This week we're joined by broadcaster Sarah Macdonald about Club Sandwich, a podcast community for people caught between caring for ageing parents and everything else in life. We discuss ageing, caring, and how the generations look after each other. Sarah shares her years in the sandwich generation and how that led to building Club Sandwich. We delve into the hidden army of family carers, our awkward relationship with death and dying, the strain on aged care and private health, generational fairness, and what we do with the wealth older Australians hold. Along the way we explore how the system could better support the whole family, and the communities, cultural attitudes and conversations that help us age with dignity.

A reminder that tickets are now available for our first live show at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm.
https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026

You can find Club Sandwich wherever you get your podcasts.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:41 Introducing Sarah McDonald
• 07:35 The Sandwich Generation Explained
• 15:02 Generational Perspectives on Aging
• 18:59 Navigating Aging and Death Conversations
• 24:05 Navigating Death and Communication
• 27:18 Personal Perspectives on Death
• 29:04 Aged Care Politics and Challenges
• 30:55 The Aged Care System's Burden
• 33:18 Financial Implications of Aged Care
• 37:43 Intergenerational Issues in Aged Care
• 40:50 Policy Responses to Aged Care Crisis
• 48:17 The Sandwich Generation's Struggles
• 49:39 Cultural Perspectives on Intergenerational Living
• 52:54 Redefining Community and Housing
• 54:49 The Challenge of Inheritance and Wealth Distribution
• 57:39 Societal Attitudes Towards Aging and Caregiving
• 01:01:46 The Future of Care: Robots and Community Solutions