80 million Americans depend on Medicaid. It’s the country’s number one healthcare provider – and it's now facing massive cuts that will hit women, immigrants and communities of color the hardest. Here to break down what it all means is Ai-jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and Executive Director of Caring Across Generations. Despite the challenges ahead, Ai-jen is leading the fight to support caregivers through storytelling, putting pressure on lawmakers, and talking about how we all benefit from Medicaid. This show was created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Caring for a Parent Who Didn’t Care for You
Juggling a demanding career and a young family is already overwhelming. But what happens when you add caring for an estranged parent to the equation? That’s exactly what happened to podcaster and author Jonathan Hirsch when his father Thomas was diagnosed with dementia. Jonathan’s parents raised him in a cult, and were largely absent from his life growing up. Now, he’s had to navigate the logistics, guilt, and grief that comes with caring for someone who never truly cared for you. This show was created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. For a deeper dive into Jonathan’s story, check out his new book, The Mind is Burning: Losing my Father to a Cult and Dementia Check out AARP’s Caregiving Checklist for help choosing an assisted living facility.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Raising Kids, Fighting Cancer
When Tara Kovach was diagnosed with colon cancer at 47, her already squeezed life as a working, divorced mom of two kids was turned upside down. Suddenly, the everyday struggles of balancing work with parenting were overshadowed by the stark reality of fighting cancer. In this episode, Tara opens up about the emotional and physical toll of going through surgery and chemotherapy while caring for her children, and the unexpected isolation she felt as a cancer survivor. This show was created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Rage, Guilt, and Love in Alzheimer’s Caregiving
After Lauren Miller Rogen's mother Adele was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she and her husband Seth Rogen didn't just become caregivers – they also became advocates, using their platform to shine a light on a disease that affects millions of families. Through their foundation Hilarity for Charity, they’re creating community and supporting other families navigating care for Alzheimer’s. This show was created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right. Learn more about Lauren and Seth’s advocacy and support their mission at wearehfc.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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The Long Goodbye
For the season premiere of Squeezed, host Yvette Nicole Brown reunites with Lemonada co-founder and mom of two Stephanie Wittels Wachs. The last time they spoke, both were navigating the challenges of caring for their fathers – Steph’s dad in an assisted living facility and Yvette’s dad living at home with her. Now, more than a year later, Yvette’s dad is in a full-time care facility and Steph’s dad has passed away. In this poignant episode, they explore a very crucial part of caregiving: end of life. It’s a conversation that’s raw, real and, ultimately, healing. This show was created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Every caregiving journey is unique, but the isolation, guilt, and exhaustion is universal. In Season 2 of Squeezed, Yvette Nicole Brown dives back into the everyday realities of caregivers today, from Medicaid cuts that could upend millions of lives to caring for young kids while going through chemo. She’ll also explore the complex emotions of caring for a parent who was never really there for you, and what happens when the caregiving journey comes to an end once your loved one passes.
Squeezed is a new series by Lemonada Media, created in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.