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.

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.

If you are part of the Sandwich Generation or love someone who is, this episode offers insight, solidarity, and a reminder that you are not alone.