Stuck in the Middle Podcast

About Stuck in the Middle Podcast

Welcome to the Stuck in the Middle Podcast, your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of being sandwiched between raising children and caring for aging parents. Host Brian Sacks shares personal stories, insights, and practical advice drawn from decades of experience balancing these "middle" responsibilities. Each episode, tune in for inspiring interviews with industry leaders, insiders, and guests who share relatable stories and expert tips. Whether you're feeling the financial, emotional, or physical strain of being stuck in the middle, this podcast offers support, community, and practical solutions to help you thrive.

Publisher

Brian Sacks

Category

kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Jun 2024

Latest episode

16 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

38 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Dec 2025

   Mariam Parineh: Redefining Aging with Confidence and Concierge Support

   About Mariam Parineh: Mariam Parineh is the co-founder of Viva Valet, a concierge support service designed to help older adults live independently at home with dignity, confidence, and control. Drawing from decades of personal experience caring for her grandparents, her 94-year-old husband, and her aging parents spread across Iran, Malaysia, and the San Francisco Bay Area, Mariam created the “confidence aging” framework, which focuses on preserving nine types of confidence in older adults rather than just prioritizing safety and longevity. Through Viva Valet, Mariam and her team provide confidence-informed concierge support—coordinating vetted local services, everyday tasks, and practical help—so that older adults can age in place while adult children are relieved of the “case manager” role. She also works directly with adult children as a coach, helping them release guilt, redefine their role from caregiver to cheerleader and partner, and navigate the emotional and logistical challenges of being “stuck in the middle.” Mariam splits her life across continents and time zones, modeling what it looks like to honor elders’ autonomy while still caring deeply—and practically—for the people we love. In this episode, Brian and Mariam Parineh discuss: Confidence Aging and autonomy in older adulthood Emotional burden of adult children caring for aging parents Balancing respect for aging parents’ choices with safety concerns Concierge support models to help older adults age in place Key Takeaways: Caring for aging parents isn’t about perfect decisions; it’s about caring. When you stop obsessing over the “right” choice and focus on genuine care, the pressure and guilt of caregiving ease. Respecting aging parents’ choices can matter as much as keeping them safe. Sometimes, honoring how they want to live — even when it looks risky — is the deepest form of love and respect. You don’t have to be your parents’ case manager to be a good child. Shifting from “manager” to “cheerleader and partner” can protect your own life, marriage, and kids while still supporting your parents. Aging in place works best when confidence, not just safety, is the priority. "Our parents have the most amount of years lived, and what we forget is that means the most life experience that they're sitting at the helm of their choices." — Mariam Parineh Connect with Mariam Parineh: Website: https://www.vivavalet.com/ (https://www.vivavalet.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-parineh-620452257/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-parineh-620452257/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariamgetsolder/ (https://www.instagram.com/mariamgetsolder/) Host contact information: Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com (mailto:briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com) Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com (http://www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com)

2. 

   2 Dec 2025

   Resilience in the Middle: Michelle Walters on Caregiving, Loss, and Reinventing Your Path

