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
• (01:05) - Meet Karen Shepard
• (02:45) - Why Tell It This Way
• (03:26) - Primary Documents Approach
• (07:15) - End of Life Shift
• (10:24) - Little Karen Big Karen
• (11:59) - Planning Switzerland
• (15:01) - Breaking Parenting Patterns
• (17:21) - Defining Good Daughter
• (20:14) - Relief Grief And Hope
• (26:35) - Legacy After Death
• (28:51) - Aid In Dying Options
• (36:02) - Holding Two Truths
• (40:02) - Regret Prevention
• (43:59) - Community And Thanks
• (44:59) - Subscribe And Resources

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
• (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
• (15:31) - Systemic Failures and Isolation
• (22:54) - Advice for Young Caregivers
• (26:00) - Writing the Book and Self Care
• (30:09) - Defining Thriving, Not Surviving
• (33:27) - Closing Remarks

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
• (00:43) - Why the Sandwich Generation Matters
• (01:53) - Christy’s Caregiving Story
• (05:06) - Feeling Stuck in the Middle
• (06:05) - Claiming the Caregiver Role
• (09:17) - Starting the Hard Conversations
• (12:58) - Aligning Expectations and Boundaries
• (16:10) - Asking for Help and Delegating
• (22:41) - Planning for the Long Haul
• (24:22) - Ruthless Self Care
• (26:44) - Raising Capable Compassionate Kids
• (28:06) - Grief and Finding Support
• (31:18) - Final Takeaways and Book Information

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