In this candid and deeply validating episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Lauren “L2” Howard, CEO of LB Health, to explore what caregiving looks like when it shows up everywhere at once. As a business leader, parent, partner, and daughter, Lauren describes a life defined by constant responsibility and the invisible labor that so often falls on women.

Lauren shares what it means to be sandwiched between raising children, supporting aging parents, leading multiple businesses, and managing the emotional weight of family dynamics that no one prepares you for. She speaks honestly about becoming the adult in the room early in life, navigating her mother’s mental health after the loss of her father, and the difficult but necessary boundary work that allowed her and her siblings to reclaim stability and protect their own families.

The conversation also examines gender expectations in caregiving, cultural norms that assign care by default, and why so many women are quietly working one hundred hour weeks without recognition or support. Lauren reflects on partnership in its truest form, sharing how real support is not grand gestures but someone stepping in without being asked when the load becomes too heavy.

This episode is a powerful exploration of caregiving beyond aging and illness. It is about emotional labor, role reversal, choosing yourself without guilt, and redefining what support and partnership should look like. For anyone who feels pulled in too many directions while holding everything together, Lauren’s story offers clarity, permission, and the reminder that asking for more is not asking for too much.

In this special episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. looks back on a handful of conversations that reveal a truth shared by every caregiver who has joined the show: no one plans for this role. There is always an event that shifts a life in an instant. A diagnosis that stops the room. A fall that comes out of nowhere. A late night trip to the hospital that becomes the beginning of a new reality.

Drawing from stories across the season, Paul weaves together the moments that marked the start of caregiving for so many of our guests. A spouse who collapses overnight with stage four cancer. A father’s sudden seizure witnessed by an eleven year old daughter. A grandmother who falls and becomes frail as her family steps in to carry her. A parent who reaches out for help for the first time. A caregiver who comes home from work to find everything changed. These are the sparks that reshape families and lives, even when no one feels ready.

Through these voices, this episode explores the emotional shift that happens in the instant when caregiving begins: the fear, the responsibility, the instinct to act, and the quiet realization that life will not look the same after this day. It is not a highlight reel, but a reflection on what becomes clear only in hindsight. Caregiving often starts suddenly, unexpectedly, and with a heart that is doing its best to keep up with the moment.

Paul invites listeners to revisit these stories not for the crisis itself, but for the shared human experience of stepping into care. Whether the moment arrived with a diagnosis, a decline, a phone call, or an internal pull to step forward, this episode honors the beginning of the caregiving journey and the resilience that follows.

If you have ever found yourself caring for someone you love, especially without warning, this episode offers recognition, connection, and the reminder that you are not alone in that moment of becoming.

Content Warning: This episode includes conversation about suicide, substance use, and profound grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, support is available. Call or text 988 within the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7). If you're outside the U.S., contact your local emergency number or visit iasp.info/crisis for international crisis centers.

In this powerful episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Jeff Johnston, founder and CEO of Brighten and host of the Living Undeterred podcast. Jeff’s story begins with unimaginable loss — the sudden death of his 23-year-old son to fentanyl poisoning — a moment that altered the course of his life, his relationships, and his sense of identity.

Jeff speaks with remarkable honesty about the aftermath: his battle with alcoholism, the strain grief placed on his family, and the heartbreak of losing his wife not long after. Amid devastation, he found resolve — choosing sobriety, rebuilding with intention, and reshaping his mission around purpose, empathy, and helping others navigate suffering.

Together, Jeff and Paul explore what caregiving looks like behind closed doors: supporting a spouse facing addiction, parenting teenagers through grief, showing up for adult children in crisis, and eventually caring for aging parents and a young granddaughter. Jeff’s journey reveals not only the weight caregivers carry, but also the hope that can emerge from devastation.

Jeff also shares the inspiration behind Brighten, the mental wellness platform created in honor of his granddaughter — and why compassion, prevention, and accessibility must guide the future of mental health support.

