Season 2, Episode 5 | Featuring Colleen Coyne

Caregiving is hard. Sometimes it feels impossible. But what if we could make it just a little easier?

When Colleen Coyne stepped into caregiving for her father, she experienced firsthand the emotional, physical, and practical challenges that so many family caregivers face. From navigating family responsibilities to advocating for a loved one's needs, her journey revealed just how complicated caregiving can become.

In this episode of Sandwiched, Colleen joins host Paul H. Richardson Jr. to reflect on her caregiving experience, the importance of building a support system, and the small but meaningful ways we can make life better for caregivers and those receiving care.

They also explore the unexpected similarities between caring for an aging parent and becoming a parent yourself, including the uncertainty, exhaustion, and learning that come with both experiences.

In this conversation:

• Caring for a parent and navigating changing family responsibilities
• Understanding what different family members can contribute
• Respecting dignity, boundaries, and personal preferences
• Building a village of caregiving support
• The emotional connections between caregiving and parenthood
• Finding practical tools to make caregiving more manageable
• How small improvements can make a big difference

Colleen reminds us that while we may not be able to eliminate the challenges of caregiving, we can find ways to reduce unnecessary suffering, support one another, and make the experience a little less difficult.

Join the Caregiving Conversation

Have you experienced caregiving firsthand? Your story matters.

Host Paul H. Richardson Jr. is the lead author of The Whole Truth of Caregiving, an upcoming anthology bringing together diverse voices and lived experiences from across the caregiving community.

The book launches in November 2027 in recognition of National Family Caregivers Month.

Learn about becoming a contributing author: https://caregiveranthology.lovable.app

About Sandwiched

Sandwiched explores the real, often unspoken experiences of family caregiving through conversations with people who have lived it.

Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr. Powered by Tumbleweed.

Learn more about Tumbleweed: https://tumbleweedplan.com

Subscribe to Sandwiched on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone navigating their own caregiving journey.

How much does caregiving really cost, and what happens when supporting the people you love puts your own financial future at risk?

In Season 2, Episode 4 of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. welcomes Basiliso "Bas" Moreno, a Certified Financial Social Worker, Licensed Master Social Worker, founder of Bas Moreno Consulting, and host of the Social Work Rants podcast.

As a father, husband, and family caregiver, Bas understands firsthand the financial and emotional challenges of the sandwich generation.

In this honest conversation, Bas shares his experiences caring for an aging parent, navigating difficult family money conversations, rebuilding financial stability after divorce, and grieving the loss of his mother during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Paul and Bas explore how caregiving responsibilities, cultural expectations, financial trauma, and family guilt intersect, and why protecting your own financial well-being is an important part of caring for others.

In this episode, we explore:

• The financial realities of caring for aging parents while raising a family

• Understanding financial trauma and the emotional side of money

• Having difficult conversations about money, caregiving, and family responsibilities

• Setting boundaries and managing caregiver guilt

• Preparing for the future through estate planning and available resources

• Finding balance between supporting loved ones and protecting your own future

• Navigating grief, loss, and life after caregiving

Connect with Bas Moreno

Bas Moreno Consulting helps individuals and families navigate the intersection of financial well-being, caregiving, and life transitions.

Website: https://www.basmorenoconsulting.net

Podcast: Social Work Rants

Be Part of The Whole Truth of Caregiving

Every caregiver has a story worth telling.

Paul is the lead author of The Whole Truth of Caregiving, an upcoming anthology featuring diverse, honest stories from people with lived caregiving experience.

Launching in November 2027 during National Family Caregivers Month, the book aims to shine a light on the many different ways caregiving shapes our lives.

We're currently inviting prospective contributing authors to learn more and share their interest.

Learn more and sign up: https://caregiveranthology.lovable.app

About Sandwiched

Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, explores the real stories behind caregiving, family, resilience, and the human experience of caring for others.

Explore Tumbleweed: https://tumbleweedplan.com

Follow or subscribe to Sandwiched wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone navigating the financial and emotional challenges of caregiving.

Content Advisory: This episode includes discussions of grief, death, divorce, financial hardship, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individualized financial, legal, tax, investment, or mental health advice. Please consult qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

How do you navigate caring for two seriously ill loved ones while raising young children, and what happens when you lose both just months apart?

When Rachelle Babler's sister was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer at just 46 years old, she stepped into the role of caregiver and healthcare advocate. At the same time, her father was experiencing serious health challenges following a stroke. As a single mother of two young children, Rachelle found herself balancing parenting, family caregiving, difficult medical decisions, and the emotional weight of watching two people she loved decline.

In Season 2, Episode 3 of Sandwiched, Rachelle joins host Paul H. Richardson Jr. to share her experience navigating the sandwich generation, advocating for loved ones, and coping with the loss of her sister and father just four months apart.

Drawing on her background as a paramedic and forensic professional, Rachelle reflects on the importance of early colorectal cancer screening, speaking up within the healthcare system, and having difficult conversations about end-of-life wishes before a crisis occurs.

Together, we explore:

• The challenges of caring for a sibling and aging parent while raising children

• Colorectal cancer awareness, early detection, and patient advocacy

• Navigating palliative care, hospice, and advance healthcare directives

• The emotional impact of losing multiple loved ones in a short period

• Finding meaning through grief, music, and honoring a loved one's legacy

• The importance of caregiver self-care, support systems, and asking for help

Rachelle also shares the story behind Fueled by Faith, a song she wrote in honor of her sister, and how music became a powerful outlet for grief, healing, and advocacy.

This conversation reminds us that caregiving isn't just about managing medical needs. It's about showing up for the people we love, finding our voices when it matters most, and remembering to care for ourselves along the way.

Resources & Links

🎵 Fueled by Faith — Listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fX405BdT4k

🎵 Fueled by Faith — Listen on Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KW9K3XJ

🎤 Watch Rachelle Babler's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIi7RMUzXJI

About Sandwiched

Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed and hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., shares real stories about caregiving, love, loss, and everything in between.

Learn more about Tumbleweed and how we're helping families navigate aging, caregiving, and life transitions at https://tumbleweedplan.com.

Content Note: This episode includes discussions of cancer, death, end-of-life care, and grief. Please listen with care. The experiences shared are for informational purposes and are not intended as medical or legal advice.

We are better together.