Squeezed with Yvette Nicole Brown

Episode: Rage, Guilt, and Love in Alzheimer’s Caregiving

Date: October 1, 2025
Guests: Lauren Miller Rogan & Seth Rogen
Host: Yvette Nicole Brown
Podcast: Lemonada Media

Episode Overview

This episode explores the emotional rollercoaster of caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, guided by the deeply personal experiences of Lauren Miller Rogan and Seth Rogen. Host Yvette Nicole Brown dives into the realities of guilt, rage, love, and resilience that define the journey of family caregivers, particularly young caregivers navigating adulthood alongside devastating illness. The conversation also celebrates the impact of Hilarity for Charity, Lauren and Seth’s foundation to raise Alzheimer’s awareness and provide relief to caregivers, illustrating how they transform pain into purpose and support for others.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Emotional Realities of Caregiving

• Rage & Overwhelm:
  Lauren recounts the moment everyday frustrations boiled over due to the cumulative stress of caregiving.

  “I was supposed to be flying back and our dog wouldn't go to the bathroom...I was like, screaming. I was just, I was raging.” —Lauren (00:40)
  Seth interjects the need to find some calm amid chaos:
  “I remember saying that, like, yeah, like, I at least need a few minutes in the morning before... we fly into a rage. Maybe let me brush my teeth and have some coffee...” —Seth (02:17)

• Universal Guilt and Exhaustion:
  Yvette and her guests share that these feelings aren’t unique—caregiving is filled with moments when everything feels like too much.

  “It was all the whys that drive you crazy.” —Yvette (01:52)

• Balance in Early Adulthood:
  Lauren reflects on falling in love and advancing her career while simultaneously watching her mother decline:

  “All these things happened while she was sick, while we were caring for her, while I was watching my mother slowly die from this terrible, terrible thing.” —Lauren (05:18)

2. Navigating Relationships Through Caregiving

• Support & Emotional Openness:
  Lauren credits Seth’s upbringing—his mother and sister are social workers—for helping him support her through dark times and nudging her to seek therapy.

  “…was always able to sort of hold my deep and dark feelings about it, my anger…” —Lauren (05:37)

• Steadfast Commitment:
  Seth discusses what kept him committed to Lauren despite the hardships:

  “It didn’t even occur to me [to leave]...Once you’re, you know, in a relationship with someone, then like, these are the things you deal with together.” —Seth (09:12)

• Lauren’s Mother’s Wishes:
  Adele, Lauren’s mother, urged Lauren to keep living her life, not to give it all up for caregiving—a “gift” Lauren calls “privileged and lucky.”

  “My mom gave me an incredible gift early on...I was not to stop living my life for her.” —Lauren (07:11)

3. Family Dynamics & Accepting Help

• Resistance and Denial:
  Adele initially hid her diagnosis out of shame, and the family navigated how—and when—to bring in professional help.

  “We... had to play along and sort of, this woman is here as a housekeeper, you know, creating a reality that fit and worked and made things okay.” —Lauren (10:48)

• Letting Go of Sole Responsibility:
  Therapy helped clarify that Lauren's father, Scott, could be the primary caregiver, with Lauren supporting him:

  “...if your dad wants to be the primary caregiver, let him. He’s her husband. ...You be his caregiver.” —Lauren (12:05)

• Bringing Parents Closer:
  Eventually, Scott and Adele moved from Florida to LA for proximity and more robust support, with Adele receiving 24-hour in-home care, and Scott living next door.

  “She had care and my dad was able to be her...primary caregiver till the very, very end.” —Lauren (13:41)

4. Advocacy & Changing the Conversation

• Breaking the Silence:
  Seth’s 2014 testimony before Congress spotlighted the lack of awareness and funding for Alzheimer’s, reaching millions.

  “Another thing I didn’t realize until I was personally affected was the shame and stigma associated with the disease.” —Seth (15:48)
  “It became like one of C-SPAN’s most viewed videos, which isn’t saying a ton, but...It’s good for that.” —Seth (18:33)

• The Power of Storytelling:
  Lauren insists on speaking openly, contradicting her mom’s initial shame.