This episode is an invitation to sit with difficult truths — and also to witness resilience, love, and what it means to choose life again.

In this powerful episode of Sandwiched, Jenna Noel shares the moment life shifted in a way she never expected. With two teens at home and a growing career, she suddenly found herself stepping into the role of primary caregiver for both of her aging parents.

Jenna opens up about her father’s long journey with Parkinson’s and her mother’s recent dementia diagnosis, and how those realities reshaped the rhythm of her family life. What once felt manageable became a constant coordination of appointments, medications, safety planning, and emotional weight.

She speaks candidly about navigating guilt, boundaries, identity, and the pressure to show up for everyone. Jenna also highlights the workplace resources that helped her stay afloat, including Employee Assistance Programs, legal support, concierge services, and leaders who practiced compassion rather than just policy.

This conversation offers a grounded look at what happens when caregiving becomes part of who you are, even if you never saw it coming. Jenna’s story resonates deeply with anyone balancing parents, children, career, and self, and she brings forward insights that make caregiving feel a little less lonely. If you’re juggling aging parents, kids, work, and your own well-being, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone, and that support truly exists.

At just 25, Danielle Miura stepped into a role she never expected to take on so soon: becoming the primary caregiver for her grandmother. In this deeply honest episode of Sandwiched, Danielle opens up about the realities of caregiving in your twenties, balancing parenthood with complex family dynamics, and carrying emotional and physical responsibilities that force you to grow up quickly.

Danielle shares how she navigated sudden life changes, including relocating her family, supporting her grandmother through a traumatic fall, and managing the overwhelming weight of medical decisions, grief, and constant caregiving tasks. She also talks about how those experiences shaped her identity, her boundaries, and eventually her career as a financial planner for caregivers.

This conversation gently explores topics like decision fatigue, hospital emergencies, navigating loss, and learning to give yourself grace when you feel like you are carrying everything at once. Danielle’s story is both grounding and affirming for anyone who has ever been caught between family, career, and caregiving obligations.

In this episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. talks with Lauren Yankoff, a mother, business leader, and only child who found herself navigating the challenges of caring for her parents while raising a family and managing a demanding career.

Lauren shares her family’s journey through her father’s Parkinson’s diagnosis, her mother’s determination to care for him alone, and the difficult transitions that followed; from moving her parents across states to guiding them into assisted living. With honesty and compassion, she reflects on the role reversal that so many adult children face, and how love, communication, and boundaries became essential tools in preserving both care and connection.

Together, Paul and Lauren explore the realities of caregiving: the gaps in the healthcare system, the emotional cost of doing it all, and the lessons that come from learning when to step in—and when to let go.

In this heartfelt episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Sherrell D. Mims, a psychiatric nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of the Global Caregivers Network. Sherrell’s journey began at just eleven years old, when she became a caregiver for her father—an experience that shaped her lifelong calling to support those who care for others.

Through decades in nursing, including the unimaginable challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Sherrell found purpose in pain. She shares how she turned personal loss into global advocacy, founding the Global Caregivers Network and Global Caregiver Speakers, communities that unite caregivers worldwide to share their stories and find strength together.

Sherrell opens up about faith as her anchor, the emotional toll of caregiving, and the lessons learned from love, loss, and perseverance. Her story reminds us that caregiving is more than duty—it’s a labor of love that requires compassion, resilience, and community.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed, where we explore the human side of caregiving, loss, and the courage to begin again. Learn more about Global Caregivers Network and events: https://www.globalcaregiversnetwork.com

In this deeply reflective episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. talks with Wayne Freeman Chong, whose caregiving journey began when he was just twenty-one. What started as helping his grandmother soon became a lifelong lesson in empathy, forgiveness, and emotional strength.

Wayne shares the pivotal moment that changed his life; a heated exchange that ended in regret and became the spark for decades of self-discovery and healing. Through this painful memory, Wayne found the humility to study psychology, dedicate his life to understanding caregiver well-being, and explore the emotional realities often left unspoken in families.

