Best Pioneernetwork Podcasts (2025)

1
Documenting the Dementia Journey on Film 47:21

9h ago47:21

47:21

Like far too many people across the world, Kyle Henry was forced to spend his mother’s last days communicating from behind screens and PPE as the COVID-19 pandemic raged. But Henry — a prolific filmmaker and associate professor at Northwestern University — also saw an opportunity to shine a light on dementia, caregiving, and his own relationship wi…

1
The Case for Population Health Management in Long-Term Care 57:41

7d ago57:41

57:41

The pursuit of innovative solutions in nursing home care is ongoing, and there is no shortage of people who are dedicated to this endeavor. Today’s guest, Fred Bentley, managing director of ATI Advisory’s Post-Acute/Long-Term care and Senior Living Practice, is one of these people. In addition to advocating for long-term care providers to shift foc…

1
Paving the Way for Innovative Eldercare 59:46

14d ago59:46

59:46

To be a trailblazer is not an easy path. There are detractors, nay sayers, and critics, of course. But to pave the way for others to achieve great things in the field of eldercare takes heart and soul as well. Today’s guest, Steve McAlilly, has accomplished this all. In addition to leading the development of the first-ever Green House Homes, he has…

1
Neuroplasticity and the Power of Integrated Care for Older People 53:12

21d ago53:12

53:12

Gerascophobia is the fear of aging or getting older. This fear, according to today’s podcast guest, Kelly Tremblay, PhD, can not only make us sick, but can also be combatted by engaging in wellness activities such as book clubs or walking clubs—or even by listening to an inspiring podcast. What’s more, doing the work to counter the fear can actuall…

1
Forging Good Trouble in Seniors Housing and Care 1:02:38

28d ago1:02:38

1:02:38

Innovation and disruption have not been typical keywords used to describe the seniors housing and care industry. This perception is rapidly changing thanks in large part to today’s guest, Bob Kramer, a self-described serial social entrepreneur and founder and president of Nexus Insights, an advisory firm that helps clients redefine aging and rethin…

1
From the Theater to Dementia Advocacy 50:41

1M ago50:41

50:41

There’s an old quote about how thinking about death is like staring at the sun — you can’t really do it for too long without becoming overwhelmed. The same can be said for Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia: The idea of a parent, spouse, or other loved one no longer recognizing you is far too distressing for most people to consider. But Marily…

1
Building Villages to Support Aging in Place 49:15

1M ago49:15

49:15

It’s no secret that most people want to age in place, but without a strong support system, getting older in your longtime home can lead to unwanted challenges and isolation. The Village to Village Network works to create durable webs of support in communities all across the country, organizing volunteers to provide the kind of nuts-and-bolts assist…

1
A Mandate for Canada: Prioritizing Small House Care Homes 45:45

2M ago45:45

45:45

The COVID-19 pandemic awakened the nation – and the world – to the fact that small-house eldercare homes were substantially safer places to deliver long-term care compared with traditional nursing homes. And while it’s now been almost five years since the onset of the pandemic, Canadian health policy makers such as Samir Sinha, MD, continue to rais…

1
Using Robots to Facilitate Human Connection 52:10

2M ago52:10

52:10

For more than a decade now, tech companies have promised robotic assistants that could one day help solve workforce shortages in eldercare settings. Concerns over safety and the loss of the personal touch aside, these worker bots remain science fiction — but what if robots could bridge, and not expand, the isolation that so many older adults face? …

1
Data as an Engine for Change in Eldercare 53:12

2M ago53:12

53:12

By Susan Ryan

1
Rethinking Technology’s Role in Eldercare and Senior Living 43:49

3M ago43:49

43:49

This December, we're taking a look back at some of the top episodes from 2024, with a special focus on the speakers and ideas that took center stage at our annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. last month. Please enjoy this encore presentation of our interview with Amber Bardon Across all industries, it can be difficult to separate promising, us…

1
Learning from Household Models Around the World 49:44

3M ago49:44

49:44

This December, we're taking a look back at some of the top episodes from 2024, with a special focus on the speakers and ideas that took center stage at our annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. last month. Please enjoy this encore presentation of our interview with Martin Rix. While the Green House model is the most widely implemented small-home…

1
Balancing Risk, Responsibility, and Reward with Aging Tech: Part II 57:44

3M ago57:44

57:44

This December, we're taking a look back at some of the top episodes from 2024, with a special focus on the speakers and ideas that took center stage at our annual conference in Grand Rapids, Mich. last month. Please enjoy this encore presentation of our interview with Joe Velderman.The topic of responsibly integrating technology into eldercare comm…