   About Michelle Walters: Michelle Walters is a digital marketing professional turned hypnotherapist whose life has been shaped by profound caregiving experiences, personal loss, and remarkable resilience. After earning her MBA and building a 20-year career working with major brands in the advertising and corporate marketing world, Michelle found herself repeatedly “stuck in the middle” — caring for partners with severe medical conditions while raising her son and maintaining her career. Her first husband lived with cystic fibrosis and later suffered a devastating stroke. Years later, the partner she fell in love with was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. Through these challenges, Michelle learned how mindset, intentional action, and emotional balance can help people survive life’s hardest seasons. Today, she is a hypnotherapist, author, app creator, and teacher who helps others navigate stress, grief, career uncertainty, and personal transformation with clarity and confidence. In this episode, Brian and Michelle Walters discuss: Navigating the emotional, physical, and financial realities of long-term caregiving How repeated adversity shaped Michelle’s resilience and purpose Using mindset, manifesting principles, and tangible action to create career and life changes The role of hypnotherapy in managing stress, grief, and personal growth Key Takeaways: Even in overwhelming seasons, optimism can be cultivated — a positive mindset doesn’t erase hardship, but it strengthens your ability to endure it. Resilience grows when you learn to take deliberate action rather than staying stuck in fear or self-doubt; movement, even small movement, creates momentum. Everything is connected: your environment, your energy, your routines, and your mental patterns all influence how opportunities show up in your life. Careers rarely follow a perfect linear path; embracing starts, stops, and reinventions can open unexpected doors to fulfillment and purpose. “I'm a big believer in both dreams and prayers, but the point of life is really learning how to take action for things. And if you just sit around having dreams or prayers, the universe does not take that very seriously. The Universe wants to listen to people who are actually activating things…” — Michelle Walters Connect with Michelle Walters: Website: https://www.michellewalters.net/ (https://www.michellewalters.net/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleoliverwalters/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleoliverwalters/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mindpowerjunkie/ (https://www.instagram.com/mindpowerjunkie/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michellewaltersauthor (https://www.facebook.com/michellewaltersauthor) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindpowerjunkie (https://www.youtube.com/@mindpowerjunkie) Book: https://www.amazon.com/Alignment-Spirit-Finding-Work-Love/dp/1737263726 (https://www.amazon.com/Alignment-Spirit-Finding-Work-Love/dp/1737263726) Host contact information: Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com (mailto:briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com) Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com (http://www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com)

3. 

   18 Nov 2025

   From Grief to Giving Back: Julie Barth’s Story of Hope and Outreach

   About Julie Barth: Julie Barth, author of Notes from A BlackBerry, From Blackberries to Thorns, and upcoming from Thorns to Blossoms, is a mother to six children and a professional writer whose life experiences transcend the boundaries of fiction. Her journey, marked by love, loss, and an unwavering spirit, lends authenticity to her writing. Julie's narrative style is deeply rooted in her belief that life's true essence is discovered in its most challenging moments. Her work reflects a dedication to finding joy and meaning in every experience, inspiring readers to embrace their own journeys with courage and gratitude. Julie Barth is also the CEO and founder of the Colin James Barth Outreach, a nonprofit dedicated to helping women-led households with the resources and aid necessary to find security and stability in times of crisis. Her mission is to use her experiences as a caregiver, special needs parent, and trauma survivor to encourage women in similar situations to think resourcefully and always protect themselves without stigma or feelings of selfishness. In this episode, Brian and Julie Barth discuss: Coping with emotional, financial, and physical challenges after life-altering events The power of community and resource networks for women-led households Transforming personal tragedy into purpose through charity work Resilience, optimism, and practical strategies for surviving crisis and rebuilding life Key Takeaways: When faced with overwhelming hardship, focusing only on what’s directly in front of you can keep you grounded and help you move forward one step at a time. Life doesn’t always give us a choice in the cards we’re dealt, but we do have control over how we play them — with courage, resourcefulness, and faith. Women in crisis often fall through the cracks of available support systems; building bridges between local resources can make the difference between despair and recovery. Pain doesn’t have to end with suffering. When you turn it into purpose, it becomes a source of healing—not just for yourself, but for others too. "How great of a world would it be if we all just took that little situation, did what we could to make it better, used our experience to whatever part of it, to change it so that the next person going through doesn't have to go through it. And it really is not that hard." — Julie Barth Connect with Julie Barth: Website: https://www.juliebarthauthor.com/ (https://www.juliebarthauthor.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julie.e.barth (https://www.facebook.com/julie.e.barth) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_barth_author/ (https://www.instagram.com/julie_barth_author/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebarthauthor/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliebarthauthor/) The Colin James Barth Outreach: https://www.cjboutreach.org/ (https://www.cjboutreach.org/) Host contact information: Email: briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com (mailto:briansacksnewsletters@gmail.com) Sign up for your FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER at www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com (http://www.stuckinthemiddlenews.com)

Who has been a guest on Stuck in the Middle Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin
• Katharine Giovanni
• Len Hayduchok
• Sarah JanTausch

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 11 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

8

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Stuck in the Middle Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.