In Good Company Podcast: Age Better

In Part 2 of our conversation with Congressman Eric Burlison, we move beyond the problems facing American healthcare and explore the policies, technology, and market forces that could shape its future. Congressman Burlison discusses the growing consolidation of healthcare providers, hospitals, nursing homes, and other local businesses under large corporations and private-equity firms. He explains why he believes excessive regulation can unintentionally favor larger organizations, create barriers for independent providers, and reduce competition within local communities. The conversation also turns to Burlison’s Great American Health Care Plan, a comprehensive healthcare reform proposal developed with his congressional staff. He shares the goals behind the legislation, the organizations supporting it, and why advancing the bill has become one of his leading priorities in Congress. Later, Burlison draws on his background as a software engineer to offer his perspective on artificial intelligence. He explains how AI could transform medical diagnosis, expand access to expert information, improve consumer transparency, and change the way people work. He also addresses concerns about inaccurate medical advice, cybersecurity, government regulation, autonomous vehicles, and whether the marketplace can develop safeguards as quickly as the technology evolves. We also examine food and supplement labeling, independent product testing, and how future AI tools could help consumers identify ingredients, allergens, misleading health claims, and products that better fit their individual needs. It is a wide-ranging conversation about healthcare reform, competition, innovation, transparency, and the difficult balance between protecting consumers and allowing new ideas to develop. #InGoodCompanyPodcast #AgeBetter #EricBurlison #HealthcareReform #HealthcarePolicy #PatientChoice #HealthSavingsAccount #HSA #PriceTransparency #HealthcareCosts #PreventiveHealth #HealthyAging #RuralHealthcare #MissouriHealthcare #PrivateEquity #HealthcareConsolidation #IndependentHealthcare #AIInHealthcare #ArtificialIntelligence #FoodTransparency #Medicare #Medicaid #DirectPrimaryCare #Congress #Missouri #HealthcareInnovation

What would it take to put patients, not insurance companies, employers, or government bureaucracies, back in control of their healthcare? In Part 1, U.S. Representative Eric Burlison joins In Good Company: Age Better to explain why he believes America’s healthcare system spends too much while giving patients too little choice.

In this deeply personal episode of In Good Company, Kim Therriault, Director of Haven Hospice, opens up about her own health journey, the fear and uncertainty that came with diagnosis, and the faith that has carried her through some of the hardest moments of her life. For years, Kim has walked alongside patients and families facing serious illness, grief, and end-of-life care. Now, she shares what it feels like to be on the other side of that experience, not only as a healthcare leader, but as a wife, mother, woman of faith, and hospice nurse who understands suffering in a profoundly personal way. This conversation is honest, emotional, and full of hope. Kim reflects on what her journey has taught her about surrender, strength, prayer, family, purpose, and the gift of every single day. Her story is a reminder that even in the valley, there can be peace. Even in uncertainty, there can be faith. And even in the hardest seasons, life can still be filled with meaning, love, and grace. #InGoodCompany #HavenHospice #KimTherriault #HealthJourney #FaithAndHealing #HospiceCare #HopeInHardTimes #ChristianFaith #Caregiving #HealthcareHeroes #LifeAndFaith #HospiceNurse #StrengthAndGrace #PurposeInPain #OzarksHealthcare

