There’s a stage of life we don’t talk about enough.

You’re managing your career, your children, your relationships… and at the same time, stepping into supporting or caring for your parents.

It often happens quickly. Without warning. Without a roadmap.

In this episode, I share a deeply personal experience of navigating this season. The emotional weight, the decisions, the constant thinking ahead, and the mental load that sits behind it all.

Because it’s not just what you’re doing… it’s what you’re carrying.

There’s also a quieter layer to this that doesn’t get spoken about. The grief that comes with watching your parents change, lose independence, or decline. The shift from being supported to becoming the support.

This isn’t just a personal conversation.

It’s a leadership one.

Because many people are navigating this quietly while still showing up to work every day. And if you’re leading people, understanding what sits behind someone’s energy, behaviour and capacity matters.

This episode is about awareness, compassion, and recognising that you are not alone in this season.

In this episode, I cover:
What the sandwich generation really is, and why it’s growing
• The hidden mental load of caring for both children and parents
• The emotional impact, including grief and role reversal
• Why this stage can feel overwhelming, even when everything looks “fine”
• The importance of asking for support and not doing it all alone
• Why leaders need to understand what their people may be carrying

 

Timestamps

00:00 Podcast intro
00:28 The reality of the sandwich generation
01:55 A personal story and what this stage looks like
03:41 My own caregiving experience
05:36 The hidden mental load
06:49 Why this matters in the workplace
08:45 Grief and cognitive decline
10:12 Break
11:24 Sibling roles and distance care
14:12 Don’t lose yourself in the process
15:50 Support, resources and reflection
16:47 Close

 

Links:
Learn more about my group coaching program here

Connect with Julie:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/
Instagram:@juliehydeleads
Website: https://juliehyde.com.au

There&rsquo;s a stage of life we don&rsquo;t talk about enough.
You&rsquo;re managing your career, your children, your relationships&hellip; and at the same time, stepping into supporting or caring for your parents.
It often happens quickly. Without warning. Without a roadmap.
In this episode, I share a deeply personal experience of navigating this season. The emotional weight, the decisions, the constant thinking ahead, and the mental load that sits behind it all.
Because it&rsquo;s not just what you&rsquo;re doing&hellip; it&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;re carrying.
There&rsquo;s also a quieter layer to this that doesn&rsquo;t get spoken about. The grief that comes with watching your parents change, lose independence, or decline. The shift from being supported to becoming the support.
This isn&rsquo;t just a personal conversation.
It&rsquo;s a leadership one.
Because many people are navigating this quietly while still showing up to work every day. And if you&rsquo;re leading people, understanding what sits behind someone&rsquo;s energy, behaviour and capacity matters.
This episode is about awareness, compassion, and recognising that you are not alone in this season.
In this episode, I cover:
<ul>
<li>What the sandwich generation really is, and why it&rsquo;s growing &bull; The hidden mental load of caring for both children and parents &bull; The emotional impact, including grief and role reversal &bull; Why this stage can feel overwhelming, even when everything looks &ldquo;fine&rdquo; &bull; The importance of asking for support and not doing it all alone &bull; Why leaders need to understand what their people may be carrying</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Timestamps
00:00 Podcast intro 00:28 The reality of the sandwich generation 01:55 A personal story and what this stage looks like 03:41 My own caregiving experience 05:36 The hidden mental load 06:49 Why this matters in the workplace 08:45 Grief and cognitive decline 10:12 Break 11:24 Sibling roles and distance care 14:12 Don&rsquo;t lose yourself in the process 15:50 Support, resources and reflection 16:47 Close
&nbsp;
Links: Learn more about my group coaching program&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au/leadher-mastermind">here</a>
Connect with Julie: LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/" data-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hyde/</a> Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/" data-href="https://www.instagram.com/juliehydeleads/"> @juliehydeleads</a> Website:&nbsp;<a href="https://juliehyde.com.au">https://juliehyde.com.au</a>

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?

Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.

There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.

I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.

Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.

Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.

A Podcast dedicated to business owners and leaders to inspire you to make it count

Leading You

Want to know the secret to confident and successful leadership?
Every week, Leading You showcases leadership of all kinds and you get the scoop on how to be an effective, modern leader who makes an impact.
There’s one thing we all have in common. We’re all leaders. First and foremost, you’re a leader of you. You don’t need a title to be a leader. Leadership is a mindset which anyone can adopt to create influence. The more leaders the world has, the better it will be.
I'll let you into something I know to be true - You can’t be a leader of others unless you’re a leader of self first. So if you want to have impact that leads to prosperity and happiness, it all starts with you. With your mindset and personal leadership toolbox, which Leading You will help you build up.
Leading you is hosted by Julie Hyde, an entrepreneur, corporate drop out and passionate leader. Julie knows one thing: you can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you respond. It’s why Leading You is important.
Each week, guests share their secret sauce. They reveal their roadmaps to success. How they’ve stayed anchored to who they are, insights into their courage and resilience and how to be emotionally and behaviourally agile. It’s a conversation, not an interrogation, and you’ll hear the human side of household names.