Sandwiched

Season 2, Episode 5 | Featuring Colleen Coyne
Caregiving is hard. Sometimes it feels impossible. But what if we could make it just a little easier?
When Colleen Coyne stepped into caregiving for her father, she experienced firsthand the emotional, physical, and practical challenges that so many family caregivers face. From navigating family responsibilities to advocating for a loved one's needs, her journey revealed just how complicated caregiving can become.
In this episode of Sandwiched, Colleen joins host Paul H. Richardson Jr. to reflect on her caregiving experience, the importance of building a support system, and the small but meaningful ways we can make life better for caregivers and those receiving care.
They also explore the unexpected similarities between caring for an aging parent and becoming a parent yourself, including the uncertainty, exhaustion, and learning that come with both experiences.
In this conversation:
Caring for a parent and navigating changing family responsibilities
Understanding what different family members can contribute
Respecting dignity, boundaries, and personal preferences
Building a village of caregiving support
The emotional connections between caregiving and parenthood
Finding practical tools to make caregiving more manageable
How small improvements can make a big difference
Colleen reminds us that while we may not be able to eliminate the challenges of caregiving, we can find ways to reduce unnecessary suffering, support one another, and make the experience a little less difficult.
Join the Caregiving Conversation
Have you experienced caregiving firsthand? Your story matters.
Host Paul H. Richardson Jr. is the lead author of The Whole Truth of Caregiving, an upcoming anthology bringing together diverse voices and lived experiences from across the caregiving community.
The book launches in November 2027 in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month.
Learn about becoming a contributing author:https://caregiveranthology.lovable.app
About Sandwiched
Sandwiched explores the real, often unspoken experiences of family caregiving through conversations with people who have lived it.
Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr. Powered by Tumbleweed.
Learn more about Tumbleweed:https://tumbleweedplan.com
Subscribe to Sandwiched on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone navigating their own caregiving journey.

How much does caregiving really cost, and what happens when supporting the people you love puts your own financial future at risk?
In Season 2, Episode 4 of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. welcomes Basiliso "Bas" Moreno, a Certified Financial Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, founder of Bas Moreno Consulting, and host of the Social Work Rants podcast.
As a father, husband, and family caregiver, Bas understands firsthand the financial and emotional challenges of the sandwich generation.
In this honest conversation, Bas shares his experiences caring for an aging parent, navigating difficult family money conversations, rebuilding financial stability after divorce, and grieving the loss of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul and Bas explore how caregiving responsibilities, cultural expectations, financial trauma, and family guilt intersect, and why protecting your own financial well-being is an important part of caring for others.
In this episode, we explore:
The financial realities of caring for aging parents while raising a family
Understanding financial trauma and the emotional side of money
Having difficult conversations about money, caregiving, and family responsibilities
Setting boundaries and managing caregiver guilt
Preparing for the future through estate planning and available resources
Finding balance between supporting loved ones and protecting your own future
Navigating grief, loss, and life after caregiving
Connect with Bas Moreno
Bas Moreno Consulting helps individuals and families navigate the intersection of financial well-being, caregiving, and life transitions.
Website: https://www.basmorenoconsulting.net
Podcast: Social Work Rants
Be Part of The Whole Truth of Caregiving
Every caregiver has a story worth telling.
Paul is the lead author of The Whole Truth of Caregiving, an upcoming anthology featuring diverse, honest stories from people with lived caregiving experience.
Launching in November 2027 during National Family Caregivers Month, the book aims to shine a light on the many different ways caregiving shapes our lives.
We're currently inviting prospective contributing authors to learn more and share their interest.
Learn more and sign up:https://caregiveranthology.lovable.app
About Sandwiched
Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, explores the real stories behind caregiving, family, resilience, and the human experience of caring for others.
Explore Tumbleweed: https://tumbleweedplan.com
Follow or subscribe to Sandwiched wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone navigating the financial and emotional challenges of caregiving.
Content Advisory: This episode includes discussions of grief, death, divorce, financial hardship, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized financial, legal, tax, investment, or mental health advice. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

How do you navigate caring for two seriously ill loved ones while raising young children, and what happens when you lose both just months apart?
When Rachelle Babler's sister was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 46 years old, she stepped into the role of caregiver and healthcare advocate. At the same time, her father was experiencing serious health challenges following a stroke. As a single mother of two young children, Rachelle found herself balancing parenting, family caregiving, difficult medical decisions, and the emotional weight of watching two people she loved decline.
In Season 2, Episode 3 of Sandwiched, Rachelle joins host Paul H. Richardson Jr. to share her experience navigating the sandwich generation, advocating for loved ones, and coping with the loss of her sister and father just four months apart.
Drawing on her background as a paramedic and forensic professional, Rachelle reflects on the importance of early colorectal cancer screening, speaking up within the healthcare system, and having difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes before a crisis occurs.
Together, we explore:
The challenges of caring for a sibling and aging parent while raising children
Colorectal cancer awareness, early detection, and patient advocacy
Navigating palliative care, hospice, and advance healthcare directives
The emotional impact of losing multiple loved ones in a short period
Finding meaning through grief, music, and honoring a loved one's legacy
The importance of caregiver self-care, support systems, and asking for help
Rachelle also shares the story behind Fueled by Faith, a song she wrote in honor of her sister, and how music became a powerful outlet for grief, healing, and advocacy.
This conversation reminds us that caregiving isn't just about managing medical needs. It's about showing up for the people we love, finding our voices when it matters most, and remembering to care for ourselves along the way.
Resources & Links
🎵 Fueled by Faith — Listen on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fX405BdT4k
🎵 Fueled by Faith — Listen on Amazon Music:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KW9K3XJ
🎤 Watch Rachelle Babler's TEDx Talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIi7RMUzXJI
About Sandwiched
Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed and hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., shares real stories about caregiving, love, loss, and everything in between.
Learn more about Tumbleweed and how we're helping families navigate aging, caregiving, and life transitions at https://tumbleweedplan.com.
Content Note: This episode includes discussions of cancer, death, end-of-life care, and grief. Please listen with care. The experiences shared are for informational purposes and are not intended as medical or legal advice.
We are better together.

