Tumbleweed Plan

02/02/2026

Featured Sandwiched episode: A Labor of Love | Sherrell D. Mims on Faith, Loss, and Building the Global Caregivers Network.

Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Sherrell D. Mims, a psychiatric nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of the Global Caregivers Network. Sherrell shares how becoming a caregiver at eleven shaped a lifelong calling—and how decades in nursing, including the COVID-19 pandemic, deepened that mission.

Through love and loss, Sherrell found purpose in pain, building communities that help caregivers around the world feel seen, supported, and connected. A conversation about faith as an anchor, the emotional toll of caregiving, and what it takes to keep going when care is a labor of love.

Listen on PodBean: https://loom.ly/fv-n-T4

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Sandwiched is a podcast powered by Tumbleweed, created for and by the Sandwich Generation—the 1 in 4 adults balancing kids, careers, pets, and caring for our aging population. Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., a lifetime caregiver and Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, the show shares honest stories of caregiving, grief, resilience, and legacy.

Available on: PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Reserve a spot for the 3rd Annual National Family Caregiver Conference November Edition 2025 Go to: https://bit.ly/3HKPXOa In this heartfelt episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Sherrell D. Mims, a psychiatric nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of the Global Caregivers Net...

01/30/2026

Myth: End-of-life planning is only for “later.”

Reality: Planning is what keeps a hard moment from becoming a chaotic moment.

Starting early gives you time to talk about values, preferences, and responsibilities—before a crisis forces fast decisions.

If you need a gentle way to start the conversation, this guide helps: The Gentle Approach: How to Initiate Difficult Financial Conversations with Aging Parents.

Read here >> https://loom.ly/QCjN4ts

01/28/2026

Hard conversations often stall because we’re afraid of saying the wrong thing.

A helpful first step is learning the language of care so decisions feel less intimidating.

One big example: understanding palliative care vs. hospice.

Read more >> [https://loom.ly/ulR5i_c)

01/26/2026

Featured Sandwiched episode: Finding Strength After Unimaginable Loss: Jeff Johnston on Grief, Purpose, and Choosing a New Path.

Content Warning: This episode includes conversation about su***de, substance use, and grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of su***de, call or text 988 in the U.S. If outside the U.S., visit iasp.info/crisis for international support.

Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Jeff Johnston (founder and CEO of Brighten, host of Living Undeterred) to talk about grief, resilience, and caregiving behind closed doors. Jeff shares the losses that reshaped his life, his path to sobriety, and why access to mental health support matters.

Listen on PodBean: https://loom.ly/vPPNUr8

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Sandwiched is a podcast powered by Tumbleweed, created for and by the Sandwich Generation—the 1 in 4 adults balancing kids, careers, pets, and caring for our aging population. Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., a lifetime caregiver and Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, the show shares honest stories of caregiving, grief, resilience, and legacy.

Available on: PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Content Warning:This episode includes conversation about su***de, substance use, and grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of su***de, call or text 988 in the U.S. If outside the U.S., visit iasp.info/crisis for international support. In t...

01/21/2026

Legacy isn’t only paperwork. It’s also the stories, traditions, and choices that tell people what mattered to you.

But here’s the bridge: an updated plan protects the people you love from confusion when it counts.

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your documents, this is your nudge: The Annual Legacy Check-up.

01/19/2026

Featured Sandwiched episode: The Moment Everything Changes: A Sandwiched Reflection on How Caregiving Begins.

Paul H. Richardson Jr. reflects on a truth shared by many caregivers: nobody plans for this role. There’s often a single moment that shifts life in an instant—a diagnosis, a fall, a late-night hospital trip—that becomes the start of a new reality.

Drawing from stories across the show, this episode honors the emotional pivot that happens at the beginning: fear, responsibility, instinct, and the quiet realization that life will not look the same.

Listen on PodBean: https://loom.ly/Uscn7g8

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Sandwiched is a podcast powered by Tumbleweed, created for and by the Sandwich Generation—the 1 in 4 adults balancing kids, careers, pets, and caring for our aging population. Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., a lifetime caregiver and Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, the show shares honest stories of caregiving, grief, resilience, and legacy.

Available on: PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

In this special episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. looks back on a handful of conversations that reveal a truth shared by every caregiver who has joined the show: no one plans for this role. There is always an event that shifts a life in an instant. A diagnosis that stops the room. A...

01/17/2026

If you don’t know how to start, borrow these words.

> “I’m doing this because I love you. I want it to be easier for you if something unexpected happens. Could we set aside 20 minutes this week to talk about what I’d want if I got seriously ill?”

Make it your own:
- Swap “seriously ill” for “in the hospital” or “in an emergency”
- Pick a time and suggest it

Save this for later when your brain is tired.

