Bridge the Gap: The Senior Living Podcast
Lucas McCurdy and Joshua Crisp
Welcome to Bridge the Gap with hosts Lucas McCurdy and Joshua Crisp. A podcast dedicated to informing, educating and influencing the future of housing and services for seniors.
- 18 minutes 57 secondsWhy Occupancy Is Rebounding in Senior Living | Arick Morton
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% threshold
- Life plan communities and nonprofit sector growth
- Expansion, renovation, and satellite campus strategies
- NIC MAP’s expanded markets and AI-driven analytics
Meet the Hosts:
Connect with Our Guest
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.
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5 January 2026, 6:00 am - 20 minutes 27 secondsThe 2025 BTG Recap with Josh and Lucas
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 leadership
- Entrepreneurship and family-driven roots in senior housing
- Technology and AI’s growing role in the industry
- Learning from industry thought leaders and conferences
Meet 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.
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29 December 2025, 6:00 am - 12 minutes 8 secondsZero-Click Discovery: The Future of Senior Living Marketing
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 development
- Zero-click discovery and AI-driven search behavior
- How AI is reshaping the senior living prospect journey
- Driving ROI through smarter sales prioritization
- Best practices for adopting new technology in senior living
Meet the Hosts:
Connect with Our Guest
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:
22 December 2025, 6:00 am - 23 minutes 39 secondsDo We Still Need Sales Teams? Feat. Traci Bild
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 enough
- How marketing has evolved faster than sales
- Segmented sales models and outsourced solutions
- Storytelling, brand identity, and influencer marketing for senior living
Meet the Hosts:
Josh Crisp: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshcrispsocial/
Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/
Connect with Our Guest
Hear 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:
15 December 2025, 6:00 am - 18 minutes 6 secondsHow 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:
Connect with Our Guest
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:
This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference 2025
8 December 2025, 6:00 am - 18 minutes 26 secondsConnecting 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:
Connect with Our Guest
Learn more about the NIC Sponsorship Program
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:
This episode was recorded at the NIC Fall Conference
1 December 2025, 6:00 am - 18 minutes 54 secondsThe 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/
Lucas McCurdy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucasmccurdyseniorlivingfan/
Connect with Our Guest
Jessica 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 Conference
Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.
Connect with BTG on social media:
24 November 2025, 6:00 am - 13 minutes 19 secondsHow 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/
This episode was recorded at the 2025 LeadingAge annual meeting
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:
17 November 2025, 6:00 am - 25 minutes 21 secondsASHA 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 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 (President of ASHA): https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-schless-9b752931/
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
Become a sponsor of Bridge the Gap.
Connect with BTG on social media:
10 November 2025, 6:00 am - 21 minutes 11 secondsStrategy for Operational Processes with Damon Thomas of Providence Senior Living
In this episode of Bridge the Gap, BTG Ambassador and FSLA Board Member Damon Thomas, Senior VP of Operations at Providence Senior Living, joins the show. Damon shares practical insights on smooth senior living operations, leadership evolution, and the importance of culture in smaller, regional organizations. From his “daily alignment” meetings to managing the ever-present “top ten” list, Damon reveals how consistency and intentionality build thriving communities.
Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.
Become a sponsor of the Bridge the Gap Network.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
Connect with BTG on social media:
Meet the Hosts:
Lucas McCurdy, @SeniorLivingFan Owner, The Bridge Group Construction; Senior Living Construction Renovation, CapEx, and Reposition.
Joshua Crisp, Founder and CEO, Solinity; Senior Living Development, Management, Marketing and Consulting.
3 November 2025, 6:00 am - 19 minutes 36 secondsBuild, Buy or Expand: Growth Strategies in a Shifting Regulatory Landscape with Wipfli
This week, we’re sitting down with Kelly Arduino and Brandon Christopherson of Wipfli, a leading accounting and consulting firm, to discuss growth strategies and the latest market updates. Together, they unpack how today’s market forces like tariffs, interest rates, and tax reforms are influencing M&A in senior living.
Produced by Solinity Marketing.
Sponsored by Aline, NIC MAP, Procare HR, Sage, Hamilton CapTel, Service Master, The Bridge Group Construction and Solinity.
Apply to become a Bridge the Gap Ambassador.
Connect with BTG on social media:
Meet the Hosts:
Lucas McCurdy, @SeniorLivingFan Owner, The Bridge Group Construction; Senior Living Construction Renovation, CapEx, and Reposition.
Joshua Crisp, Founder and CEO, Solinity; Senior Living Development, Management, Marketing and Consulting.
27 October 2025, 6:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App