The Quest for the GoodLife with Dr. Mike Strouse

Dr. Mike Strouse
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NON-PROFIT

How do we redefine what’s possible in care services, care & support models, and community living? The Quest for the GoodLife is where bold ideas, innovative solutions, and next-generation technology come together to transform lives. Hosted by Dr. Mike Strouse, a visionary leader in disability services, this podcast challenges conventional wisdom and explores groundbreaking approaches to independence, self-direction, staffing models, technology-enabled care, and workforce stability. Through candid conversations, real-world examples, and thought-provoking analogies, Dr. Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov unpack the science of implementation, the art of change management, and the future of human-centered care. This podcast is designed for: • Leaders of care service organizations seeking forward-thinking strategies. • Advocates, parents, and guardians wanting to empower their loved ones. • Legislators and policy-makers shaping the future of care.• Individuals with care needs looking for a more independent, connected life. Join us on this journey as we push boundaries, reimagine care, and challenge the status quo—because at GoodLife, impossible is what we do best.Tune in, challenge the norm, and start your own Quest for the GoodLife.

  1. The Quest For The Neighborhood Network

    5D AGO

    The Quest For The Neighborhood Network

    Send us Fan Mail Explore innovative approaches to care delivery through the Neighborhood Network, emphasizing bewitching services, privacy, and technology integration. Learn how this model reimagines independence, safety, and personalized support in community settings. Key topics: - Design of bewitching services from the ground up - The five federally protected outcomes of care - Hierarchy of least intrusive care approaches - The role of remote support and smart technologies - The impact of the Neighborhood Network on independence and safety Stay in the Loop with GoodLife Innovations: Website: https://mygoodlife.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodLifeInnovations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodlifeinnov/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodlifeinnovations Donate: https://mygoodlife.org/donate/ Donate: Check out: Relevant Video Check out: Relevant Blog

    1h 15m
  2. The Privacy Paradox and The Quest For "Bewitching" Independence and Support

    APR 10

    The Privacy Paradox and The Quest For "Bewitching" Independence and Support

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse, Megan McKinney Todd, David McDonald, Abby Baden and co-host Ivo Ivanov explore the quest for the good life through innovative care models, addressing the complexities of the privacy paradox, the importance of independence and self-direction, and the role of technology in enhancing care delivery. They discuss the challenges posed by regulatory barriers and staffing issues, emphasizing the need for meaningful choices in care. The dialogue culminates in the introduction of the Neighborhood Network as a potential solution to improve care outcomes while respecting privacy and personal safety.  Additionally, Dr. Mike Strouse and his colleagues discuss the evolving landscape of remote care, emphasizing the importance of privacy, self-direction, and the role of technology in providing effective support. They explore the choices available to individuals receiving care, the hierarchy of intrusion related to different support methods, and the necessity of organic decision-making in care planning. The discussion highlights the advantages of remote support over traditional in-home care, particularly in terms of privacy and autonomy, while also addressing the challenges and misconceptions surrounding the use of technology in caregiving. Stay in the Loop with GoodLife Innovations: Website: https://mygoodlife.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodLifeInnovations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodlifeinnov/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodlifeinnovations Donate: https://mygoodlife.org/donate/ Check out: Relevant Video Check out: Relevant Blog

    1h 51m
  3. The Intersection of Care and Technology

    12/23/2025

    The Intersection of Care and Technology

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Mike Strouse and legal expert Lewis Walton discuss the intersection of privacy, technology, and care. They explore the implications of remote support technologies, the ownership of privacy, and the evolving landscape of healthcare. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies, emphasizing the importance of choice and the least intrusive approaches to care. They also reflect on societal attitudes towards technology and privacy, drawing parallels with historical technological advancements. Takeaways: The conversation emphasizes the importance of privacy in care.All care methods can be seen as intrusive to some degree.Ownership of privacy is a fundamental right for individuals.Technology can enhance privacy rather than diminish it.The perception of intrusiveness varies with technology acceptance.AI and remote support are reshaping care expectations.Regulatory frameworks must adapt to new technologies.Choice in care methods is essential for individual autonomy.

    1h 7m
  4. The Privacy Paradox (with guests Beth McCoach and David McDonald)

    12/04/2025

    The Privacy Paradox (with guests Beth McCoach and David McDonald)

    Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Dr. Mike Strouse welcomes Beth McCoach and David McDonald to discuss the complexities of privacy in care, emphasizing the paradox of seeking privacy while relying on intrusive methods. He explores how technology can enhance independence and care delivery, advocating for remote support as a less intrusive alternative to in-home care. The discussion also highlights the role of sensors in modern care and the regulatory challenges that hinder the adoption of innovative care solutions. Takeaways The privacy paradox highlights the contradiction in care expectations.Technology can enhance independence and privacy in care.Remote support is often less intrusive than in-home care.Sensors play a crucial role in modern care solutions.Regulatory challenges impede the adoption of innovative care methods.Comparing care techniques is essential for effective decision-making.Privacy should not be sacrificed for the sake of care.The least intrusive approach to care is a fundamental expectation.Care delivery must evolve with technological advancements.Understanding the role of technology is key to improving care.

