In Good Company Podcast: Age Better

Part 3: Your Exercise Prescription

What should a well-rounded exercise plan actually include, and how can you make it realistic enough to follow?

In the final part of The Science of Aging Better, Keith McShan and Stacy Goddard share a practical approach to building strength, mobility and independence throughout life. They discuss cardiovascular activity, strength training, balance, flexibility and mobility, while emphasizing that exercise does not have to require expensive equipment or hours in a gym.

The conversation also highlights the work Missouri State University is doing to prepare future health professionals. Stacy explains how students from exercise science, dietetics, athletic training and health services are learning to collaborate, while gaining experience working with employees, senior centers, assisted-living communities and older athletes.

Keith and Stacy also explain why enjoyment and social connection matter so much. The exercise you enjoy is the exercise you are more likely to repeat, whether that means walking, swimming, strength training, playing a sport or joining friends for pickleball.

The episode concludes by connecting exercise with nutrition, sleep and long-term quality of life. The goal is not merely to increase lifespan, but to extend healthspan, preserving the ability to move, participate and live independently for as many years as possible.

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Does exercise have to hurt to be effective? Should people avoid movement when they have arthritis or chronic pain? And how can the average person know which health advice to trust?

In Part 2 of The Science of Aging Better, Keith McShan and Stacy Goddard challenge some of the most common misconceptions surrounding exercise, aging and chronic disease. They explain why movement can remain important even when health conditions are present and why “no pain, no gain” can be a damaging message for people trying to become more active.

The discussion then expands into the healthcare system itself. Keith and Stacy examine the difference between preventing illness and simply treating symptoms, the need for stronger exercise and nutrition education in healthcare, and the importance of connecting patients with qualified professionals.

They also address the overwhelming amount of health information found online. Listeners will learn what to examine before trusting a claim, including the source’s credentials, the age of the information, who funded it and whether someone may be financially motivated to influence the message.

This episode is an honest conversation about misinformation, prevention, corporate influence and the importance of asking better questions about our health.

Keith McShan brings a background in sport and exercise psychology, while Stacy Goddard serves as an associate professor and program director for exercise science at Missouri State University. Together, they explore both the physical and psychological sides of building healthier habits and maintaining independence as we age.

Why do some people build a lifelong exercise habit while others struggle to get started?

In Part 1 of The Science of Aging Better, Missouri State University professors Keith McShan and Stacy Goddard explain why the best form of exercise is often simply the one you will continue doing. They discuss the importance of enjoyment, confidence, personal choice and community—and why accountability can make such a powerful difference.

The conversation also explores the barriers that frequently keep older adults from moving, including pain, chronic health conditions, fear of injury and a lack of support from friends or family. Keith and Stacy offer practical ways to make healthy decisions easier, create realistic goals and move beyond temporary motivation toward lasting discipline.

Whether you are returning to exercise, trying to support an aging family member or simply looking for a more sustainable approach to wellness, this episode offers an encouraging reminder: you do not have to begin perfectly. You just have to begin moving.

What kind of exercise do you actually need to age better?

In the final part of our conversation, registered dietitian, trainer, and wellness coach Cassie Dimmick breaks exercise into practical categories, including daily movement, cardiovascular activity, high-intensity training, strength, mobility, balance, and recovery.

Cassie explains why walking is valuable but may not address every part of healthy aging, why strength and functional movement become increasingly important over time, and how maintaining the ability to stand, move, balance, and get off the floor can protect independence.

We also discuss how people can safely return to exercise after years of inactivity, why random workouts can lead to frustration or injury, and why it is never too late to begin. As Cassie reminds us, no one else can take ownership of our health for us, and waiting for the perfect time often means continuing to wait.

Watch Part 4 of our conversation with Cassie Dimmick and discover how small, consistent actions can help you build a stronger and more capable future.

Subscribe to In Good Company for more trusted conversations about wellness, fitness, and aging better.

Does Medicare pay for long-term care? What about Medicaid? And what happens if you or a parent can no longer safely live at home? Long-term care can be one of the most confusing—and expensive—parts of aging. Many families don't start thinking about it until they're suddenly forced to make decisions. In this episode of In Good Company: Age Better, we break down what families should know about Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance, estate planning, and preparing for the possibility of long-term care.

Are smartwatches, glucose monitors, fasting plans, and gut-health products helping us become healthier, or are they sometimes creating more confusion?

In Part 3, registered dietitian and wellness coach Cassie Dimmick explores how personal health technology can provide valuable information without allowing numbers to take over your life. We discuss wearables, glucose responses, VO2 max, probiotics, fermented foods, gut health, and the importance of understanding what your data can and cannot tell you.

