The Alcomy Podcast Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:04:56 -0600 en-us © 2026 The Alcomy Podcast yes d583a93e-2137-5c90-8e12-142f131103af katie@alcomy.com Ilija Vrajich episodic false A podcast to help you build, grow and thrive in the future of care. 


We came from the industry and owned and operated our own facilities. 


On The Alcomy Podcast we will interview people who are thriving and find out exactly how they do it. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Ilija Vrajich katie@alcomy.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/pwlqq4e54y4zl7fvqye2r5ac7lm6?.jpg The Alcomy Podcast Dr. Patel on Integrative Medicine (including Cannabis) in Senior Care Dr. Patel on Integrative Medicine (including Cannabis) in Senior Care Dr. Neal Patel on De-prescribing, Dementia Risk, Medical Cannabis, and Red Light Therapy in Senior Care

The host interviews Dr. Neal Patel, a board-certified family medicine physician in Orange, California, who focuses on geriatric care and cognitive health, volunteers with Alzheimer’s Orange County, and advocates integrative modalities including cannabis, fasting, psilocybin, and red light therapy. Patel describes his path into medicine, varied early-career roles, and how acquiring a retiring physician’s geriatric panel led him into memory care and house calls. He critiques “problem equals pill” medicine, emphasizing deprescribing, patient ownership, and having an exit strategy for medications, while noting dementia affects whole families and citing research that about 45% of dementia risk is modifiable. He explains cannabis via the endocannabinoid system, discusses THC vs CBD, outlines U.S. scheduling and research implications, and shares practical considerations for red light therapy quality, plus views on future mainstream modalities like fasting, sound/frequency medicine, and AI as a tool.

Find Dr. Patel on: 

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@drnealhpatel

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drnealhpatel/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drnealhpatel

Website - https://phantommed.com/


00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro

01:05 How They Met

01:41 Patel Origin Story

03:38 Geriatrics And Memory Care

05:02 Breaking The Pill Habit

08:34 Exit Strategies For Meds

10:12 Family Buy In And Comfort Zones

12:10 Dementia Risk And Prevention

15:53 Cannabis For Parkinsons

17:11 Endocannabinoid System Explained

19:17 THC Vs CBD For Seniors

21:43 Legality Scheduling And Research

25:21 Big Pharma Meets Cannabis

25:43 Politics Over Medicine

27:34 California Cannabis Reality

28:46 Doctors Nurses Patient Honesty

29:45 Broken Records Medication Lists

31:54 Trust Privacy In Care

32:53 Red Light Therapy Basics

36:54 Buying Quality Red Light

39:22 Future Healing Trends

41:23 Fasting And Mental Reset

43:40 Hope Empowerment Closing

45:20 How To Reach Dr Patel


]]> Dr. Neal Patel on De-prescribing, Dementia Risk, Medical Cannabis, and Red Light Therapy in Senior Care

The host interviews Dr. Neal Patel, a board-certified family medicine physician in Orange, California, who focuses on geriatric care and cognitive health, volunteers with Alzheimer’s Orange County, and advocates integrative modalities including cannabis, fasting, psilocybin, and red light therapy. Patel describes his path into medicine, varied early-career roles, and how acquiring a retiring physician’s geriatric panel led him into memory care and house calls. He critiques “problem equals pill” medicine, emphasizing deprescribing, patient ownership, and having an exit strategy for medications, while noting dementia affects whole families and citing research that about 45% of dementia risk is modifiable. He explains cannabis via the endocannabinoid system, discusses THC vs CBD, outlines U.S. scheduling and research implications, and shares practical considerations for red light therapy quality, plus views on future mainstream modalities like fasting, sound/frequency medicine, and AI as a tool.

Find Dr. Patel on: 

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@drnealhpatel

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/drnealhpatel/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/drnealhpatel

Website - https://phantommed.com/


00:00 Welcome And Guest Intro

01:05 How They Met

01:41 Patel Origin Story

03:38 Geriatrics And Memory Care

05:02 Breaking The Pill Habit

08:34 Exit Strategies For Meds

10:12 Family Buy In And Comfort Zones

12:10 Dementia Risk And Prevention

15:53 Cannabis For Parkinsons

17:11 Endocannabinoid System Explained

19:17 THC Vs CBD For Seniors

21:43 Legality Scheduling And Research

25:21 Big Pharma Meets Cannabis

25:43 Politics Over Medicine

27:34 California Cannabis Reality

28:46 Doctors Nurses Patient Honesty

29:45 Broken Records Medication Lists

31:54 Trust Privacy In Care

32:53 Red Light Therapy Basics

36:54 Buying Quality Red Light

39:22 Future Healing Trends

41:23 Fasting And Mental Reset

43:40 Hope Empowerment Closing

45:20 How To Reach Dr Patel


]]> Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19471343 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 14:00:00 -0600 2822 1 8 full false Lizzie on Burnout Prevention Lizzie on Burnout Prevention 2-Minute Moves for Caregiver Energy & Burnout Prevention 

