Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast - podcast cover

Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

Bridge the Gap Networkwww.btgvoice.com
Welcome to Bridge the Gap with hosts Lucas McCurdy and Joshua Crisp. A podcast dedicated to informing, educating and influencing the future of housing and services for older adults in senior living.
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Episodes

How Nobi Is Transforming Fall Prevention in Senior Living | Roeland Pelgrims & Stijn Verrept

This week on Bridge the Gap we sit down with the Roeland Pelgrims and Stijn Verrept of Nobi to discuss how technology is reshaping the future of senior living. The conversation explores the operational realities caregivers face daily, the challenges senior living operators encounter amid staffing shortages, and why discreet, intelligent technology is critical to the future of aging services. Key Topics The origin story behind Nobi’s smart lighting platform Why caregiver workflows inspired the co...

Jun 08, 202613 minSeason 9Ep. 433

Evolution Over Revolution: How AI Is Reshaping Senior Living Technology | Brandon Logsdon

On this episode of Bridge the Gap, hosts Josh and Lucas sit down with Brandon Logsdon to discuss how technology, AI, and operational alignment are shaping the future of senior living. Brandon reflects on his first year leading Aline and shares how the company unified six separate organizations into one cohesive culture focused on “elevating the aging experience.” Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy : https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseni...

Jun 01, 202618 minSeason 9Ep. 432

Redefining Senior Housing Investment Through Collaboration | Michael Bowden & Shae Portnoy

This week on Bridge the Gap , Josh and Lucas sit down with Michael Bowden and Shae Portnoy of LTC REIT to explore how the company is redefining senior housing investment. Moving beyond the traditional “landlord” model, LTC is embracing a more collaborative, relationship-driven approach with operators The conversation dives into how LTC’s shift has transformed their company culture, opened doors to best-in-class operators, and created a more dynamic, people-first investment strategy. Key Topics: ...

May 25, 202621 minSeason 9Ep. 429

Why Senior Living Is the Most Rewarding Career You’re Overlooking | Justin Ladd

On this episode of Bridge the Gap , Justin Ladd of Arrow Senior Living shares his journey from a young nursing home trainee to a senior living leader shaping culture, growth, and innovation across multiple states. Justin dives into the three key pillars driving success in today’s senior living industry: building a strong culture and embracing emerging technologies like AI. Key Topics Covered The three pillars of senior living success: culture, operations, and technology How AI and data are shapi...

May 18, 202617 minSeason 9Ep. 430

How to Build the Future of Senior Living Talent | Nancy Swanger

On this episode of Bridge the Gap , Josh and Lucas sit down with Nancy Swanger of the Granger Cobb Institute for Business of Aging at Washington State University. Nancy shares the origin story of the program and how it has grown into a pioneering academic pathway preparing students for careers in senior living. Nancy highlights the powerful role of purpose-driven work in attracting the next generation. She also discusses how industry collaboration, mentorship, and real-world exposure are key to ...

May 11, 202622 minSeason 9Ep. 429

How to Plan for the Next Wave in Senior Living | Tiffany Karlin & Robert Zondag

The senior living industry is on the brink of massive transformation—but are operators truly prepared? In this episode of Bridge the Gap , hosts Josh and Lucas sit down with Tiffany Karlin and Robert Zondag to unpack the realities behind the much-discussed “silver tsunami.” While many assume baby boomers are already filling communities, the data tells a different story: the surge is just beginning. From rising Alzheimer’s rates to workforce shortages and limited new development, the challenges a...

May 04, 202626 minSeason 9Ep. 428

Navigating Insurance: Risk & ROI in Senior Living | Ryan Spalding

On this episode of Bridge the Gap , Josh and Lucas sit down with Ryan Spalding of Gibson Insurance to unpack one of the most overlooked, but critical, components of senior living operations: insurance and risk management. Ryan shares a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures operators face today. He also highlights real-world operator strategies, including creative staffing solutions and embedded technologies that reduce falls and claims. If you're a senior living operator, owner, or executive, ...

Apr 27, 202625 minSeason 9Ep. 427

Finding the Balance Between Tech & Human Care in Senior Living | Andrew Gall

On this episode of Bridge the Gap , Josh and Lucas sit down with Andrew Gall, Director of Customer Growth at Nobi, to explore how technology is transforming senior living. Andrew shares a unique perspective shaped by both operations and tech and dives into the opportunities of integrating technology into caregiving environments and the challenge of maintaining human connection. Key Topics Covered The evolution from paper-based systems to digital care tracking Why 2026 is a pivotal year for senio...

Apr 20, 202619 minSeason 9Ep. 426

Is Senior Living Falling Behind on AI Adoption? | Andrew Smith

What does the future of senior living really look like? In this episode of Bridge the Gap , Andrew Smith, VP of Operations and Innovation at HumanGood, shares a bold vision: transforming senior living communities into measurable “laboratories for healthy aging.” Andrew dives into how the industry is evolving beyond social engagement to delivering proven health outcomes. From AI-driven operational intelligence to cohort-based fitness programs with measurable results, this conversation explores ho...

Apr 13, 202623 minSeason 9Ep. 424

Designing the New Blueprint for Senior Housing | Rocky Berg

Senior living design is evolving rapidly, and architects like Rocky Berg are helping shape what the future looks like. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Rocky, Principal, Director of Business Development at Three Architecture, to discuss how senior housing design is shifting to meet the expectations of the boomer generation. This conversation explores how thoughtful design can elevate the resident experience while balancing operational efficiency and financial reali...

Apr 06, 202617 minSeason 9Ep. 425

A Look Inside the Care Model That’s Transforming Senior Housing | George Kutnerian

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 ...

Mar 30, 202621 minSeason 9Ep. 423

Why Senior Housing Is Now the Top-Performing Real Estate Asset Class | Arick Morton

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 ...

Mar 23, 202627 minSeason 9Ep. 422

How to Pace Growth in Senior Living the Right Way | Todd Marsh

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 Lessons learned from growing too quickl...

Mar 16, 202619 minSeason 9Ep. 421

The Key to Fixing the Broken Referral System in Senior Living | Greg Mason

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 com...

Mar 09, 202625 minSeason 9Ep. 420

Why a “1440” Culture Will Scale Your Communities | Tim Bryant

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,...

Mar 02, 202621 minSeason 9Ep. 419

From Defense to Offense: A Senior Living 100 Preview | Jim Kovac

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 wo...

Feb 23, 202620 minSeason 9Ep. 418

How the Next Generation of Seniors Is Reshaping Senior Living | Traci Taylor-Roberts

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 conversatio...

Feb 16, 202620 minSeason 9Ep. 417

An Exclusive Preview of the NIC Spring Conference | Amy Peters

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 Affordability challenges and the...

Feb 09, 202618 minSeason 9Ep. 416

Affordable Design Strategies for Senior Living Campuses with 828id | Keri Moore

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 s...

Feb 02, 202622 minSeason 9Ep. 415

How to Create AI-Empowered Leaders with Wipfli | Tiffany Karlin & Nate Sundheimer

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, h...

Jan 26, 202622 minSeason 9Ep. 414

Strategies to Break the Employee Retention Bottleneck with Procare HR | Paul Jarvis

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, ca...

Jan 19, 202614 minSeason 9Ep. 413

How Leaders Can Build a Culture People Stay For | Cara Silletto

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, m...

Jan 12, 202618 minSeason 9Ep. 412

Why Occupancy Is Rebounding in Senior Living | Arick Morton

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: Senior housing occupancy approaching the 90% threshold Life plan communities and nonprofit sector growth Expansion, renovation, and satell...

Jan 05, 202619 minSeason 9Ep. 411

The 2025 BTG Recap with Josh and Lucas

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: The missional “why” behind senior living leadership Entrepreneurship and family-driven roots in senior housing T...

Dec 29, 202520 minSeason 8Ep. 410

Zero-Click Discovery: The Future of Senior Living Marketing

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 increasingl...

Dec 22, 202512 minSeason 8Ep. 409

Do We Still Need Sales Teams? Feat. Traci Bild

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: Why traditional sales i...

Dec 15, 202524 minSeason 8Ep. 408

How to Drive Senior Living Development in Tough Markets

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: How Aspenwood transformed a strong company in...

Dec 08, 202518 minSeason 8Ep. 407

Connecting the Dots of Senior Living with Lina Ren of Cima Senior Living

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, th...

Dec 01, 202518 minSeason 8Ep. 406

The Senior Living Tech That Families Now Expect with Vayyar Care’s Jessica Wesley

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: The role of data in ...

Nov 24, 202519 minSeason 8Ep. 405

How to Maximize ROI with New Technology with CarePredict’s Josh Studzinski

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: Defining ROI and aligning metrics for successful tech implementation Overcoming “analysis paralysis” when evaluating new tool...

Nov 17, 202513 minSeason 8Ep. 404
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