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.

In this powerful episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. speaks with Rose Hedges — a devoted mom, wife, ICU nurse, and now a recognized family caregiver.

Rose opens up about her deeply personal journey of unexpectedly becoming the primary caregiver for a chronically ill family member. From the moment she rushed an hour away on a Sunday morning, through a harrowing ICU stay and complex diagnosis, Rose found herself navigating the tension between her professional knowledge as a nurse and the emotional reality of caregiving for family.

In this episode, Rose shares:

• The challenge of wearing both the nurse hat and family member hat, and the blurred boundaries between the two.
• Navigating health insurance, disability, Medicare/Medicaid renewals — and the frustration of lapsed benefits.
• Balancing caregiving while raising twins, supporting her husband, and welcoming a loved one into her home.
• Lessons from supporting her mother through cancer years earlier, and the ongoing reminder to “help yourself” even when caregiving feels all-consuming.

Rose’s story highlights the emotional highs and lows of caregiving — offering honesty, compassion, and inspiration for anyone walking this path.

💙 Tune in weekly to Sandwiched for real conversations about caregiving, resilience, family, and the sandwich generation.

Sandwiched is powered by Tumbleweed.

In this heartfelt episode of Sandwiched, powered by Tumbleweed, host Paul H. Richardson, Jr. sits down with Eileen O’Doherty, a rising graduate at the University of Iowa and member of the Tumbleweed team.

Eileen opens up about her journey of losing her mother, Megan, to cancer after years of caregiving that began when she was just five years old. Raised by a single mom, Eileen learned resilience, responsibility, and the meaning of support from an early age.She shares vivid memories of navigating her mother’s diagnosis, stepping into caregiving roles as a child, and eventually moving in with relatives after her mother’s passing.

Through honest reflection, Eileen highlights how grief shaped her adolescence, the importance of openness with children, and the gift of cherishing small moments. Her story reminds us that even in life’s most difficult seasons, there can be strength, love, and resilience.