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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/

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In this powerful episode of the AND/BOTH Podcast, Dr. Ashley Blackington welcomes Katie Kristofic, founder of The Carefullist and host of the Carefullist Podcast. Katie shares her deeply personal journey through caregiving after her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, ultimately inspiring her to build a resource hub and community for family caregivers. With more than 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, Katie has leveraged her professional background and personal story to create a space that addresses the overlooked and under-discussed aspects of caregiving. From sandwich generation stress to financial planning pitfalls and the emotional toll of long-term care, this conversation offers both insight and hope for caregivers navigating similar paths.

What you'll learn:

• How Katie's caregiving experience shaped the creation of The Carefullist
• Why long-term care planning is critical—and so often misunderstood
• The realities and emotional challenges of sandwich (and club sandwich) caregiving
• Insights on the Medicare five-year lookback and financial pitfalls to avoid
• How context and environment impact dementia progression
• The importance of humor, community, and resource-sharing for caregiver sustainability
• Why caregiving is often invisible labor—and how The Carefullist is working to change that

Questions answered in this episode:

• What sparked the creation of The Carefullist and the Carefullist Podcast?
• What is the sandwich generation—and how does Katie define “club sandwich” caregiving?
• What does long-term care planning really entail?
• Why are most families unprepared for the financial realities of aging and dementia?
• What are the unseen emotional costs of caregiving?
• How can caregivers carve out time for themselves in the midst of overwhelm?
• Why does Katie say the system is "designed for you to fail"?
• What are some practical, emotionally intelligent ways to approach driving and dementia?
• How can we reframe caregiving from a project management lens to a human connection?

Connect with Katie Kristofic:

• Website: www.carefullist.com
• Instagram: @carefullist
• YouTube: The Carefullist Podcast
• LinkedIn: Katie Kristofic

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:

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In this episode, Ashley Blackington welcomes Leslie Forde, founder and CEO of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs and upcoming author of Repair With Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs. With humor, honesty, and deep research-backed insight, Leslie unpacks the complex emotional and logistical layers of caregiving, particularly motherhood, in a post-pandemic world. She discusses how societal expectations, personal habits, and systemic structures collide—and what we can do about it. From redefining self-care to advocating for policy change and workplace flexibility, this is a must-listen for anyone navigating care, career, and their own mental health.

What you'll learn:

• The origin and evolution of Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs
• How Leslie’s research is changing the conversation around parental burnout
• Why self-care isn’t optional—and how to reclaim it
• The intersection of public policy, workplace culture, and maternal well-being
• What the pandemic revealed about caregiving and equity
• Actionable ways moms can “vote with their wallets” for change
• How organizations can retain working parents and caregivers
• The critical role of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) in supporting caregiver wellbeing
• Why women’s mental and physical health are directly impacted by invisible labor
• The long and short game strategies for changing the systems that hold moms back

Questions answered in this episode:

• What is the Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs, and how did it begin?
• Why do moms struggle to care for themselves—and how can that change?
• How has the pandemic reshaped caregiving and work?
• What long-term solutions exist for systemic inequities in care and labor?
• Why is self-care a “ministry” for Leslie?
• How can moms find clarity on what actually matters in their day-to-day?
• What is the role of employers in creating family-friendly workplaces?
• What’s the danger of society “returning to normal” post-pandemic?
• How can mothers advocate for change through spending power?
• What’s in Leslie’s upcoming book, Repair With Self-Care?

Connect with Leslie Forde:

• Website: https://momshierarchyofneeds.com
• Book (Pre-order): Repair With Self-Care: Your Guide to the Mom’s Hierarchy of Needs (available wherever books are sold
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslieforde/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momshierarchy

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:

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In this week’s episode of The In Both Podcast, host Dr. Ashley welcomes journalist and twin mom Zara Hanawalt, whose bylines include Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Parents, The New York Times for Kids, and more. Zara’s work dives deep into the intersections of motherhood, culture, and women’s health—especially in a post-pandemic world where millions of moms were forced to reckon with impossible expectations and invisible labor.

In this candid, thoughtful, and at times hilarious conversation, Ashley and Zara explore what it was like parenting toddlers during lockdown, why remote work offered a glimpse of something more sustainable, and how the culture has since regressed—leaving moms to quietly pick up the pieces. From putting the grocery cart back with four kids in tow to viral trad-wife aesthetics, this conversation peels back the layers on the “have it all” myth and asks: why are moms the only ones being asked to bend?

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, working mom, freelance warrior, or somewhere in between, this episode is full of validation, insight, and a reminder that no one is doing it wrong—it’s just that the system wasn’t built to support any of us.

You'll learn:

• How the pandemic reshaped parenting roles—and revealed deep systemic flaws
• Why freelance work can be a survival tactic for moms, not just a “girl boss” dream
• The emotional and logistical toll of caregiving without support
• How return-to-office culture is erasing hard-won flexibility for families
• The difference between advocating for mothers and simply “complaining”
• Why stay-at-home parenting is labor, even if it’s unpaid
• The role of social media in promoting extreme (and unrealistic) portrayals of motherhood
• How gender bias shows up in everyday parenting expectations
• What needs to change culturally and politically to better support mothers
• That taking care of yourself doesn’t have to look a certain way—quiet moments count too

Connect with Zara:

Website: www.zaraalt.com

Instagram: @zaraalt

TikTok: @zaraalt

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/

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In this episode of The And Both Podcast, Dr. Ashley welcomes Dr. Noor Ali, a Bangladeshi-American medical doctor turned health insurance consultant, community builder, and beverage brand co-founder. Dr. Ali shares her remarkable journey from immigrating to the U.S. at age five to becoming a surgeon abroad—and later pivoting her career after facing insurmountable red tape while trying to transfer her medical credentials back to the U.S.

