What does it take for a devoted husband to become a compassionate carer? In this moving episode, Carol speaks with Marty Schreiber, former Governor of Wisconsin, about his journey supporting his wife Elaine through more than two decades of living with Alzheimer's.

Marty shares how Elaine's early symptoms, from getting lost on familiar routes to muddling long loved recipes, marked the start of what he calls "the second Elaine." He speaks candidly about the guilt, grief and exhaustion that came with caregiving, and the medical profession's failure to properly prepare him for what lay ahead. Out of that experience came his book, ‘My Two Elaines’, written to give other carers the primer he wished he'd had.

The conversation moves through some of the most valuable lessons Marty learned along the way, from the idea of "joining her world" rather than pulling Elaine back into his, to the importance of asking for help before the carer becomes a casualty too. Carol and Marty also discuss the wider stigma around dementia, the need for society to treat it as openly as any other illness, and what politicians could be doing to better support families living with the condition.

To close, Marty reflects on what he'd wish for Elaine with the benefit of hindsight. His response offers a beautifully simple answer to what truly matters when someone can no longer remember your name.

Interesting Discussion Points

{2:03} - How Elaine's early symptoms first appeared, and the gap in support Marty found at the point of diagnosis

{10:20} - The idea of "therapeutic fibbing" and why joining a loved one's world matters more than correcting it

{22:15} - Why Marty describes carers as a "lifeline" and the importance of looking after your own wellbeing

{30:10} - Tackling the stigma around dementia and the case for making it a "chicken casserole disease"

{36:54} - What politicians and wider society could do to better support people living with dementia and those who care for them

Key Takeaways

• Carers are often the hidden second patient. Understanding and protecting your own wellbeing is not selfish, it is essential to being able to support your loved one
• Joining the world of someone living with dementia, rather than trying to pull them back into yours, brings far more peace and connection than correcting or arguing
• Asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure. Trying to manage caregiving alone puts both carer and loved one at risk
• Connection does not depend on being remembered. A hug, a smile or a shared moment can matter just as much as recognition

You can contact:

Marty Schreiber: https://mytwoelaines.com/

Marty’s book – ‘My Two Elaines’ - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Two-Elaines-Surviving-Alzheimers-Caregiver/dp/1945271213

Dr Carol Sargent at https://sargentgroup.consulting/

What happens when a GP of thirty years decides to become an entrepreneur? In this special episode, Carol turns the tables on her co-host, Tom Adler. From a childhood shaped by his father's escape from war torn Sudetenland to thirty years as a rural GP in the Peak District, Tom shares the personal journey that led him to found Bide, a simple bedside device designed to reduce night time falls in older adults.

Tom explains how seeing the devastating impact of falls on patients and families as a GP shaped his decision to create something preventative rather than reactive. Bide plays prerecorded voice messages from loved ones to gently guide someone safely out of bed. It works without an internet connection, making it accessible to everyone. Tom aims to save the NHS a large chunk of the £4.5bn it spends on dealing with fall patients every year.

The conversation moves into the realities of entrepreneurship, from pitching to investors and surviving the tricky shift from startup to growth phase. Furthermore, Carol and Tom explore why society undervalues older founders despite evidence that they are statistically more likely to succeed.

To finish the podcast, Tom makes a momentous announcement. Listen to the end to find out more!

Interesting Topics

{11:57} – Why Tom pivoted from GP to entrepreneur to create Bide

{19:03} – Tom’s biggest challenges and how he’s overcome them

{20:47} – How Tom has adapted the product to convince the market of its efficacy

{25:42} – Overcoming ageism and empowering people of all ages to become entrepreneurs

Key Takeaways

• Careers built on relationships and trust, whether in medicine or entrepreneurship, result in the resilience and communication skills needed to build a business

• Bide was born from a simple but powerful insight: most falls happen at night, and prevention has far greater impact than reacting after the event

• Simplicity can be a genuine competitive advantage

• Older founders are statistically more likely to succeed, yet society and funding structures often overlook them in favour of younger entrepreneurs

You can contact:

Dr Tom Adler at https://getbide.com/

Dr Carol Sargent at https://sargentgroup.consulting/

Can a swallowable gummy solve a problem that toothbrushes can't? In this episode, Carol and Tom meet Molly Baldini, founder of DentaBlue, whose path from drama school to NHS dementia coordination led her to spot a gap nobody is addressing: oral care for people who can no longer manage a toothbrush.

Molly traces her journey from a childhood in Cirencester and a love of drama, through the NHS mental health system, to her current role as a dementia coordinator in a general hospital. It was there, watching oral care consistently fall through the cracks for patients living with dementia, that the idea for DentaBlue took shape. As Molly puts it, "there needs to be a viable alternative to allow people to feel dignified and comforted throughout their life."

The conversation explores the realities of building a physical product as a young woman entrepreneur. She recounts challenges with sixty-four prototypes, while identifying the most suitable packaging based on carers’ and families’ feedback. Determined to succeed, she cold messaged dentists on LinkedIn and got into the industry’s leading trade show through a care solutions competition.

Molly also opens up about wider gaps in dignity focused care, including dry mouth support, denture care and inclusive food design for people with chewing or swallowing difficulties.

This is a candid, practical look at grassroots innovation and why inclusivity in care is never one size fits all.

Interesting Topics

{8:11} – Why Molly started DentaBlue and what it does.

{11:53} – Molly’s journey to getting DentaBlue to market.

{21:32} – Identifying and validating a care need despite not being a medical practitioner.

­­{24:21} – How Molly aims to make dental care more inclusive.

Key Takeaways

• Early career experience across mental health and general hospital settings revealed how easily oral care gets overlooked for people living with dementia.
• Genuine co-production, testing with the people a product is designed for, at every stage, shapes far better outcomes than assumptions ever could.
• Building a physical product as a young woman entrepreneur means being resourceful, persistent and comfortable with rejection.
• Inclusive design has applications far beyond its original dementia focus, from MS and stroke recovery to learning disabilities and sensory needs.
• Dignity should sit at the centre of care, whether that's oral health, denture care or making mealtimes accessible and enjoyable.

You can contact:

Molly Baldini: mollyrbaldini@gmail.com

DentaBlue: www.dentablue.co.uk

Dr Carol Sargent at https://sargentgroup.consulting/

Dr Tom Adler at https://getbide.com/