In this deeply personal episode of In Good Company, we sit down with Kim Therriault, Director of Haven Hospice, for an honest conversation about hospice, calling, faith, leadership, and what it means to truly care for people at the most vulnerable moments of life. Kim shares the heart behind what she calls “old school hospice,” a kind of care that refuses to rush, refuses to treat people like numbers, and believes patients and families deserve time, presence, dignity, and compassion. From building Haven Hospice from the ground up to mentoring nurses and walking alongside families through fear, grief, and uncertainty, Kim’s story reveals the kind of leadership that is rooted in service. But this conversation also turns deeply personal. Kim opens up about her own recent cancer diagnosis, the shock of hearing the word malignant, the importance of self-advocacy, and the small acts of kindness that meant everything in a frightening moment. As someone who has spent her life caring for others, Kim now shares what it feels like to be the patient, to need answers, and to lean on faith, family, coworkers, and God. This episode is a powerful reminder that healthcare is not just about medicine. It is about listening. It is about showing up. It is about doing the extra thing. And sometimes, it is about finding grace and hope in the middle of the hardest road. Whether you work in healthcare, love someone in hospice, are walking through a difficult diagnosis, or simply need a reminder of what compassionate care should look like, Kim’s story is one you will not forget. #InGoodCompany #HavenHospice #HavenHomeHealthAndHospice #HospiceCare #HospiceNurse #EndOfLifeCare #FaithAndHope #HealthcareWithHeart #PatientAdvocacy #SelfAdvocacy #CompassionateCare #Caregiving #HealthcareHeroes #HospiceLeadership #KimTherriault #OzarksHealthcare #SouthwestMissouri #FaithThroughTheFire #GraceAndDignity #OldSchoolHospice

Speech therapy is about so much more than talking. In this episode, we sit down with Molly McGrady, a speech-language pathologist in acute care, to explore the surprising and deeply meaningful work SLPs do every day. Molly shares how speech pathologists help patients with swallowing, cognition, stroke recovery, aphasia, voice changes, oral cancer recovery, and communication challenges. She also breaks down common misconceptions about aspiration, coughing, reflux, oral care, and when families should seek help for a loved one. From helping patients eat safely again to supporting someone as they find new ways to communicate after a stroke, this conversation is a powerful look at the science, compassion, and everyday impact behind speech pathology. #SpeechTherapy #SpeechLanguagePathology #SLP #SwallowingDisorders #StrokeRecovery #AphasiaAwareness #CognitiveHealth #OralCare #ThroatHealth #PatientCare #HealthcareHeroes #CaregiverSupport #HealthyAging #MercyHospital #PodcastEpisode #MollyMcGrady

What does leadership really feel like when the stakes couldn’t be higher? In this riveting episode, Dr. Curtis Mattson pulls back the curtain on the emotional, mental, and even spiritual reality of leading when pressure mounts and failure isn’t an option. Forget the highlight reels — this is what it looks like when courage meets exhaustion, when confidence meets doubt, and when conviction is tested by crisis. Dr. Mattson shares hard-won insights about how leaders stay grounded when everything feels like it’s coming apart — and why those moments, though painful, can become the most defining seasons of our lives. Whether you’re leading a team, a company, or a family, this conversation will challenge what you think you know about leadership and remind you that great leaders aren’t born in comfort — they’re forged in the fire. #healthcaredecisions #healthcarecosts #healthinsuranceexplained #healthcareupdate #healthcarepolicy #healthcarepodcast #healthcareinnovation #futureofhealthcare #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #empathyinmedicine #humancenteredcare #patientexperience #humanconnection #digitalhealth #aiinhealthcare #healthtech

What does it really take to lead a community through crisis, and what happens after the crisis fades from the headlines? In this episode, we sit down with Katie Towns, Director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, for a powerful conversation about public health, leadership, trust, mental health, and what it means to care for a community through uncertain times. Katie shares what it was like stepping into leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, balancing the weight of public responsibility as a single mom, and learning firsthand why boundaries, resilience, and community support matter. We also talk about the lessons public health leaders are carrying forward, from pandemic preparedness and vaccine conversations to mental health access, suicide prevention, social isolation, and the hidden work local health departments do every day. This conversation is honest, practical, and deeply human. Whether you work in healthcare, care for an aging loved one, lead a team, or simply want to better understand the systems that help keep communities healthy, this episode offers perspective you will not want to miss. Katie brings clarity, humility, and compassion to some of the most important conversations facing our communities today: how we rebuild trust, how we prepare for what comes next, and how we take better care of one another before crisis arrives. Watch now and join the conversation about building healthier, more connected, and more prepared communities. #PublicHealth #CommunityHealth #KatieTowns #SpringfieldMO #GreeneCounty #HealthcareLeadership #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #PandemicLessons #COVID19Lessons #VaccineEducation #CommunityPreparedness #HealthyAging #SocialConnection #HealthcarePodcast #Leadership #LocalHealthDepartment

In Part 2 of our conversation with Kevin Weaver, Co-Founder and CEO of The Warrior’s Journey, we go deeper into the hidden challenges facing veterans, service members, and their families long after military service ends.