When caregiving happens overnight, how do you make life-changing decisions when you don't know what your loved one wants?
After Ryan Young's mother suffered a brain bleed in 2017, he suddenly found himself navigating hospitalization, rehabilitation, nursing home care, insurance, finances, and difficult decisions about what should happen next.
In Season 2, Episode 2 of Sandwiched, Ryan joins host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. to share what it was like to unexpectedly transition from son to caregiver without a clear understanding of his mother's wishes.
Ryan reflects on the emotional highs and lows of his mother's recovery, the complexity of navigating care, and why documenting wishes, having difficult family conversations, and planning before a crisis can make an enormous difference for the people we love.
He also shares how the support and flexibility he received from his employer during his mother's illness shaped his perspective on leadership, caregiving, and bereavement in the workplace.
After his mother's passing in January 2018, Ryan was left with lessons that changed how he approached planning for his own family.
Sandwiched is hosted by Paul H. Richardson, Jr. and powered by Tumbleweed.
Learn more:https://tumbleweedplan.com
 

What does caregiver burnout look like when you're caring for an aging parent while raising your own children?
In the Season 2 premiere of Sandwiched, Carrie Horn shares her experience as a sandwich generation caregiver and what she learned about caregiver guilt, burnout, accepting help, grief, and giving yourself grace.
After her mother could no longer live independently following a heart attack and congestive heart failure diagnosis, Carrie invited her into the home she shared with her husband and two young daughters. Suddenly, she was balancing the needs of her mother, her children, her marriage, her career, and herself.
Carrie joins host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. for an honest conversation about the guilt of being pulled between two generations, recognizing caregiver burnout, the importance of respite and self-care, and the complicated process of rediscovering yourself after caregiving ends.
Her message to other caregivers is simple: give yourself grace. You won't do everything perfectly, and doing the best you can has to be enough.
RESOURCES
Wellabe: Senior Care & Caregivinghttps://www.wellabe.com/blog/care
6 Ways to Stop Caregiver Burnout Before It Startshttps://www.thecjway.biz/learn/6-ways-stop-caregiver-burnout-before-it-starts
Sandwiched is hosted by Paul H. Richardson, Jr. and powered by Tumbleweed.
Learn more: https://tumbleweedplan.com

In this deeply personal and intergenerational episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. is joined by someone who has shaped his life in profound ways: his grandmother, Diane Aden, affectionately known as “Gram.” Closing out Season One, this conversation offers a rare perspective on caregiving told not only by the person who provides care, but by someone who has lived on both sides of it.
Diane reflects on a lifetime marked by responsibility, resilience, and quiet strength. From losing her father at a young age and stepping into caregiving for her mother, to later navigating distance caregiving as her mother faced Alzheimer’s and cancer, Diane shares how caregiving responsibilities followed her through every stage of adulthood. She speaks candidly about managing grief while raising children, balancing work with care, and making impossible decisions when memory, illness, and safety collide.
The conversation also turns inward as Diane describes aging herself and becoming a caregiver again later in life, this time for her sister. Living together for years, Diane recounts the emotional and physical realities of in home caregiving, the limits of what one person can do alone, and the weight of deciding when additional care becomes necessary. She offers hard won insight into hospice, long term care, financial tradeoffs, and the importance of having conversations about wishes before crisis arrives.
Throughout the episode, Diane emphasizes dignity, autonomy, and legacy. She speaks openly about planning for the end of life, organizing legal and medical affairs, and making sure family members know who she was beyond her age or diagnosis. Her reflections underscore a truth often left unspoken: caregiving does not end with youth, and aging does not erase identity.
This episode is a powerful reminder that caregiving is not a single chapter, but a lifelong thread woven through families and generations. It is for anyone caring for a parent, a sibling, or themselves as they age, and for those who want to understand what it truly means to care with intention, honesty, and love.

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 grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 in the U.S. If outside the U.S., visit iasp.info/crisis for international support.
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. Together they explore grief, resilience, and the complexity of caregiving through unimaginable loss.
Jeff shares his journey after losing his 23-year-old son to fentanyl poisoning, the years of alcoholism that followed, and the heartbreak of losing his wife shortly after. He speaks openly about the toll grief took on his family and the moment he chose to rebuild; leading to sobriety, purpose, and a mission to help others navigate suffering with compassion and courage.
Together, Paul and Jeff discuss caregiving behind closed doors: supporting a spouse through addiction, parenting teenagers in grief, raising a young granddaughter, and later stepping into caregiving for aging parents. Jeff also shares the origin of Brighten, the mental wellness app inspired by his granddaughter, and why prevention and access are essential in the future of mental health support.
This is a conversation about pain, hope, identity, and what it means to choose life after loss.

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.
Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed, with host, Paul H. Richardson, Jr.