As the conversation unfolds, Wayne and Paul unpack what it means to be sandwiched and feeling torn between duty, love, and the impossible decisions that caregiving demands. From his grandmother’s quiet forgiveness to his mother’s battle with cancer and his wife’s pregnancy, Wayne’s story is an honest look at how love and guilt can coexist, and how grace can transform even the hardest moments into growth.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed, amplifying stories of caregivers, loss, and the deep resilience that keeps families connected through life’s hardest seasons.

In this episode of Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. talks with Denise Brown, founder of Caring Our Way and creator of Caregiving.com, about what it truly means to be “sandwiched beyond the traditional definition.” Denise shares her experience caring for both parents while running a business—an emotional and logistical balancing act that stretched her limits and reshaped her understanding of care.

She opens up about decision fatigue, managing her parents’ and sister’s emotional needs alongside her own, and how caregiving left little room for self-care until it was gone. Denise reflects on what it takes to integrate help into the family dynamic, why finding support is far more complicated than people assume, and how she rebuilt her life and purpose after caregiving ended.

Together, Paul and Denise explore the power of community, the origins of Caring Our Way, and how opportunities for connection can be a form of healing. Their conversation shines a light on resilience, compassion, and the courage to begin again.

In this deeply personal conversation, Carmen Johnson joins host, Paul H. Richardson, Jr. to share her story and what she calls being a “triple-decker sandwich”—caring for her children, grandchildren, and aging loved ones while facing her own breast cancer diagnosis. Through grief, illness, and generations of caregiving, Carmen found strength in preparation, perspective, and the love passed down from her grandmother, Myra.

She shares what it means to face mortality with intention, to plan for those we’ll leave behind, and to turn loss into a legacy of clarity and peace. From family chaos to meaningful connection, Carmen’s story is a reminder that preparing for the inevitable isn’t morbid—it’s one of the greatest gifts of love we can give.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed, bringing honest conversations about caregiving, resilience, and the human stories that connect us all.

In this heartfelt episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Samantha Bates—a corporate professional, mother of three, and devoted family caregiver—to explore what it truly means to balance a demanding career while caring for multiple generations under one roof.

Sam opens up about how her world shifted during the pandemic when her parents moved in, the journey of caring for her father through illness, and the ongoing challenges of supporting her mother with early-onset dementia. With honesty and heart, she shares what she’s learned about love, preparation, and having the tough conversations that matter most.

From 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sam’s days are full—but so is her heart. Her story reminds us that caregiving is more than logistics; it’s about connection, compassion, and honoring those we love.

In this episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. sits down with Sarah Davis (she/her), former caregiver to her mother, Sandy Davis. Sarah shares her journey of moving from the Bay Area back to Iowa to care for her mom, who was living with Alzheimer’s. As Sandy’s only immediate family member, Sarah became her primary caregiver—navigating difficult choices, transitions to assisted living and nursing care, and the emotional weight of being the sole support system.

We talk about:

• How two “temporary” trips to Iowa turned into a long-term move
• The challenges of adjusting to caregiving, homeownership, and building a care team
• Why yoga, walks with her mom’s dog, and classes like the “stop method” became essential acts of self-care
• How music therapy and finding community through Hilarity for Charity (founded by Seth Rogen & Lauren Miller Rogen) gave her strength
• Her career in podcasting, including Warmly Iowa and Breathing Wind Sarah’s story is one of resilience, recalibration, and learning to care for herself while caring for her mom.

Listen in to hear how Sarah describes her “sandwich” as starting over—overwhelmed, burnt out, yet finding ways to breathe, reset, and create space for herself.

When technology meets tradition, caregiving takes on new meaning. In this episode of Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed and hosted by Paul H. Richardson, Jr., we sit down with Biagio Arobba, a software developer, twin, father, partner, and son, who shares his journey navigating life in the “sandwiched” generation.