1
Gathering Around the Gratitude Table 2024: Sarah Neuman 52:53

4M ago52:53

52:53

It’s an “Elevate Eldercare” tradition: Each Thanksgiving, we set up a virtual gratitude table for the people who live the values of culture change every day. This year, we welcome a team from The New Jewish Home’s Sarah Neuman campus in Westchester County, N.Y. — assistant administrator Miriam Levi, nurse Wendy McDonald, and CNA Joycelyn Scott-Adir…

1
The Quest for Dementia-Inclusion 54:44

4M ago54:44

54:44

Upholding civil liberties, addressing fear, and creating flexible systems to support individuals who are living with dementia are passionate goals for the three guests on this episode of Elevate Eldercare. Susan Ryan sits down with Jennifer Carson, PhD, director of the Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research (DEER) program at the Univ. of Neva…

1
Balancing the Personal and Professional in Dementia Care 50:49

4M ago50:49

50:49

For Michala Gibson, creating empowering environments for people living with dementia is both a professional and personal mission. As the co-founder of Prairie Elder Care in Overland Park, Kan., Gibson has built a unique farmhouse setting for elders living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia — complete with a garden and farm animals. She al…

1
Top Eldercare Policy Priorities for 2024 and Beyond 41:33

4M ago41:33

41:33

As everyone listening knows, there was an election last night — but while another contentious political season comes to a close, the real work of policymaking in Washington and state legislatures is just beginning. To discuss the policy work that will have the most impact on the eldercare reform space, we invited two of our favorite experts on the …

1
Eliminating the Barriers Between Care Levels — and People 1:03:14

4M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

Even the best communities that serve elders with varying levels of care needs often face a logistical problem: moving residents from one physical area to another as their care demands increase. The Towers at Tower Lane, an innovative community in New Haven, Conn., eliminated that problem by creating services that come directly to residents’ apartme…

1
Leading Through Lifelong Learning and Growth 1:01:09

5M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

As a child, Freeman Hrabowski had already made a bigger impact on the world than many people do in their entire lives: Inspired by hearing Martin Luther King Jr. speak at his church, young Freeman was arrested for protesting against segregation in Birmingham, Alabama. But Hrabowski didn’t stop there, building an impressive career in academia that c…

1
Breaking Through the Providers vs. Regulators Framework 50:01

5M ago50:01

50:01

Far too often, eldercare reform is presented as a binary choice between mortal adversaries: providers who believe that regulators are out to get them, and regulators who assume every provider is up to no good. The truth is obviously more complicated, and leaders like Jennifer Belden prove that there are ways to protect residents’ rights while also …

1
Speaking Up for Nursing Home Residents Everywhere 42:21

5M ago42:21

42:21

As someone in her 40s living with multiple rare autoimmune diseases, Nancy Stevens doesn’t necessarily seem like a typical nursing home resident. But her journey through the long-term care system came with the same frustrations, challenges, and disappointments experienced far too often by people twice her age. Stevens uses her experiences as fuel t…

1
The Beauty and Benefits of Music Therapy 59:07

5M ago59:07

59:07

In today’s episode, Beth Furlong, RN, Community Relations Manager, and Hilary Camino, a certified neurologic music therapist at Sage Living in Jackson, Wyo., sit down with Susan Ryan. Furlong offers a history of the Living Center and its evolution into Sage Living, emphasizing the need for a larger, more home-like space. She describes the collabora…

1
Working Toward Equity in the Aging Experience 41:18

6M ago41:18

41:18

Equity in aging is a topic that must be discussed more often in the field of eldercare. Today, Susan Ryan sits down with guest Marvell Adams Jr. to address this topic head on. Together, they unpack the many ways in which he is working to dismantle inequities in aging and create communities of inclusion. Leveraging his two decades of work in the agi…

1
A Pacesetter for Positive Change in Dementia Care 1:00:14

6M ago1:00:14

1:00:14

To be the developer of The Green House Project’s BEST LIFE Approach for supporting persons living with dementia, it takes a very special commitment to person-directed living, the dignity of risk taking, and maintaining mobility. This is certainly the case for today’s guest, Anne Ellett. As a certified nurse practitioner and gerontological nurse, a …

1
The Quest for Dementia-Inclusion 58:27

6M ago58:27

58:27

Upholding civil liberties, addressing fear, and creating flexible systems to support individuals who are living with dementia are passionate goals for the three guests on this episode of Elevate Eldercare. Susan Ryan sits down with Jennifer Carson, PhD, director of the Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research (DEER) program at the Univ. of Neva…