    56 min
  5. The Quest For The Good Life and The Holy Grail of Workforce Serendipity

    11/27/2025

    The Quest For The Good Life and The Holy Grail of Workforce Serendipity

    Send us Fan Mail Today we welcome Nate Beers, the founder and host of the popular "IDD Leader" podcast. The conversation explores the critical role of frontline supervisors in staff retention and the lack of training they often receive in leadership. Nate Beers introduces the Leadership Lab, a new initiative aimed at providing comprehensive training, accountability, and community support for supervisors, focusing on essential skills like having difficult conversations and giving effective feedback. Takeaways Do your frontline supervisors sometimes unintentionally contribute to staff turnover? Most were never trained to lead. Training almost always has it bent towards compliance. What is the "Leadership Lab"? Training, accountability and community. How to have hard conversations. How to give informal feedback. How to avoid repetition Practical tools that are very evidence-based. Please visit Idd Leader here: https://iddleader.com Watch and subscribe to the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/@IDDLeader Stay in the Loop with GoodLife Innovations: Website: https://mygoodlife.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodLifeInnovations Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodlifeinnov/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodlifeinnovations Donate: https://mygoodlife.org/donate/

    1h 16m
  6. The Quest to End the Perfect Storm of Workforce Challenges

    11/12/2025

    The Quest to End the Perfect Storm of Workforce Challenges

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'The Quest for the Good Life,' Dr. Mike Strouse and Ivo Ivanov welcome Marcy Davis, CEO of Candeo, who shares her journey in transforming the lives of individuals with disabilities through the innovative workforce strategies developed by GoodLife. The conversation explores the successful implementation of new work schedules that have led to a significant increase in applications and a decrease in vacancies. Marcy emphasizes the importance of communication and collaboration in navigating workforce challenges, providing valuable insights for other agencies facing similar issues. Marcy Davis emphasizes the importance of human connection in her work.Candeo has grown from serving 14 individuals to a larger community.Natural disasters can have a profound impact on local communities.The transition to a new work schedule strategies developed by GoodLife and Dr. Strouse can lead to increased employee satisfaction.Effective communication is key to implementing change in organizations.Marcy's experience highlights the importance of not going it alone during transitions.The quality of support improves when full-time employees work weekends.A dedicated recruiter can streamline the hiring process significantly.The new work model has led to a dramatic decrease in vacancies.Marcy's leadership style focuses on collaboration and understanding employee needs.Visit Candeo Iowa here: https://www.candeoiowa.org/

    1h 10m
  7. The Quest For The Last Frontier

    10/24/2025

    The Quest For The Last Frontier

    Send us Fan Mail 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 as a response to changing workforce demands. The guests share insights on the need for flexibility and innovation in service delivery, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the unique needs of Alaskan communities. Takeaways Alaska's vast geography presents unique challenges for service delivery. Transportation issues significantly impact access to services in remote areas. Extreme weather conditions affect community inclusion and service provision. Diversity among service providers is essential to meet varying community needs. Economic factors, such as the oil industry, influence workforce availability. Innovative care models are necessary to address service gaps in Alaska. The transition to a three-day work week can improve work-life balance for employees. Flexibility in service delivery is crucial for adapting to community needs. Technology can enhance service delivery but requires careful integration. Collaboration among providers is key to overcoming challenges in the system.

    58 min

  8. 10/09/2025

    PastCast: Rise Up, Look Back, Step Forward

    Send us Fan Mail 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 the ongoing workforce stability crisis, emphasizing the multifaceted challenges beyond just pay. It explores the importance of metrics for assessing staffing stability, strategies for improving staffing capacity, and the role of local providers in the care ecosystem. Our workforce concerns are not going away organically.We need to stop looking at turnover as our estimate of instability.If you want different results, you just need to behave differently.Your pipeline is solely based upon attractiveness of the schedules.Do you even know what your call-off rate is?We can make a big difference but only with the right strategy.We need to pursue a different vision of care.The only reason people don't want to put solutions in place is because they can't change what they're doing.To continue on the quest for the good life we must rise up, look back and step forward. Chapters 00:00 Overview of Workforce Stability Crisis 02:39 Challenges Beyond Pay in Workforce Management 05:33 Metrics for Assessing Staffing Stability 08:58 Strategies for Improving Staffing Capacity 11:50 Addressing Staffing Challenges and Solutions 14:44 The Future of Care and Workforce Collaboration

    20 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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How do we redefine what’s possible in care services, care & support models, and community living? The Quest for the GoodLife is where bold ideas, innovative solutions, and next-generation technology come together to transform lives. Hosted by Dr. Mike Strouse, a visionary leader in disability services, this podcast challenges conventional wisdom and explores groundbreaking approaches to independence, self-direction, staffing models, technology-enabled care, and workforce stability. Through candid conversations, real-world examples, and thought-provoking analogies, Dr. Strouse and co-host Ivo Ivanov unpack the science of implementation, the art of change management, and the future of human-centered care. This podcast is designed for: • Leaders of care service organizations seeking forward-thinking strategies. • Advocates, parents, and guardians wanting to empower their loved ones. • Legislators and policy-makers shaping the future of care.• Individuals with care needs looking for a more independent, connected life. Join us on this journey as we push boundaries, reimagine care, and challenge the status quo—because at GoodLife, impossible is what we do best.Tune in, challenge the norm, and start your own Quest for the GoodLife.

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