Chat Was Us | Caregiving

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