Press Release: Award-Winning Podcast ‘A Question of Care’ Returns for Season 2 with Spotlight on the Nation’s Essential Care Workforce
April 23, 2025 — What if the people we rely on most to care for our loved ones disappeared overnight?
Season 2 of the award-winning podcast A Question of Care launches today, examining this urgent question and shining a spotlight on the millions of direct care and childcare workers who form the foundation of the U.S. care economy—yet remain underpaid, undervalued, and overlooked in critical policy conversations.
Hosted by Robert Espinoza, CEO of National Skills Coalition and a leading voice in workforce and aging issues, the season offers eight in-depth episodes released biweekly, each featuring frontline leaders, national advocates, and policy experts tackling the deep structural issues facing care workers—and what it will take to solve them.
“Care workers make modern life possible, but their work is often treated as invisible labor,” said Espinoza. “This season challenges listeners to reckon with that reality—and consider how we can build a care system rooted in dignity, investment, and equity.”
The numbers make the case clear:
The direct care workforce includes more than 5 million workers—more than any other single occupation in the U.S.—providing critical daily support to older adults and people with disabilities.
The childcare workforce numbers nearly 1 million, enabling millions of parents to participate in the workforce.
Collectively, these workers support over 100 million children, older adults, and individuals with disabilities across the country.
The season premiere features a powerful conversation with Josephine Kalipeni, a nationally respected advocate for care workers and families. Espinoza and Kalipeni unpack the causes and consequences of care workforce shortages and what must change to protect and invest in this essential labor force.
Season 2 guests include:
Julie Kashen (The Century Foundation) on investing in childcare workers
Helen Adeosun (CareAcademy) on preparing the home care workforce
Joseph Macbeth (NADSP) on direct support professionals
Dr. Kezia Scales (PHI) on the future of nursing assistants
Corrine Eldridge (Center for Caregiver Advancement) on consumer-directed care
Brynn Bowman (CAPC) on palliative and hospice care workers
Kevin Smith (Best in Care, Inc.) on evolving home care agencies
Produced by Mitch Bluestein of Modry Media, A Question of Care has received national recognition for excellence in storytelling and advocacy, including:
Two Gold w3 Awards for Best Indie Podcast and for Individual Episodes and Specials in the Interview category
A Gold Davey Award for Best Indie Podcast
A Bronze Signal Award for Activism, Public Service, and Social Impact
Two Communicator Awards of Excellence recognizing host Robert Espinoza and standout episodes in the Causes and Awareness category
Season 2 is available now on all major podcast platforms or at A Question of Care.
About the Podcast:
A Question of Care is a critically acclaimed podcast hosted by Robert Espinoza that explores how our society cares—and fails to care—for people across generations. Through bold conversations and personal storytelling, the show elevates the voices of those shaping a more just and inclusive care economy.