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

This week we are joined by Rabbi Gersh Lazarow, founding rabbi of Shtiebel in Melbourne, for a conversation we have mostly avoided on this show. We recorded it a few days after the anniversary of October 7. It is frank, sometimes uncomfortable, and one of the more important episodes we have done. We discuss personal journeys, cultural traditions, and identity. Gersh shares his story of leaving apartheid South Africa and how he came to be a rabbi and build Shtiebel. We delve into faith and culture, the war in Gaza, the experience of Jewish Australians over the past three years, and how hard it has become to hold complexity when everything pushes us into sides.

We close on how people with very different views can still sit at the same table, what the rabbinical tradition of debate offers here, the need for community and understanding amidst division, with an emphasis on the role of language and shared experiences in fostering connection.

A reminder that our first live show is at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, 6 to 9pm. Invitations go out this week.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
• 03:34 Welcoming Rabbi Gersh Lazarow
• 05:32 Rabbi Gersh's Journey and Background
• 11:01 Exploring Faith and Spirituality
• 14:00 Cultural vs. Religious Identity
• 19:12 The Complexity of Current Events
• 26:30 Navigating the Dichotomy of Opinions
• 30:48 The Impact of Technology on Discourse
• 35:33 The Pain of Innocence in War
• 36:38 Accusations and Social Dynamics
• 37:19 Emboldened Voices and Experiences
• 41:04 The Ugliness of Modern Warfare
• 43:54 Personal Responsibility in Discourse
• 46:45 Navigating Community and Identity
• 50:55 The Shift in Political Discourse
• 54:21 Historical Context and Responsibility
• 57:10 Building Community Amidst Tension

We're joined by Louise Clegg, former Sydney barrister, Spectator columnist and wife of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor. She takes us through life at the bar, the Constitution, and her views on the Voice.

We talk technocracy, and how it affects everything from native vegetation rules to renewable energy zones. We explore why the Liberals are roadkill and why One Nation can't survive captain's calls with Pauline as the whole brand, and of course we chat about life as the partner of Opposition Leader Angus Taylor.

We're live at the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday 25 November, tickets out this week.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Weekly Updates
• 03:11 Introducing Louise Clegg
• 04:28 Louise introduces Shandys
• 06:54 Reflections on the Legal Profession
• 11:58 Constitutional Conservatism and Political Culture
• 16:30 The Voice to Parliament Debate
• 30:00 Technocracy and Its Implications
• 34:43 Navigating Energy Transition Challenges
• 40:07 The Role of Technocracy in Politics
• 48:00 Political Dynamics and Party Identity
• 53:58 Personal Insights on Political Life