01/15/2026

Myth vs Reality: “I need all the answers before I start.”

If this thought has been keeping you stuck, you’re not doing anything wrong — you’re being human. Most people avoid planning conversations because they think they have to get everything “right” before they begin.

Planning is not a test. It’s a kindness you do in pieces — so the people you love are not left guessing in a stressful moment.

A gentle starting point:
- Pick one person you trust (a partner, sibling, close friend, or advisor).
- Write down 3 wishes that matter most (comfort, independence, staying at home, faith, keeping peace in the family — whatever is true for you).
- Choose one next step for this week (schedule a 15-minute chat, find one document, or write down one important password location).

You can build from there. Small clarity today can prevent big confusion later.

Save this for when you’re ready, and share it with someone who might need a softer way to begin.

01/12/2026

Featured Sandwiched episode: Carrying the Load No One Sees: Lauren “L2” Howard on Caregiving, Boundaries, and True Partnership.

Lauren “L2” Howard (CEO of LB Health) shares what caregiving looks like when it shows up everywhere at once: parenting, supporting aging parents, leading businesses, and carrying the emotional weight of family dynamics.

This conversation explores invisible labor, gender expectations, and the boundary work that makes stability possible—plus what true partnership looks like when support means stepping in without being asked.

Listen on PodBean: https://loom.ly/DMLOzaA

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Sandwiched is a podcast powered by Tumbleweed, created for and by the Sandwich Generation—the 1 in 4 adults balancing kids, careers, pets, and caring for our aging population. Hosted by Paul H. Richardson Jr., a lifetime caregiver and Founder and CEO of Tumbleweed, the show shares honest stories of caregiving, grief, resilience, and legacy.

Available on: PodBean, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

In this candid and deeply validating episode of Sandwiched, host Paul H. Richardson Jr. sits down with Lauren “L2” Howard, CEO of LB Health, to explore what caregiving looks like when it shows up everywhere at once. As a business leader, parent, partner, and daughter, Lauren describes a life def...

01/10/2026

Try this opener if you don’t know how to start — it gives you a calm, caring way to bring up planning without sounding scary or dramatic.

When to use it
- When you want to talk with a partner, parent, or adult child about “what if” topics.
- When you’ve been putting it off because you don’t want to stress anyone out.
- When you want the conversation to feel like care, not control.

The simple opener (script)
“I’ve been thinking about what matters to me if something unexpected happens. I’d like to make things easier for you. Could we talk for 20 minutes this week?”

Why this works
- It starts with your feelings, not their mistakes.
- It frames planning as a gift: less confusion, fewer hard decisions later.
- It asks for a short, specific time (20 minutes) which feels doable.

How to say it gently
- Send it as a text first if an in-person talk feels heavy.
- Swap in your own words: “I want to make things easier for you” → “I want to take some pressure off you.”
- If they’re hesitant: “We don’t have to decide everything. Just one small first step.”

If you want a simple next step
End the 20 minutes by agreeing on one thing to capture (for example: who to call, where key documents are, or what matters most in a tough situation).

Need more gentle wording and tips? The Gentle Approach.
Read more here >> https://loom.ly/QCjN4ts

01/08/2026

Ever hear the myth that legacy planning is “only for older people”? You’re not alone — and this carousel is here to gently reframe it.

Read more here >> https://loom.ly/QCjN4ts

Life doesn’t wait for a milestone birthday. A sudden illness, an accident, or an unexpected change can force families into decisions they never talked through.

If we wait, it often shows up as:
- Rushed choices
- Misunderstandings about roles and responsibilities
- More tension, guilt, and second‑guessing

If we start earlier, even in small ways, it can lead to:
- Calmer decisions when emotions are high
- Clearer roles (so no one is guessing)
- Fewer surprises for the whole family

Save this and share it with someone you care about.

If you want a gentle way to begin, start with just one question this week. The Gentle Approach: How to Initiate Difficult Financial Conversations with Aging Parents can help you open the door without turning it into a heavy, overwhelming talk.

Read more here >> https://loom.ly/QCjN4ts

01/06/2026

Planning for the future doesn’t have to be scary or overwhelming.

A good legacy plan is just a few clear steps, taken one at a time:
- Gather key documents
- Name trusted decision-makers
- Write down what matters most to you

If you’ve been avoiding it because it feels like “too much,” start small.

Read the simple checklist here: Legacy Planning Guide 101: https://tumbleweededucation.substack.com/p/legacy-planning-guide-101-you-roadmap

Planning for the future isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about creating clarity during uncertain times and ensuring your wishes are honored when it matters most.