As his parents began aging, Biagio leaned on his technical skills to help his family stay organized. What started as spreadsheets and systems evolved into weekly family meetings that gave his parents and siblings a shared space to plan, reflect, and face the future together.

Biagio opens up about: -

• How his Native American culture and heritage shaped his approach to caregiving
• The unique perspective of being a son stepping into a caregiving role
• Balancing parenting his children while supporting his parents’ aging journey
• Why structure + love matter when families prepare for life’s hardest seasons

His story is a reminder that caregiving is more than logistics; it’s about culture, connection, and compassion.

Don’t forget to subscribe to Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, for more stories of resilience, community, and caregiving across generations.

In this powerful episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. speaks with Rose Hedges — a devoted mom, wife, ICU nurse, and now a recognized family caregiver.

Rose opens up about her deeply personal journey of unexpectedly becoming the primary caregiver for a chronically ill family member. From the moment she rushed an hour away on a Sunday morning, through a harrowing ICU stay and complex diagnosis, Rose found herself navigating the tension between her professional knowledge as a nurse and the emotional reality of caregiving for family.

In this episode, Rose shares:

• The challenge of wearing both the nurse hat and family member hat, and the blurred boundaries between the two.
• Navigating health insurance, disability, Medicare/Medicaid renewals — and the frustration of lapsed benefits.
• Balancing caregiving while raising twins, supporting her husband, and welcoming a loved one into her home.
• Lessons from supporting her mother through cancer years earlier, and the ongoing reminder to “help yourself” even when caregiving feels all-consuming.

Rose’s story highlights the emotional highs and lows of caregiving — offering honesty, compassion, and inspiration for anyone walking this path.

💙 Tune in weekly to Sandwiched for real conversations about caregiving, resilience, family, and the sandwich generation.

In this heartfelt episode of Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. sits down with Eileen O’Doherty, a rising graduate at the University of Iowa and member of the Tumbleweed team. Eileen opens up about her journey of losing her mother, Megan, to cancer after years of caregiving that began when she was just five years old.

Raised by a single mom, Eileen learned resilience, responsibility, and the meaning of support from an early age. She shares vivid memories of navigating her mother’s diagnosis, stepping into caregiving roles as a child, and eventually moving in with relatives after her mother’s passing. Through honest reflection, Eileen highlights how grief shaped her adolescence, the importance of openness with children, and the gift of cherishing small moments. Her story reminds us that even in life’s most difficult seasons, there can be strength, love, and resilience.

In this moving episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Gary San Angel—a community-based artist, filmmaker, and storyteller who is also a devoted son, partner, dad, and family caregiver.

Gary opens up about caring for his father and how his Filipino heritage and daily work at USC have shaped his journey. Through honest reflections, he shares how art, humor, and storytelling help him navigate the challenges of caregiving while still finding joy, resilience, and connection.

This conversation sits at the intersection of culture, creativity, and caregiving, reminding us that healing and meaning can be found even in life’s toughest seasons.

Tune in weekly to Sandwiched for heartfelt stories about the sandwich generation, caregiving, grief, family, and resilience—powered by Tumbleweed.

In this powerful episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Anise Goff and Debra J. Fisher, showrunner of Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia, for a raw and heartfelt conversation about love, loss, and resilience.

Anise opens up about the unimaginable reality of losing both her husband, Mark, and her mother just 18 days apart—an experience she calls being “double sandwiched.” Alongside her longtime family friend Debra, they explore the tsunami of grief, the unexpected spirals and ambushes it brings, and the healing power of friendship and community.

This candid dialogue reminds us that while grief can be overwhelming, no one has to navigate it alone. Sandwiched is a space for caregivers, family members, and those touched by loss to share their stories and find strength in connection.

Tune in weekly for conversations about caregiving, grief, the sandwich generation, and the resilience it takes to move forward.