Believe.Behave.Become - A Pennant Group Podcast

Hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan sit down with Tobias, Executive Director, and Adriana, Director of Clinical Services, from Emblem Hospice Tucson for an honest and inspiring conversation about the realities of leadership. Their journey is anything but linear—marked by moments of major success, periods of significant financial hardship, and ultimately culminating in earning the Phoenix Award.  ...

In this powerful episode of Believe. Behave. Become. , the team sits down with renowned mountaineer, adventurer, and latest keynote speaker, Jeff Evans live from the 2026 Pennant Group Leadership Summit. Jeff reflects on why Pennant’s culture stood out to him as a rare “outlier” in corporate leadership, praising the organization’s cluster model and peer-to-peer accountability approach as something...

In this episode of Believe. Behave. Become., we sit down with Sarah Nigro, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at BetterRx, alongside John Gochnour, to explore what it truly means to ascend together through purpose-driven partnership. Recorded live at the Pennant Group Annual Meeting, this conversation dives into the evolving relationship between The Pennant Group and BetterRx—one built not on t...

This episode explores the real journey of leadership—not as a title or achievement, but as a continuous climb. Through the lens of rapid growth and new leadership responsibility, the conversation with Jared Green unpacks what it truly means to “earn your rope” every day. From building a strong first team to uncovering the deeper “why” that drives individuals, this discussion highlights the foundat...

In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the future of home health and hospice will be defined by one thing: partnership . In this episode, we sit down with Si L. Luo, CEO of CareXM, to explore how leaders are reimagining care in the home—moving from reactive service to proactive, coordinated, and deeply human-centered experiences. Together, we unpack how partnerships between providers and inno...

aIn this episode, we sit down with Dr. Derrel Walker , Chief Medical Officer at The Pennant Group, for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to lead as a physician in today’s complex healthcare environment. From his early experiences in hospital medicine to shaping innovative care models, Dr. Walker shares how compassion, communication, and leadership—not just clinical expertise—are the k...

What if the key to better performance, stronger culture, and deeper trust wasn’t another leadership tactic—but how fair your team feels you are ?   In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Rich and Elliot sit down with Tella, Executive Director at Symbii Home Health and Hospice - Utah County, to explore one of the most overlooked (and powerful) leadership frameworks: organizational justice .  ...

What does it look like to lead when the stakes are high and the answers aren’t clear? In this episode of Believe Behave Become , we sit down with Dr. Lauren Templeton , nationally recognized hospice physician and educator, to explore how humility, preparation, and active listening shape exceptional leadership. Dr. Templeton shares her unexpected journey into hospice care, her passion for hard conv...

In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Travis Jones shares his leadership journey from physical therapy to healthcare administration and how the principle of “First Who, Then What” shaped his approach to building strong teams and thriving cultures. Travis reflects on lessons learned, the importance of finding the right people, and practical strategies like peer interviews that create lasting...

In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Heath Braverman shares his transformative professional journey - from military service to sales leadership and ultimately to healthcare. Heath reflects on lessons learned, the role of mentorship in shaping authentic leadership, and how investing in people creates thriving teams. He also discusses the importance of work-life balance and finding a profess...

In this episode, Rich and Eliot join Camille Jensen and Justin Stenquist for a candid conversation on leadership, innovation, and the realities of healthcare today. From tackling social determinants of health to embracing intelligent risk-taking, we explore how executives can turn complexity into opportunity and drive meaningful change across the care continuum.

In this special episode of Believe. Behave. Become. Pennant CEO Brent Guerisoli joins hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan to unpack what it really means to be a Level Five Leader. From his early days as a CEO-in-Training to leading a high-growth, locally-led organization, Brent reflects on humility, ownership, the power of building up others, and even shares his thoughts on competitive eating and...

In this candid and thought-provoking episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Elliot and Rich sit down with John Gochnour, Chief Operating Officer of The Pennant Group, for a leadership conversation that hits close to home—both literally and figuratively. From rafting mishaps on the rivers of Idaho to helping build a nationwide service model from scratch, John reflects on more than a decade of leaders...

