The Sandwich Generation is a smart, funny, and deeply human podcast about life in the middle—caring for both young children and aging parents. Hosted by two women living it in real-time, Robyn Frank and Eliesa Johnson bring raw honesty, real advice, hopefully some levity to every episode.
Site
RSS
Apple
Recent rankings
Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.
Shared links between episodes and podcasts
Links found in episode descriptions and other podcasts that share them.
Episode 2: What the hell is power of attorney and why do you need it? With Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law, LLC.
Season 1 · Episode 2
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 48:58
“Are you the Power of Attorney?” When shit goes down and a health crisis happens with our aging parents, this is one of the first questions we are asked. But what the hell is a power of attorney and why do we need it?
In this episode, Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank are joined by (the fantastic) Rachel Schromen of Schromen Law, LLC and we discuss it all. Rachel’s approach to guiding her clients through Estate Planning and Elder Law is truly remarkable and we are so grateful for her advice and real-life-tips that you can put into action to help you today!
Side note: We learned Power of Attorney isn’t just for aging parents, it’s important for ALL of us. Listen in to learn more!
Takeaways
Why Power of Attorney and Health Care Directives are important for ALL of us, NOW! Including your freshly turned 18 year old.
What’s valuable about hiring an attorney to help with Estate Planning and Elder Law.
How to interview attorneys to find the right personality and fit for your family.
When to strategically schedule legal meetings + important appointments to allow everyone to retain the information best.
How siblings should play to each other’s strengths to divide and conquer responsibilities.
What’s the difference between Power of Attorney and co-signer on your parent’s bank accounts, and which one is better.
Links and Resources:
**The following links are resources based in the state of Minnesota.**
Schromen Law, LLC - Learn more about Rachel’s practice and approach to Estate Planning and Elder Law. We know we’ll be making an appointment!
10 Questions to ask your Estate Planning Attorney - A very cool document provided by Schromen Law, LLC that walks you through questions to ask while calling around for Estate Planning and Elder Law.
State of Minnesota Power of Attorney Forms - If you’re interested in a DIY approach. A word of caution - these forms can seem deceivingly simple. We might recommend hiring a pro to help guide you.
State of Minnesota Health Care Directive Form - If you’re interested in a DIY approach. A word of caution - these forms can seem deceivingly simple. We might recommend hiring a pro to help guide you.
Do you have a hot tip for legal advice to share? Good resources beyond our state of Minnesota? Maybe you have a hilarious Laugh or Cry moment you want to contribute to our show. We want to hear from you ✨
00:00 Meet Rachel Schromen: The Expert in Elder Law
01:55 Rachel's Personal Journey with Grief and Law
06:48 What the HELL is Power of Attorney?
19:10 Segment: To Laugh or Cry
20:36 Should I DIY the paperwork or hire a pro?
28:22 Mental Capacity for the l
Episode 1: Introduction: What even IS the Sandwich Generation? And are YOU in it?
Season 1 · Episode 1
Wednesday, July 9, 2025 • Duration 21:33
Are you taking care of your young kids and aging parents? Are you feeling like you’re in the messy middle and you don’t know where to go? We felt the same way so we started this podcast ♡
In this episode, we discuss the challenges faced by the sandwich generation, who are simultaneously caring for aging parents and raising young children. Our conversation introduces us, your charming co-hosts, Robyn Frank and Eliesa Johnson, as we share our personal experiences with being sandwiched. We also explore the emotional and financial burdens of caregiving, the importance of community support, and our hopes and dreams for The Sandwich Generation Pod and how we want YOU to be a part of it all! ✨
Takeaways:
Why is caregiving so emotionally and physically taxing?
Community support is crucial!
How isolation plays into the struggles
Navigating the complex process of Assisted Living
Humor as a coping mechanism is real
Build that community for much-needed support!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to The Sandwich Generation Pod
05:20 What IS Sandwich Generation?
10:41 Our Hopes and Dreams for this Podcast
14:19 Engagement and Community Building
Links and Resources:
We want to hear from you and invite you to be a part of the community we are building! Do you want to share your story of being in The Sandwich Generation? Do you have a question or topic you’d love us to talk about? Maybe you have a very funny or terribly sad To Laugh or Cry Moment? We’d love to hear from you however you want to show up and you can find us in these spaces:
Find us on Instagram
Season 1 Trailer
Season 1
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 • Duration 00:40
A quick glimpse of what is to come - Season 1 of The Sandwich Generation Pod will be launching in Mid July 2025. This will be a humorous podcast about caregiving for the young, old, and all of the chaos in between. Hosted by Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank ✨
Episode 3: Help! How do I work with my siblings while we manage our parents?
Season 1 · Episode 3
Thursday, July 24, 2025 • Duration 01:02:38
Sibling dynamics can be tricky - no matter how loving or estranged you are. Then add in kids, aging parents, living across the country and having to make some big, real-time, decisions together as you begin caregiving for your loved ones. Holy shit - it’s a lot.
In this episode, we welcome Lisa Frank, Robyn’s sister to the show. The Frank sisters talk candidly about the complexities in navigating care for their aging parents, while managing their own families and being sisters. From living states apart, to dividing and conquering and overcoming our own bullshit to focus on their parent’s wellbeing - we talk about it all. Eliesa also chimes in with some perspective on being an only child and we share some insights on how to support one another - and our parents - while being siblings in The Sandwich Generation. In this episode we let the emotions flow, because this is real life!
Takeaways
How to show up for your siblings while caregiving:
Build your “Cabinet”, either with your siblings or with trusted family and friends who you can get advice from in making all of the decisions.
Also, build a “Cabinet” of your parent’s friends who can continue to reach out and support them.
Divide and Conquer with your siblings - and recognize what each other’s strengths are.
Talk about your boundaries and triggers with your siblings.
Check in with your siblings - how are they doing in their lives? How is their mental health?
Above all, put your own bullshit aside and focus on the wellbeing of the loved one you are caregiving for.
How to show up for your peers who are in The Sandwich Generation:
Send a text checking in
Delivering some groceries for their parents
Having a visit with their loved one
House cleaning - for your friends, for their parents or loved one.
Offer to help with simple house projects for their parents or loved one.
Episode 5: F*ck - now I have to manage my parent’s finances too? With Shannon Foreman of Forethought Planning
Season 1 · Episode 5
Thursday, August 21, 2025 • Duration 01:07:09
Raise your hand if you’re a caregiver who has needed to manage your parent’s finances and you think - oh F*ck - this is A LOT more difficult than I expected?!? We think everyone in the room right now feels this way! No matter how full or empty the bank account is, opening the books to your parents finances, managing the cost of care and navigating the emotions of money is a journey that is riddled with feelings. In this episode, we welcome Shannon Foreman, CEO and Founder of Forethought Planning. Shannon is a three-time-sandwiched caregiver herself and has helped countless families walk through the money conversations. We are SO grateful for Shannon’s wisdom in this podcast as we dive into conversations around what legacy really means, long term care insurances, Medicare vs Medicaid and most importantly - how to bring up ‘the money talk’ with your parents, while bringing empathy and humanity to the conversation.
“Money and Health are so important, intertwined and personal. Just like you need a good bedside manner for health, you have to have a good bedside manner for money too.” - Shannon Foreman
How the f*ck am I supposed to fit in self care? This is a question we ask ourselves all. of. the. Time. (especially while living this ‘sandwiched’ lifestyle). With the algorithms feeding us endless articles about all the ways we ‘should’ be doing self care, frankly, it all feels like a scam.
In this episode, we (Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank) open up about the frustrations around taking care of ourselves while being caregivers for both our children and parents. We give some realistic examples of how we fit in tiny moments of joy that help us cope with the stress, along with a deeper conversation on how watching our parents age has had an effect on our own health journeys. And did we mention we talk about making CPAPs sexy?! That’s right - welcome to The Sandwich Generation Pod!
Takeaways
Self care feels like a scam because there is NO time people!
Being ‘sandwiched’ and watching our parents age has only made us reflect on our own health journey - because we want to stay as healthy as possible for our children as they grow!
Taking vitamins might be all the self care there is for the day!
Shoutout to CPAP machines and amazing sleep! CPAPs are COOL, y’all!
Finding radical acceptance is important for our mental well being when we’re in the midst of caregiving.
