PODCAST · education
Who Gets the China?
by Kirsten Mau
Your entertaining and useful guide to helping your parents live better, longer—and saving your sanity while you’re at it. Join me and my esteemed guests while we share humorous stories and expert advice to help you navigate this phase of life with humor, grace, and tools to succeed.
Episodes
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Bonus Episode: Who Gets the China? on Butterfly Days podcast with Tami Jorden
I am so very excited to share this special guest recording from Butterfly Days podcast hosted by Tami Jorden. You are seriously going to love it and learn so much! Tami brings a special perspective and an honest and insightful approach to asking questions. Her podcast explores a wide range of...
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Re-Release: Facing Our Caregiving Sacrifices: A Top Episode from Season 1
Back by popular demand: What we give up when caregiving calls Re-releasing one of the top episodes of Season 1. Listen up! Can you imagine quitting your job, selling your house, and moving your family with 2 kids back into your childhood home to care for your aging parents? Hear how one caregiver...
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What to do with that dusty box of trophies? Don’t collect - curate!
What to do with those trophies in your mom's closet? In this personal essay episode of Who Gets the China?, Kirsten wrestles with a dusty box of old trophies and ribbons—items that feel too meaningful to toss yet too awkward to keep—while sharing memories of childhood summers sailing Blue Jay…
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The Best Podcast Therapy Session I’ve Ever Had: Succeed at Hard Conversations with Aging Parents
Here’s something I should probably disclose upfront: Colleen Attoma-Mathews is one of my dearest friends. She is also a therapist. So what happened when I sat her down in front of a microphone to talk about navigating hard conversations with aging parents? She gave me therapy. On tape. For all to...
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Re:Release: Coping with your Photo Archive with Miss Freddy
Overwhelmed by bins, books and boxes of photos? Maybe your mom has piles of negatives from the 50's and 60's? Maybe you have bins of doubles from the 80's and 90's? There are solutions! In this fun AND useful episode, Kirsten is joined by photo organization expert Miss Freddy, who has helped...
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Mini-episode: Accepting help: life lessons learned from international strangers
A Who Gets the China? Mini-Episode: How lessons learned while navigating the world solo apply to caregiving for aging parents. Who Gets the China? supports women who are balancing the needs of aging parents and living their own best life. We help you get prepared and take control with advice,...
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When Your Aging Parent Might Need a Therapist with Julie Butscher, LCSW
When is it time to call in reinforcements? This week Kirsten sits down with Julie Butscher, LCSW who specializes in senior mental health to talk about one of the most underused tools in the family caregiver’s toolkit: therapy for older adults. From recognizing the signs that a parent is…
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When Caregiving Crosses Cultures and Continents with Adrian Chung
Kirsten sits down with caregiver, entrepreneur, and writer, Adrian Chung, to explore the various cultural differences in caring for aging parents, Adrian’s experience of caregiving and organizing from across an ocean, the importance of community, and Adrian’s new organizational tool inspired by…
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A Dementia Caregivers Secret Weapon? Music. with expert Anthony Cirillo
Musician, performer and expert in how music benefits those living with dementia, Anthony Cirillo joins us for a conversation about the cognitive benefits of music. You'll learn how music lights up different parts of the brain, triggers memory and connection and even relives caregivers stress....
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More Than Memory Loss: Recognizing and Caring for Dementia w/ Kay Adams, LCSW
Kay Adams, LCSW is a speaker, coach, educator, and author. In addition, Kay is a Certified Dementia Consultant and Trainer, and the founder of Compassion Works, LLC which provides individualized dementia coaching, workshops, and educational offerings to families, professional care partners and...
