Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast

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 into a market-leading culture * Building authentic sales relationships long before a community opens * Supporting high-performing teams and reinforcing culture at scale * Strategic refreshes and CapEx planning for luxury senior living assets * Maintaining brand standards across developments and acquisitions Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/] Lucas McCurdy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/] Connect with Our Guest Heather Tussing [https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-tussing-933a9316/] Produced by Solinity Marketing [https://solinitymarketing.com/]. Sponsored by Aline [https://alineops.com/], NIC MAP [https://www.nicmap.com/], Procare HR [https://procarehr.com/], Sage [https://www.hellosage.com/], Hamilton CapTel [https://hamiltoncaptel.com/], Service Master [https://www.srmcat.com/], The Bridge Group Construction [http://thebridgegc.com/] and Solinity [http://solinity.com/]. Become a sponsor [https://www.btgvoice.com/become-a-sponsor] of Bridge the Gap. Connect with BTG on social media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVzaZYcFs6410QBewMW-BQ/featured] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/btgvoice/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-221276828419044/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/btgvoice] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-the-gap-podcast/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@btgvoice] This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference 2025

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, 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 pathways * The gaps between public perception and the realities of senior housing * The growing role of AI and emerging technologies in care environments * How the industry can attract younger talent Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/] Lucas McCurdy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/]  Connect with Our Guest Lina Ren [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lina-ren/] Learn more about the NIC Sponsorship Program [https://www.nic.org/senior-housing-industry-events/sponsorship/] Produced by Solinity Marketing [https://solinitymarketing.com/]. Sponsored by Aline [https://alineops.com/], NIC MAP [https://www.nicmap.com/], Procare HR [https://procarehr.com/], Sage [https://www.hellosage.com/], Hamilton CapTel [https://hamiltoncaptel.com/], Service Master [https://www.srmcat.com/], The Bridge Group Construction [http://thebridgegc.com/] and Solinity [http://solinity.com/]. Become a sponsor [https://www.btgvoice.com/become-a-sponsor] of Bridge the Gap. Connect with BTG on social media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVzaZYcFs6410QBewMW-BQ/featured] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/btgvoice/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-221276828419044/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/btgvoice] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-the-gap-podcast/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@btgvoice] This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference

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 helping operators make timely, informed decisions * Improving staff workflows and reducing technology intimidation * Driving census growth and delivering measurable ROI Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/]  Lucas McCurdy [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/]  Connect with Our Guest Jessica Wesley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-heck-wesley-2325702a/]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-heck-wesley-2325702a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-heck-wesley-2325702a/]  Produced by Solinity Marketing [https://solinitymarketing.com/]. Become a sponsor [https://www.btgvoice.com/become-a-sponsor] of Bridge the Gap. This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference Sponsored by Aline [https://alineops.com/], NIC MAP [https://www.nicmap.com/], Procare HR [https://procarehr.com/], Sage [https://www.hellosage.com/], Hamilton CapTel [https://hamiltoncaptel.com/], Service Master [https://www.srmcat.com/], The Bridge Group Construction [http://thebridgegc.com/] and Solinity [http://solinity.com/]. Connect with BTG on social media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVzaZYcFs6410QBewMW-BQ/featured] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/btgvoice/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-221276828419044/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/btgvoice] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-the-gap-podcast/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@btgvoice]

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 tools * Using real-time data to enhance caregiver responsiveness * How CarePredict helps communities identify and adjust care needs early Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with Our Guest Josh Studzinski (Chief Growth Officer, CarePredict): [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshstudzinski/] https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshstudzinski/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshstudzinski/]  This episode was recorded at the 2025 LeadingAge annual meeting Produced by Solinity Marketing [https://solinitymarketing.com/]. Sponsored by Aline [https://alineops.com/], NIC MAP [https://www.nicmap.com/], Procare HR [https://procarehr.com/], Sage [https://www.hellosage.com/], Hamilton CapTel [https://hamiltoncaptel.com/], Service Master [https://www.srmcat.com/], The Bridge Group Construction [http://thebridgegc.com/] and Solinity [http://solinity.com/]. Become a sponsor [https://www.btgvoice.com/become-a-sponsor] of Bridge the Gap. Connect with BTG on social media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVzaZYcFs6410QBewMW-BQ/featured] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/btgvoice/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-221276828419044/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/btgvoice] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-the-gap-podcast/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@btgvoice]

ASHA 2026 Annual Meeting Preview with David Schless

This week, we welcome back returning guest David Schless, President of ASHA, to preview the 2026 ASHA Annual Meeting, taking place January 26–28 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. As ASHA celebrates 35 years of shaping the senior housing industry, David shares what members can expect from this milestone event You will get an exclusive look at: * The economic outlook and what’s driving optimism across the industry. * A keynote presentation by Matt Slaughter, Dean of the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. * CEO and capital markets panels, technology and AI discussions, and a workforce-focused initiative. * A case study led by Arnie Whitman [https://www.btgvoice.com/full-episode/333-arnie-whitman-senior-living-operations] showcasing the transformation of a Tennessee community. Whether you’re a senior housing operator, investor, developer, or industry advocate, this episode highlights why ASHA remains one of the most respected voices in senior living leadership and collaboration. Meet the Hosts: Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/ Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/ Connect with our Guests: David Schless [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schless-9b752931/] (President of ASHA): https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schless-9b752931/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schless-9b752931/] Produced by Solinity Marketing [https://solinitymarketing.com/]. Become a sponsor [https://www.btgvoice.com/become-a-sponsor] of Bridge the Gap. Connect with BTG on social media: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVzaZYcFs6410QBewMW-BQ/featured] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/btgvoice/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/Bridge-The-Gap-221276828419044/] Twitter [https://twitter.com/btgvoice] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/bridge-the-gap-podcast/] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@btgvoice]