Send us a text The Quest continues way up north as Dr. Mike Strouse travels to the stunning, vast and unforgiving state of Alaska! Our distinguished guests are Amanda Elder and Kim Champney. The conversation explores the unique challenges and innovative solutions in delivering disability services in Alaska. Among other things the discussion highlights the economic factors affecting workforce availability, the diversity of service providers, and the transition to a three-day work week a...

Send us a text In this episode Dr. Mike Strouse addresses the enduring challenges facing service providers such as: - wonky schedules - reliance on part-time labor - early turnover - working short - reliance on PRN and pool staffing Finding the right solutions starts with asking the right questions. What are the twelve important questions service providers must ask themselves to make the first step towards arriving at the right solutions? The conversation also delves into th...

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Mike Strauss discusses the challenges faced by seniors in accessing effective care, particularly the limitations of traditional in-home care and assisted living. He introduces the Neighborhood Network, a new model that combines community support, technology, and professional caregivers to provide affordable, on-demand assistance for seniors. The conversation emphasizes the importance of preventative health practices and the role of technology in empowering ...

Send us a text What does it truly mean to live a “normal life”? In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse and Ivo Ivanov explore how technology, shifting expectations, and the lessons of the pandemic are transforming care. From “place killers” like Netflix and Amazon to the enduring vision of the Final Rule, they reimagine what’s possible for people with disabilities, seniors, and communities everywhere. Join us as we uncover how care must evolve beyond old models—like B...

Send us a text What happens when MacGyver meets Wonder Woman in the world of human services? In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse and Ivo Ivanov sit down with Veronica St. Cyr, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Navigating Life. Together, they explore how private social platforms can foster connection, build trust, and transform care for individuals, families, and communities. From GoodLife’s award-winning Neighborhood Network to the bold vision of creating new “blue zones,” this conversation...

Send us a text What happens when you combine the wisdom of the world’s healthiest communities with a vision to reinvent how we age? In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov take listeners from stories of synchronicity and small-town magic to a bold plan for creating America’s first “Blue Zone” without walls. Learn how logistics, technology, and purpose-driven living could help people age in place, stay connected, and live longer, healthier, more meaningful lives. Episode...

Send us a text Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jG4M1him8Hk?si=4qKdXTWneqaS5y3o Watch this Episode on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/goodlifeu/quest13?share=copy About this Episode: In this special video episode of The Quest for the GoodLife Podcast, Dr. Mike Strouse travels to Arkansas to meet Noel—an insightful, passionate young man with cerebral palsy—and Whitney Garrison, Director of Regional Services for GoodLife. What unfolds is a deeply personal, eye-opening conversation that ...

Send us a text In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov welcome Todd Lewis, VP at IMA and a passionate advocate for those who care for others. Together, they unpack the complex world of ICHRAs—Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements—and why these innovative benefits are gaining traction across the caregiving industry. With over 400% growth in recent years, ICHRAs empower employers to offer flexible, individualized, and portable healt...

Send us a text Is your workforce strategy stuck in the past? In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov dig into the hidden traps of traditional scheduling in the care industry. Through powerful analogies and data-driven insights, they explore how rigid five-day workweeks, fragmented part-time roles, and outdated scheduling models are driving workforce instability—and what you can do to fix it. Listeners will learn: Why your “stayers” might be hurting your hiring pipelineThe mea...

Send us a text In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse and Ivo Ivanov sit down with Lewis Walton—attorney, tech innovator, longtime board member, and one of the most respected professional family teachers in GoodLife’s history. Together, they revisit the pivotal years between 1999 and 2002, when the seeds of remote support, professional family living, and the three-day work week were planted—years before the rest of the field caught on. Lewis shares his unique path from philosophy student to tech l...

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Send us a text In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse is joined by Beth McCoach and David MacDonald—GoodLife’s leaders in operations and tech innovation—for a compelling conversation on how smart technology is reshaping the way we support independence, safety, and connection. Together, they explore: How iLink is evolving into a national platform for care that’s simple, responsive, and privacy-forwardThe role of neighborhood networks in creating belonging and interdepe...

Send us a text In this heartfelt and visionary episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov explore the power of real communities—what makes them work, why they matter, and how GoodLife's Neighborhood Network is redefining intentional, inclusive living. From memories of small-town Missouri to the story of a remote Alaskan building that houses an entire town, Mike and Ivo reflect on the deep human need for connection and interdependence. Learn how professional...

Send us a text In our typical candid manner, Dr. Mike Strouse, Ivo Ivanov, and Lauren Vohland dive into the systems behind success in care services. From zeroing in on medication error rates to designing personalized health dashboards and embracing tech-driven remote care, this conversation reveals how performance metrics and system design fuel real outcomes. Discover why good systems—not JUST good people—are essential in an industry plagued by turnover, and how culture, accountability, and u...

Send us a text In this episode Dr. Mike Strouse and Dr. Florence DiGennaro Reed discuss topics relevant to current challenges in I/DD and senior services such as: Performance managementImprovement strategiesImplementation of scientific research in practical environmentsHow to leverage the exponential growth of technology Out-of-the-box thinkingThe vulnerability of independenceEclectic approach to problem solvingIntrusive vs. non-intrusive practicesImportance and limitations of convention...

Send us a text In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, we’re redefining what’s possible in workforce benefits, disability services, and staffing solutions. Join Dr. Mike Strouse, Ivo Ivanov, and special guests Lauren Vohland and Megan McKinney Todd as they dive deep into what it truly takes to build a thriving workforce in care services. From innovative benefit structures and staffing models to the power of flexibility, personal choice, and work-life balance, this conversation might ...

Send us a text Are you ready to challenge the status quo in care services, staffing models, and organizational behavior? In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov take you on a deep dive into the science of change management, implementation strategies, and innovative solutions that redefine what's possible in disability services and beyond. From behavioral analysis to workforce stability, Dr. Strouse reveals how GoodLife has pioneered groundbreakin...

Send us a text What if the key to a long, fulfilling life wasn't just genetics but the environment you build around you? In this episode of The Quest for the GoodLife, Dr. Mike Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov dive into the fascinating concept of Blue Zones—communities around the world where people live longer, healthier, and more connected lives. From lessons in purpose-driven living to why traditional caregiving models must evolve, this episode will inspire you to rethink how communities can ...

Send us a text Can unconventional thinking unlock the key to a better life? Dr. Mike Strouse, President & CEO of Good Life Innovations, takes listeners on an exhilarating journey into creative problem-solving, disability services innovation, and leadership transformation in the premiere episode of The Quest for the Good Life. Inside this episode, you'll discover: How bold, out-of-the-box strategies are reshaping the disability industry and organizational leadership.Why Dr. Strouse d...

Send us a text This episode is called Back to the Future and for good reason! Every now and then since the 1960’s, the vision for care has been cast and it’s a bit like a broken record. The story is always the same: people with different abilities want what we all want—a good life. When we talk about what a good life looks like, we’ve got to admit that technology is absolutely integral to our lives. Especially since the pandemic, we rely more on technology than ever: Other industries g...