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Everything Is a Lesson: Innovating Care with Cambria Jacobs
Our guest this week has, by blood and by marriage, contributed to the end-of-life care for seven aging adults. Today, she joins Kirsten to delve into the lessons, dynamics, and hard facts of the aging process, the meaning of the term “caretaker”, and how to use your unique set of skills to…
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Boldly Facing the Inevitable with Jamie Sarche
Jamie Sarche, director of funeral planning at Feldman Mortuary, is no stranger to boldly addressing complex topics. In her TEDx talk, she encourages us all to face death with a strong sense of reality. “Talk to your family about why you want to be in the world with them and what it’s going to…
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The Third Pillar of Wellness: A Financial Road Map with Cheri Turner
Finance for women often looks different than it does for men. Women often live longer and yet often earn less over their lifetimes. Knowing what’s under the “financial hood” helps you feel confident that you (or your mom) will have security as long as you live. Kirsten sits down with Cheri…
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When Your Middle Name Is Public: Public Libraries and Caregiving with Amy DelPo & Robin Filipczak
How often do you visit your local public library? The answer is, probably not often enough! Kirsten is joined this week by two representatives from her local public library: Adult Services and Lifelong Learning Manager, Amy DelPo, and Branch Supervisor, Robin Filipczak. Together, the group taps...
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Caregiving from the Messy Middle with Kathleen Korpela
Happy New Year from Who Gets the China! We're kicking off the year with an in depth discussion with founder and head coach of Living Goldenwell, Kathleen Korpela. Kirsten and Kathleen explore Kathleen's caretaker community and jump into Kathleen's advice on establishing boundaries with yourself…
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Holiday Musings - We Hold Onto More Than "Things"
Happy Holidays from Who Gets the China! On this special bonus episode, Kirsten reflects on the importance of holiday traditions and how to maintain traditions with flexibility. Who Gets the China will be back in the new year! Follow Who Gets the China? on https://www.whogetsthechina.substack.com…
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A Lifetime of Greeting Cards (Redux)
To close out our season, we're revisiting one of our favorite essays of the year. Kirsten walks us through the value of snail mail and what a collection of greeting cards can grow to mean to you and your family. Follow Who Gets the China? on https://www.whogetsthechina.substack.com If you enjoyed...
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Curiosity
Kirsten reflects on the first year of Who Gets the China and what a curious nature evokes in day to day life. How do we stay curious as we care for our aging parents? How do we stay curious as we age ourselves? Perhaps, we should do our best to engage with the business of life. Follow Who Gets…
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Facing Our Caregiving Sacrifices with Kathy Merzena
Could you imagine quitting your job, selling your house, and moving your family into your childhood home to care for your aging parents? Hear how one caregiver has spent the last eleven years prioritizing her parents care. Kirsten checks in with her old friend, Kathy Merzena, about her caregiving...
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The Mink Coat
This week, Kirsten reflects on another of her family heirlooms: her mother's mink coat. Once a status symbol of a bygone culture, now an item fraught with emotional complexity, the mink finds its way back into Kirsten's heart as exactly what it was meant to be: a coat! Follow Who Gets the China?…
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Coping with Estrangement as Your Parents Age: Insights from Jacqueline Hargest
When you’re estranged or out of contact with an aging parent, caregiving and grief take on a very different shape. Kirsten hosts a candid conversation with Jacqueline Hargest to share her experience with estrangement from her parents. Jacqueline openly shares how she’s navigated loss,...
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The Glass Animal Collection
In this archival essay, Kirsten reflects on another set of mementos from childhood–her collection of glass animals. Once a precious collection shared with her mother, now another collection in storage. What’s the best course of action for an old trend, significantly reduced in monetary value, but...
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Aging and the Open Road: Knowing When to Hand Over the Keys with Denise Kaplan
Kirsten sits down with occupational therapist and driving rehabilitation specialist, Denise Kaplan, for an insightful conversation about driving as we age—when to start talking about giving up the keys, how to assess driving abilities, and ways to safely extend time on the road. Together, they...
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Learn from the Aging Parent Experts - The Best Insights of Season 1
This week, Kirsten takes a look back at our favorite moments and pieces of advice from our expert interviews. Don't forget to check out the full versions of each interview wherever you get your podcasts for more insights and expert advice on navigating life with aging parents. Follow Who Gets the...