Kevin unpacks groundbreaking research from The Warrior’s Journey that reveals isolation, not PTSD, as the number one contributor to invisible wounds. Together, we explore the complex realities of identity loss, moral injury, family strain, deployment and reintegration challenges, grief, hopelessness, and the struggle to find purpose after service.

Through powerful stories from veterans he has personally helped, Kevin shares why connection, community, and meaningful relationships are often the most effective tools for healing. He also discusses the unique challenges aging veterans face, the importance of social connection in preventing suicide, and how organizations can work together to provide life-changing support.

This episode is a moving reminder that healing begins when people feel seen, valued, and connected, and that no warrior should have to fight their battles alone.

Topics covered in this episode:

This is Part 2 of a two-part series.

Learn more about The Warrior’s Journey:

#Podcast #Veterans #Military #PTSD #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #VeteranSupport #Healing #TraumaRecovery #MoralInjury #MilitaryFamily #Purpose #Community #Resilience #VeteranMentalHealth #TheWarriorsJourney #KevinWeaver #Leadership #Connection #InGoodCompanyPodcast

In Part 1 of this powerful two-part conversation, we sit down with Kevin Weaver, Co-Founder and CEO of The Warrior’s Journey, an organization dedicated to helping veterans, first responders, and their families navigate trauma, healing, and purpose after service. Kevin is a U.S. Air Force veteran and nationally recognized advocate for military resiliency and healing from invisible wounds. This episode dives deep into the unseen emotional battles many warriors face after returning home: isolation, identity loss, PTSD, family struggles, and the weight of carrying trauma in silence. Through raw stories and honest conversation, we explore why connection, brotherhood, and community are essential for healing. The Warrior’s Journey isn’t just about treatment — it’s about reminding people they are not alone. Topics covered in this episode: • Veteran mental health and trauma • PTSD and family impact • Warrior culture and identity • Building trust through shared experience • Why community matters in healing • Supporting veterans beyond service This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Learn more about The Warrior’s Journey: https://thewarriorsjourney.org/ #Podcast #Veterans #Military #PTSD #MentalHealth #Healing #VeteranSupport #FirstResponders #TraumaRecovery #WarriorMindset #Community #Brotherhood #Purpose #Leadership #Resilience #VeteranMentalHealth #TheWarriorsJourney #KevinWeaver #MilitaryFamily #InGoodCompanyPodcast

What happens when families file health complaints to the state? In this episode, we sit down with Tracy Niekamp, Mike Fields, and Rebekah Stone from the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) and Bureau of Home Care & Rehabilitative Standards to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood areas of healthcare: patient protection and facility oversight. From nursing homes and hospitals to hospice care and long-term care facilities, these teams work behind the scenes every day investigating complaints, protecting vulnerable adults, and ensuring healthcare providers across Missouri meet critical safety standards. We discuss: • What actually happens when families file complaints • How investigations are prioritized • The realities of staffing shortages in healthcare • What surveyors look for during inspections • Why protecting vulnerable adults matters so deeply • What families should know when advocating for loved ones This conversation offers an honest, human look at the people responsible for safeguarding some of Missouri’s most vulnerable residents and the emotional weight that comes with that responsibility. Whether you work in healthcare, have a loved one in care, or simply want to better understand how patient safety is protected, this is a conversation worth hearing. #DHSS #Healthcare #PatientSafety #LongTermCare #HealthcarePodcast #MissouriHealthcare #SeniorCare #HealthcareLeadership #WalkToEndAlzheimers #NursingHomes #HospiceCare #HealthcareWorkers #PatientAdvocacy