What happens when life flips the script?

What happens when life flips the script—and you’re called to become the parent to your parent?

In this deeply moving episode of Balance & Breakthroughs, host Wil Singleton sits down with former Hollywood actor turned author Mark Steven Porro, whose life took an unexpected turn when he became the full-time caregiver for his 90-year-old mother.

After nearly three decades in Hollywood and building a successful snack food business, Mark traded his bachelor lifestyle for something far more demanding—and meaningful: caring for his aging mother through dementia, physical decline, and the emotional complexities of end-of-life care.

What followed was a 3.5-year journey of humor, heartbreak, patience, and profound love—one that inspired his award-winning memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode.

In this episode, Mark shares:

• The shocking moment his mother was placed on hospice—and how a simple act changed everything
• What it really means to “parent your parent”
• How humor became a survival tool in the most uncomfortable situations
• The emotional and physical toll of caregiving—and why self-care is non-negotiable
• Small, powerful ways to restore dignity, joy, and connection to aging loved ones
• Why making someone feel seen, beautiful, and loved never loses its importance

Through raw stories, unexpected laughter, and hard-earned wisdom, Mark reveals how caregiving—while often overwhelming—can also become one of life’s most meaningful experiences.

This episode is for anyone navigating:

• Caregiving for aging parents
• Dementia and end-of-life challenges
• Family responsibility and emotional burnout
• Or simply seeking a deeper understanding of love, patience, and human connection

Grab a cup of coffee—or tea—and settle in for a conversation that just might change how you show up for the people you love.

To listen on Apple podcast, click here. Or if you prefer to listen on iHeart, click here.

Learn more about Mark Steven Porro’s multi-award winning memoir, here. 

You can purchase A Cup of Tea on the Commode, here. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part).  

#Humor #Memoir #eldercare #acupofteaonthecommode #balanceandbreakthroughswithwilsingleton