In Sickness

In this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, we explore one of the most urgent and overlooked challenges in today’s workforce: how employers can better support employees who are also caregivers. With more than half of U.S. caregivers balancing their responsibilities while working full time, companies are facing a cultural and structural reckoning. What does real support look like? What’s missing? And how can leaders build workplaces where caregivers don’t have to choose between their job and the people they love?To unpack these questions, we’re joined by three leaders who bring deep experience from business, policy, and lived caregiving:Jim Weiss (Founder & Chairman, Real Chemistry) Jim shares how caregiving shaped his leadership philosophy and why companies must normalize conversations about care. He discusses the cultural barriers that keep employees silent and the role executives play in modeling vulnerability and flexibility.Cindy Diogo-Kociuba (Founder, Consoul) Cindy brings a policy and HR lens, highlighting the gaps that still leave caregivers unsupported - from inconsistent leave policies to the lack of manager training. She offers practical steps organizations can take to build more equitable, caregiver inclusive workplaces.Paurvi Bhatt (Founder & CEO, ThirdEyeFocus) Paurvi reframes caregiving as a leadership competency and a strategic business issue. She explains why companies that invest in caregiver support see stronger retention, better performance, and more resilient cultures.Key Themes & Takeaways• Caregiving is a workforce reality, not a personal side issue Millions of employees are quietly juggling care responsibilities - and most feel they can’t talk about it at work.• Culture matters as much as policy Even generous benefits fall flat if employees fear stigma or career penalties.• Leaders set the tone When executives acknowledge caregiving in their own lives, it gives employees permission to do the same.• Flexibility is the new currency Caregivers need autonomy, not just time off - and companies that embrace flexibility gain loyalty and talent.• Supporting caregivers is good business Retention, productivity, and employee well being all improve when organizations take caregiving seriously.Why This Episode MattersCaregiving is reshaping the modern workforce. As the population ages and more employees take on care roles, companies must evolve - not just with policies, but with empathy, understanding, and leadership. This episode offers a roadmap for organizations ready to meet that moment.

Guests: • Dr. Benjamin Lowentritt – Medical Director, Prostate Cancer Program at Chesapeake Urology, Vice President, Physician Services for United Urology Group.• Bob Lane – Prostate cancer survivor and advocate (“Elevator Bob”)Show Notes: This episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving explores prostate cancer from two sides — the clinical expertise of Dr. Benjamin Lowentritt and the lived experience of survivor Bob Lane. Together, they discuss early signs, diagnosis, treatment options, stigma, and the importance of support — including how one man’s “elevator story” became a symbol of connection for others facing the same journey.Key Topics:- Early detection and screening- Navigating diagnosis and treatment- Emotional toll and caregiving challenges- Male stigma and health conversations- Advocacy and community support

In this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiviong, we dive deep into the emotional, physical, and logistical challenges faced by caregivers supporting loved ones with early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC). With more adults under 50 being diagnosed with this disease, caregivers are often caught off guard — juggling careers, families, and a sudden, life-altering diagnosis.Joining the conversation are an oncologist who is recognized as the foremost authority on this condition, a husband who cared for his wife, and two patients. A woman who was diagnosed in her early 40’s and a much younger woman who received the diagnosis at 24. This group offers their unique experiences as well as compassionate guidance, community, and insight.What You'll Learn in This Episode:• The unique challenges of caregiving for EOCRC patients• How early-onset symptoms differ and often lead to delayed diagnosis• Strategies for managing emotional burnout and caregiver fatigue• Navigating medical appointments, treatment plans, and advocating for your loved one• Balancing caregiving with work, parenting, and self-care• Building a support network Featured Guests:• Dr. Kimmie Ng, Associate Chief, Division of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute• Josh Trow, EOCRC Caregiver• Monica Dean, EOCRC Patient• Meagan Meadow, EOCRC PatientTo learn more, go to insickness.org

If you're raising children while caring for aging parents at the same time, you're not alone. In this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, co-hosts Bob Coughlin and Paul Kidwell explore the challenges of being a sandwich caregiver. The three podcast guests share their personal experiences as they explore the emotional, financial, and physical toll of being part of the "Sandwich Generation."