Alcomy Podcast host Ilija Vrajich welcomes workplace wellbeing speaker and author Lizzie Williamson, dubbed the “Excuse Buster from Down Under,” to discuss how small, consistent movement breaks can improve mental health, energy, and performance in high-stress care environments. Lizzie shares her story of postpartum depression and how starting with a single plié at her kitchen bench led to her “Two Minute Moves” approach and broader wellbeing work. She explains the “inner pharmacy” concept and cites research including Stanford findings that walking boosts creative output by 60%, and that workplace stretching can reduce musculoskeletal pain and injuries by 72%, while microbreaks support mood, stress regulation, and connection. They discuss practical two-minute options for caregivers—walking, breathing with arm reaches, shadow boxing to release stress, and lower-back extension stretches—plus habit stacking and celebrating small wins to build consistency.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:03 Rapid Fire Fitness Picks
05:00 Excuse Buster Origin Story
10:31 Two Minute Moves Mindset
12:48 Inner Pharmacy Science
17:47 Why We Don’t Move
19:56 Caregiver Two Minute Reset
23:00 Open Up and Reset
23:41 Micro Moves at Work
24:59 Stats That Prove It
28:30 Making Movement Normal
31:05 Pit Stops for Energy
37:18 Habit Stacking Consistency
41:49 Where to Find Lizzie
42:28 Oxygen Mask Reminder
44:19 Final Thanks and Challenge

]]> 2-Minute Moves for Caregiver Energy & Burnout Prevention 

Alcomy Podcast host Ilija Vrajich welcomes workplace wellbeing speaker and author Lizzie Williamson, dubbed the “Excuse Buster from Down Under,” to discuss how small, consistent movement breaks can improve mental health, energy, and performance in high-stress care environments. Lizzie shares her story of postpartum depression and how starting with a single plié at her kitchen bench led to her “Two Minute Moves” approach and broader wellbeing work. She explains the “inner pharmacy” concept and cites research including Stanford findings that walking boosts creative output by 60%, and that workplace stretching can reduce musculoskeletal pain and injuries by 72%, while microbreaks support mood, stress regulation, and connection. They discuss practical two-minute options for caregivers—walking, breathing with arm reaches, shadow boxing to release stress, and lower-back extension stretches—plus habit stacking and celebrating small wins to build consistency.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:03 Rapid Fire Fitness Picks
05:00 Excuse Buster Origin Story
10:31 Two Minute Moves Mindset
12:48 Inner Pharmacy Science
17:47 Why We Don’t Move
19:56 Caregiver Two Minute Reset
23:00 Open Up and Reset
23:41 Micro Moves at Work
24:59 Stats That Prove It
28:30 Making Movement Normal
31:05 Pit Stops for Energy
37:18 Habit Stacking Consistency
41:49 Where to Find Lizzie
42:28 Oxygen Mask Reminder
44:19 Final Thanks and Challenge

]]> Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19393032 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0600 2766 1 7 full false Dr. Elia on Happiness, Self-Care, and Gratitude Dr. Elia on Happiness, Self-Care, and Gratitude Happiness, Self-Care, and Gratitude in High-Stress Residential Care with Dr. Elia Grougouris


Host Ilija Vrajich welcomes Dr. Elia Grougouris—international keynote speaker, author on happiness and positive leadership, and host of “The Happy Hour”—to the Alcomy Podcast about innovation and compassion in residential care. Elia explains his lifelong focus on happiness, shaped by his mother’s dying wish that he be happy and his subsequent grief. He identifies self-forgiveness as the most common barrier to happiness and describes a process that helps people release guilt and move on. For high-stress residential care environments, he emphasizes non-negotiable self-care to prevent burnout, especially daily movement and “gratitude walks,” plus kindness and self-compassion. He outlines how happy cultures improve health, retention, teamwork, creativity, care quality, and business outcomes, and advises leaders to clarify expectations and the “why,” not to procrastinate happiness, and to take action.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:15 Travel Icebreaker Game

03:21 Greece Travel Tips

04:29 Third Option Mindset

08:11 Why Happiness Matters

10:14 Loss That Changed Everything

12:58 Self Forgiveness Key

15:51 Forgiveness Process and Freedom

17:56 Authenticity and Letting Go

18:52 Caregiving Stress Setup

19:04 Self Care Under Stress

21:13 Burnout Wake Up Call

22:13 Daily Movement Habit

23:19 Gratitude Walks Boost Mood

25:12 Connection Through Calls

26:22 Kindness And Compassion

28:39 Building A Happiness Culture

32:43 Simplify Expectations And Why

35:02 Leading Change With Care

38:13 Final Takeaways And Action

]]> Happiness, Self-Care, and Gratitude in High-Stress Residential Care with Dr. Elia Grougouris


