Claim OwnershipAspire for More with Erin
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This podcast is designed to mentor, motivate and create momentum to support the Executive Directors in the senior living industry. The Executive Director role is one of the hardest roles to succeed in due to the constant demands of the expectations from residents, families, home (corporate) office and associates. It is the goal of the host, Erin Thompson, to create an interactive environment that allows active support and mentoring in the same place consistently. A safe and neutral space where the silly questions, the hard and emotional questions can be asked without fear.
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Send me your feedback on this episode! Transitions are where leadership is most visible, and most vulnerable. In this episode, Erin shares her most personal stories and leadership strategies for guiding families, residents, and teams through the emotional, unpredictable, and critical moments of change. You’ll learn: The TRUE framework for leading transitions with compassionWhy the last impression matters more than the firstHow unmet expectations—not clinical failures—drive most litigationWhat...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this deeply personal episode of Aspire for More with Erin, Erin shares a raw reflection on her upcoming keynote and the lessons that built it. She unpacks how trauma, avoidance, and over-functioning quietly shape leadership—and how facing our discomfort is the real path to growth. You’ll hear: Why 34% of the senior living workforce carries trauma that impacts communication and performance.How avoidance and over-functioning masquerade as productivity.W...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Speak Like a Visionary Leader: 5 Communication Shifts That Change Everything Description: Communication isn’t just how you talk—it’s how you lead, build trust, and influence every room you walk into. In this solo episode, Erin breaks down 5 powerful communication shifts that will help you speak like a visionary, not just a manager. Whether you're leading a morning stand-up or navigating a tough HR conversation, these tools will elevate your clarity, con...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Most leaders think they have a content problem. In reality, they have a communication problem. In this episode of Aspire for More with Erin, I sit down with Eva Daniel — founder of The Speak Shop, former speechwriter for Dave Ramsey, and one of the Top 20 Communication Experts in the U.S. — to unpack the power of words, storytelling, and clarity in leadership. Eva believes communication isn’t a “soft skill.” It’s the leadership skill that determines whet...
Send me your feedback on this episode! What do you do when the door doesn’t open—despite your credentials, your connections, and your calling? You build your own. In this powerful episode, Erin sits down with Norman Harris Jr., healthcare leader, podcast host, and founder of CMC Media & Advocacy. Together, they explore what it means to lead without permission, trust your purpose, and stay the course—even when the industry overlooks you. Norman shares his journey from being a trusted voice...
Send me your feedback on this episode! New ED's Playbook to Creating and IMpactful Community Cultrue Connect with me on LinkedIn Follow me on Facebook where I educate, equip and empower family members how to proactively care for their elderly loved ones. Follow me on Instagram where I educate, equip and empower family members how to proactively care for their elderly loved ones. Join my email list where I will lift you up, and send tactile advice weekly to support you to grow your exper...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Most people talk about culture like it’s a project. But as Kate Bertram, former CEO and author of Creating Stickiness, reminds us, culture isn’t the initiative. It’s the result. In this episode of Aspire For More with Erin, Kate and I dig deep into the truths leaders often overlook: Why culture shows up most clearly on a Tuesday afternoon in the middle of stressThe role of shadow culture—and how unspoken norms can undermine your best intentionsWhy perks,...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Episode Summary: Hiring in senior living is more than filling a position—it’s about protecting culture, improving retention, and attracting people who want to stay. In this episode, I sit down with Dana Weaver, CEO of Weaver Solutions, to unpack the CARE Framework—a practical, people-centered approach to interviewing that reduces turnover and raises the bar for leadership. We explore why interviews are often overlooked, how your energy shapes the outcom...
Send me your feedback on this episode! What if failure isn’t something to fear—but something to use? In this episode of Aspire For More with Erin, we unpack one of the hardest truths of leadership: you will fail. But failure doesn’t have to define you. In fact, it can refine you. Erin introduces the FAIL → GAIN Framework and shares personal stories, practical leadership lessons, and the mindset shifts that can transform mistakes into momentum. You’ll learn: Why assumptions are the fastest way...