1
From Corporate Exec to Homeboy Industries 45:53

6M ago45:53

45:53

If you’ve never heard Homeboy Industries, you’re just a brief Google search away from discovering an incredible nonprofit that is considered to be the most the most successful gang intervention, rehabilitation, and reentry program in the country. In this episode, Susan Ryan talks with Homeboy CEO Tom Vozzo, who will also give the opening keynote ta…

1
The Social Prescription Connection 49:02

7M ago49:02

49:02

Biophilia, the desire or tendency to commune with nature, is top of mind for author Julia Hotz, who joins the podcast to talk about her new book “The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging.” Hotz explains how the phenomenon of social prescribing, a non-medical approach to improving health by connect…

1
Protecting Elders’ Right to Vote — Wherever They Call Home 48:53

7M ago48:53

48:53

It’s a presidential election year in the United States, with politics dominating the headlines from now until November. For many older people living in communal care settings, the ability to vote isn’t always guaranteed, even though it’s a baseline right that citizens do not lose as they age. Kate Poppenhagen, formerly the long-term care ombudsman …

1
The Secrets of Resilient Leadership 46:02

7M ago46:02

46:02

The ability to navigate crises is a vital trait for any leader — and so is the ability to emerge from a crisis stronger, bolder, and better than before. Dr. George Everly, a renowned psychologist who helped to pioneer the field of disaster mental health, joins the podcast to discuss the keys to strong, steady leadership both during and after crises…

1
Building a Longevity-Ready Eldercare System 1:08:26

7M ago1:08:26

1:08:26

So many of the systems in place to support older Americans were created at a time when people didn’t expect to live much longer than 65, and the concept of retirement was a handful of years at most. Part of true system reform is acknowledging that elders today and tomorrow aren’t the same as they were decades ago, and that we must create new struct…

1
Aligning Regulations with What Residents, Workers Want 51:28

7M ago51:28

51:28

Deke Cateau is the kind of leader that the eldercare community desperately needs more of: committed to creating better environments for elders regardless of the challenges, willing to have nuanced conversations about the need for smarter regulations, and always inspiring others to do more than the status quo. The A.G. Rhodes CEO joins the podcast t…

1
The Universal, International Language of Small Homes 52:10

8M ago52:10

52:10

We go down under this week to speak with Angela Raguz, the chief operating and risk officer for HammondCare — a pioneering operator of small-home eldercare cottages in Australia, and one of CFI’s partners in the Household Model International Consortium. Angela dives into her 30-year career at the forefront of dignified and radically non-institution…

1
Building Bridges Between Eldercare and Disability Advocacy 53:23

8M ago53:23

53:23

Tireless advocate Carrie Leljedal returns to the podcast to discuss her work to bridge the worlds of advocacy for elders and people living with disabilities, which began after her adult son experienced a prolonged lockdown away from family and friends during the pandemic. She turned her anger and frustration into a new career as a champion for esse…

1
Grow Bolder with Green House and Pioneer This Fall 46:16

8M ago46:16

46:16

It’ll soon be that time again: We’re gathering the Green House Project and Pioneer Network communities together at the Center for Innovation conference, coming to Grand Rapids, Mich. from November 11-13. This week, join CFI team members Susan Ryan, Marla DeVries, and Stacey Bergmann for a preview of the conference, a discussion of why in-person con…

1
Rethinking Technology’s Role in Eldercare and Senior Living 44:59

9M ago44:59

44:59

Across all industries, it can be difficult to separate promising, useful tech solutions from the hype — especially in senior living and eldercare, which have historically been slow to adopt even basic systems like electronic health records and high-speed wifi. Parasol Alliance CEO Amber Bardon has spent nearly a decade trying to change that reality…

1
Learning from Household Models Around the World 51:12

9M ago51:12

51:12

While the Green House model is the most widely implemented small-home nursing care concept in the U.S., it’s not alone — innovators around the world have developed person-directed, human-scale communities where elders of all abilities can thrive. Belong, a non-profit provider organization, has brought its own household model — the Belong Village — …

1
Leading with Love: Celebrating and Supporting LGBTQ+ Elders 44:09

9M ago44:09

44:09

With each year that passes, Pride celebrations become more and more mainstream — but in our current political and social climate, LGBTQ+ people of all ages continue to face demonization and stigmatization, a reality that is sometimes magnified for elders. Today in the United States, about half of older LGBTQ+ adults live in states where they can le…

1
Fighting Ageism Everywhere — Even Within the Eldercare Sector 49:00

9M ago49:00

49:00

Just about everyone who works in the eldercare space has heard about the negative effects of ageism in our society, but we can’t truly fight age-based discrimination until we look inward — even within our own sector. Jordan Evans, co-founder of Art Against Ageism, joins the podcast to discuss his experiences as a younger person in the eldercare lan…

