This week on That Was Us…we’re back with another Chat Was Us! This time, inspired by the many caregiving stories throughout This Is Us, we’re tackling a topic that touches millions of families: what does it really mean to care for someone? Joined by caregiving advocate and storyteller Lydia Storie, hosts Mandy, Sterling, and Chris explore the realities of caregiving, why seeing these experiences represented on screen matters, and how storytelling can help people feel less alone.In this episode, the conversation covers:
* Why caregiving is so often invisible—and why representation can change that
* The research behind This Is Us’s caregiving storylines and how they impacted viewers
* How seeing characters like Rebecca, Randall, Miguel, and Kate navigate care can open up conversations in our own lives
* Rebecca taking agency over her end-of-life planning
* Randall and Miguel’s honest conversation about needing a break from caregiving
* Kate’s experience as both a parent and a caregiver
* The importance of cultural authenticity in Miguel’s family story
* Why storytelling can sometimes be more powerful than education or traditional PSA campaigns
* The idea that there are more than 130 million people in the U.S. living in the thick of care
* How seeing your own experience reflected on screen can create a powerful sense of “I’m not alone”
* The parasocial connection audiences develop with characters—and why that can make conversations about care feel more personal
* How we can change the way we value aging, disability, caregiving, eldercare, paid leave, and care in our culture
Resources mentioned in this episode:
just changed it to this: https://careconversations.com/#join-the-conversation
Survey link for people to tell us about their experiences and inform a more supportive system for care the U.S.
https://wearehfc.org/thisisus
The stars of This Is Us discuss the significance of putting Alzheimer’s and caregiving into the spotlight.
https://learcenter.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/caregiving_thisisus_lear_cag.pdf
Audience impact research from Norman Lear Center -- which analyzed how This Is Us S6 affected viewers' opinions and attitudes about care
And a friendly reminder, you can catch new episodes of That Was Us every Monday, a day early, exclusively on Hulu. Available on Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts on Tuesdays like usual!
That Was Us is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions. Music by Taylor Goldsmith and Griffin Goldsmith.
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🍋 About the Show:
The stars of This Is Us, Mandy Moore, Sterling K. Brown, and Chris Sullivan, dive back into the world of the Pearsons, reliving each episode and all the life lessons that came with it.
Executive Producers: Natalie Holysz and Rob Holysz
Creative Producer: Sam Skelton
Production Coordinator: Andrew Rowley
Video Editor: Todd Hughlett
Mix & Master: Jason Richards
About Headgum:
Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.
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