Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

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 becoming essential.We unpack:Why AI adoption starts with leadership mindset, not toolsThe concept of the “AI-empowered leader”Delegating work to humans vs. AIOffensive vs. defensive AI strategies in senior livingMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/Connect with Our GuestsTiffany Karlin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-karlin-b2942b Nate Sundheimer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathansundheimer Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.Produced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

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 scheduling, retention, and compliance, helps operators scale confidently, especially amid acquisitions and regulatory complexity.This week we cover:Why workforce strategy is becoming senior living’s biggest growth constraintRetention vs. agency staffing and care outcomesPreparing for 100% occupancy scenariosMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestPaul JarvisProduced by Grit and Gravel Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.

Cara Silletto, retention consultant known as the 'Queen of Retention' and creator of the Employee Retention Ecosystem, explains why turnover is leadership-driven. She outlines a holistic model assigning shared responsibility across roles. Cara uses a houseplant analogy to show individualized care, discusses equipping managers, Gen Z priorities, mental health, and balancing empathy with accountability.

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% thresholdLife plan communities and nonprofit sector growthExpansion, renovation, and satellite campus strategiesNIC MAP’s expanded markets and AI-driven analyticsMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestArick MortonProduced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

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 leadershipEntrepreneurship and family-driven roots in senior housingTechnology and AI’s growing role in the industryLearning from industry thought leaders and conferencesMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Produced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

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 journey, emphasizing quality over quantity of leads and the need for smarter follow-up strategies.This week we discuss: The role of customer advisory boards in product developmentZero-click discovery and AI-driven search behaviorHow AI is reshaping the senior living prospect journeyDriving ROI through smarter sales prioritizationBest practices for adopting new technology in senior livingMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestAshley LuchsingerProduced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

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 in senior living is no longer enoughHow marketing has evolved faster than salesSegmented sales models and outsourced solutionsStorytelling, brand identity, and influencer marketing for senior livingMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with Our GuestTraci BildHear Traci on BTG Network.Produced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok

Heather Tussing, President of The Aspenwood Company, shares her insight on driving development in senior living amidst challenges. She reflects on transforming Aspenwood's culture to prioritize joy for residents and teams. Hear her thoughts on pre-construction relationship building in urban infill projects like those in Nashville, and how strong team culture boosts investor confidence. Tussing also discusses strategic refreshes for existing properties, ensuring luxury standards, and scaling culture with effective senior leadership.

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 the industry. This week, we share:The role of NIC scholarships in shaping career pathwaysThe gaps between public perception and the realities of senior housingThe growing role of AI and emerging technologies in care environmentsHow the industry can attract younger talentMeet the Hosts:Josh CrispLucas McCurdyConnect with Our GuestLina RenLearn more about the NIC Sponsorship ProgramProduced by Solinity Marketing.Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity. Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTokThis episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference

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 helping operators make timely, informed decisionsImproving staff workflows and reducing technology intimidationDriving census growth and delivering measurable ROIMeet the Hosts:Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with Our GuestJessica Wesley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-heck-wesley-2325702a/ Produced by Solinity Marketing.Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall ConferenceSponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.Connect with BTG on social media:YouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedInTikTok