Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

What if senior living felt like home, not just looked like it? In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with George Kutnerian of Wellpointe Inc. to explore their fast-growing residential care home model. With over 67 locations across California, George shares how small, six-resident homes are reshaping the future of assisted living by prioritizing intimacy and personalization. If you’re interested in the future of aging, this episode offers a powerful look at what’s next.

Key Ideas

SHOWNOTES:

Senior housing has officially moved beyond recovery and into its next growth phase, and the data proves it.

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, hosts Josh Crisp and Lucas McCurdy welcome back Arick Morton, CEO of NIC MAP, to break down the latest trends shaping the senior living industry. They also discuss why senior housing is currently the top-performing real estate asset class, how investors are viewing the sector, and why developers willing to move forward today may be positioned for exceptional returns as demographic demand accelerates.

Key Topics Covered

What does disciplined growth look like in today’s senior housing market?

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Todd Marsh, CEO of Triple Crown Senior Living, shares how his team is scaling smarter in 2026 and beyond. After a season of rapid growth, Triple Crown hit pause to refocus on operational excellence before accelerating growth again. If you’re an operator, investor, or developer in senior living, then don’t miss this important conversation.

Key Topics

The senior living referral system is at an inflection point, and Greg Mason of SilverAssist believes it’s time for a fundamental shift. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Greg shares the vision behind SilverAssist’s acquisition of Caring.com and how the move expands their digital reach while transforming how families experience the transition into senior living. If you’re an operator frustrated with legacy referral models, or a professional navigating care transitions, this episode offers a compelling look at what’s next.

Key Topics Covered

How do you scale a senior living organization without losing the heart behind your mission? This week, Tim Bryant of StoryPoint Group discusses their 1440 philosophy, a daily reminder that there are 1,440 minutes in every day to create the absolute best experience in every interaction, for every person. The conversation also explores the senior living industry’s recovery and advice for emerging leaders in senior living. If you care about scaling with purpose and ensuring every life truly counts, this episode delivers the insights you need.

Key Topics Covered

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Jim Kovac joins the show to give an exclusive look at this year’s Senior Living 100 Conference, where they’ll tackle why the industry must shift from playing defense to confidently claiming its “longevity advantage.” We dive into the conference theme “The Future Is Personal: Macro Thinking, Micro Intent,” unpacking what it means for leadership, workforce engagement, and resident experience. If you’re an operator, investor, or innovator in senior housing, you won’t want to miss this episode.

Key Ideas

The senior living industry is at a pivotal turning point, and this episode of Bridge the Gap captures exactly why. Josh and Lucas sit down with returning guest Traci Taylor-Roberts, newly appointed CEO of Harmony Senior Services, to discuss leadership transitions, portfolio growth, and, most importantly, the changing expectations of today’s senior living customer. From resident advisory boards and technology feedback loops to customization in design and resident-led programming, this conversation highlights how listening to residents is becoming a competitive advantage.

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The NIC Spring Conference is heading to Nashville, Tennessee, and this episode of Bridge the Gap offers a deep dive into what you can expect on the conference floor. Josh and Lucas welcome back Amy Peters of NIC to break down the biggest themes driving senior housing today, and how NIC is addressing them. Amy shares how NIC is discussing unprecedented demand, new HUD financing strategies, and scalable solutions that meet both resident and family needs.

We Discuss

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Keri Moore of 828id goes on a deep dive into how life plan communities (CCRCs) are adapting to today’s market realities. With new senior living development at historic lows and occupancy on the rise, operators are turning to strategic renovations, reprogramming, and interior-led transformations to stay competitive.

Keri shares practical insights on maximizing limited capital, from rethinking FF&E investments and flooring strategies to activating underused spaces and creating signature experiences that attract both residents and the broader community. The conversation explores how resident committees influence design decisions in no...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere—but most leaders still aren’t sure how to use it effectively. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, we sit down with Tiffany Karlin and Nate Sundheimer of Wipfli to unpack what it truly means to be an AI-empowered leader in senior living.

Rather than focusing solely on tools, Tiffany and Nate emphasize that successful AI adoption starts with a new mindset and self-awareness. They explore why culture, not technology, is the biggest barrier to transformation, how leaders can balance innovation with compliance, and why delegating work to both humans and AI is b...

As senior living enters a new era of growth, workforce challenges are quickly becoming the industry’s biggest bottleneck. Recorded live from the LeadingAge National Show in Boston, hosts Josh Crisp and Lucas McCurdy sit down with Paul Jarvis, EVP of Sales and Marketing at Procare HR, to unpack what operators must do to prepare for 2026 and beyond.

This conversation explores why “getting a little bit better at everything HR-related” can have massive downstream impacts on financial performance, care outcomes, and employee satisfaction. Paul explains how viewing HR as a full employee journey, from application and onboarding to sch...

Employee retention remains one of the most pressing challenges in senior living, but according to The Queen of Retention, Cara Silletto, the problem isn’t that “nobody wants to work anymore.” In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh Crisp and Lucas McCurdy welcome Cara back to unpack why retention failures are often rooted in leadership, culture, and outdated assumptions. Cara introduces her Employee Retention Ecosystem, a holistic framework that assigns shared responsibility across employees, managers, and executives. Using a simple but powerful gardening analogy, she explains how leaders must individualize care, equip managers, and create environments where people can th...

In this episode, Josh and Lucas sit down with returning guest Arick Morton, CEO of NIC MAP Arick shares key takeaways from his conference session, including the widening mismatch between senior housing supply and demand, rising occupancy across nearly every market, and what these trends mean for life plan and nonprofit communities.

In this episode, we cover:

Meet the Hosts:

Josh Crisp

Lucas McCurdy

Co...

In this special Christmas episode closing out Season 8 of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas reflect on eight years of conversations that have helped shape the senior living industry. From humble beginnings to nearly 600 episodes and millions of impressions, they look back on the relationships, stories, and mission that continue to drive the platform forward.

In this episode, we discuss:

Meet the Hosts:

Josh Crisp: https...

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Ashley Luchsinger of Aline at the LeadingAge conference in Boston to explore how AI and CRM innovation are reshaping senior living sales and operations. Ashley shares insights into Aline’s evolving mission of “elevating aging,” driven by new leadership, a renewed focus on customer alignment, and the launch of a customer advisory board. The conversation dives deep into the concept of zero-click discovery, where prospects increasingly gather information through AI summaries before ever visiting a community’s website. Ashley explains how this shift is changing the prospect...

This week on Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Traci Bild, Chief Visionary Officer at Bild & Co. Traci shares actionable insights on how senior living operators can redefine sales, optimize marketing, and fill communities faster with a segmented approach. Learn why the traditional salesperson role may be disappearing, how to manage leads efficiently, reduce burnout, and leverage technology and outsourced solutions for maximum occupancy.

This week we cover:

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, we sit down with returning guest and industry leader Heather Tussing, President of The Aspenwood Company, to explore what it takes to build thriving, scalable, luxury senior living communities. Heather shares updates from her three-year leadership journey: from launching successful urban infill developments in Nashville and Charlotte to expanding through acquisitions and third-party management.

This week, we cover:

This week, Josh and Lucas sit down with Lina Ren, an emerging leader in senior living whose journey into the industry has moved at remarkable speed. Lina shares how her graduate studies at USC, a personal family experience with dementia, and a pivotal scholarship opportunity through NIC opened doors she didn’t even realize existed, ultimately connecting her with Cima Senior Living, where she now serves as an analyst. The conversation explores generational misconceptions about senior housing, the power of mentorship and networking, the role of technology in shaping the future of senior living, and the workforce challenges facing th...

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Jessica Wesley, Head of Vayyar Care North America, to explore how technology is transforming senior living. She discusses the evolution of senior care expectations, why technology has shifted from a “nice to have” to a “must have,” and how Vayyar’s sensor-based platform helps communities improve care outcomes, support staff, drive census growth, and deliver peace of mind for families. On this episode, we cover:  

In this episode, we sit down with Josh Studzinski, Chief Growth Officer at CarePredict, to explore how data-driven technology and AI are reshaping the senior living industry. We discuss how operators can evaluate, implement, and measure the ROI of technology solutions—and why success starts with aligning organizational goals from the top down.

In this episode, we cover:

Meet the Hosts:

Josh Crisp...

This week, we welcome back returning guest David Schless, President of ASHA, to preview the 2026 ASHA Annual Meeting, taking place January 26–28 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

As ASHA celebrates 35 years of shaping the senior housing industry, David shares what members can expect from this milestone event

You will get an exclusive look at:

In this episode of Bridge the Gap, BTG Ambassador and FSLA Board Member Damon Thomas, Senior VP of Operations at Providence Senior Living, joins the show. Damon shares practical insights on smooth senior living operations, leadership evolution, and the importance of culture in smaller, regional organizations. From his “daily alignment” meetings to managing the ever-present “top ten” list, Damon reveals how consistency and intentionality build thriving communities.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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This week, we’re sitting down with Kelly Arduino and Brandon Christopherson of Wipfli, a leading accounting and consulting firm, to discuss growth strategies and the latest market updates. Together, they unpack how today’s market forces like tariffs, interest rates, and tax reforms are influencing M&A in senior living.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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Senior housing is evolving, and data is leading the way. In this episode, Arick Morton and Kyle Gardner of NIC MAP Vision join the show to unpack the most pressing trends shaping senior living, from record-high demand and limited supply to how AI and analytics are transforming investment and operational strategies. Discover how NIC MAP’s newest innovation, Rate Intelligence, is empowering operators and investors with transparent, building-level data and insights never before available in the industry.

