What do you do when your kids are still little and your parents are already old? The queen of common sense, Maggie Dent, is in the chair for the double squeeze.

Content note: this episode includes honest conversations about death and dying, children's grief, and caring for a parent with dementia. Be gentle with yourself while you listen. For support: National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24/7). Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (kidshelpline.com.au). Griefline 1300 845 745 (griefline.org.au). Carer Gateway 1800 422 737. Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7.

JOIN THE CLUB: Visit https://clubsandwich.community to join the conversation.
SEND US YOUR QUESTION: hello@clubsandwich.community

In this episode:
The Conversation: Beloved parenting author and educator Maggie Dent joins Sarah Macdonald for young kids and old parents at once — why this generation got the hardest version (later babies, smaller families, COVID's developmental hangover); what's really underneath a tantrum (theirs and yours, in the middle of Coles); burnt chop syndrome and why your 90 minutes goes in the diary first; giving little kids real agency in Grandpa's care; why children need the true words for death; and how to open the big conversations with teenagers — side by side, Milo in hand.

This Week's Hack: Put your 90 minutes in the diary first. Sit down with your co-parent and ask what each of you needs for an hour and a half a week — and diary it before the kids' activities. You can't pour from an empty cup, and stop taking the burnt chop.

Send this to: a friend raising young kids while caring for ageing parents, or any parent dreading the "where's Grandma?" conversation.

A moment that stays: Maggie's advice for a four-year-old whose grandpa has dementia — teach her to ask for what she needs: "Can I have two hugs? I think it's a two-hug day today."

Meet the regular Clubbers:
Melissa Reader — CEO of Vera and expert on Australia's ageing crisis.
Jo Lamble — Clinical psychologist specialising in guilt and family dynamics.
Dr Ginni Mansberg — GP and women's health advocate.
Dr Stephanie Ward — Geriatrician helping you understand the ageing brain.
Kerry Milligan — Gogglebox star bringing humour and honesty.

About Maggie Dent: One of Australia's most trusted parenting authors and educators — the "queen of common sense". Podcaster, former teacher and counsellor, with years working in palliative care and more than 250 funerals behind her. Free resources, including book lists for talking with kids about death, dying and divorce, at maggiedent.com.

Put The Kettle On — Vera's free conversation guide: the five questions worth asking your ageing mum or dad, at putthekettleon.com.au

This episode was supported by Australian Unity, home health and care services — australianunity.com.au/clubsandwich. With thanks to NSW Trustee and Guardian — search NSW Trustee and Guardian, or call 1300 10 20 30.

Vera is your candid companion as you care for an ageing parent. Have a look at https://vera.guide.

Credits:
Sarah Macdonald – Host + Executive Producer
Melissa Reader – Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber
Justin McArthur – Executive Producer + Editor, for P. Zinner Podcasts (https://pzinner.com.au)
Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our theme music Club Sandwich — hear more at https://seanwayland.com

What do you do when your kids are still little and your parents are already old? The queen of common sense, Maggie Dent, is in the chair for the double squeeze.
Content note: this episode includes honest conversations about death and dying, children's grief, and caring for a parent with dementia. Be gentle with yourself while you listen. For support: National Dementia Helpline 1800 100 500 (24/7). Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (kidshelpline.com.au). Griefline 1300 845 745 (griefline.org.au). Carer Gateway 1800 422 737. Lifeline 13 11 14, 24/7.
JOIN THE CLUB: Visit https://clubsandwich.community to join the conversation. SEND US YOUR QUESTION: hello@clubsandwich.community
In this episode: The Conversation: Beloved parenting author and educator Maggie Dent joins Sarah Macdonald for young kids and old parents at once &mdash; why this generation got the hardest version (later babies, smaller families, COVID's developmental hangover); what's really underneath a tantrum (theirs and yours, in the middle of Coles); burnt chop syndrome and why your 90 minutes goes in the diary first; giving little kids real agency in Grandpa's care; why children need the true words for death; and how to open the big conversations with teenagers &mdash; side by side, Milo in hand. This Week's Hack: Put your 90 minutes in the diary first. Sit down with your co-parent and ask what each of you needs for an hour and a half a week &mdash; and diary it before the kids' activities. You can't pour from an empty cup, and stop taking the burnt chop. Send this to: a friend raising young kids while caring for ageing parents, or any parent dreading the "where's Grandma?" conversation. A moment that stays: Maggie's advice for a four-year-old whose grandpa has dementia &mdash; teach her to ask for what she needs: "Can I have two hugs? I think it's a two-hug day today."
Meet the regular Clubbers: Melissa Reader &mdash; CEO of Vera and expert on Australia's ageing crisis. Jo Lamble &mdash; Clinical psychologist specialising in guilt and family dynamics. Dr Ginni Mansberg &mdash; GP and women's health advocate. Dr Stephanie Ward &mdash; Geriatrician helping you understand the ageing brain. Kerry Milligan &mdash; Gogglebox star bringing humour and honesty.
About Maggie Dent: One of Australia's most trusted parenting authors and educators &mdash; the "queen of common sense". Podcaster, former teacher and counsellor, with years working in palliative care and more than 250 funerals behind her. Free resources, including book lists for talking with kids about death, dying and divorce, at maggiedent.com.
Put The Kettle On &mdash; Vera's free conversation guide: the five questions worth asking your ageing mum or dad, at putthekettleon.com.au
This episode was supported by Australian Unity, home health and care services &mdash; australianunity.com.au/clubsandwich. With thanks to NSW Trustee and Guardian &mdash; search NSW Trustee and Guardian, or call 1300 10 20 30.
Vera is your candid companion as you care for an ageing parent. Have a look at <a href="https://vera.guide">https://vera.guide</a>. Credits: Sarah Macdonald &ndash; Host + Executive Producer Melissa Reader &ndash; Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber Justin McArthur &ndash; Executive Producer + Editor, for P. Zinner Podcasts (https://pzinner.com.au) Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our theme music Club Sandwich &mdash; hear more at https://seanwayland.com

The Sandwich Generation finally gets the conversation we deserve.