You'll learn:

• How to navigate major life and career pivots with resilience and intention
• The surprising health insurance options available to entrepreneurs (and why benefits shouldn't hold you back)
• Why motherhood and business ownership don’t have to be at odds—and how Dr. Ali structures her week to honor both
• What it means to be a multi-passionate entrepreneur and how to build sustainably across different business models
• How Dr. Ali defines boundaries, self-care, and visibility in her personal and professional life

Questions Answered:

• What happens when your medical degree isn't recognized in the U.S., and how do you pivot after that?
• How can women safely and confidently leave corporate jobs without losing access to quality health insurance?
• What does it look like to create highly curated, impact-driven in-person networking experiences for women?
• How do you stay focused and productive while running multiple businesses and raising small kids?
• Why is honoring white space in your calendar and building slow, sustainable businesses critical?

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/

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In this episode of The And Both Podcast, Ashley sits down with the incredible Sangheetha Parthasarathy—a Harvard and MIT alum, birth worker, and now nervous system coach. Sanha’s career journey took her from major consulting firms like Oracle and Accenture to co-founding a nonprofit focused on birth advocacy and eventually building her own body of work around somatic trauma healing and nervous system regulation.

Ashley and Sangheetha covered a lot in this conversation, including:

• What it feels like to live in limbo as an immigrant (she's immigrated twice and repatriated once)
• How immigration, perfectionism, attachment, and motherhood intersect
• How Sangheetha found healing and purpose through birth and postpartum experiences
• The connection between somatic work, nervous system regulation, and career pivots
• Why slowing down can feel really uncomfortable for high-achieving women—and what to do about it

This conversation got REAL. Ashley and Sangheetha both shared their personal immigration stories and how that uncertainty shaped their nervous systems, their work, and their motherhood journeys.

✨ What you’ll walk away with:

• A better understanding of how nervous system regulation really works
• How systemic experiences like immigration, workaholism, and motherhood trauma live in the body
• Why traditional “self-care” can fall flat—and what to do instead
• How to build safety in your body and life when the world feels unstable

Sangheetha is someone who brings heart, clarity, and wisdom to every conversation—and I know this one will leave you thinking deeply about how you care for your own nervous system, especially in chaotic times.

Connect with Sangheetha:

Website: https://www.sangparth.com/

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: @ashleyblackington

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

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In this episode, Ashley is joined by Suzie Driscoll, a pediatric occupational therapist and founder of Tiny and Mighty Therapy, specializing in infant feeding. Together, they reflect on becoming first-time moms during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and how those experiences shaped their parenting, careers, and personal growth.

Suzie shares her journey from working at Seattle Children’s Hospital to launching her own private practice, motivated by the challenges she faced with feeding her newborn during lockdown. With deep empathy and clinical expertise, she now supports families through feeding difficulties and offers strategies rooted in prevention and early intervention.

What you’ll learn:

• The emotional and logistical realities of becoming a mom during the pandemic
• What pediatric feeding therapy looks like, especially for infants
• How Susie’s own feeding challenges as a new mom inspired her to help other families
• The importance of addressing feeding issues early—and how therapy before and after tongue-tie procedures can support better outcomes
• What it’s like to run a solo private practice while navigating motherhood, loss, and another pregnancy

This episode is a powerful reminder that you’re not alone in your motherhood journey—and that support, compassion, and clinical expertise can make a world of difference.

Connect with Suzie:

Website: https://www.tinyandmightytherapy.com

Instgram: @tinyandmighty_ot

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/

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In this episode, we're sitting down with Ellen Hockley—a seasoned entrepreneur, mom of two, and caregiver—to explore what it truly looks like to build and grow businesses while managing life’s most demanding roles. Ellen shares her journey from founding a sustainable event planning company in NYC, to launching a maternity activewear brand during the pandemic, and most recently, starting her consulting firm that supports postpartum and purpose-driven female founders.

The conversation also dives into Ellen’s unexpected role as a caregiver to her husband and the emotional toll, time demands, and isolation that can come with it. Ellen speaks candidly about postpartum depression, building businesses without social media, and the misconceptions moms face when stepping into entrepreneurship.

What you’ll learn:

• The real challenges and triumphs of starting and sustaining multiple businesses while raising young children
• Why paid parental leave and postpartum support matter deeply in the U.S.
• How Ellen helps early-stage female founders build realistic, sustainable businesses with strategic guidance
• The power of honest entrepreneurship—and why the “six-figure in six months” promise isn’t what it seems
• Insights into caregiving as a young spouse and the impact it has on identity, relationships, and business
• That you can build a successful business without social media

Connect with Ellen:

Website: www.ellenhockley.com

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/