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The Caregiving Vortex
Do you provide care for aging parents? Then you may have felt what I felt after a recent visit to help them out. I'm calling this phenomenon the "Caregiving Vortex." Maybe you have also felt a little crazy for feeling burnt out, tired and overwhelmed after a phase of caregiving for your aging...
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An Important Ally in Healthy Aging: Your Physical Therapist with Kristin Zeid
This week, Kirsten talks with physical therapist Kristin Zeid about how physical therapy supports older adults in staying mobile, recovering from injuries, and aging well. They explore the physical and social benefits of therapy, how families can stay attentive to their parents’ health, and the...
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When You Have to Cope with the Closets: Punchbowls, Coin Collections & More with Jennifer David
Leaving this world—and the belongings we accumulate—is inevitable, and those we love are left to navigate the memories, the closets, and the goodbyes. In this heartfelt episode, Jennifer David and Kirsten share both tears and laughter as we reflect on a loved one’s passing and the small steps…
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Creating Connection Through Creativity with Danielle Schulz
This week, we are joined by Danielle Schulz, Associate Director of Lifelong Learning and Accessibility at the Denver Art Museum, to explore how art can make the aging process a more enjoyable experience. Danielle and Kirsten discuss the benefits of creative aging--a fun way to create new neural...
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When Your Mom Won’t Sell: Getting Your Childhood Dollhouse on the Market with Grandi Mau
This mini episode features a very special guest: my mom! Together, we share the funny, at times frustrating, and surprisingly emotional journey of trying to downsize the family dollhouse. Join us as we take a stroll or two down memory lane and explore why it’s so hard to let go of items that you...
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Quality Time Over Productive Time
I often find that every visit to my parents seems to become more of a mission to tackle an endless checklist than an opportunity to spend time with family and build memories in the time we're lucky to have. It's so easy to focus on the to-do list that you lose sight of creating quality time. I've...
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Aging-in-place: Meaningful Conversations and Sound Decisions with Julie Butscher, LCSW
In this episode, Julie Butscher, LCSW and Kirsten dive into the often-tough conversations around whether aging parents should stay at home or move into a community, offering practical strategies, compassionate insights, and a positive outlook to help families find the right solutions. From using...
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Getting A Handle On Your Estate with Kami Pomerantz
What are the most important parts of organizing an estate? What forms need to be in place, even as soon as we turn 18? How do we protect our parents (and our own) finances from accidents to fraud? Estate attorney Kami Pomerantz is here to answer our questions and share her expert knowledge for...
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Whose Ashes Are These?
This yellow sticky note greets me on a recent visit to my parents’ house. I know exactly what it means. I wonder what it might conjure for you? Connect with us Follow and subscribe to Who Gets the China? on Substack for funny and emotional essays about helping one’s parents live better, longer…
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What Is Palliative Care and Why Do You Need To Know About It? with Sarah McCarthy LCSW
Kirsten sits down with palliative care expert Sarah McCarthy, LCSW, to demystify what palliative care really is and how it differs from hospice. Together they explore how palliative care can support patients and families facing serious diagnoses by focusing on quality of life, medical goals, and...
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How Many Sewing Machines Do We Need?
Welcome to this episode of Who Gets the China? Where we are navigating the joys and challenges of life with aging parents, one family heirloom at a time. In this case, it's vintage sewing machines. My mom is a gifted quilter and sewist, as I have mentioned before. She’s made everything from...
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Downsizing with Care and Dignity with Nancy Nicholson
In this episode, Kirsten is joined by Nancy Nicholson, an expert in estate organization. They explore the emotional and practical journey of helping parents downsize, from sorting cherished belongings and handling heirlooms to creating safer living spaces and planning for the future. Nancy shares...