  “I’m not gonna listen to the voice that came out when she was already sick...Who she was was someone who cared passionately about helping other people, teaching people. And so really, I just channeled that part of her…” —Lauren (31:21)

5. Hilarity for Charity: Laughter as a Lifeline

• Origins & Impact:
  Hilarity for Charity began as a variety show—raising $300,000 in its first year—evolving into a movement funding caregiver respite and support groups, and fostering hope.

  “It was just like, oh, we'll put on a variety show and we'll give the money to Alzheimer’s charity...got a lot better [at talking about Alzheimer’s] over the years.” —Seth (19:33)
  “Today it also helps increase support groups nationwide and helps advance cutting edge research.” —Yvette (19:09)

• Grants and Caregiver Relief:
  Their caregiver respite grant program provides free in-home hours for families in need.

  “Every month we would read the applications, which, yeah, was...gut wrenching.” —Lauren (26:28)
  “We’d love to award you 15 hours of care a week for a full year, completely paid and taken care of. Is that something that could be helpful for you?” —Lauren (27:35)

• What Caregivers Need Most:
  Lauren identifies loneliness, lack of respite, and craving for community as the greatest needs:

  “Too many [caregivers] are lonely, and they are doing this all on their own. They have no respite, they have no community, they have no support… I wish that probably a lot of caregivers could pat themselves on the back a bit more than they probably do.” —Lauren (28:36)

• Humor as Healing:

  “If we were, you know, chefs, it would call it, you know, baking for charity or something. …it does make it an easier subject matter to talk about and think about.” —Seth (20:52)

6. Anticipatory Grief and Letting Go

• Living with Long-term Loss:
  Lauren describes the strange lightness after her mother’s passing, having grieved for years:

  “I felt lighter than I had felt in 16 years...I had mourned her for 16 years.” —Lauren (23:24, 23:31)

• The Difference in Types of Grief:

  “I have not lost someone quickly. I have only lost someone over a long period like this…And so I was already used to missing her.” —Lauren (23:50, 24:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It was all the whys that drive you crazy.” —Yvette Nicole Brown (01:52)
• “I was not to stop living my life for her.” —Lauren Miller Rogan (07:11)
• “Once you’re...in a relationship with someone, then like, these are the things you deal with together.” —Seth Rogen (09:12)
• “We all survived.” —Lauren (24:54)
• “Too many [caregivers] are lonely, and they are doing this all on their own. They have no respite, they have no community, they have no support…” —Lauren (28:36)
• “Who she was was someone who cared passionately about helping other people, teaching people...I just channeled that part of her…” —Lauren (31:21)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Caregiving Rage & Emotional Strain: 00:40-02:42
• Relationship & Early Diagnosis: 04:13-07:11
• Therapy and Family Dynamics: 11:41-13:41
• Advocacy & Congressional Testimony: 14:54-18:33
• Hilarity for Charity—Origins and Impact: 19:33-21:49
• Anticipatory Grief & Processing Death: 22:25-24:54
• Caregiver Grants & What Caregivers Need: 25:41-28:36
• Shifting the Stigma & Mom’s Legacy: 30:23-31:37

Tone & Language

The episode is candid, heartfelt, and lightly humorous despite the gravity of the subject. All three—Yvette, Lauren, and Seth—speak plainly and honestly about pain, guilt, love, and the power of channeling hard emotions into systemic advocacy.

Summary Takeaway

This conversation is a window into the hidden struggles and quiet heroism of family caregivers, particularly young adults thrust into the role. By sharing their own story—full of fear, frustration, love, and even laughter—Lauren and Seth help dismantle stigma, create meaningful support, and honor the legacies of those lost to Alzheimer’s. Their journey shows that while caregiving is isolating, it need not be lonely—and that small moments of grace and community can bring light to even the darkest seasons.