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.