Deborah Bakti

What if creativity isn’t something a few people are born with, but a skill that every team can learn and apply?

By Deborah Bakti / July 8, 2025 /

In today’s episode, Dr. Amy Climer invites us to rethink what it means to be creative, and how structured curiosity can transform how care teams collaborate, problem solve, and engage with their work. Drawing from her book, Deliberate Creative Teams: How to Lead for Innovative Results, Amy shares practical ways leaders and staff can spark…

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Sticky Stories and Building Trust: A Relational Approach with Marsha Shandur

By Deborah Bakti / June 24, 2025 /

What if the most powerful way to build trust isn’t through explanation but through a story? In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, storyteller and coach Marsha Shandur pulls back the curtain on how personal storytelling creates instant emotional connection, deepens empathy, and helps people feel seen. Through warmth, humor, and science-backed insight, she…

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“High Performance Starts with Presence: A Relational Conversation with Dr. Liane Davey”

By Deborah Bakti / June 10, 2025 /

What if the biggest barrier to high performance in caregiving isn’t your workload but your thought load? In today’s episode I sit down with Dr. Liane Davey, an organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and expert in productive conflict and team dynamics, to explore the hidden toll of emotional labor in seniors’ care. Liane introduces us to…

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From Fatigue to Connection: A Relational Approach with Denise Brown

By Deborah Bakti / May 27, 2025 /

What if the most meaningful way to support caregivers isn’t by jumping to solving problems but by pausing and truly seeing and hearing them? In today’s episode I sit down with Denise Brown – caregiver advocate, coach, and founder of the Caregiving Listening Project to explore what it really means to show up for caregivers,…

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Building Trust Through Family Councils: A Relational Conversation with Lisa Dawson 

By Deborah Bakti / May 13, 2025 /

​​What if family councils could be a source of connection, not conflict? In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Lisa Dawson shares how care homes and families can move from tension to trust, and build collaborative relationships that truly support resident well-being. Drawing from her own experience as a family caregiver and council leader,…

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Residents Who Shape Culture: The Relational Approach with Rose Lamb and Lou Watson

By Deborah Bakti / April 29, 2025 /

What if the most powerful voice in the hiring process isn’t the manager, but the resident? In today’s episode, Rose Lamb and Lou Watson show us what it looks like when residents aren’t just living in a seniors’ community, they’re shaping it. As a 92-year-young resident at The Village of Taunton Mills, Lou brings wisdom,…

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Purposeful Work and Deep Alignment: A Relational Approach with Dr. Katie Keller Wood

By Deborah Bakti / April 15, 2025 /

What if it’s not about balance at all, but about alignment? In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Dr. Katie Keller Wood offers a Montessori-inspired perspective on caregiving, purpose, and the meaningful work we’re called to do, especially in the most ordinary moments. Rather than striving for “work-life balance,” Katie invites us to reimagine…

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Taming Fear and Building Trust: A Relational Approach with Mindy Spigel

By Deborah Bakti / April 1, 2025 /

What if what looks like resistance is actually fear? In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Mindy Spigel, a nurse, author and speaker, shares how fear shows up in residents, families, as well as care teams, and how a relational mindset can transform those moments into trust-building opportunities. Mindy introduces her unforgettable metaphor of…

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Letting Go of Control to Build Trust: A Relational Approach with Joanna Osborne

By Deborah Bakti / March 18, 2025 /

What if trust in care starts, not with control but with letting it go? In this episode of The Relational Approach Podcast, Joanna Osborne shares how presence, humility, and emotional clarity help care teams navigate challenging conversations and build lasting trust with families. Drawing from her years of experience as a Clinical Dietitian and Director…

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photos on blackboard with a magnet demonstrating how to attract people with the word brand and a red heart.

Branding with Heart: A Relational Marketing Lens for Seniors’ Care

By Deborah Bakti / March 4, 2025 /

In this heartfelt and practical episode, I sit down with Krista Smith, a seasoned digital marketer and family member navigating the seniors’ care journey with her parents. We dive deep into the importance of embracing a Relational Approach in seniors’ care—from the move in experience to daily interactions.   What makes Krista’s insights so powerful is…

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