Letting Go and Showing Up: A Modern Caregiving Memoir with Mark Steven Porro

In this heartfelt and humorous episode, Amy Stone welcomes Mark Steven Porro, author of A Cup of Tea on the Commode, to discuss his unexpected journey into caregiving for his mother. Mark shares candid insights on shifting family roles, the realities of hands-on elder care, and how compassion and humor helped him navigate three and a half years as his mother’s primary caregiver.

About the Guest:

Mark is an award-winning designer, writer, director, and now a best-selling, award-winning author. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny debut memoir—chronicles his multitasking adventures of filling his mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy.

Main Topics Covered:

• Mark’s move from a carefree bachelor life in LA to a full-time caregiver in New Jersey
• Family dynamics and shifting roles during aging and caregiving
• Navigating elder care, hospice, and medical decisions as a son
• The realities (and humor) of caring for a parent, including both logistical and emotional challenges
• The importance of supporting caregivers and sharing family history
• Mark’s writing process and the impact of his memoir

Quote from the Episode:

“She always took care of us. I never felt like mom wavered with me … so mom was always there for us. And I grew up in this family that we took care of each other, and it was important.” — Mark Steven Porro

Timestamps:

• 00:00 – Introduction and Mark’s life in France
• 00:46 – Adventures with wifi in 500-year-old buildings and living in a historic village
• 02:32 – Mark’s attempt to learn French and cultural assimilation
• 04:17 – Family roots: caregiving, family examples, and sibling dynamics
• 09:14 – Mark’s pre-caregiving life and career in LA
• 12:44 – The turning point: mother’s health crisis and hospice
• 17:21 – Deciding to become the primary caregiver
• 20:05 – Medical, memory, and daily care challenges
• 22:09 – Mom’s routine before and after Mark’s involvement
• 27:36 – Shifting family roles and the hands-on realities of caregiving
• 31:59 – Managing work, support structures, and sibling teamwork
• 34:39 – Mark’s book, A Cup of Tea on the Commode, and the importance of storytelling
• 39:42 – Broader context: growing need for eldercare and Mark’s contribution to the topic
• 40:51 – Rapid fire questions: daily routines, travel, and more about Mark’s life and creative projects

Find Mark’s book and learn more:

• Website: acupofteaonthecommode.org
• 
  
• Bonus materials, photos, and documentary information available on Mark’s website.

Never Miss a Moment of Imperfect Adulting

We invite you to join our email community and let us bring the podcast directly to you! As a subscriber, you'll receive notifications about new episodes, exclusive offers from our amazing guests, and easier access to any of the important links mentioned on the show—no more scrambling to write down websites or remember special codes.

Why subscribe?

• Stay up-to-date without checking your podcast app
• Get guest offers delivered straight to your inbox
• Access all important links in one convenient place
• Catch the highlights even when you don't have time to listen

Are you ready? Join us at https://www.imperfectadulting.com

If you have a story to share and you'd like to be a guest on The Art of Imperfect Adulting, here are the steps for how you can make that happen. Click here and pitch yourself.

Here are a few resources that Amy uses to make all this great content. These are affiliate links :-)

For livestreaming and recording ECamm

Podcast hosting and distribution: Captivate FM

Website hosting with Siteground

Ai Transcription Tool: Castmagic

For Email I recently switched to Beehiiv before that I used Kit.

Online Shopping Cart: ThriveCart

Networking and support with Entreprenista League

Connection with Polka Dot Powerhouse

Books I like and books written by show guests on Bookshop.org

Grab a $20 coupon for Nutrafol here

Do you need a bank account? Ally