patience, cultivating relationships and skills that may bear fruit in the future. This way of leaning into her life is integral to her moxie.

Resources

Undermountain Pantry Cooking School and Microbakery

Ballymaloe Cookery School

Social Media

Undermountain Pantry Instagram

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