In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan sit down with Kris Maples , Marisa Crecelius , and Nicole Yantes —three Life-Changing Service Award winners. They explore what it means to lead from the service center, build authentic partnerships with field leaders, and why Pennant is truly a leadership company. For more leadership insights, follow Pennant on Linke...

In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Elliot McMillan sits down with Kahla McCurdy , Director of HR for Pinnacle Senior Living, and Autumn Hornsby , Director of HR for Cornerstone, to discuss the evolving role of HR in leadership development. Kahla and Autumn share their unique career paths, the pivotal moments that shaped them, and how they transitioned into HR leadership. They discuss the...

In Episode 16, Intelligent Risk + Successful Hiring, hosts Rich and Elliot welcome special guests Kirk Cheney and Scott Myers to explore the powerful connection between smart decision-making and successful talent acquisition. Together, they share insights from years of leadership experience, discussing how calculated risks can pave the way for exceptional results—particularly in hiring and buildin...

In this episode, we dive deep with Justin Stenquist, Executive Director of Bluebird Home Health and Hospice, to uncover his journey from caregiving as a teen to leading a transformative healthcare company. Justin shares powerful personal stories, the inspiration behind Bluebird's innovative transitional care model, and how they’re breaking down barriers in patient care. With humor and heart, this...

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, business development, and creating a positive workplace culture. Rich Firth’s blend of humor, personal stories, and professional insights makes for an engaging and educational experience. Listen and learn how to balance business goals with a human-centric approach and get inspired by Rich’s journey and leadership philosophy!

In "The Drive to Increase" we discuss why it is easier to achieve BHAG than it is to achieve Commitment. Justin Hofer and Clint Nielsen bring their 2024 Annual Meeting presentation to the digital airwaves and review the BHAG behaviors of Innovative Thinking, Exceeding Expectations, Proactive Learning, and Strategic Risk Taking. Guest: Justin Hofer, CMO Zion's Way Home Health and Hospice, Clint Nie...

Learn from the path of discipline and willing sacrifice that Jordan Baker traveled as he led the emergence of Sequoia Home Health and Hospice in Milpitas, CA. The history of Sequoia HHH is one that helped transform culture and best practices of Pennant affiliates. From date of acquisition, Sequoia leadership struggled to build a thriving healthcare agency against the competition in the Bay area. A...

In this week's episode, join Rich and Andy as they delve into a compelling dialogue on the critical role of transparency and trust in fostering operational excellence and building a successful team Host:   ⁠Rich Lewis⁠ , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guest:   ⁠ Andy Rider,  President - Pinnacle Senior Living Connect with Pennant: ⁠Website⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Facebook

This week, join Rich, Elliot, and Marisa as they engage in an enjoyable discussion on leadership through the unique perspective of legal professionals. Plus, stay tuned for an entertaining game that adds an extra layer of fun to the episode. Host: ⁠Rich Lewis⁠ , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guests: Elliot McMillan , Associate General Counsel, Marisa Crecelius , Associate General Couns...

This week, Rich and Devin engage in a thoughtful conversation about the importance of driving performance through utilizing effective systems and the crucial role discipline plays in consistent execution. Host: Rich Lewis , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guest: Devin Christensen , Director of Leadership Development Connect with Pennant: Website LinkedIn Facebook

In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Brent Guerisoli, the CEO of Pennant. Join us as we delve into the principles that have been foundational to Brent's leadership journey. Although this conversation was captured immediately following Pennant's 2023 Annual Leadership Meeting, you will find that the insights and wisdom shared remain as relevant as ever. Tune in to gain valuab...

On this week's episode, we dive into the topic of having Crucial Conversations and how to communicate team members directly and confidently. When communicating using principles taught in the book "Crucial Conversations" by Joseph Grenny and Kerry Patterson, leaders reduce the risk of diminished culture and lost productivity, and build bridges that strengthen trust and accelerate results.   Guest i...