The Front Porch Podcast

How can we learn to become better leaders? In this episode of The Front Porch Podcast, host Anna Hall talks with San Francisco Towers resident Pete Spencer. Drawing on his 46-year career with the Social Security Administration and his continued service with Front Porch and LeadingAge California, Pete shares lessons about leadership, mentorship, diversity, belonging and the power of bringing people...

Change is difficult for most of us, no matter our age. But the transition from living on our own to living in a senior community comes with its own unique challenges. Enter Joe Danks , professor emeritus of psycholinguistics and resident president of Casa De Mañana . Joe, together with his wife Carol and their son, developed the P.L.U.C.K. method to help residents and team members at Casa de Mañan...

When we first started The Front Porch Podcast, we searched for a theme song that would embody the spirit of Front Porch. What we didn't expect was to find the composers right here, within our own organization. In this episode, host Anna Hall sits down with Canterbury Woods Senior Executive Assistant Geoven Snaer and Registered Nurse Dianne Kae Enriquez to share how a casual conversation sparked a...

"People should never retire." That's Hall of Fame golfer Amy Alcott's philosophy—and it's the starting point for a thoughtful conversation with host Anna Hall about purpose, community, and embracing every new chapter of life. Recorded at the Front Porch Golf Tournament, Amy reflects on the art of the golf swing, the art of aging and the advice from her mother that shaped her career: "Just let the...

In this episode, host Anna Hall, creator of the Purpose Equation®, finds a kindred spirit! Walnut Village resident Patty Trevor has always been driven by a profound sense of purpose, from her work as a Community Liaison Officer in Kuwait to her current role as a "purpose workshop" facilitator at her community. Together, Anna and Patty discuss why people, especially later in life, often feel discon...

What started as an ambitious idea for a resident fashion show became something much bigger: a powerful reminder of how much creative expression and visibility matters at any age. In this episode of The Front Porch Podcast, host Anna Hall talks with Kingsley Manor Life Enrichment team Michael Essex and Amani Rose about the real power of their work (sometimes known as "Activities" in senior living)...

Carlsbad By The Sea residents Arthur and Candace were born in adjacent towns in Virginia, but their lives unfolded along very different paths. While Art, with the support of his church community, was navigating life under Jim Crow eventually finding his path in the military, Candace became a school psychologist in rural Illinois, where she learned to gather scarce resources to improve student outc...

Beth F. Coye , a retired U.S. Navy Commander, writer, and Wesley Palms resident , shares her remarkable journey as a life-long advocate for social justice. From authoring a groundbreaking study on women in the Navy, to helping shape lasting change through her work on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell , Beth has been a warrior for equality and inclusion. Now at Wesley Palms, Beth has continued he...

Randi Jorgenson began her career as a housekeeper at Spring Lake Village and now leads a team of 36 employees while overseeing 400 resident apartments in her role as Housekeeping Manager. In this episode, Randi reflects on how opportunities for growth and advancement, respect for each team member's unique contributions, and a strong community culture are essential ingredients in nurturing team mem...

After losing his beloved wife of 50 years, David embraces a new chapter of life. From leading inclusive Shabbat services at St. Paul's Towers, to teaching a class of boisterous first graders, to learning to fall in love…again, David shows us how acceptance of loss and grief, as an essential part of life, can lead to healing and transformation. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction Anna Hall sets the stage...

David E. Jackson spent his career as an educator, but some of his most profound "life lessons" have come out of navigating loss and grief. After evacuating his Santa Rosa home during the Glass Fire and relocating to St. Paul's Towers at the height of Covid, David faced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife of 50 years to cancer. Yet in moving through the process of grief, David discovered som...

Before Victor Ceron fell in love with senior living he was known in the pro-wrestling world as "Kafu: The Brazilian Beast." In this episode, Victor shares how his early experiences growing up in Mexico, and his time in the wrestling world shaped his deep appreciation for culture and authenticity.   Now, as the Vice President of Project Management at Front Porch, Victor reflects on what it means to...

From her early years as member of a large migrant family—following the crops from town to town—to her work as a teacher, principal, and advocate, Dorothy Astorga has always understood the importance of community in fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Now, living at Fredericka Manor, she continues her life's mission of creating community through cultural connections with Fredericka Manor's...

Jean Owen always thought of herself as "somebody's someone" – first as her mother's daughter then as her husband's wife. It wasn't until she moved to Villa Gardens that she began stepping into her power as "Just Jean." As president of the resident council and key contributor to Sarah Friedland's award-winning film Familiar Touch (filmed on location at Villa Gardens), Jean has discovered a renewed...

Welcome to the Front Porch Podcast! Join us as we uncover the extraordinary stories of people who are part of Front Porch Communities and Services. Through fascinating conversations with amazing individuals, we explore how community evolves over time, how we can learn from people in every stage of life, and how each of us makes an impact. Together, we'll explore how purpose and community shape us,...