Host Ilija Vrajich welcomes Dr. Elia Grougouris—international keynote speaker, author on happiness and positive leadership, and host of “The Happy Hour”—to the Alcomy Podcast about innovation and compassion in residential care. Elia explains his lifelong focus on happiness, shaped by his mother’s dying wish that he be happy and his subsequent grief. He identifies self-forgiveness as the most common barrier to happiness and describes a process that helps people release guilt and move on. For high-stress residential care environments, he emphasizes non-negotiable self-care to prevent burnout, especially daily movement and “gratitude walks,” plus kindness and self-compassion. He outlines how happy cultures improve health, retention, teamwork, creativity, care quality, and business outcomes, and advises leaders to clarify expectations and the “why,” not to procrastinate happiness, and to take action.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro

01:15 Travel Icebreaker Game

03:21 Greece Travel Tips

04:29 Third Option Mindset

08:11 Why Happiness Matters

10:14 Loss That Changed Everything

12:58 Self Forgiveness Key

15:51 Forgiveness Process and Freedom

17:56 Authenticity and Letting Go

18:52 Caregiving Stress Setup

19:04 Self Care Under Stress

21:13 Burnout Wake Up Call

22:13 Daily Movement Habit

23:19 Gratitude Walks Boost Mood

25:12 Connection Through Calls

26:22 Kindness And Compassion

28:39 Building A Happiness Culture

32:43 Simplify Expectations And Why

35:02 Leading Change With Care

38:13 Final Takeaways And Action

]]> Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19369731 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:00:00 -0600 2412 full false Brandon on Investing in Assisted Living Brandon on Investing in Assisted Living Unfortunately, our recording got cut off at the end. Do you think we should have him on again? Let us know!

Brandon Gustafson of Assisted Living Investing has so many valuable insights! Make sure to contact him if you have any questions about getting in to Assisted Living. https://www.assistedlivinginvesting.net/blog/Welcome


]]> Unfortunately, our recording got cut off at the end. Do you think we should have him on again? Let us know!

Brandon Gustafson of Assisted Living Investing has so many valuable insights! Make sure to contact him if you have any questions about getting in to Assisted Living. https://www.assistedlivinginvesting.net/blog/Welcome


]]> Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19336610 Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:00:00 -0600 2422 full false Becky on Building a Family-Run Assisted Living Community Becky on Building a Family-Run Assisted Living Community Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19237468 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 13:00:00 -0600 2715 full false Aaron on Incontinence Innovations Aaron on Incontinence Innovations Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19204946 Thu, 21 May 2026 14:00:00 -0600 2878 full false Jake (the Lawyer) on Protecting Yourself and Your Home Jake (the Lawyer) on Protecting Yourself and Your Home Katie Vrajich Buzzsprout-19166314 Thu, 14 May 2026 07:00:00 -0600 2845 full false Andrea on Thriving in Assisted Living Andrea on Thriving in Assisted Living An unfiltered look at what it really takes to run a high-performing care facility.

Andrea shares how her family went from placing grandparents in care to building one of the most respected 15-bed communities in Northern California—complete with lessons, laughs, and late-night emergency calls.

You’ll hear:

  • Why Andrea traded spreadsheets for scrubs—and never looked back
  • The mental and emotional toll of being on call 24/7
  • Real talk on staff accountability and training new hires
  • How Auburn Creekside Villa stays full with no placement agencies
  • How Alcomy’s digital system transformed their documentation, communication, and compliance
  • The surprising reason a resident’s family felt safe enough to move across the world

Plus: the unexpected love story between two staff members and the employee who quit mid-shift—without her shoes.

This is the raw, real side of residential care that nobody talks about but everyone needs to hear.

Learn more:
 https://www.auburncreeksidevilla.com


]]> An unfiltered look at what it really takes to run a high-performing care facility.

Andrea shares how her family went from placing grandparents in care to building one of the most respected 15-bed communities in Northern California—complete with lessons, laughs, and late-night emergency calls.

You’ll hear:

  • Why Andrea traded spreadsheets for scrubs—and never looked back
  • The mental and emotional toll of being on call 24/7
  • Real talk on staff accountability and training new hires
  • How Auburn Creekside Villa stays full with no placement agencies
  • How Alcomy’s digital system transformed their documentation, communication, and compliance
  • The surprising reason a resident’s family felt safe enough to move across the world

Plus: the unexpected love story between two staff members and the employee who quit mid-shift—without her shoes.

This is the raw, real side of residential care that nobody talks about but everyone needs to hear.

Learn more:
 https://www.auburncreeksidevilla.com


]]> Ilija Vrajich Buzzsprout-19142403 Thu, 07 May 2026 13:00:00 -0600 4247 1 1 full false