Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

In this behind-the-scenes solo episode, Ashley offers a much-needed update and peek into what’s happening on and off the mic. From wrapping up Season 7 and kicking off Season 8 with a brand-new roundtable series, to pressing pause on summer recording and launching a care logistics platform years in the making—this episode is full of transitions, clarity, and new beginnings. Ashley also shares the personal “why” behind Dovetail, her care coordination tool built from years of experience as an OT and caregiver advocate.

What you’ll learn:

• Why Season 8 is already shaping up to be the biggest yet
• The story behind the new Roundtable Series (and how it came to be)
• What summer looks like when you’re running a business and parenting
• Why the podcast recording calendar is going dark until September
• A peek into Ashley’s changing season of life—with all kids headed to school
• The origin story of Dovetail, a care logistics platform built for family caregivers
• How Ashley’s work as an occupational therapist shaped the platform’s mission
• Why care planning needs to start before crisis mode hits
• The demographic time bomb facing the caregiving system
• How Dovetail aims to make caregiving more collaborative, connected, and sustainable

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/

AND/BOTH Community: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/andboth-community

Dovetail® App: https://airtable.com/appn6w6IWipJYIuA3/pagZys7UnECzM46iJ/form

Social:

Instagram: @dovetailapp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

In this first-ever collaborative roundtable with the PG-ish Podcast, Ashley Blackington and Erin Holland welcome powerhouse thought leaders Jess Ringgenberg (Elixir Coaching) and Leslie Forde (Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs) to unpack the real, raw, and research-backed realities of modern motherhood, caregiving, and careers. From burnout to benefits nobody knows how to access, and the persistent myth that moms are “fine,” this episode sheds light on the data, the lived experiences, and the quiet crisis facing working mothers. The group discusses everything from middle motherhood to the “default parent” dilemma, sandwich caregiving, workplace policy reform, and why empathy alone isn’t enough—we need systems change, and we need it now.

What you’ll learn:

• Why burnout is often the catalyst for career shifts among moms
• The data behind declining support for mothers post-pandemic
• How workplace benefits are often underutilized or misunderstood
• What “default parent syndrome” looks like at home and at work
• The invisible mental load of caregiving—across generations
• Why culture change needs to be systemic, not dependent on “one good manager”
• How caregiving impacts mental health and long-term career trajectories
• Key takeaways from Leslie’s ongoing longitudinal study and Jess’s organizational research
• The urgent need for care-conscious leadership training
• Actionable ways employers can build real infrastructure around caregiving

Questions answered in this episode:

• Why are so many mothers still burned out—five years after the pandemic began?
• What is the actual ROI for companies who invest in supporting caregivers?
• What does “modern motherhood” really look like—and why do our systems ignore it?
• How do we stop relying on individual leaders and start building systemic change?
• What small, daily self-care steps can truly make a difference for overwhelmed moms?
• What’s the difference between feeling supported and being supported at work?
• Why do mothers leave traditional careers, and what does that mean for talent retention?
• What should workplace benefits look like across different caregiving phases?
• Why are we still afraid to talk about caregiving and burnout at work?
• What do sandwich caregivers need—and why are they often left out of the conversation?

Connect with Erin:

• Website: https://www.pgishparenting.com
• Instagram: @pgishparenting
• PG ish podcast

Connect with Jess:

• Website: elixircoaching.com
• Instagram: @jess.elixr.modernmotherhood
• LinkedIn: Jess Ringgenberg

Connect with Leslie:

• Website: momshierarchyofneeds.com
• Research Study Participation: Join here
• LinkedIn: Leslie...

Support AND/BOTH: Help us offset production costs while we're growing

In this honest conversation, Ashley is joined by Katie Schlott—a product innovation leader, writer, and mother—who opens up about her sudden entry into the world of caregiving when her mother became disabled just months before the pandemic. With young children at home and a demanding career, Katie found herself navigating a crash course in elder care, disability systems, Medicaid, power of attorney, and emotional survival.

Together, Ashley and Katie unpack the often-invisible labor of the “sandwich generation,” the logistical overwhelm that goes unnoticed, and how community, preparation, and reframing can make caregiving feel a little less lonely. If you’ve ever felt buried by caregiving or wondered how to prepare before crisis hits—this episode is for you.

What you’ll learn:

• What it means to be part of the “sandwich generation”
• How sudden caregiving reshapes your identity, time, and priorities
• The emotional toll and systemic failings of caregiving in the U.S.
• Why caregiving conversations are so hard—and so necessary
• How to organize care logistics with simple but powerful tools
• What “living in secret” as a caregiver looks like and why it’s harmful
• How to prepare your family now (even if it feels awkward)
• The importance of mental health support and redefining self-care

Questions Answered in This Episode:

• What does caregiving look like when it hits suddenly?
• Why is there such a silence around aging, caregiving, and death?
• How do you navigate systems like Medicaid and long-term care as a beginner?
• What’s the emotional impact of being a caregiver and a parent?
• How can we better support working caregivers—at home and at work?
• What tools and habits can ease the caregiving load day to day?

Connect with Katie Schlott:

• LinkedIn: Katie Schlott
• Fast Company Articles: Author Profile

Connect with Ashley:

Website: https://dovetaildesigns.co

Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/

AND/BOTH Community: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/andboth-community

Dovetail® App: https://airtable.com/appn6w6IWipJYIuA3/pagZys7UnECzM46iJ/form

Social:

Instagram: @dovetailapp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dovetaildesigns.co

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/