Facts matter. Whether it's at the doctor's office, coordinating with siblings, or managing daily care routines, getting the story straight can mean the difference between safety and crisis. On a recent episode of Advanced Adulting, host Bradley Richardson sat down with Crystal Gallo, founder and CEO of Innerhive, to discuss why communication is the invisible thread holding caregiving together—and what happens when that thread starts to fray.

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Crystal's journey into caregiving, and eventually founding Innerhive, wasn't planned. It started with navigating care for her mother and uncle—two different conditions, two complex care journeys, and countless moments where critical information slipped through the cracks. One of those moments changed everything: a medication error during a shift change led to her mother having a life-changing stroke. It was preventable. It was a communication gap.

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That experience lit a fire in Crystal to build something better—a tool that helps families capture, summarize, and share the moments that matter most, so they can actually be present instead of drowning in documentation.

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👉 Listen to the full episode here: Advanced Adulting Podcast with Crystal Gallo

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In this powerful conversation, Crystal shares:

• Why the "telephone game" is all too real in caregiving—and how information gets lost, spun, or misinterpreted as it passes from doctors to patients to family members
• The staggering truth about medical errors: 80% start with communication breakdowns, and 67% of serious preventable events are communication-related
• The emotional toll of being the "primary caregiver"—dealing with sibling dynamics, resentment, and the million little things that compound into burnout
• How the healthcare system is broken in ways families don't see—from paper notebooks in home care to the bureaucratic nightmare of accessing your own medical information
• Why caregivers need to become advocates—because waiting for permission or assuming the system will handle things can have devastating consequences
• The hidden cost of caregiving: Studies show that caring for someone with dementia takes 5-7 years off a caregiver's life
• How Innerhive works: A simple app that records doctor visits, care conversations, or daily observations—then transcribes, summarizes, and organizes everything so families stay on the same page
• Crystal's raw moment of clarity—from tech veteran running on empty to building something deeply personal and purpose-driven

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The Power of Being Present

One of the most striking insights from this conversation: You can't be present when you're drowning in information. Crystal describes sitting in doctor appointments, anxiety through the roof, trying to listen, take notes, process, and remember everything—all while your loved one needs you emotionally. Innerhive was born from that exact moment of overwhelm, giving families a way to capture crucial information without sacrificing presence.

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As Crystal powerfully states: "Information is agency. I'm sick of red tape and bureaucracy. Just give me the facts so I can plan and choose and design my life."

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This conversation is a must-listen for anyone caring for a loved one, supporting a family member through this journey, or wanting to understand why caregiving in America needs better tools, better systems, and more humanity.