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

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

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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

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
• (01:00) - What Palliative Care Is
• (02:30) - Why Dr. Matthew Tyler Started Social Media
• (03:42) - Palliative Care vs Hospice
• (06:59) - What Palliative Teams Do
• (08:09) - Why the Confusion Persists
• (10:49) - How to Ask for a Referral
• (16:05) - Training Doctors to Talk Goals
• (21:30) - Handling Family Disagreements
• (25:35) - Values Based Decision Makers
• (27:44) - Spiritual and Cultural Beliefs
• (29:31) - Insurance and Coverage Basics
• (31:39) - Hospice Benefits and Gaps
• (34:10) - What Families Wish They Knew
• (35:28) - Final Thanks and Wrap Up

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
• (01:54) - Chuck’s Career Journey
• (03:39) - Caregiving Lessons Learned
• (07:15) - Entering Senior Care Advocacy
• (10:40) - LifeSource and Advocacy Basics
• (14:00) - Choosing Care Facilities
• (18:44) - Overmedication and Neglect
• (23:00) - Scams Targeting Seniors
• (28:10) - Final Thanks and Wrap Up

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