The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide

Season 4 of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide continues with an extraordinary conversation with nationally recognized pediatric psychologist, parent coach, and bestselling author Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart. Known for her appearances on CBS Mornings and the Today Show and her groundbreaking work with families, Dr. Lockhart joins Candace Dellacona to discuss her acclaimed book, “Love the Teen You Have: A Practical Guide to Transforming Conflict Into Connection.”

Together, they explore the realities facing today’s Sandwich Generation — balancing the emotional demands of raising teens while caring for aging parents, all amid burnout, overparenting, perfectionism, and nonstop digital pressures. Dr. Lockhart shares powerful insights on boundaries, re-parenting yourself, and building stronger, healthier family connections in the middle of life’s most overwhelming season.

• (00:00) - Parenting Pitfalls and Practical Solutions with Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart

To learn more about Dr. Lockhart, visit https://www.anewdaysa.com/

Follow Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart on social media:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlockhart/ 
•  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dr.annlouise.lockhart/

Season 4 of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide opens with an extraordinary conversation as host Candace Dellacona welcomes celebrated novelist and essayist Karen Shepard. Widely recognized for her powerful storytelling and contributions to some of the country’s most respected literary publications, Shepard joins the podcast to discuss her deeply personal and widely discussed essay, “The World Is an Easier Place Without You In It.”

In this unforgettable episode, Shepard shares the complicated realities of her relationship with her mother, the emotional journey of accompanying her to Switzerland for an assisted death, and the difficult questions surrounding autonomy, dignity, caregiving, and regret. Together, Candace and Karen explore what it means to love a difficult parent, set boundaries without losing compassion, and redefine what being a “good daughter” truly looks like.

Raw, intelligent, and profoundly moving — this is a powerful season premiere you won’t want to miss.

• (00:00) - Season Four Kickoff

To learn more about Karen Shepard, visit https://www.karen-shepard.com/  

To read “The World Is an Easier Place Without You In It,” visit https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2026/03/16/the-world-is-an-easier-place-without-you-in-it/

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-shepard-877982168/

Follow The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide on social media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandwichgenerationpodcast/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSandwichGenerationSurvivalGuide

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandwichgenpodcast

Host Candace Dellacona welcomes acclaimed writer Lisa McCarty for a powerful conversation on caregiving, resilience, and the courage to tell deeply personal stories. McCarty reflects on her essays that resonated with thousands—from losing her father just as she welcomed her second child to stepping into the role of caregiver for her mother at just 13—and how those experiences shaped her voice and perspective. Now developing a reported nonfiction book, she shares hard-earned insights on identity, boundaries, and advocacy, offering thoughtful guidance for young caregivers navigating similar paths. 

00:00 Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty 

00:07 Welcome and Guest Intro 

01:31 Why Write Personal Stories 

02:08 Sharing the Caregiving Essay 

05:26 Story Timing 

08:53 How Young Caregiving Shaped Lisa 

13:17 Realizing She Was a Caregiver 

16:41 Systemic Failures and Isolation 

24:03 Advice for Young Caregivers 

27:09 Writing the Book and Self Care 

32:10 Privacy and Telling the Truth 

35:08 Defining Thriving, Not Surviving 

38:27 Closing Remarks 

For a collection of Lisa’s essays and articles, visit https://linktr.ee/lbmccarty   

Follow Lisa McCarty on social media:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mccarty-8905513/ 
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lbmccarty717/ 

• (00:00) - v2 Discovering Strength Through Caregiving with Lisa McCarty

Host Candace Dellacona welcomes Christy Byrne Yates—author, psychologist, and former podcaster—to discuss her book, "Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation" and the realities of caring for aging parents while raising children. They discuss how caregiving often begins subtly, why many people don’t identify as caregivers, setting communication rules, asking for specific help, “ruthless self-care,” and recognizing grief throughout the caregiving process.

• (00:00) - Welcome and Guest Intro

Follow Christy Byrne Yates on social media:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ChristyByrneYates
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christybyates/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/christybyates/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@christyyates

Candace Dellacona speaks with Dr. Matthew Tyler, hospice and palliative care physician and founder of How to Train Your Doctor, about why palliative care should begin earlier—and how it differs from hospice. They break down what families need to know about timing, insurance, and the real gaps in in-home care. Dr. Tyler also shares practical guidance on requesting referrals, navigating family dynamics, and planning ahead with the right decision maker.

• (00:00) - Understanding Palliative Care with Dr. Matthew Tyler

To learn more about How to Train Your Doctor, visit https://howtotrainyourdoctor.com/

Follow How To Train Your Doctor on social media:

• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095193314200 
•  Threads - https://www.threads.com/@howtotrainyourdoctor 
•  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtotrainyourdoctor/ 
•  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@howtotrainyourdoctor 
•  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@howtotrainyourdoctor

Host Candace Dellacona welcomes investigative journalist and author Chuck Whitlock to this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide to discuss caregiving, advocacy, and protecting seniors. Chuck shares how writing about white-collar crime led to a media career, and how his experiences caring for an incapacitated first wife and later advocating in healthcare shaped his focus on caregivers. He describes turning to support groups and national associations for resources and respite, and explains how his partnership with healthcare leader Peggy Baddour led to co-authoring “LifeSource, A Caregiver’s Guide for Managing Mental Wellness for the Older Adult.”

This episode offers practical tips for doctor visits, medication oversight, and inpatient facility selection. Chuck discusses neglect and overmedication risks, recounts his mother’s death after improper oxygen administration, and warns about medical and financial scams that target vulnerable seniors.