1
Building Intentional, Active Communities for Elders — and Everyone Else 46:24

10M ago46:24

46:24

Steve Nygren, visionary founder of the Serenbe community outside of Atlanta, returns to the podcast to discuss his vision for intentional communities where elders can age well — but not because they’re designed exclusively for older adults, but for people of all ages to stay active, stay connected, and stay engaged with day-to-day life. If you miss…

1
Determined to Spread Design Equity in Eldercare and Beyond 51:59

10M ago51:59

51:59

nequities in eldercare affect not just the quality of services but the physical spaces themselves: Far too many operators, policymakers, and investors believe that people receiving Medicaid-funded services simply deserve lower-quality, older, more institutional buildings to call home. Kia Weatherspoon, the founder and president of Determined by Des…

1
Creating Person-Directed Alternatives to Guardianship 44:38

10M ago44:38

44:38

As the proportion of older Americans grows, so too will the ranks of “solo agers” – people navigating the aging process without children or other relatives. And for elders who need extra assistance in making major decisions around housing and finances, solo aging may lead to legal guardianship and outcomes that don’t align with their values, prefer…

1
Meet the Nursing Leaders Building the Next Generation of Eldercare 1:00:56

10M ago1:00:56

1:00:56

In honor of National Nurses’ Week, we’re sitting down with Dr. Donna Fick – director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State University – and three of her Ph.D. student-researchers, Thakshila Dasanayake, Olivia Rubio, and Nahida Akter. While their backgrounds and upbringing couldn’t be more different, these nursing leaders are b…

1
Inside the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center 38:30

11M ago38:30

38:30

Workforce development remains the number-one issue for eldercare providers of all types, and this week, we’re taking you inside a comprehensive, nationwide effort to build the care force of tomorrow. Laura Thorn, director of the Direct Care Workforce Strategies Center, joins the podcast to discuss this vital project from the Administration for Comm…

1
Lessons from a Lifetime of Advocacy 54:50

11M ago54:50

54:50

From a very young age, Paddy Moore learned the value of speaking her mind and advocating for those facing discrimination and exclusion, and she turned those lessons into a lifetime of fighting for others – whether it was creating anti-poverty programs under the federal Office of Economic Opportunity, working to de-institutionalize care for people l…

1
Improving Nursing Home Care with Transparent Data 39:51

11M ago39:51

39:51

You can’t fix what you can’t measure, and for too many years, advocates and officials have attempted to reform the nursing home system without an accurate accounting of multiple metrics – including the flow of money and the track records of owners. CFI strategic advisor Anne Montgomery joins the podcast to discuss her efforts to bring greater trans…

1
Opening Creative Doors for People Living in LTC 52:51

11M ago52:51

52:51

When Jennilie Brewster first started inquiring about volunteering at the Coler nursing campus on New York City’s Roosevelt Island, she never imagined that her work with the residents would have a national impact. Brewster – a writer, painter, and film producer – joins the podcast to discuss her work with OPEN DOORS NYC and the Reality Poets, a grou…

1
Balancing Risk, Responsibility, and Reward with Aging Tech: Part II 58:48

12M ago58:48

58:48

The topic of responsibly integrating technology into eldercare communities is so rich and complex that we needed two episodes with Joe Velderman, vice president of innovation at Cypress Living in Fort Myers, Fla. to capture it all. Velderman returns to dive into the specific tech solutions that his organization has adopted across its life plan comm…

1
Tackling Diversity and Inclusion on All Fronts 52:36

12M ago52:36

52:36

Marvell Adams, Jr. not only talks the talk when it comes to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in eldercare – he walks the walk, holding multiple roles across the eldercare spectrum where he brings people of all ages, races, socioeconomic backgrounds, and points of view together to move the sector forward. Adams, who serves on the Center fo…

1
Equipping Solo Agers for Success 56:11

12M ago56:11

56:11

Reminiscent of the ageist discourse around the “silver tsunami,” the concept of people aging without the support of children or a spouse – once referred to as “elder orphans” – is far too often discussed as a problem, and not a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a new phase of life with friends, neighbors, and other people who bring us joy. Sara Geber …

1
Building New Frameworks to Tackle Racial Inequality in Eldercare 53:28

1y ago53:28

53:28

The idea that structural racism has a direct impact on all facets of American life – including the experiences of elders in care settings – shouldn’t be a controversial statement in 2024, but far too often, the question of equity and race-conscious policymaking gets wrapped up into a broader political discourse. Shekinah Fashaw-Walters, an assistan…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Pioneernetwork Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide