A Cup of Tea on the Commode

Di-ver-tic-u-what? —Me Two smiles before the first of three emergency surgeries In honor of Men’s Health Awareness Month, I post this chapter from “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” as a reminder, especially for caregivers of the male persuasion. Third Time, No Charm Once in a while life throws you a curveball. On June 4, 2013, it threw me a humdinger. It all started back in February at my annual…

Today Patty welcomes Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native who spent 28 years in Hollywood, to discuss his bestselling, award-winning debut memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode. The book is about caring for his mother during the final three and a half years of her life after a near-death experience in 2011. Mark explains the title’s origin from a daily bedside commode routine that included his…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Mom attends Easter Mass in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Happy Easter! Or as we say here in France “Joyeuses Pâques!” #Humor #Memoir #eldercare #acupofteaonthecommode #HappyEaster #JoyeusesPâques

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. To listen on Apple podcast, click here. To listen on Podbean, click here. 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…

Mark shared his story on Zach Tidwell’s “Going in Blind” podcast. Zach has his own powerful story. To learn more about it, click here. From Zach’s show notesMark 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.…

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…

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…

Caregiving is heavy—but it doesn’t have to be hopeless. MARK STEVEN PORRO lives by a simple but powerful mantra: “Find the joy.”In today’s episode of “The Unfiltered by G’Ade,” he shares how this mindset, “Finding Joy in the Hard Places,” helped him navigate emotional tension, exhaustion, and difficult moments while caring for his mother. From sensing emotional shifts to managing unspoken pain,…

A nursing home in Deventer, Netherlands has adopted an innovative intergenerational housing model: in exchange for thirty hours per month of companionship (not caregiving), local college students receive rent-free room and board. The idea grew from a desire to foster more warmth and connection in the home, while also alleviating a shortage of student housing. Although the “volunteer hours” are…

What does it truly mean to show up for someone you love? In this profoundly moving and surprisingly funny episode, we sit down with Mark Steven Porro—actor, designer, and award-winning author—to discuss his journey from the Hollywood hills to taking care of his 89-year-old mother. Mark shares the deeply personal origin story behind his acclaimed memoir, “A Cup of Tea on the Commode,” which…

Welcome to the “A Cup of Tea on the Commode” family. As a thank you for joining us, we are offering our subscribers the first three chapters of this multi-award-winning book for FREE. Click here to download. Or if you rather purchase the book in its entirety, you can find plenty of options here. If you have already purchased the book, we invite you ask a friend to subscribe so they can get get…