What if some of life’s hardest seasons also hold some of its most meaningful lessons?
In Episode 159 of heCast, Mike Chisholm sits down with Mark Steven Porro for an honest, heartfelt, and unexpectedly funny conversation about caregiving, aging, family, grief, dignity, and finding joy in hard seasons. Mark Steven Porro is an award-winning designer, writer, director, actor, and the author of A Cup of Tea on the Commode, a memoir about caring for his mother in the final years of her life.
In this episode, Mark shares what it was like to step away from the usual chase of life and fully enter the world of caregiving — navigating the emotional highs and lows, the hard moments, the absurd moments, and the surprising grace that can show up when you are present for someone you love. This episode explores the emotional reality of caring for an aging parent, the role of humor in preserving dignity, the lessons that service teaches us, and why showing up in difficult seasons can change us in ways we never expected.
In this episode, we talk about: • Caregiving and family responsibility • Aging and end-of-life realities • Grief, love, and dignity • Humor in hard seasons • Purpose and perspective • Showing up for the people we love • Finding joy in the middle of difficulty
To learn more about Mark Steven Porro’s multi-award winning memoir, click here.
Mother’s Day Sale In honor of all mothers, A Cup of Tea on the Commode eBook is just $4.99. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
Mother’s Day Sale. A Special Price for a Special Day
Genevieve always loved a good sale. And though she’ll miss this one, you don’t have to. In honor of all mothers this Mother’s Day, “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” eBook is just $4.99. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
If you yearn to learn more about Mark Steven Porro’s multi-award winning memoir before purchasing, click here.
In honor of Mother’s Day, my hometown magazine has honored me with the cover and a feature in the May 2026 issue. We appreciate the local love. Thank you, Kris Pepper and Ridgewood & Ho-Ho-Kus Magazine. Mom’s Irish eyes are smiling. To read the full article, click here.
Here’s an excerpt:
When Mark Porro became the primary caregiver for his nearly 90-year-old mother, Genevieve, in 2011, he stepped into a role still more commonly associated with women. He didn’t see himself as exceptional; he simply saw himself fulfilling a much-needed role for his family—and his dear mother.
“Yes, the role of caregiver generally falls on the women of the family, but the men are catching up,” he says. “I didn’t think too much about the distinction, nor did I let it affect me. Many thought I was a hero. I didn’t agree. To me, this was how our parents raised us. It was the right thing to do.”
Determined to care for her as fully and respectfully as possible, he immersed himself in learning. “I wanted to learn how to best take care of her for as long as she wanted to be here, days, weeks, or months,” he says. “So, I spent a lot of time with the hospice nurses who taught me the tips and tricks of eldercare. I knew a bit of what I was getting into.”
Upon making the decision—supported by his siblings and his mother—there was no half-measure. “Once I decided to move back to take this on full-time, I jumped in 100%.”
Drawing on his background as an actor, Porro learned to manage his own emotions so as not to burden his mother. “Yes, I’m still her son, but I’m also her caregiver, and I didn’t want my mother to feel guilty about me taking on this role. I did my best to keep my discomfort and my emotions out of the room.” To read the full article, click here.
If you yearn to learn more about Mark Steven Porro’s multi-award winning memoir, click here.
Mother’s Day Sale
Genevieve always loved a good sale. And though she’ll miss this one, you don’t have to. In honor of all mothers this Mother’s Day, “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” eBook is just $4.99. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
Now for something completely different. The passing of Chuck Norris prompted another lively visit between authors Mark Steven Porro and John Daly. This is their third podcast together. The first two were a lot of fun, but let’s see if the third time is indeed the charm.
In this episode, Mark discusses working with Chuck, Tom Hanks, Ryan Reynolds, and others. Mark also shares some Hollywood stories and spills a few secrets, some of which may get him in trouble. But not to worry. They’ll have to find him somewhere in the South of France. Where? Mums the word.
