Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

What if the future of senior living isn't about healthcare—it's about purpose? This week, we welcome Anna Hall, Chief Culture and Community Officer at Front Porch Communities and host of the Front Porch Podcast. Anna shares her journey through more than 25 years in senior living and explains why purpose, belonging, and meaningful relationships are becoming the foundation of the industry's future....

Josh and Lucas sit down with Kyle Gardner from NIC MAP to discuss the evolution of data-driven decision-making in senior housing and the launch of NIC MAP’s new AI-powered underwriting platform: Deal Intelligence. Kyle shares how institutional investors, private equity firms, and lenders are increasingly entering the senior housing market, fueled by improved access to reliable industry data. The c...

The senior living workforce conversation is changing fast, and operators who adapt now will have the advantage moving forward. In this episode of Bridge the Gap, Josh and Lucas sit down with Matt Strange, COO of Procare HR, to unpack the evolving labor landscape in senior housing and what operators must do to attract, retain, and engage frontline teams. Matt shares why predictable scheduling may b...

Senior housing is no longer a niche asset class; it’s become one of the most talked-about sectors in real estate and institutional investing. On this episode of Bridge the Gap , Aron Will returns to break down why senior living is entering what he calls a “historic growth cycle.” Aron explains the powerful convergence of demographics, limited new development, strong occupancy growth, and increasin...

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 T...

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...

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...

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 t...

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 genera...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 d...

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. I...

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 i...

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 liv...

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 w...

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 le...

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 engageme...

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...

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 scal...

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 lim...

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 se...

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 b...