In Good Company Podcast: Age Better

In this eye-opening episode of In Good Company, we unpack a truth that most people don’t realize until it’s too late: having a will is just the beginning of protecting your family’s future. 💡 Today’s guest is an expert in estate planning who reveals the critical steps most people overlook — and why relying on a will alone can leave your loved ones vulnerable, even if you think your affairs are in order. From trusts and powers of attorney to health care directives and probate pitfalls, this episode gives you the insight you wish you knew earlier. ⏳ 👉 Whether you’re planning for your legacy, securing your assets, or simply making sure your family is taken care of, this conversation will shift the way you think about estate planning. 🔹 Guest: Attorney Lisa M. Sims, Esq. — Estate Planning & Family Protection Expert 🔹 Law Firm: The Law Office of Lisa M. Sims, LLC — Providing personalized legal guidance you can count on. Visit https://www.sims-law.com/ to learn more. 💬 In This Episode You’ll Learn: • Why a basic will isn’t enough to truly protect your family’s future 🛡️ • The second step most people don’t know exists • How trusts, powers of attorney, and other documents play into a complete plan • Real-world examples and what mistakes to avoid 📌 Stay Connected 👍 Like this video if it helped you 🛎️ Subscribe for more episodes of In Good Company 💬 Comment below with your questions about estate planning — we might feature them on a future episode! #EstatePlanning #WillsAndTrusts #ProtectYourFamily #LegacyPlanning #TrustPlanning #PowerOfAttorney #HealthcareDirective #AvoidProbate #FinancialPlanning #FamilyProtection #DidYouKnow #ThingsYouShouldKnow #MoneyTips #WealthBuilding #GenerationalWealth #FuturePlanning #LifePlanning #Adulting101 #ForYou #FYP #InGoodCompanyPodcast #PodcastClips #BusinessPodcast #WomenInLaw #EstatePlanningAttorney

Gen X grew up raising themselves. They were the latchkey kids. The independent ones. The generation that learned resilience early — figuring out homework, friendships, and disappointments without someone stepping in to fix it. Now they’re raising children in a completely different world. And caring for aging parents at the same time. In this episode, we unpack the unique psychological and emotional pressure facing Gen X — the generation quietly holding two worlds together. From navigating the realities of recession-era careers to parenting in the age of social media, Gen X isn’t just part of the sandwich generation… they may be experiencing the tightest squeeze of all. We explore: Why Gen X parents strive for warmth and resilience How growing up independent shaped their parenting philosophy The emotional weight of caring for aging parents The tension of translating between Boomers and Gen Z And why this generation carries more than most people realize This isn’t just about logistics — time, money, schedules. It’s about identity. Obligation. Breaking cycles without rejecting where you came from. If you’re Gen X and feeling stretched thin, this conversation will remind you: there’s a reason. You’re holding two generations at once. You are not alone. #GenX #SandwichGeneration #CaregiverSqueeze #ParentingToday #ModernParenting #AgingParents #FamilyDynamics #EmotionalResilience #AuthoritativeParenting #Midlife #InGoodCompany

What do people really misunderstand about hospice? What are families actually afraid of when they say, “We’re not ready”? And what would professionals want you to hear before a crisis hits? In this special episode of In Good Company, we spoke with more than a dozen attendees at the End-of-Life Care Summit in Springfield, Missouri, asking them to respond as if they were talking to a family member, not a clinician. The result is honest, compassionate, deeply human insight from the people who walk alongside patients and families every day. From misconceptions about “giving up” to powerful stories of comfort, clarity, and peace, this episode brings together real voices answering the questions many families are afraid to ask. If you or someone you love will one day face these decisions, this conversation is for you. Because understanding hospice before you need it changes everything. #InGoodCompanyPodcast #HospiceCare #EndOfLifeCare #HospiceEducation #Caregiving #FamilyCaregivers #SeriousIllness #AdvanceCarePlanning #PalliativeCare #HealthcareConversations #DeathPositive #HealthcareLeadership #HospiceFoundationForOutreach #BeforeItsTooLate