This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference 2025.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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Finding the right senior living community can be overwhelming for families and challenging for operators. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, returning guest David Hopkins, owner of Assisted Living Locators, shares how his placement services approach connects seniors with communities that truly fit their needs, builds trust between families and operators, and streamlines the decision-making process.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Bryce Robinson, Regional Vice President at Agewell Solvere Living, comes to the table to explore the critical role regional leaders play in senior living communities. Bryce shares his career journey, insights on managing multiple communities, and how he bridges the gap between corporate strategy and frontline teams. Also, hear advice for young aspiring industry leaders who are seeking more opportunities.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas welcome Jaime Ojeda of Eldermark, and Shawn Lane of LivTech for a conversation about the evolving role of technology in senior living. They share why communities don’t just need technology, they need trusted partners who listen, build collaboratively, and stay committed long-term. Plus, a 30-year legacy of innovation at Eldermark is merging with LivTech’s vision of real-time healthcare transformation across residential, physician, home health, and hospice settings.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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From hospice nurse to Chief Nursing Officer, Erin Shadbolt, CEO of Ascension Living, discusses the importance of helping families understand the benefits of moving into senior living prior to a health need. Erin shares her unique journey from nurse and hospice caregiver to senior living executive, and the surprising lessons she’s learned along the way.

From bridging gaps in the healthcare continuum to reshaping the perception of senior living, Erin offers candid insights on why community living is a life-giving alternative to isolation.

This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference 2025

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George Netscher, Founder and CEO of SafelyYou, dives into the launch of SafelyYou Halo™, the all-in-one AI operational platform that’s transforming care in Assisted Living and Memory Care communities.

As the senior living industry faces growing demand, rising acuity levels, and severe staffing shortages, operators are being asked to do more with less, while improving outcomes for residents and ensuring financial sustainability. George outlines what we're hearing from operators on the front lines, the critical challenges they're facing, and how SafelyYou Halo is engineered to meet this moment.

SafelyYou Halo™ combines:

Tune in to catch returning guest, Evan Friedkin, of Roobrik by Aline, to explore how integrated technology is transforming the way senior living communities connect with prospective residents and families. Evan shares how the merger of Roobrik and Aline continues to help sales teams have better, more meaningful conversations while reducing the time it takes to convert leads.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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Collaboration inspires innovation, and when operators like Matt Rezkalla, Managing Director at Agemark Senior Living, join industry leaders at the NHI Symposium, there are plenty of new ideas to come. Hear his story of breaking into the industry and why he chooses to stay and innovate on this episode of Bridge the Gap.

This episode was recorded at the NHI Music City Symposium. 

Hear Agemark’s Michael Pittore on Ep. 381.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Mast...

With decades of experience in senior living, Greg Roderick, CEO of Frontier Senior Living, joins the show to discuss the industry’s comeback from COVID-19 and the future benefits of value-based care. From repurposing buildings to new development, this episode is packed with valuable insights.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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The NIC Fall Conference is headed to Austin, Texas, and Amy Peters, VP of Conferences, Meetings & Events, is here to share insights, session details, and an agenda preview. Plus, a special announcement from Amy you won’t want to miss.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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Returning guest, Chief Operating Officer of NIC MAP, Kyle Gardner, shares details from NIC MAP’s 2Q report and what they mean for the future of senior living. Hear takes from the entire table as they talk through the data and how it impacts different areas of the industry.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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How does hospitality affect every interaction we have with residents? Tune in to hear Frederick Zarrilli, President and CEO of Senior Living Hospitality, give us the answer. From storytelling to paying attention to the little things, this episode is full of practical insights.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

This episode was recorded at the NHI Music City Symposium.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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Join Robb Chapin, Co-Founder of Channel Marker Advisors, as he joins the show to give us a play-by-play breakdown of senior living. Hear incredible insights from an industry veteran on the current state of senior living and the direction we’re headed. Hear everything from new projects to how operators can pivot to thrive.

This episode was recorded at the NHI Symposium. 

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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Jimmy Justice, Chief Operating Officer of William James Group, joined the show to share insights on their growth in secondary markets, employee retention strategies, and what work-life balance means for those in seniors housing.

This episode was recorded at the NHI Symposium. 

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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What can Toy Story teach us about senior living? Find out on this episode of Bridge the Gap with Matthew Luhn, a former Pixar and Simpsons Story Artist who helped create the stories of classics like Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Ratatouille, and more. Learn everything from structuring stories to how to build trust, plus a few exciting details about future projects. 

This episode was recorded at the NHI Symposium. 

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

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We are unpacking how REITs support senior living operators, plus hear insider details into the recent proxy fight with an activist investor straight from Eric Mendelsohn, CEO of NHI. Don’t miss these valuable lessons from an industry leader on serving partners and working toward mutual success.

This episode was recorded at the 2025 NHI Symposium.

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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With a rich history in the industry, Deana Wilson, Director of Marketing and Sales at Westminster Village Terra Haute, shares insights on sales for lifeplan communities, successes of a resident fund, and new approaches to marketing efforts with CCRCs. 

As the Executive Chair of the Indiana Alzheimer’s Association Walk, Deana also discusses her passion for raising funds in the fight against Alzheimer’s. 

Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.

Produced by Solinity Marketing.

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