The Real Secret to Aging Well

More Than Words: The Surprising Work of Speech Pathology with Molly McGrady

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 Leadership really feels like when the Stakes Are High with Dr. Curtis Mattson (Part 2)

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

Trust, Crisis, and Community Health with Springfield Director of Public Health Katie Towns

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

The Warrior's Journey: Part 2 with Kevin Weaver

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: • The hidden impact of isolation and loneliness • Veteran identity and transition after service • Moral injury and unresolved trauma • Family dynamics, deployment, and reintegration • Suicide prevention and restoring hope • Aging veterans and social connection • Finding purpose, community, and belonging • How The Warrior’s Journey supports veterans and families This is Part 2 of a two-part series. Learn more about The Warrior’s Journey: https://thewarriorsjourney.org/ [https://thewarriorsjourney.org/] #Podcast #Veterans #Military #PTSD #MentalHealth #SuicidePrevention #VeteranSupport #Healing #TraumaRecovery #MoralInjury #MilitaryFamily #Purpose #Community #Resilience #VeteranMentalHealth #TheWarriorsJourney #KevinWeaver #Leadership #Connection #InGoodCompanyPodcast

The Warrior's Journey: Part 1 with Kevin Weaver

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