Empathy vs. Sympathy — A Conversation with Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller

In this enlightening episode of Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s, host Lisa Skinner welcomes Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, an insightful author, speaker, and clinician, for a heartfelt discussion on the true meaning of empathy and how it differs from sympathy.

Together, they explore how understanding this difference can profoundly impact the way we support those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia — as well as their care partners, families, and communities.

Dr. Robinson-Winemiller also shares highlights from her new book, offering practical tools and real-world examples that help people connect more deeply and communicate more compassionately.

Listeners will learn:

• The key distinctions between empathy and sympathy — and why they matter in dementia care.
• How empathy builds connection, while sympathy can sometimes create distance.
• Simple ways to practice empathy in everyday interactions with those living with dementia.
• The inspiration behind Dr. Robinson-Winemiller’s new book and how her work empowers both professionals and care partners alike.

This episode is an inspiring reminder that small shifts in understanding can make a world of difference in the lives of others.

Mentioned Resources:

• Book by Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller – The Empathic Leader:
• Connect with Dr. Robinson-Winemiller: EQ via Empathy: Transformative Leadership Training https://eqviaempathy.com/

About the Guest:

Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller isn’t just talking about leadership: she’s challenging us to do it differently. With over 20 years of cross-industry experience, she helps leaders build emotionally intelligent cultures that don’t just feel better, they perform better. A TEDx speaker, EQ coach, and author of The Empathic Leader, Melissa blends research, real-world insight, and lived experience to make empathy actionable at every level of leadership. She’s on a mission to prove that the so-called “soft” skills are the ones driving the hard results — and the future of leadership depends on them.

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...