The PBS “Caregiving” documentary has sparked a national conversation that will hopefully lead to change in the many issues facing caregivers. The film features intimate stories from a diverse group of caregivers that highlight the emotional, financial, and logistical tightrope that all of us caregivers walk each day. “Caregiving” shines a light on this essential yet mostly invisible work force and humanizes it by amplifying their emotional narratives and calling attention to burnout, isolation, and gaps in resources and recognition. If you are a caregiver, you will be heartened to know how this film stands on the precipice of action and change. Join the In Sickness team as we speak with Executive Producer, Tom Chiodo, Director, Christopher Durrance, and caregiver, Matt Cauli as they share stories that will help lift caregiving from a private burden to a public cause. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

Rosalynn Carter redefined the role of caregivers in American life, spotlighting their burdens and needs long before they became a national conversation. She founded the Rosalynn Carter Institute in 1987 which continues today as a guiding light for professional and family caregivers. This episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving explores her deeply personal legacy and how that translated into a lifelong and very public commitment to caregivers and families through her work with The Carter Center and beyond. That work continues with an equally committed group of individuals who are ushering this legacy boldly into the future. Two of whom are featured on this podcast. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

The latest episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving honors Henri Termeer’s legacy as the ultimate patient advocate and caregiver. What better way to offer this tribute than with a group of people who knew him best and considered him a friend and mentor. Deborah Dunsire, John Crowley, David Meeker, John Maraganore, Bob Coughlin and Tamar Thompson reflected on Henri’s legacy and his personal influence on each and our industry. The conversation was rich, lively and filled with anecdotes, lessons learned and how Henri’s legacy continues to define the life science industry. To learn more go to insickness.org.

Living with male breast cancer presents unique physical, emotional, and social challenges, many of which stem from the rarity of the condition and the societal stigma surrounding it. There are many misconceptions about this rare form of cancer, but in this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, our two cancer patients – Arvind Natarajan and Steve Del Gardo - share their graphic stories and dispel much of the erroneous information about this condition. One patient even served double duty as his caregiver as well. We also were fortunate to have a clinician and male breast cancer specialist, Dr. Jose Pablo Leone, from Dana Farber Cancer Institute join the discussion and relate that although it might be rare, this disease is not uncommon. This episode also represents a departure from our norm as we invited fellow podcaster and cancer caregiver, Charlotte Bayala, to join us. She was wonderful and after you listen to her on our podcast you can check her out on, The Cancer Caregiver.

Compassion fatigue is quite literally, the emotional cost of caring. The physical and emotional exhaustion experienced by caregivers is a common thread in the caregiving experience. It’s a serious condition that affects anyone finding themselves in a helping or caregiving role. This episode of In Sickness had the privilege of speaking with three of the authors – Peter Dudley, Antoinette LeCouteur, Tammy Hurst - of the extraordinary book, Relit. It’s a collection of essays by individuals engaged in a “heart-based role” who succumbed to the eventual care inertia. Think the heart writ large. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

In this episode of In Sickness, we were the fortunate guests of Takeda Pharmaceuticals as they asked us to take part in their annual celebration of Rare Disease Day by recording our podcast in front of an audience of over 50 energized employees. What a thrill for Bob and I to speak with three of their employees who are also caregivers. Equally delighted to field questions from the audience. Takeda is a company that clearly understands that by supporting caregivers, they can improve patient outcomes. After hearing from our hosts at Takeda, which included one of their executive leaders I believe they also do this because it is the right thing to do. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

Collaboration between caregivers and biopharma companies can lead to innovations that benefit both the patient and their support systems, leading to better health outcomes, more effective therapies, and a higher quality of life for all involved. In this special Rare Disease Day 2025 podcast you will hear the story of Ron and Marla Chapleau and how they have cared for their Aiden who has an ultrarare neurodegenerative disease for over two decades. You will also hear how one company, Vigil Neuroscience, is developing a therapy to help treat Aiden’s condition and the strong bond that has developed between Vigil and the Chapleau family. to learn more, go to insickness.org.

At first glance Sawyer looks like most Golden Retrievers. Floppy ears, kind eyes and a never-stop-wagging tail. But then you step inside the home of Ron and Linda Baxter and see him in action helping Linda who has MS and is in a wheelchair. On any given day Sawyer can aid Linda in retrieving and carrying items, opening and closing doors, providing mobility assistance, and assisting with navigation. Plus, he provides emotional support to Linda as well as Ron who finds him invaluable in reducing the pressures and commitment of being a caregiver. This episode looks at caregiving through the eyes of Sawyer, the couple who embraces him and the organization who trains him. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

All caregivers reach a point where the responsibilities of caregiving bumps heads with the demands of life. It’s usually a combination of physical, emotional and/or mental exhaustion brought on by caring for a loved one over a prolonged period. That’s what happened to podcast guest Kate Washington, who cared for her husband as he endured a series of serious health setbacks. She tried to keep up with the increasing demands of his many illnesses, without adequate support or self-care. Until she couldn’t. It’s an experience she chronicled in her excellent book, Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America. Joining Kate on the podcast to offer a clinical perspective is Michelle Feng, a licensed psychologist and healthcare executive with a specialization in geriatrics, behavioral medicine, and caregiving. To learn more, visit insickness.org.