Cassie also examines intermittent fasting, including why research performed primarily on men or inactive participants may not apply equally to women and active adults. The conversation concludes with a balanced discussion about alcohol, moderation, and why health research is not always as simple as a headline makes it appear.

Watch Part 3 of our conversation with Cassie Dimmick and learn how to use health information as a tool rather than another source of anxiety.

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GLP-1 medications and peptides have become some of the most talked-about tools in modern health and weight loss. But what do we know, what are we still learning, and what should people consider before beginning?

Registered dietitian and wellness coach Cassie Dimmick shares a balanced perspective on the potential benefits and concerns surrounding these rapidly growing trends. She explains why losing weight is not the same as building health, how inadequate nutrition can lead to muscle loss, and why bone health and long-term function matter more than simply becoming thinner.

Cassie also discusses the importance of professional guidance, evaluating health influencers, recognizing conflicts of interest, and finding qualified experts who can help you focus on what matters most for your body.

Watch Part 2 of our conversation with Cassie Dimmick for a thoughtful look at GLP-1s, peptides, wellness marketing, and the challenge of knowing who to trust.

Subscribe to In Good Company for more clear guidance and honest health conversations.

PART 1: Nutrition Without the Noise What should you actually eat to feel better, stay strong, and age well? Registered dietitian, trainer, and wellness coach Cassie Dimmick joins us to cut through the overwhelming amount of nutrition advice competing for our attention. From carnivore, keto, vegan, paleo, and Mediterranean eating to protein, supplements, lab testing, and food sensitivities, Cassie explains what the research shows and why there is no single diet that works for everyone. We also discuss how restrictive advice and questionable testing can create unnecessary fear around food, and why sustainable health begins with understanding your own body, habits, goals, and medical needs. Watch Part 1 of our conversation with Cassie Dimmick and learn how to approach nutrition without fear, confusion, or another quick fix. Subscribe to In Good Company for more honest conversations about health, wellness, and aging better. #InGoodCompanyPodcast #AgeBetter #CassieDimmick #AchievingYourBest #RegisteredDietitian #HealthyAging #Nutrition #Wellness #Fitness #Exercise #StrengthTraining #GutHealth #IntermittentFasting #GLP1 #HealthEducation #FunctionalFitness #HealthyLifestyle #SpringfieldMO #Ozarks #Podcast

What would it take to put healthcare decisions back into the hands of patients and clinicians?

In Part 2, Emma Freer returns to discuss potential solutions to the growing influence of private equity, insurance conglomerates, pharmacy benefit managers, and other corporate middlemen in American healthcare.

Emma outlines policy reforms designed to prevent financial owners from controlling clinical decisions, staffing levels, pricing, and other choices that directly affect patient safety and quality of care. She also discusses efforts to protect hospitals and nursing homes, reduce conflicts of interest, eliminate unnecessary prior authorization, and make it more financially possible for independent practices to survive.

The conversation also examines what corporate ownership can look like in dentistry, hospice, home health, and other areas of care. Emma and the hosts discuss how patients may receive unnecessary treatment in one setting while experiencing dangerous under-service in another, all depending on which approach produces the greatest financial return.

Emma argues that decades of healthcare corporatization have failed to lower costs, improve quality, or strengthen public trust. She also shares practical steps patients and families can take, including asking questions about ownership, raising concerns with trusted clinicians, and seeking independent providers when possible.

Part 2 closes with a deeper look at administrative costs, unequal reimbursement, insurance middlemen, the pressures facing independent providers, and why meaningful structural reform may be necessary to build a system that works for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

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Who is really making decisions about your healthcare: your doctor, your insurance company, or a corporation focused on shareholder returns?

In Part 1, Emma Freer joins In Good Company: Age Better to examine how corporate consolidation, private equity, and insurance conglomerates have reshaped American healthcare. Emma is a Senior Policy Analyst for Healthcare at the American Economic Liberties Project, where she studies the consequences of concentrated corporate power across the healthcare sector.

Emma explains how healthcare shifted away from independent, clinician-led practices and toward increasingly powerful corporate systems. She also discusses how this transformation can influence clinical decisions, raise costs, reduce transparency, and make it harder for healthcare professionals to provide the care they believe patients need.

The conversation explores Medicare Advantage, the moral injury experienced by clinicians, and the difficulty patients face when trying to determine who actually owns their doctor’s office, nursing home, pharmacy, or healthcare agency. Emma also explains why independently and clinician-owned providers may be placed at a disadvantage when families cannot easily compare ownership models.

Part 1 also looks at the pressures that lead independent providers to sell, the short-term profit model behind many private equity acquisitions, and the need for greater transparency and stronger protections for patients, clinicians, and local communities.

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