In this episode of Sandwiched, 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.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed, bringing honest conversations about caregiving, loss, and the strength it takes to love through life’s hardest seasons. Watch here or listen wherever you get your podcasts every Friday at 7:00am CST.

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 moving conversation, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. welcomes Samantha Bates—a professional, mother, and family caregiver—who opens up about the emotional and practical realities of caring for aging parents while raising a young family.

Sam shares how her parents moved in during the pandemic, how she balanced full-time work with caregiving through her father’s illness, and how she continues to support her mother through early-onset dementia. With humor, grace, and authenticity, Sam reflects on the love, patience, and courage it takes to walk this path.

This episode is a reminder that caregiving isn’t just about managing needs—it’s about nurturing relationships, creating moments of joy, and preparing for life’s hardest transitions with compassion and strength.

Listen if you’ve ever:

• Felt pulled between work, parenting, and caregiving

• Needed a reminder that you’re not alone in the “Sandwich Generation”

• Wanted tools to start meaningful conversations with loved ones

Powered by Tumbleweed, a caregiving and legacy-planning platform supporting families through every season of care.