For this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving we took the podcast on the road. At the invitation of Pfizer, Inc. we recorded our podcast at the company’s New York City headquarters as part of their annual “Patients in Focus” week. Host, Paul Kidwell, had the pleasure of speaking with Pfizer’s VP, Global Patient Advocacy, Emma Andrews and Jason Resendez who is the CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving. Among the topics discussed were the evolving role of caregivers, the need for more interaction between caregivers and the biopharmaceutical industry, and some of the needs that both groups are filling.

Stories of individuals living with and enduring the challenges of any disease never fail to move and inspire others. This is especially true when the illness becomes fatal, and life is shortened. Maria Middleton was an exceptional young girl when she was diagnosed with a rare brain cancer and only 15 when she passed away. I use the word exceptional because during her final months when she was experiencing the brunt of her illness, Maria took the time to touch and move others. She wanted to strengthen their own personal resolve and encourage them to never lose hope. She cared that much. Maria’s message continues to ripple around the world even after her death. Maria’s parents Susan and Brian share the profound story of their daughter on this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving. To learn more, go to insickness.org.

It takes courage and compassion to be a police officer. The same is true for a caregiver. Just ask Clifton Huffmaster whose day job finds him working as a detective in the Special Victims Unit with the Concord Police Department in Concord, California. This takes courage. He’s also a graduate from the Theological Union at Berkeley College from which he holds a PhD. Maybe that’s where compassion comes from. When Clifton’s wife Lauren was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer his world turned upside down as he assumed the unfamiliar territory as her caregiver. This is where he found the need to be both courageous and compassionate. On this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, Clifton and Lauren dive deep into the emotions of living with breast cancer in the shadows of uncertainty. They have gone from the depths of fear to the top of Joy’s Mountain. To learn more go to insickness.org.

For all caregivers, their lives are divided into two parts. Before diagnosis and After Diagnosis. This is particularly true for those who must manage one of the more insidious illnesses, Alzheimer’s Disease, where the changes taking place before the diagnosis and once the disease has become fully onset, are significant for the patient and care partner alike. Marty Schreiber is the former Governor of Wisconsin, author of, My Two Elaines. Learning, Coping and Surviving as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver. The book chronicles Marty’s experience as primary support and caregiver for his wife of 60 years who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. The book and this podcast provides a transparent look into the heart of the disease and its personal, physical and emotional impact on the patient and those courageous souls, like Marty, who provide unrelenting support for their loved ones. To learn more and find resources related to this episode, go to insickness.org.

For Josh Argall, life couldn’t get much better. He was a 25-year-old first-time father of, Devin, who quickly became the center of Josh’s universe. Josh’s world was rocked when he and Devin’s mother noticed that their three-year-old son was somewhat slow in reaching some of the physical milestones like crawling and walking that are typically associated with children his age. In the months following, Josh’s world changed dramatically as Devin went through numerous doctor visits and misdiagnoses. Finally, a specialist at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee diagnosed Devin as having Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a rare and progressive neuromuscular disease that, at the time, had few treatment options and little hope for a cure or long-term survival. The diagnosis shattered Josh’s world and sent him spiraling into a world of sadness, depression and despair. On this episode of In Sickness. Men and the Culture of Caregiving, Josh shares how he went from the lowest of the lows to the realization that if his son was going to get better, he needed to face this adversity and join in the effort. Debra Miller, CEO and Founder of CureDuchenne, joins Josh in the discussion and provides valuable insight into the disease, and the patient and caregiver journey. To learn more and find resources related to this episode, go to insickness.org.

When you have a child diagnosed with any illness, you can only hope your efforts don’t require a lifetime commitment. The hope is for a short-lived illness that comes with a diagnosis followed by a cure. For former MassBio President, Bob Coughlin, he has lived through the in utero cystic fibrosis diagnosis of his son, Bobby, the physical challenges of caring for a young CF patient, and the constant involvement as a CF patient advocate raising awareness and all-important research money. Also, a time where CF treatments improved allowing Bobby to enjoy his teen years, finish high school, graduate college and begin his professional career. Despite this progress Bob has not remained stagnant and continues to advocate for patients with CF and other unmet medical needs. He also never stopped plying his most important role as his son’s caregiver where he remains committed, passionate, and always involved. Bob is joined on the podcast, Charlotte McKee, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Sionna Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, developing therapeutics to treat cystic fibrosis. To learn more, visit insickness.org.