The chaos of caring for ageing parents: the best podcasts of the week

"The Struggle is Real: A Glimmer of Hope in the Chaos of Caring for Aging Parents"

For many of us, caring for aging parents can be a daunting and exhausting experience. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, where one minute you're laughing with your parent, and the next you're crying over their latest health crisis.

Vanessa Grigoriadis' podcast "So Your Parents are Old" offers a lifeline to those navigating this complex terrain. Her first guest, Leeza Gibbons, shares her own story of caring for an aging relative, drawing on her experience as a talkshow host and founder of the Carers Centre.

This is no sugarcoated or superficial chat; it's a raw and honest exploration of what it means to be in this position. Gibbons' tale, complete with a stint on Celebrity Apprentice, serves as a testament to the fact that even those who seem unflappable can find themselves on the edge, caring for their loved ones.

But the podcast isn't all doom and gloom. It's also an essential resource, offering practical advice and support to those who need it most. This is what makes "So Your Parents are Old" a beacon of hope in an otherwise chaotic world.

On a different note, Foreign Policy has released a new series on the very real threats facing our world: HIV, TB, and malaria. Every year, over two million people succumb to these diseases, but with funding cuts and shifting priorities, it's possible that they could surge again. Henry Bonsu hosts this essential discussion, talking to experts about what we can do to change the course of history.

Meanwhile, Avery Trufelman's "Articles of Interest" continues to impress, delving into the unlikely connections between military gear and high-end outdoor clothing – think prison uniforms and ski gear. And just in time for Halloween, "Conversations With Ghosts" arrives with a fascinating look at the intersection of horror and memoir-style fiction.

Finally, "The History Podcast: The House at Number 48" offers up another thought-provoking story about identity and family history. Antony Easton's discovery of his father's German birth certificate sets off a chain reaction that uncovers secrets about the Eisner family's fate during World War II. This is what podcasting can do best: shed light on dark corners and bring us closer to understanding our shared humanity.
 
Ugh, I just got back from the most random road trip to visit my aunt who lives like, super far away πŸš—πŸžοΈ. I swear, I've been driving for hours and I still can't believe how many weird things happen on the side of the road – like, have you ever seen a deer literally leap onto your car? 😱 it was wild! anyway, speaking of wild stuff, did you know that scientists just discovered a new species of jellyfish in the depths of the ocean? 🐳 it's supposed to be super tiny and transparent... sounds kinda cool, right? πŸ’¦
 
πŸ€” I think it's really important to acknowledge the weight of caring for aging parents, we're talking 24/7 stress with no clear end in sight πŸ’ͺ. It's like being stuck on a never-ending highway, constantly driving but getting nowhere πŸš—. But what "So Your Parents are Old" podcast does is remind us that we're not alone in this journey πŸ‘«. And I love how it shares real-life stories of struggles and triumphs – Leeza Gibbons' experience is like a rollercoaster ride, but it's okay to take the brakes sometimes πŸšͺ. The point is, there are people who understand what you're going through, so don't be afraid to reach out for help or just a listening ear πŸ‘‚.
 
I think it's so brave of Vanessa Grigoriadis for creating this podcast, "So Your Parents are Old" πŸ™ It's not an easy topic to tackle, but she's doing a great job of sharing real stories that can really help people feel less alone in their caregiving journey πŸ’• The fact that Leeza Gibbons has been open about her own experiences is super inspiring - it shows that even strong women like us can be vulnerable and honest 🌟
 
I'm so glad there are ppl out there sharing their honest stories about caring for aging parents, it's like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders knowing I'm not alone in this struggle πŸ€—. I think Vanessa Grigoriadis' podcast is really brave because she's tackling this tough topic head-on and offering actual solutions, not just sympathy πŸ™. It's so important we're having these conversations, like Henry Bonsu on Foreign Policy, talking about the real threats facing our world, it's giving me hope that we can make a difference πŸ’•.
 
I'm tellin' ya, caregiving for aging parents is like bein' stuck in a never-endin' loop of stress 🀯. I remember when my own mom was goin' through some health issues back in the day... it was a wild ride, let me tell you 😩. But you know what's even more important than findin' ways to manage that stress? Findin' people who understand what you're goin' through, ya know? That's why podcasts like "So Your Parents are Old" are like a breath of fresh air πŸ’¨. They're raw, honest, and they offer practical advice, too! And on a totally different note, I'm gettin' worried about all these diseases that are still goin' around 🀒. HIV, TB, malaria... it's crazy how we can't seem to catch a break with our healthcare system πŸ™„. But hey, at least there are people out there talkin' about it and tryin' to make a difference πŸ’ͺ. And have you guys listened to any good podcasts lately? I'm all about that "Conversations With Ghosts" vibe 😱...
 
