In this episode, the X-Podcast team continues their series on caregiving. They explain financial caregiving and provide examples, tips, and information about it. Xiomara talks about her personal experience in financial caregiving and gives her lived-experience advice on how to manage it.  They discuss financial planning while caregiving for a loved one, because it can come with extra expenses. Xiomara gives tips on smart planning and how you can manage your finances while providing great care. She also discusses legal prerequisites for becoming a financial caregiver. The team also discusses the importance of family caregiving. They explain what the role of family caregivers is in the healthcare system and how to manage it. Xiomara also gets into the pros and cons and the limitations and challenges she faces as a family caregiver and provides some insight and tips about it. 

In this episode, the X-Podcast team reacts to and discusses financial caregiving for loved ones. Xiomarea talks about her personal experience with financial caregiving as she cared for her parents for over 20 years. She gives tips on managing this very important part of being a primary caregiver.  Xiomara explains the difference between a caregiver and a caretaker when caring for someone unwell or aging. She defines what the term financial caregiving means and provides personal experience with it from her caregiving journey. She discusses some of the preparations that caregivers can take to help with the financial burdens of caregiving. Xiomara also touches on the cultural competency that is involved with caregiving within the Latino community and how that differs from the American non-Latino communities. 

In this episode, the X-Podcast team reacts to and discusses caregiving for parents at home versus institutions. In this episode Xiomara and her team begin the podcast caregiving series. She tells some of her story detailing the personal experience she lived as a primary caregiver to her parents for 20 years. Xiomara gives real life examples and provides tips for caregivers that can help them manage their mental health through the process. 

The X-Podcast: Real Conversations About Mental Health. A Conversation About: The Mental Health Impact on the Federal Workforce Due to Firings. Episode #46. In this episode, the X-Podcast team reacts to and discusses an article and podcast about federal workers and contractors who have been fired and the mental health implications to them.  This is the actual copy from the article I will be reading from and referring to as we discuss and react to it. Transcript is also included. NPR article. February 24, 20254:07 AM ET . Heard on Morning Edition. By Katia Riddle.

In this episode, the X-Podcast team reacts to and discusses a YouTube video by Jonathan Decker of Mended Light. Jonathan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Clinical Director at his private practice, Mended Light. He also has a YouTube channel and the handle is @MendedLight. The name of his YouTube video episode that we will discuss today is  $h^t Therapists Say: Imposing Personal Values on Clients In this video Jonathan discusses several incidents where therapists seemingly and improperly appeared to have imposed their personal values onto their clients during a therapy session. All of the stories he discusses, and that I discuss, we do with the permission and knowledge of the clients. The clients remain anonymous.

In this episode, the X-Podcast team discusses how fitness has a positive impact on mental health. Fitness does not have to look the same for everyone, it can be very fluid and personal, based on each individual’s needs and abilities. Committing to any level of fitness in life makes our mental health better. In addition, it helps reduce the symptoms of mental health conditions like clinical anxiety, clinical depression and others. The team discusses all of the benefits and also their personal relationship with fitness and their mental health.   

In this episode the X-Podcast team discusses how modern digital technology can negatively impact mental health. Although it is a necessary part of most people's lives, it has become a source of negative behavior, distorted beliefs, extreme stress and problematic anxiety. In addition it amplifies maladaptive behaviors and can distort thinking in people who misuse or overconsume social media and other aspects of the internet. The team discusses the pros and the cons as well as some of their personal experiences online.

In this episode the X-Podcast team discusses a phenomenon known as the post holiday blues, or post holiday depression. They give the listeners a personal peek at how their holidays went and all the ups and downs that are normal to experience  around this time of year. In addition the team discusses what to do if you’re still feeling some sadness, low energy or challenges trying to get back into the normal routines and swing of the thighs. Tips, resources and stories that listeners can benefit from and be entertained by.

Xiomara A. Sosa

Creator, Host, Executive Producer

In this episode the X-Podcast team discusses how you can take care of yourself and your mental health during this holiday season. They give their own personal tips and tricks on how they try to ensure they are taking care of their mental health and share some of their personal stories. They also explain how stress can show up and what we can do to prevent it and manage it.