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.

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 zHilarity 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. After Sandy’s passing in October 2024, Sarah has chosen to remain in Iowa—at least for now—as she continues to navigate the first year of grief.

👉 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.

In this episode of Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed and hosted by Paul H. Richardson, Jr., we talk with Biagio Arobba, a software developer, proud father, twin, partner, and son. As his parents began to age, Biagio drew on his technical skills to help his family stay organized—ultimately creating a structure of weekly family meetings to plan their parents’ care journey.

Together, we explore:

Caregiving through the lens of Native American culture

The role of sons and brothers in caregiving

Living “sandwiched” between raising children and supporting parents

How family structure and intentional conversations create resilience

Biagio’s story highlights the power of combining heritage, technology, and love to prepare families for what’s ahead.

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:

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.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed.

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.

In this first episode, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. shares why this podcast exists and what it truly means to live in the sandwich generation. From supporting his mother at a young age to navigating the realities of aging parents, loss, and resilience today, Paul opens up about his personal caregiving journey and the inspiration behind Tumbleweed.

You’ll hear how Sandwiched was born from lived experience and the need for a community where caregivers can feel seen and supported. This heartfelt introduction sets the stage for future episodes featuring guests with unique “sandwich” stories.

✨ Tune in weekly to Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed for honest conversations about caregiving, eldercare, family resilience, and navigating the challenges of aging. Together, we’ll build connection, courage, and community—because you’re not alone in this journey.