Is your brain really declining after 50… or has it simply changed its operating system? In this episode of In Good Company, Spencer Ernst challenges one of the most persistent myths about aging: that learning gets harder because your brain is “slowing down.” The truth is far more encouraging. Your brain isn’t shutting down. It’s remodeling. Drawing from neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and research like the Scaffolding Theory of Aging and Cognition and the NeuroRacer study, Spencer explains why adults over 50 may actually have a powerful learning advantage — if they use the right strategy. In this episode, you’ll learn: The difference between fluid intelligence and crystallized intelligence — and why it matters after 50 How your brain compensates for slower processing speed Why managing energy beats cramming The hidden power of relational learning and synthesis How to overcome proactive interference (doing it “the old way”) The Pillar & Playground Method for cognitive growth How exercise, sleep, and environment dramatically affect learning A simple 30-day experiment to upgrade your brain If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I had started 20 years ago,” this episode is for you. It’s not too late. You just need a new strategy. You are never done growing. #Over50Learning #BrainHealth #LifelongLearning #HealthyAging #CognitiveScience #Neuroscience #PersonalGrowth #SecondAct #GrowthMindset #ActiveAging #BrainTraining #InGoodCompany #SpencerErnst #ReinventYourself #LearningAfter50

Scammers are getting smarter. More convincing. More aggressive. And they are targeting everyday Americans using phone calls, texts, social media, and even Artificial Intelligence. In this episode of In Good Company, we break down the four red flags that nearly every scam has in common — and how recognizing them could protect your money, your Social Security number, and your family. You will learn: ✔️ How scammers impersonate Social Security and government agencies ✔️ Why urgency is their most powerful weapon ✔️ The payment methods that should immediately raise alarms ✔️ How AI is being used to clone voices and create fake credibility ✔️ What to do immediately if you suspect a scam ✔️ Where to report fraud and protect your credit National “Slam the Scam” Day on March 5, 2026 reminds us that awareness is power. The more we talk about these tactics, the harder it becomes for criminals to succeed. Before you answer that next unknown call… watch this. Then share it with someone you love. Because one conversation could save thousands. #SlamTheScam #ScamAwareness #FraudPrevention #SocialSecurityScam #ConsumerProtection #StopScammers #IdentityTheft #FinancialSafety #ProtectYourParents #AIscams #InGoodCompany

No one talks about this part. While you’re managing medications, appointments, sleepless nights, and impossible decisions… your own body is absorbing the stress. 📉 Caregivers have a 23% higher risk of mortality than non-caregivers the same age. 🧠 Up to 70% report clinically significant depressive symptoms. 😴 Sleep disruption, chronic stress, weight gain, burnout — it adds up. And when the doctor asks, “How are you doing?” You say, “I’m fine.” But you’re not fine. In this episode, we unpack the hidden physical and mental toll of caregiving — from stress hormones and sleep dysfunction to muscle loss, chronic disease risk, and the quiet guilt caregivers carry every day. We talk about: • Why caregiver burnout is more dangerous than you think • The science behind stress, cortisol, and chronic illness • How sleep, exercise, and nutrition change long-term outcomes • Why the healthcare system often overlooks caregivers • Simple ways to start protecting your own health today If you are caring for a spouse, parent, or loved one — this conversation is for you. You deserve care too. 🎧 Listen now. Share with someone who needs this reminder. #CaregiverLife #CaregiverBurnout #CaregiverSupport #AgingParents #FamilyCaregiver #CaregiverHealth #MentalHealthMatters #ChronicStress #BurnoutRecovery #SelfCareForCaregivers #HealthyAging #PreventativeHealth #WellnessJourney #SleepHealth #ExerciseIsMedicine #ChronicDiseasePrevention #Longevity #HealthcareSystem #CaregivingJourney #InGoodCompanyPodcast

