People Worth Caring About

This conversation looks at why the people with the most meaningful stories are often the ones least comfortable on camera. Peter and Jalene discuss how trust, relatability, and lower production pressure help surface authentic stories from direct care staff, leaders, and quiet contributors inside organizations.They also break down a practical approach to helping people tell their story, from asking better questions to framing everyday work as valuable, human, and worth caring about.Key topicsIn this episode, Peter Murphy Lewis and Jalene explore why ego can hurt on-camera resonance, even when someone is polished or “good” on camera.Jalene shares that the most compelling people are often the ones doing genuine work for heartfelt reasons, not for visibility.Peter explains that viewers connect most with relatability, not perfection, and that small human quirks can make someone more trustworthy on screen.Jalene gives the example of “Judy in housekeeping” - a person everyone in the organization knows is special, but who would never raise her hand to be filmed.They discuss how “share your story” is often too vague, especially for direct care staff who may think storytelling requires a grand life event.Peter says the first requirement for getting someone to open up is trust, and that the interviewer should already have a relationship with the person.Jalene emphasizes that the goal must be clear and genuinely altruistic, so the person feels they are sharing for the mission, not being used for content.They suggest making the setting feel safer by reducing production pressure, including fewer people in the room, minimal lighting, and starting with familiar voices.Peter pitches a powerful leadership concept: record executives talking about an important caregiver before revealing that the caregiver is in the room to hear it.They reflect on how long-term care stories often become most meaningful around postmortem care, family presence, gratitude, and forgiveness.Timestamps(00:00) Why the most interesting people often avoid the camera(01:20) Ego, relatability, and what viewers immediately notice(02:40) Finding the quiet storytellers inside an organization(03:51) Why “share your story” is too vague for most people(04:54) Trust first - why the relationship has to come before the recording(05:40) Reducing pressure with fewer people and less production(06:25) Making a camera feel safe for someone who has never been on one(07:21) A leadership video idea that honors an unnamed caregiver(08:13) Revealing the caregiver in the room for a genuine reaction(09:41) Helping leaders and staff discover their “why” through a before-and-after story(11:37) Postmortem care, family presence, and why these stories matter(12:52) The beauty of work that long-term care rarely talks aboutThank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout

In this episode, Peter and Jalene explore innovative ways to raise curiosity about aging and long-term care through engaging content and street experiments. They share practical ideas, testing methods, and creative projects to inspire change and awareness.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Stories about World Cup and Soccer02:21 Introducing the Project to Raise Curiosity About Aging03:11 Defining Curiosity and How to Capture Attention04:01 Goals of the Gerontology Content Project05:26 Ideas for Content and Engagement Strategies07:20 Using Street Experiments to Connect with People09:12 Testing Curiosity with Questions About Aging and Fears11:06 Street Interviews and Sharing Personal Stories13:04 Practical Challenges and Solutions in Street Content Creation14:04 Creative Viral Ideas to Promote Aging Awareness15:34 Wrapping Up and Next Steps for Content ProjectstThank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout

On this episode, host Peter Murphy Lewis talks with Benjamin VanDiest, a sophomore at the University of Nebraska Kearney and Certified Nursing Assistant at Mount Carmel Home. Benjamin shares his journey from a high school CNA class to discovering a deep passion for caregiving. He reflects on lessons learned from the elderly residents he serves and the personal inspiration he draws from his own family’s experience with caregiving.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.01:16 Taking a CNA class in high school sparked an early interest in health care.03:00 Overcoming first-day nerves and gaining confidence through mentorship.04:20 Discovering the deeper purpose behind caregiving and connection.05:32 Learning wisdom from residents who lived through major historical moments.06:36 Becoming more patient and gentle through daily interactions with elders.07:32 Drawing inspiration from his grandmother’s compassion as a lifelong caregiver.Resources Mentioned:Mount Carmel Home | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/mountcarmelhome/Mount Carmel Home | Websitehttps://mountcarmelhome.org/Thank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout

On this episode, host Peter Murphy Lewis talks with Collette Mieres, Executive Director of Ovation Heartwood Preserve. She shares how early lessons in compassion shaped her leadership in senior living and how creativity, empathy, and everyday acts of kindness drive meaningful care for both residents and staff.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.01:01 Family influences can shape a lifelong commitment to care.04:17 Love and care for patients make a lasting impact.06:38 Creativity in daily activities enhances connection and joy.08:44 Treating others like family builds trust and belonging.12:44 Leadership is about being on the floor with your team.Resources Mentioned:Collette Miereshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/collette-mieres-ala-lpn-cdp-cmdcp-697774162/Ovation Heartwood Preserve | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/ovation-heartwood-preserve/Ovation Heartwood Preserve | Websitehttps://ovationheartwoodpreserve.com/Thank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #WasteManagement #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout

In this heartfelt episode, Chris Moninger of Brookestone View shares his journey as a medication aide, his experiences living with disabilities, and how those challenges helped him build meaningful bonds with residents. Chris discusses mentorship, emotional resilience, rural community life, and receiving the NPV award for exceptional care. He offers practical advice for young caregivers starting in long-term care.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.02:30 Early mentorship helps shape lifelong values in care.04:50 Personal challenges create deeper empathy for others.06:14 Overcoming adversity can bring a renewed perspective on life.06:53 Everyday acts of service provide lasting fulfillment.07:50 Teamwork and recognition motivate consistent improvement.09:01 Listening to stories helps form meaningful connections.Resources Mentioned:Brookestone View | Websitehttps://www.brookestoneview.com/Thank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #WasteManagement #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout

On this episode, host Peter Murphy Lewis talks to Maria Hudson, Senior Lead Administrative Assistant at the Good Samaritan Society. Maria shares how community involvement, frontline advocacy, and powerful resident experiences are reshaping perceptions of long-term care. From fishing trips to policy discussions in Washington, Maria highlights both the challenges and the joys of senior living today.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.02:52 Sitting with senators to share frontline stories of long-term care.04:52 How COVID reshaped the workforce and made hiring in rural care difficult.06:42 Why community and staff are equally responsible for elder care.07:38 The joy and excitement of a 98-year-old’s first fishing trip.09:37 How showing the docuseries changed local views of nursing homes.10:47 Using storytelling and visuals to reassure new residents and their families.Resources Mentioned:Maria Hudsonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-hudson-25692a12a/Good Samaritan Society | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/good-samaritan-sanford-health/Good Samaritan Society | Websitehttps://www.good-sam.com/Thank you for listening to “People Worth Caring About.” If you found value in this episode, please subscribe and leave a 5-star rating to help others discover these important stories.For more information and to connect with our guests, visit PeopleWorthCaringAbout.com.#HealthcareLeadership #WasteManagement #SkilledTrades #PeopleWorthCaringAbout