Everything you do each day is enough.
Journaling, therapy, indulging in a great coffee / cocktail, nutrient dense food are all things we’ve found as small joys along the way.
Creating boundaries around your time from caregiving is self care.
It’s okay to just survive some days; recognizing that is part of self care.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:47 The Reality of Self-Care in Busy Lives
01:57 Our Personal Self-Care Practices and Challenges
07:09 Making CPAP Machines Sexy and how Sleep is EVERYTHING
15:06 How bedtime with our kids became the best time
Episode 8.5: How do I NOT age like my parents? With Rachel Daugherty of Booty and Brains.Co
Season 1 · Episode 85
Thursday, October 16, 2025 • Duration 56:58
For caregivers who have watched a loved one decline from the terrible diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Cancer; the question is often asked, “Will this happen to me? Is there anything I can do to prevent this?” If you are in The Sandwich Generation, you also know that finding time for self care is hard (See Episode 4: Self Care is a SCAM!). Suddenly we see ourselves shifting - we are setting our vanity aside and health and wellness have become about preserving our bodies and MINDS for aging - and living in the now! In this episode we welcome Rachel Daugherty of BootyandBrains.co who has built something truly remarkable and made the internet buzz about - gasp - brain health! She’s a sandwiched parent who has ushered her own mother through a fraught battle with Alzheimer's - and built us all a resource on both educating and empowering our bodies and minds! Rachel is inspiring hundreds of thousands of people and we are lucky to have her with us today!
Links and Resources:
@bootyandbrains.co - Follow Rachel, her knowledge and hilarity here on her instagram account!
BootyandBrains.co - Sign up for Rachel’s class. A clear guided path to reducing your risk of Alzheimer's by building sustainable daily habits.
Momentous - A Rachel-endorsed brand for Creatine and Fish Oil supplements. (Code B&B for 20% off)
Episode 8: I think my parent has Alzheimer’s, NOW what?! With Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly of the Alzheimer's Association
Season 1 · Episode 8
Thursday, October 2, 2025 • Duration 01:13:33
Almost everyone knows someone who has Alzheimer’s Disease. For many of us in The Sandwich Generation, this diagnosis was also the moment we became caregivers for our loved ones. But it’s all so confusing - is it Alzheimer’s? Is it Dementia? How do I bring up this conversation with my parents? Am I genetically dispositioned to get this too? WTF!
In this episode, co-hosts Eliesa Johnson and Robyn Frank have an incredibly candid and informative conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly, Senior Director of Community Programs and Services at the Alzheimer’s Association. Dr. Edgerly shares her personal story of walking alongside her mother with Lewy Body Dementia, along with answering all our questions - and giving HOPE to the future of Alzheimer’s. This episode is for us all - what we can do for Alzheimer's prevention, knowledge about the latest groundbreaking treatments and most importantly - how we, as caregivers, can bring humanity and Person Centered Care to our loved ones!
Takeaways
The difference between Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
Getting the correct diagnosis is crucial for treatment.
What to do when you notice cognitive changes in your parent.
Explaining the early, middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s.
Lifestyle changes can significantly impact brain health and reduce risk.
Genetic factors play a role in Alzheimer's risk, but lifestyle can mitigate this.
Hormonal changes in women may increase Alzheimer's risk and with caregiving, it’s a double whammy.
Support resources are available for caregivers and those diagnosed at ALZ.org.
Episode 7: Saying goodbye to the childhood home - also my parents have WAY too much STUFF! With Alli Rubin, Professional Moving Manager
Season 1 · Episode 7
Thursday, September 18, 2025 • Duration 01:07:39
Downsizing and moving your aging parents is one of the hardest tasks of all time. Or maybe your loved one has already passed and you are tasked with selling a home and going through a lifetime of belongings. It’s. Brutal. Seriously, it’s the definition of overwhelm. Where do you begin? In this episode, we welcome guest Alli Rubin who is a professional moving manager and a true ‘easy button’ when it comes to tackling this enormous task. Alli shares actionable tips on how to approach going through all of the stuff along with a thoughtful conversation about how our objects do hold meaning and the way we can honor the past while finding closure and moving on. It’s a good one, welcome to The Sandwich Generation Pod!
