In this episode of Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, we welcome Pete DCalke, a Chicago native and host of Pete vs Anxiety. Pete is on a mission to make Mental Health a part of everyday conversation by creating space for honest, raw, and meaningful discussions.
In this episode, Pete brings that same honest and thoughtful perspective to Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s. Together, we explore the importance of open conversations, emotional well-being, and the power of making people feel seen, heard, and less alone.
Pete believes the way we check in with each other matters. Instead of stopping at the usual, “How was your day?” he encourages a more meaningful question: “Hey, how’s your mental Health?” That simple shift can open the door to connection, understanding, and support.
Throughout the conversation, Pete shares from the heart and helps highlight why honest dialogue is so important, especially when discussing difficult subjects such as mental health, Caregiving, brain health, emotional well-being, Family experiences, and the impact Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia can have on individuals and loved ones.
About the Guest
Pete DCalke is a Chicago native and the host of Pete vs Anxiety. Through his show, Pete brings together therapists, everyday people, and everyone in between for conversations that are raw, real, and genuinely informative.
Pete is passionate about helping break the stigma around mental health, one conversation at a time. His mission is to encourage people to move beyond surface-level check-ins and create space for more honest conversations about how we are really doing.
Why This Episode Matters
Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia do not only affect memory. They impact families, Relationships, Emotions, identity, and the way people experience the world around them. Mental health also plays an important role in how people cope, communicate, support one another, and move through difficult seasons.
Conversations like this help bring awareness to the human side of these experiences. By sharing real stories and thoughtful perspectives, this episode reminds us that support often begins with listening. Whether you are a caregiver, family member, professional, advocate, or someone simply wanting to better understand others, this conversation offers encouragement and connection.
Key Takeaway
Honest conversations have the power to help people feel seen, heard, and less alone. When we ask better questions, listen with compassion, and make mental health part of everyday conversation, we create opportunities for understanding, connection, and healing.
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About the Host:
Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.
Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through Education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.
So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer’s disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has recognized how little people really understand the complexities of what living with this disease is really like. For Lisa, it starts with knowledge, education, and training.
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