What does dying really look and sound like — and why are families so often unprepared for it? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Debra Parker Oliver — a nationally recognized hospice researcher, former hospice founder, and author — shares what she learned not just through decades of research, but through living hospice care three times: as a wife, a daughter, and a caregiver. Dr. Oliver pulls back the curtain on the parts of dying families are rarely warned about — from the sounds and sights of the final days, to the emotional toll of caregiving, to the hidden suffering caused by a fragmented healthcare system. She explains why even medical professionals can feel like novices when it’s their own loved one, and why caregivers so often become exhausted, invisible, and overwhelmed. This episode is an honest, compassionate look at end-of-life care — what we get wrong, what we avoid talking about, and how families can be better supported before a crisis hits. If you are a caregiver, love someone who is seriously ill, or want a deeper understanding of hospice and palliative care, this conversation will stay with you. You are not alone — and this is a conversation we all need to have. #HospiceCare #EndOfLifeCare #PalliativeCare #Caregiving #CaregiverSupport #CaregiverLife #FamilyCaregivers #CaregiverBurnout #InvisibleCaregivers #CaregiverHealth #SupportCaregivers #YouAreNotAlone #Grief #DyingWell #DeathAndDying #EndOfLife #HospiceAwareness #HospicePodcast #HealthcareConversations #RealTalk #PatientCenteredCare #PalliativeMedicine #HospiceProfessionals #HealthcareLeadership #CompassionateCare #LifeAndLoss #CaregivingJourney #HardConversations

Dr. Amanda Altobell is the Director of Ethics at Mercy Springfield, where she helps patients, families, and care teams navigate some of the most emotionally complex moments in health care. Trained as both a clinician and ethicist, her work is deeply shaped by hands-on hospice experience, a death and dying fellowship, and her own personal journey supporting loved ones through the end of life. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Altobell challenges the way we think about death—especially the belief that dying means failure. She explains why modern medicine often confuses “doing everything” with “doing what’s right,” why hospice is so often misunderstood, and how a simple advance directive can prevent devastating family conflict. She also breaks down hard truths most people never hear: why CPR is rarely successful, what medical TV shows get wrong, how Missouri’s unique laws leave families legally powerless, and why waiting “until later” to plan is often too late. This episode is honest, compassionate, and deeply human—an essential listen for anyone who has aging parents, works in health care, or simply wants to live (and die) with dignity.

Podcast Episode Description
What does hospice really look like — and why do so many families misunderstand it?
In this episode of In Good Company, we sit down with Kim Therriault, Director of Hospice at Haven Home Health and Hospice, whose decades-long career has been shaped by one defining belief: people deserve choice, dignity, and a voice at the end of life.
Kim shares the pivotal moment that changed how she practices hospice care forever — a conversation with a patient who chose the freedom to drive his restored car over stronger pain medication. That moment became the foundation of her approach to care: honoring what matters most to the patient, not just the diagnosis.
Throughout the conversation, Kim breaks down:
Why hospice is often misunderstood — and why families wait too long
How hospice can actually extend life and improve quality of living
The power of self-referral and starting the conversation sooner
Why control, autonomy, and honest conversations matter more than aggressive treatment
How hospice supports not just patients, but entire families
This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, adult children, healthcare professionals, and anyone navigating serious illness — or who simply wants to understand what compassionate, patient-centered care truly means.
Because hospice isn’t about giving up.It’s about choosing how you live — right to the very end.#InGoodCompanyPodcast#HospiceCare#HospiceAwareness#EndOfLifeCare#PatientChoice#DignityInCare#QualityOfLife#Caregivers#ElderCare#HealthcareWithHeart#MeaningfulConversations#MustListen

In this episode of In Good Company, we’re joined by Dr. Will Vincel, a general dentist at Ozarks Preferred Dental Group in Springfield, Missouri, and an adjunct assistant professor at Kansas City University College of Dental Medicine. With much of his practice focused on older adults, Dr. Vincel shares a patient-first approach centered on listening, conservative care, and clear communication.
We discuss why slowing down matters in healthcare, how involving family improves outcomes, and what it truly means to deliver dignified care as we age.
Learn more about Dr. Vincel and his practice at my417dentist.com.