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Leaning into Difficult Conversations with Colleen Attoma-Mathews MSW, LCSW
Today’s podcast guest, Colleen Attoma-Mathews, LCSW, has an expertise helping families cope with cognitive decline and memory loss. Join us as we breakdown some of the psychology behind why decluttering, downsizing and transitions with older parents are so hard. We discuss things we can do to…
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A Lifetime of Greeting Cards
My sister and I just returned from a visit to my parents helping them out after our mom had minor surgery. It gave the 4 of us a rare chance to spend time together as the OG “nuclear family.” It also gave me fodder for my writing journey - some funny, some emotional. I appreciate this time with…
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The Invasion of the Handmade Throw Pillows
Oh boy, the invasion of the handmade throw pillows. It’s real. Do you have any idea how many throw pillows you can acquire over the course of your life? So. Many. Bed pillows, couch pillows, kitchen chair pillows, desk chair pillows! The options are endless. Some are handmade, others accumulate...
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The Cross Pen Collection(s)
Most likely you are familiar with Cross pens. They were founded in 1846 by a family of jewelers and have been used by Presidents since Ronald Reagan for signing bills into law and formalizing other important documents. Growing up, personalized Cross pens were a gift at milestones and from…
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Beware the Dangers of Estate Sales When Decluttering (Your Parent’s Home)
One adage about decluttering is to not shop where you donate. The point is to avoid the temptation to come home with something you didn’t really need. I try my best to heed this advice but sometimes I can’t resist! About 15 minutes away, we have a very lovely, very expansive, retirement community...
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Did I Take My Own Advice?
Recently, I shared Top 10 Tips from experts on how to spend more quality time than productive time when visiting your older parents. (Check it out!) I just got back from a visit to my parents and my husband asked, “Well, how did you do? Did you take your own advice?” Hmmm, I’m going to take a few...
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Don't Wait For Panic Mode: Tackling Your Photo Archive in Zen-Mode
This weekend I was on a girls weekend and saw a friend I don’t get to see very often. For the last year or so she has been overwhelmed caring for aging parents; dealing with their housing challenges; mourning the loss of a parent; and moving another parent into assisted living. One of the first...
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The Glass Animal Collection
Growing up in the 70’s we were part of a “glass animal craze.” Or maybe it was just us. I have no idea, but we amassed quite a collection. We had these cute gift stores in town like D.W. Curry’s and you could peruse the hundreds of “porcelain” animals - swans on a lake, kittens with a spilled…
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The Crystal Glass Disaster
When we lived in Connecticut, the china and crystal lived in special glass-fronted corner cabinets in our dining room. They were visible and accessible, but clearly meant only for special occasions. We probably used them to toast my engagement and on Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving. They made the...
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Who Gets the China? Intro post!
Welcome to Who Gets the China? Essays and insights on navigating life with aging parents Are your parents aging? Same. Are you thankful? Yes! Is managing this transition driving you a little bit crazy? Me too. I hear you. I love my parents and am so thankful to have them as active participants in...
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The Could-Be-Deadly Wooden Ladder
There are hundreds of things in your parents’ home you may have never noticed before. Things in the garage, storage closets, even the laundry room that once seemed totally benign and reasonable. Then one day, you see it in use and it strikes the fear of immediate and significant injury in you. I...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Your entertaining and useful guide to helping your parents live better, longer—and saving your sanity while you’re at it. Join me and my esteemed guests while we share humorous stories and expert advice to help you navigate this phase of life with humor, grace, and tools to succeed.
HOSTED BY
Kirsten Mau
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Who Gets the China? have?
Who Gets the China? currently has 47 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Who Gets the China? about?
Your entertaining and useful guide to helping your parents live better, longer—and saving your sanity while you’re at it. Join me and my esteemed guests while we share humorous stories and expert advice to help you navigate this phase of life with humor, grace, and tools to succeed.
How often does Who Gets the China? release new episodes?
Who Gets the China? has 47 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Who Gets the China??
You can listen to Who Gets the China? on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Who Gets the China??
Who Gets the China? is created and hosted by Kirsten Mau.
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