Emma Heming Willis on “The Unexpected Journey” of Caregiving
The Fall 2025 season of Life Above the Noise with Maria is here—and we’re proud to kick it off with this heartfelt episode featuring Emma Heming Willis.
As she sits down with Maria to talk about The Unexpected Journey, her new and deeply personal book from The Open Field, Emma opens up about caregiving for her husband Bruce Willis since his dementia diagnosis, building a support team alongside their family, navigating guilt, finding her voice as an advocate to help other caregivers, and so much more.
When you tune in with us, you’ll also hear Maria and Emma explore:
🌱 The transformative power of self-care: Emma’s turning point came when she realized taking care of herself was crucial to sustain caregiving for Bruce and their family—rather than something to feel guilty or selfish about.
🤝 Using her voice as an advocate: She challenges the stigma caregivers often face around leaning on others for support, and vulnerably speaks on the judgement they can receive for their approach. Emma reminds us it’s a team effort, and hopes that sharing her journey will lead to increased awareness, empathy, and education about the realities of this role.
🧩 Diagnosis as a tool: With over 120 types of dementia, Emma explains why knowing the exact diagnosis can help when determining the care strategies that best meet a loved one’s unique needs.
❤️ Separating the person from the disease: Learning that Bruce’s behaviors were symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), not intentional actions, helped her respond with patience and understanding—and recognize how vital this distinction is for protecting a caregiver’s relationship with their loved one.
We hope you found this conversation as comforting, empowering and informative as we did—whether you’re a caregiver yourself, hoping to feel prepared for the future, or seeking to support someone navigating this journey.
We invite you to watch more from our Life Above the Noise with Maria conversation series here, and to check out the exciting new offerings coming up for our community.
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