I gotta say, caring for aging parents is not easy 🀯. I've seen people go from happy to totally lost in a split second when it comes to their loved ones' health issues. But at least now we have some decent resources like Vanessa Grigoriadis' podcast "So Your Parents are Old" πŸ’‘. I mean, it's no joke, but Gibbons is giving real talk and sharing her own story of struggle. And, tbh, it's actually pretty refreshing to hear someone be so honest about the emotional rollercoaster they're on 🎒.

But what really gets me is how we need more support for people in this situation. We can't just keep expecting them to figure it out on their own πŸ’ͺ. Funding cuts and shifting priorities are a huge problem when it comes to diseases like HIV, TB, and malaria - two million people dying every year? It's crazy 🀯.

And, on a completely unrelated note, I'm loving Avery Trufelman's "Articles of Interest" right now πŸ”. The way he connects military gear to high-end outdoor clothing is wild πŸ˜‚. And, of course, the history podcast series is always solid πŸ‘.
 
I don't know how people are gonna cope with this aging parent thing... I mean, it's one thing to hear about it on a podcast, but actually having to deal with it is another story altogether 🀯. I'm not saying there aren't some good resources out there like Vanessa Grigoriadis' podcast, but let's be real, most of us aren't experts in geriatric care... or have the patience for it πŸ˜’. And what about those who can't afford to care for their parents? It just seems like another burden on our already over-stretched social services system πŸ’Έ.
 
πŸ€” u know what really gets me is how these podcasts are just tryna help ppl thru this crazy parent-care situation πŸ™Œ but what i wish is that they would organize their episodes better, like a clear structure or a consistent format πŸ“… like i'm all about layout and stuff 😎 it'd make it easier for ppl to find specific topics or advice πŸ€— also, can we pls get more visual aids, like infographics or something? πŸ“Š it's hard to visualize complex info without some sick visuals πŸ“Έ
 
I'm so frustrated with how healthcare is being cut back and it's like, we're already struggling enough with our own families, you know? πŸ€• Like, caring for an aging parent is hard enough without having to worry about the system failing them too. But I guess podcasts like Vanessa Grigoriadis' are helping to raise awareness and provide support, which is a great start. We need more resources and funding for healthcare, not less! πŸ’Š And can we talk about how some diseases are being neglected? Like HIV, TB, and malaria... it's crazy that they're still major threats 🀯. We need to take action and protect our global health! 🌎
 
omg i'm so sorry for being late to this thread πŸ™ˆ, but i just listened to "So Your Parents are Old" with Leeza Gibbons and i'm OBSESSED πŸ’– it's like she's speaking directly to me, you know? i've been trying to care for my mom for years and it feels like i'm constantly losing myself in the process 😩, so to hear someone else share their real story was like a breath of fresh air πŸ’¨. i loved how raw and honest Vanessa is with her podcasting πŸŽ™οΈ, she's not afraid to get vulnerable and that's exactly what we need right now πŸ€—. has anyone listened to this yet? πŸ‘€
 
You know, I've been listening to those podcasts you mentioned... "So Your Parents are Old" is actually really good πŸ€”. It's like Vanessa Grigoriadis just talks straight, no sugarcoating or anything. I think it's so important that she shares her own story and experiences because it makes it feel less alone-ish for all of us who are going through this. And I love how practical the advice is too - sometimes I'm like "oh man, I need to do that" πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ
 
Umm... I think caring for aging parents is kinda not that bad πŸ€”... I mean, it's really tough, don't get me wrong, but like, there's also this whole 'love your parent thing' going on πŸ’•... and some people seem to thrive when they're in these situations? Like, they find purpose or something πŸ’«...

But, at the same time, isn't it kinda selfish of us to expect our parents to just be okay with all the times we screw up and make them cry 😭... I mean, don't get me wrong, they should totally care about us, but shouldn't we also support them? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ...

And can we talk about how messed up it is that funding for diseases like HIV and TB keeps getting cut? Like, two million people dying every year is wild... 😲 we need to do better than this πŸ’ͺ...

Oh, and have you guys listened to Avery's podcast? It's like, totally weird but also kinda interesting πŸ”₯... I mean, prison uniforms as ski gear? 🀯 what even is that?!
 
🀯 I think we need to talk about the state of mental health support for caregivers. It's one thing to have a podcast like "So Your Parents are Old" that shares personal stories, but what about actual resources and services? We need to start investing in caregiver support centers, counseling programs, and hotlines that can provide immediate help. We can't just talk about it, we need to take action 🚨πŸ’ͺ
 
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