Club Sandwich is the community for those caring for ageing parents while juggling work, kids, relationships, and sanity. This is your tribe when family doesn't get it - or just isn't enough.

Hosted by veteran broadcaster Sarah Macdonald, Club Sandwich features clinical psychologists instead of life coaches, GPs instead of gratitude journals, and honest conversations about the relief-guilt paradox nobody else will touch.

Episodes include:
🔧 This Week's Hack - Actionable strategy you can use today
💌 Listener Letter - Real questions from Clubbers like you
🔥 Hot Mess Moments - Stories that make you feel less alone

🛠️ What We're Using - Resources and tools that actually help

Meet the regular Clubbers:

Melissa Reader - CEO of Vera aged care platform (vera.guide) and expert on Australia's ageing crisis and system failures.

Dr. Jo Lamble - Clinical psychologist specializing in guilt, family dynamics, and the impossible decisions when every option has a cost.

Dr. Ginny Mansberg - GP and women's health advocate who tells it straight about what caregiving does to your body.

Dr. Stephanie Ward - Geriatrician and consulting expert for ABC's Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds, helping you understand when "old" becomes a crisis—and when it doesn't.

Kerry Milligan - Gogglebox Australia star bringing humor, honesty, and hard-won perspective to impossible family situations.

No bubble baths. No bullshit. Just expert-led, community-first support for people who don't need another thing to feel bad about not doing.

Club Sandwich is more than a podcast - it's a movement. Join our private Facebook community, attend live events across Australia, and access free downloadable resources with every episode.

New episodes every Thursday.

Visit clubsandwich.community to join the tribe.

Topics covered: Caregiver guilt, sibling conflict, dementia care, financial planning, legal issues, family boundaries, burnout prevention, end-of-life decisions, self-care that actually works, navigating aged care systems, and the emotional toll of caring for ageing parents.

Credits

Club Sandwich is brought to you by Vera, helping families caring for ageing parents navigate this stage of life — so you don't have to do it alone.

Sarah Macdonald - Host + Executive Producer

Melissa Reader - Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber

Rachel Fountain - Executive Producer

Audio + video edits by Fountain Media Group

Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our awesome theme music Club Sandwich - hear more from Sean at seanwayland.com

The Sandwich Generation finally gets the conversation we deserve.
Club Sandwich is the community for those caring for ageing parents while juggling work, kids, relationships, and sanity. This is your tribe when family doesn't get it - or just isn't enough.
Hosted by veteran broadcaster Sarah Macdonald, Club Sandwich features clinical psychologists instead of life coaches, GPs instead of gratitude journals, and honest conversations about the relief-guilt paradox nobody else will touch.
Episodes include: 🔧 This Week's Hack - Actionable strategy you can use today 💌 Listener Letter - Real questions from Clubbers like you 🔥 Hot Mess Moments - Stories that make you feel less alone
🛠️ What We're Using - Resources and tools that actually help
Meet the regular Clubbers:
Melissa Reader - CEO of Vera aged care platform (vera.guide) and expert on Australia's ageing crisis and system failures.
Dr. Jo Lamble - Clinical psychologist specializing in guilt, family dynamics, and the impossible decisions when every option has a cost.
Dr. Ginny Mansberg - GP and women's health advocate who tells it straight about what caregiving does to your body.
Dr. Stephanie Ward - Geriatrician and consulting expert for ABC's Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds, helping you understand when "old" becomes a crisis&mdash;and when it doesn't.
Kerry Milligan - Gogglebox Australia star bringing humor, honesty, and hard-won perspective to impossible family situations.
No bubble baths. No bullshit. Just expert-led, community-first support for people who don't need another thing to feel bad about not doing.
Club Sandwich is more than a podcast - it's a movement. Join our private Facebook community, attend live events across Australia, and access free downloadable resources with every episode.
New episodes every Thursday.
Visit <a href="https://clubsandwich.community/">clubsandwich.community</a> to join the tribe.
Topics covered: Caregiver guilt, sibling conflict, dementia care, financial planning, legal issues, family boundaries, burnout prevention, end-of-life decisions, self-care that actually works, navigating aged care systems, and the emotional toll of caring for ageing parents.
Credits
Club Sandwich is brought to you by <a href="https://vera.guide/">Vera</a>, helping families caring for ageing parents navigate this stage of life &mdash; so you don't have to do it alone.
Sarah Macdonald - Host + Executive Producer
Melissa Reader - Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber
Rachel Fountain - Executive Producer
Audio + video edits by <a href="https://www.fountainmediagroup.com.au/">Fountain Media Group</a>
Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our awesome theme music Club Sandwich - hear more from Sean at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seanwayland.com/">seanwayland.com</a>

The community for maxed-out midlifers caring for ageing parents and everything else. Hosted by Sarah Macdonald. Clinical psychologists instead of life coaches. Real support instead of wellness BS. You've got them. We've got you.

Club Sandwich

What do you do when your kids are still little and your parents are already old? Beloved parenting educator Maggie Dent joins Sarah Macdonald for the double squeeze — COVID's developmental hangovers, what's really under a tantrum, burnt chop syndrome and the 90-minutes-in-the-diary rule, giving little kids a real job in Grandpa's care, and why children need the real words for death. Warm, wise and very funny. Content note: discusses death and dying, children's grief and dementia.