Agehood
Agehood
Podcast Description
Agehood is the podcast that finally says what we're all thinking but rarely saying out loud. Hosted by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, we have the conversations that matter most: watching our parents age, being everyone's go-to person, the mess of love and duty, what it really takes to care for those we love, and yes, death, dying, and loss.
You'll hear Australia's most trusted voices, from beloved broadcasters to respected experts, vulnerably sharing their own stories alongside practical guidance that actually helps. This isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking the right questions and knowing you're not alone.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Agehood centers on themes such as caregiving, aging parents, and the experiences of the sandwich generation. Episodes delve into pressing issues like the care cliff as discussed by demographer Bernard Salt, as well as personal stories from guests like Sarah MacDonald, who discusses navigating the challenges of caring for aging relatives while raising children. The show emphasizes vulnerability and the need for open conversations about death and loss.
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
She used to let everyone else win. Now nobody’s safe at bowls.
Ageing parents? You’ve got them. We’ve got you.
JOIN THE CLUB: Visit clubsandwich.community to join the tribe, access resources, and find our private Facebook community.
SEND US YOUR QUESTION: [email protected]
In this episode: Sarah visits a dementia day programme run by ECH in Adelaide to meet Gina, who’s living with dementia; her husband David; and daughters Marie and Michelle. Gina has become more competitive, more outgoing and more herself since her diagnosis. Vanessa Stanley-Gordon, who runs ECH’s programmes, explains why that’s not as unusual as it sounds.
Topics covered in this episode:
– Dementia day programmes as respite and quality of life
– Personality change after a dementia diagnosis, masking and early signs
– How relationships with pets can be an ‘early warning system’
– Carer guilt, and why taking a break isn’t abandonment
– Why vascular dementia isn’t the worst news you can hear
– Commonwealth Home Support and user-pays access routes
Featured in this episode:
Sarah Macdonald — Veteran broadcaster and host.
Gina — Living with dementia, and thriving.
Marie and Michelle — Gina’s daughters.
Vanessa Stanley-Gordon — Runs ECH’s day programmes.
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 who tells it straight.
Dr Stephanie Ward — Geriatrician helping you understand when “old” becomes a crisis.
Kerry Milligan — Gogglebox star bringing humour and honesty to the sandwich generation.
This episode was supported by Australian Unity, home health and care services — australianunity.com.au/clubsandwich.
Vera is your candid companion as you care for an ageing parent. Have a look at https://vera.guide.
FACES (Families for Aged Care Equity and Support) is a family-led campaign asking for one honest count of the number of people waiting for their aged care funding and the people who die while they’re waiting. Add your name at vera.guide/faces.
Put The Kettle On — Vera’s free conversation guide: the five questions worth asking your ageing mum or dad, at putthekettleon.com.au
Credits:
Sarah Macdonald – Host + Executive Producer
Melissa Reader – Commissioning Editor, Executive Producer + Clubber
Justin McArthur – Executive Producer + Editor for P. Zinner Pods (https://pzinner.com.au)
Thanks and kudos to Sean Wayland for our theme music ‘Club Sandwich’ — hear more at https://seanwayland.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Disclaimer
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