• (00:00) - Welcome and Guest Intro

To purchase Chuck and Peggy’s book, visit https://lifesourceinc.org/book/

Connect with Chuck Whitlock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckwhitlock/

The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide is honored to participate in this year’s Podcasthon with this special episode featuring Father Patrick Devine, a world-renown peace and conflict expert and the Executive International Chairman and Founder of the Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation.

Tune in as host Candace Dellacona speaks with Father Patrick about Shalom Center and their work across Eastern Africa to build sustainable peace through dialogue, mediation, grassroots peacebuilding, and development projects. He explains Shalom’s focus on positive peace rooted in justice, truth, mercy, and dignity, and describes programs addressing inter-ethnic conflict, religious ideological extremism, and violence against women and children.

Shalom trains local leaders for 18–24 months, builds schools and other stabilizing institutions, has implemented 800+ education projects in 450+ institutions, and emphasizes community ownership. Shalom is headquartered in Kenya and has obtained certification of charitable status in the USA, UK, and Ireland, with 95 cents of every donated dollar going directly to projects.

00:00 Welcome and Podcasthon
00:38 Meet Father Patrick
02:28 Why Shalom Began
05:32 Meaning of Shalom
07:01 Conflicts Shalom Tackles
08:33 Peacebuilding Method
10:58 Schools and Development
13:20 Owning the Peace
16:46 Lessons for Home
18:42 Hope and Human Spirit
20:43 How to Support Shalom
21:54 Thanks and Wrap Up

To learn more about Shalom Center for Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation, visit https://shalomconflictcenter.org/

To donate today, visit https://shalomconflictcenter.org/donate/  

Follow Shalom Center on Social Media:

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalom-sccrr-570026162/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShalomConflictCenter  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shalomconflictcenter

To learn more about Podcasthon and explore the other participating podcasts and their featured nonprofits, visit https://podcasthon.org/

Tune into the latest episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide as host Candace Dellacona speaks with Sheri Biller (of The Sheri and Les Biller Foundation) and Anneliese Barron (Executive Director of Bradley Cooper’s One Family Foundation) about “supportive care” for both patients and caregivers—particularly those navigating life in the sandwich generation.

Sheri and Anneliese explain how vital “supportive care” is for those dealing with illness. They also announce a new caregiving initiative, Care Out Loud, which is focused on helping caregivers self-identify, access resources, and address gaps in care due to the persistent barriers faced by underserved, rural, and communities of color.

00:00 Welcome to the Sandwich Generation Survival Guide
00:58 Meet Sheri Biller & the Sheri and Les Biller Foundation
03:28 What “Supportive Care” Really Means and Why It Improves Outcomes
04:17 Meet Anneliese Barron & One Family Foundation
06:20 Building a Supportive Care Coalition
08:03 Why Supportive Care Is Finally in the Spotlight
10:24 How Families Can Find and Ask for Support
11:50 Financial Help in Practice
13:26 Care Out Loud Resources
14:59 Asking for Help, Delegating, and Caregiver Guilt
17:04 Reaching Underserved, Rural, and Non‑English-Speaking Communities
19:41 How to Connect with Care Out Loud
21:48 Building a Movement

To learn more about Care Out Loud, visit https://www.wecareoutloud.org/

To learn more about Together for Supportive Cancer Care, visit https://supportivecancercare.org/

For more information on The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation, visit https://billerfamilyfoundation.org/

For more information on One Family Foundation, visit https://onefamilyfoundation.one/

To watch “Caregiving,” produced by Bradley Cooper, visit https://www.pbs.org/show/caregiving/

Caring for aging parents often means managing their money, too. On this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, Candace Dellacona talks with Beth Pinsker—CFP, MarketWatch columnist, and author of ‘My Mother’s Money’—about the financial realities of caregiving. From red flags to powers of attorney to navigating sibling dynamics, this episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting an aging parent.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:55 Beth Pinsker's Journey to Financial Expertise
03:27 Writing 'My Mother's Money'
07:52 The Importance of Power of Attorney and Healthcare Proxy
15:59 Handling Financial Responsibilities and Scams
26:39 Sibling Collaboration and Financial Realities
33:48 Conclusion and Book Promotion

To learn more about Beth and to purchase her book, visit her website at https://bethpinsker.com/  

Follow Beth on Social Media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpinsker/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethpinsker_ny
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/bethpinsker.bsky.social

On this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, host Candace Dellacona sits down with Dr. Theresa Lyons—a Yale-educated scientist and founder of Navigating AWEtism—to talk candidly about raising a child with autism while navigating the complex medical system. From decoding the autism diagnosis process to building the right healthcare team, Dr. Lyons shares practical guidance, research-backed insights, and a message of real hope for families doing it all. A must-listen for parents balancing special-needs parenting and elder care.

00:00 Introduction to the Sandwich Generation Survival Guide
00:45 Meet Dr. Theresa Lyons: A Yale-Trained Scientist and Autism Advocate
01:40 Dr. Lyons' Personal Journey with Autism
02:41 Navigating the Emotional and Scientific Challenges of Autism
06:43 Building the Right Healthcare Team
09:29 Conventional vs. Functional Medicine
14:25 Scientific Insights and Hopeful Research
23:05 Balancing Care for Children with Autism and Aging Parents
25:01 The Importance of Self-Care and Delegation
28:12 Celebrating Small Victories and Building Support Systems
29:39 Conclusion and Resources

For more information on Navigating AWEtism, visit their website at https://awetism.net/
Subscribe to Navigating AWEtism’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@navigatingawetism
Follow Navigating AWEtism on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/navigating_awetism/

Follow Dr. Lyons on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresamlyonsphd/
Purchase The Lyons Report 2020: https://www.amazon.com/Lyons-Report-2020-Functional-Medicine/dp/1734358203