And, of course, if you yearn to learn more about Mark Steven Porro’s multi-award winning memoir, click here. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
In this episode, I sit down with Mark Steven Porro, author of “A Cup of Tea on the Commode.” We talk about his experience giving up his bachelor lifestyle to care for his mother during her final years with humor and heart . Mark shares the raw, unfiltered reality of stepping into the role of caregiver with no experience outside of a sense of humor. This conversation is for anyone who has ever found themselves exhausted, overwhelmed, or quietly wondering if they’re doing any of this “right.” (Spoiler: there is no perfect way to do this.)
Mark brings honesty, vulnerability, and a surprising amount of wit to a topic that can feel incredibly heavy. His story is a reminder that even in the messiest, most human moments, there can be connection, meaning, and even a little laughter.
To learn more about this multi-award winning memoir, click here. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
Love sometimes looks like sacrifice. Sometimes it looks like patience. And sometimes, it looks like a son who chooses to stay. Stay tuned for the story behind the story.
In this powerful episode of Backstory Sessions: Love Stories, we sit down with author Mark Steven Porro to talk about one of the most profound forms of love there is—the love of a caregiver for a parent. At age 55, Mark stepped away from his independent bachelor life to become a full-time caregiver to his 90-year-old mother, a woman who was sharp-witted, stubborn, funny, and slowly slipping into memory loss.
His memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode, captures the raw, real, and unexpectedly humorous moments of that journey. From frustration to tenderness, from exhaustion to grace, Mark shares what it meant to care for the woman who once cared for him—and how the experience transformed him in ways he never expected.
This episode is about devotion. About role reversal. About finding meaning in the hardest seasons. And about the quiet, enduring power of unconditional love.
Because some love stories aren’t about finding someone new… they’re about honoring the ones who were there from the very beginning.
To learn more about this multi-award winning memoir, click here. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here.
Mark shared his story on Zach Tidwell’s “Going in Blind” podcast. Zach has his own powerful story. He is a completely-blind Marine Corps veteran and suicide survivor best known for his lighthearted approach to the hard topics in life and ability to inspire others. To learn more about it, click here.
From Zach’s show notes Mark Steven Porro is a multi-talented creative professional who has lived a remarkably diverse life. His career began in industrial design, then moved to Hollywood, where he spent 28 years building a career as an actor, writer, and director. Mark appeared in shows like Hill Street Blues, Castaway with Tom Hanks, and even Seinfeld alongside his father. He also co-founded the Grandpa Po’s Originals snack food company with his brother to honor their father’s 1963 invention, and building into a national brand.
But his most profound achievement came when he returned to New Jersey to care for his mother during her final three and a half years, chronicled in his multi-award-winning memoir A Cup of Tea on the Commode.
A Cup of Tea on the Commode is a must-read, showcasing an extraordinary display of love and one man’s selfless acts to fill his mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. The book is available in paperback, Large Print, ebook, and audiobook. It can be found on Amazon and other online bookstores. Click here for purchasing options
Authors News Network just released a lovely one-on-one interview with the author of “A Cup of Tea on the Commode.” Here’s the full transcript. Enjoy!
Mark Steven Porro is an award-winning designer, writer, and director. He has written lots of jokes, several screenplays, and one award-winning short film. A Cup of Tea on the Commode—a sad, sweet, and funny memoir—is his first published book.
A New Jersey native (Exit 163), Mark earned an Industrial Design degree from The Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown as an entrepreneur, starting five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what he thinks they’re saying.
This one-on-one interview shares Mark Steven Porro’s background and experience in writing A Cup of Tea on the Commode. My multitasking adventures of caring for Mom. And how I survived to tell the tale.
Tell us about A Cup of Tea on the Commode.
At 55, I gave up my carefree bachelor life in Los Angeles to become a first-time parent to an eighty-nine-year-old, sharp-tongued, guilt-tripping, stubborn-as-all-get-out, and yet funny lady who could barely remember my name.
My mother.
She was on her deathbed, so I rushed back to New Jersey to be by her side. Hours became days, days became weeks, then she woke up. So, I moved back into my childhood home and took over her care. It’s rare for a son to take on 24/7 caregiving, but I jumped in with gusto so I could fill her last years with love, laughter, and joy.
The parent/child role reversal may not be unique to me, but how I dealt with it was. One day, hoping to make my mother, Genevieve’s time on the commode a tad more pleasant, I offered her a cup of her favorite beverage. It was a hit, and a cup of tea on the commode became a staple on the morning menu, and the clear choice for the title of this intimate, funny, and heartwarming memoir of how eldercare can be done. I was not always successful, but I came pretty damn close.
What inspired you to write A Cup of Tea on the Commode?
The number of persons aged eighty years or over is projected to triple to 426 million by 2050. In the US alone, there are currently over fifty million seniors eighty years or older.
My story is timely and timeless as many will, sooner or later, confront the same issues as I did.
A Cup of Tea on the Commode is not a “How to,” but a “What I did” book, and it is resonating with many readers who have found an equal number of laughs and tears in it. My hope with the book is to not only entertain as there are a lot of fun stories in it, but to inspire others (especially men), to discover the joy of caregiving.
I did, and I’m a better man for it.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
During my three-and-a-half-year journey of caring for mom, I took lots of notes, photos, and videos to help remember important details and conversations.
I learned as much as I could from hospice nurses and nurse’s aides before taking over all caregiving duties. But like any new parent, I also learned on the fly and made mistakes. When I gave my mom her first bubble bath in years, she passed out in the tub. Great, I tried to do a good thing, and I killed my mom. At least she smelled good! Luckily, she woke up 30 minutes later and didn’t remember a thing, so it was a win/win.
I included many of my multitasking adventures, along with some poignant and funny moments from our shared past. Since this was my first memoir, I studied the craft before jumping in. My lifetime of experience in human-centered design, acting, and entrepreneurship all came into play as well.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
There is nothing more important than caring for your loved ones. There’s honor, love and joy in it.
Purchasing the Book
A Cup of Tea on the Commode is a must-read, showcasing an extraordinary display of love and one man’s selfless acts to fill his mother’s last years with love, laughter, and joy. The book is available in paperback, Large Print, ebook, and audiobook. It can be found on Amazon and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://books2read.com/u/bPN7Pd
One year ago, Broadway’s bright neon lights shone for “A Cup of Tea on the Commode.” Fresh off two more literary wins, the NYC Big Book and the Independent Press Awards, we appeared on Broadway. And though Mother Nature rained on our parade, she did not dampen our joy.
My niece, Shea Smith, braved the weather to capture a bit of that joy!
To learn more about this multi-award winning memoir, click here. You’ll laugh out loud. You’ll cry out loud. (Sorry for the crying part). To purchase, click here. Ebook is just $8.99.
We appreciate all of the reviews and ratings on Amazon, even that anonymous “1-Star.” Here are the latest: 5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2026
“This book is a must read, especially if you have or know anyone who cares for the elderly. It will make you laugh out loud. It will make you cry and it will make you feel so glad that you purchased it and read it.”
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2025
“Our parents give us years of love, support, in addition to emotional and intellectual education. If we’re lucky, they’ll also us teach how to approach life with passion and humor. Clearly Mark’s parents raised their six kids with an abundance of love and fun. Because of the beautiful loving environment of his youth, Mark made the decision to return to his childhood home to care for and guide his mother through the last years of her life. He describes, in detail, the steps to keep a nonagenarian parent safe, happy and clean while keeping one’s own mental heath in the process.
The tales about finding, keeping good help and dealing with irresponsible ones remind us of the messy annoying side of dealing with people. (Aren’t we all annoying and messy at one time or another?) I love the nostalgic stories about the Porro family that Mark peppers throughout the book. I enjoyed getting to know them. Mark presents us with an informed and poignant narrative on how to pay back the love and sacrifice that parents give us throughout our lives.”