Takeaways
The difference between a Hoarder and a Saver - we all think our parents are hoarders, but are they really?
It’s a gift to move your parents while they are still alive - start the conversations and process early!
Our objects, our things and our stuff hold meaning. They tell stories. Let's honor that while also downsizing and guest Alli Rubin provides actionable tips to dealing with all of the ‘stuff’.
How to make the new place feel like home.
How to keep objects for future generations and remember our loved ones.
The difference between hiring a professional mover vs junk removal - and the realistic costs.
How our objects can live on and give meaning to others!
Working with Siblings and creating boundaries and deadlines around the moving process!
PRISM MPLS - Donate to the Shop for Change Thrift Shop and Marketplace Food Shelf.
Episode 6: How to save your friendships when you’re in The Sandwich Generation
Season 1 · Episode 6
Thursday, September 4, 2025 • Duration 47:54
Have you ever been asked by a friend, “What can I do to help?” and you go blank?! Yeah, us too. Being in The Sandwich Generation is a lot. And it’s oftentimes hard for our friends and ourselves to communicate just how lonely it feels and how much we need our friends. In this episode hosts Robyn Frank and Eliesa Johnson discuss the challenges of maintaining friendships, having the capacity and some great tips on how we can accept help and love from our friends. Lets learn together on how to call upon our village, so we can feel a little less alone!
Takeaways
Life can feel heavy and lonely when you’re in the Sandwich Generation and it’s oftentimes hard to share your true feelings with friends.
We need our friendships, now more than ever - but how do we ask for help?
Friends can show support in simple, meaningful ways
Friendship is essential and can be a source of strength during tough times.
It's important to include friends in the caregiving journey, even if it's just sharing updates.
Friendship is essential and can be a source of strength during tough times
Recognizing the efforts of friends and expressing gratitude strengthens relationships.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to Friendships
01:17 It feels lonely when you're 'Sandwiched'
06:04 The importance of work friendships
09:26 It takes a village
12:59 Things aren't as they used to be - and that's okay!
19:57 What can I do for you?
28:25 To Laugh or Cry Segment
30:15 Examples of how friends have shown up
37:42 Keeping our Parent's friendships alive and well
42:51 A recap and Survival Guide to Friendships in the Sandwich Generation
47:13 Outro
Related Shows Based on Content Similarities
Discover shows related to The Sandwich Generation Pod, based on actual content similarities. Explore podcasts with similar topics, themes, and formats, backed by real data.
My ALZ Journey - a new app brought to you by the Alzheimer's Association that puts all of their resources in one easy place for people who are first diagnosed
The Empowered Caregiver - Support Groups, Local Chapters and Online Community for caregivers to those with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
24/7 Helpline - Yes, this helpline is still a thing AND a useful tool when you need help directly in the moment! A professional staff can guide you through all of your questions, day or night!
Trial Match - Are you interested in being a part of a clinical research study? See if you qualify and what studies are happening now!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Dr. Elizabeth Edgerly
25:03 The Comfort of Nostalgia: Peanut M&Ms and Family Bonds
27:27 Preserving Dignity
30:36 Early, Middle and Late Stages of Alzheimer's
35:12 The Importance of Early Diagnosis
38:59 Emerging Treatments and Blood Tests for Alzheimer's
45:54 Understanding Amyloid and Neurofibrillary Tangles
Bridging - Accepts Furniture, housewares, linens, small appliances, electronics, mirrors, artwork and pictures.
JFCS Hag Sameach Program - provides personalized holiday gifts, ritual items, and household necessities to families and individuals who are in need.
Astound Video - Converting VHS, Photographs, CD's, and Video Tape transfers to digital format.
Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 01:12 Meet Alli Rubin 04:39 When is the right time to call a mover? 14:19 Hoarder vs Saver 19:06 Helping families downsize 30:52 Our objects hold meaning 34:42 The energy our objects hold and passing that along 38:30 The difference between hiring a mover and junk removal 43:15 Estate Sales and Resellers 46:45 Setting Boundaries and Timelines 51:55 Start the moving conversation early, make the calls and plan 56:12 Outro 56:53 Real Talk