Send me your feedback on this episode! What if your greatest setback was the seed of your greatest comeback? In this episode, Erin gets real about what failure actually means—and why it's often the doorway to the growth we crave most. From leading a senior living community to 100% occupancy just months after COVID, to being fired to , Erin shares her personal story of transformation, breaking down how mistakes, when reflected on intentionally, become our most powerful leadership assets. Erin ...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Perception can make or break senior living. Filmmaker and storyteller Peter Murphy Lewis is here to flip the script — and put caregivers at the heart of the story. In this episode, we unpack the making of People Worth Caring About, the groundbreaking documentary shining a light on the passion, grit, and humanity of long-term care teams. You’ll hear why authentic, imperfect storytelling connects deeper than polished marketing, and how leaders can use it t...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Behind the polished lobby and the corporate metrics is a world of constant pressure, emotional resilience, and the unspoken challenges that senior living leaders face every single day. In this powerful conversation, Erin sits down with Kent Mulkey, Founder of Elevation Coaching and Membership Sales Executive for One-on-One Sales Academy, whose viral LinkedIn posts have resonated with tens of thousands in the senior living industry. Together, they pull ba...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this episode of Aspire for More with Erin, we’re diving deep into the future of dementia education and staff training with two powerhouse guests: Dr. Jennifer Stelter, Founder & CEO of the Dementia Connection Institute Natalie Kravitz, Director of Engagement Operations at Activity Connection and Dementia Connection Institute Ambassador Together, they explore what’s broken in today’s dementia education—and how it can be transformed. Y...
Send me your feedback on this episode! Episode Summary: What if the key to better dementia care isn’t more complexity—but more simplicity? In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Erin sits down with Allyson Schrier, founder of Zinnia TV, to discuss how personal experience, curiosity, and innovation led to a tool that's transforming dementia education. From caregiving for her husband with frontotemporal dementia to developing a video platform that helps caregivers model daily activities ...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this milestone episode, Erin reflects on what it really means to show up consistently — as a podcaster, a leader, and a community builder. After 100 episodes, she’s learned that the pursuit of success is rarely about one big moment, it’s about the quiet, steady rhythm of doing the right things over and over again. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why 100% occupancy is a byproduct, not the goalWhat consistency in podcasting taught Erin about consis...
Send me your feedback on this episode! New ED's Playbook to Creating and IMpactful Community Cultrue Connect with me on LinkedIn Follow me on Facebook where I educate, equip and empower family members how to proactively care for their elderly loved ones. Follow me on Instagram where I educate, equip and empower family members how to proactively care for their elderly loved ones. Join my email list where I will lift you up, and send tactile advice weekly to support you to grow your exper...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this episode of Aspire for More with Erin, we dive deep into one of the most urgent challenges facing the senior living industry: the retention crisis among Executive Directors and administrators. Erin is joined by Blair Quasnitschka, a seasoned senior living leader and board member of the American College of Health Care Administrators (ACHCA), for a real and refreshing conversation about how we can stop burning out our brightest leaders before they h...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this solo episode, Erin breaks down the real reason most senior living leaders quit too soon, and how to tell if you’re facing a Dip, a Cliff, or a Cul-de-Sac (inspired by Seth Godin’s The Dip). She shares the 4 Emotional Phases every Executive Director goes through, the mindset traps that keep you stuck, and 3 powerful questions to ask before you hand in your resignation. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underappreciated, or ready to run, this conver...
Send me your feedback on this episode! R.I.S.E. a Framework for Leadership in the Modern Era In this podcast episode designed for leaders seeking mentoring and motivation, the focus is on transitioning from control-based leadership to influence-based leadership. Erin introduces the RISE framework, which stands for Relationships, Inspiration, Strategy, and Empowerment. The episode covers how control-based leadership, which relies on authority and fear, fails in modern environments. It d...
Send me your feedback on this episode! In this episode of the Aspire for More with Erin podcast, Erin and guest Malinda Schulte, professor and founder of Ms. Healthcare Consulting, discuss strategies to help leaders in senior living avoid burnout and empower their teams. They explore the importance of not assuming others share the same knowledge, categorizing tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed, and fostering a psychologically safe environment. Malinda shares her personal journey and p...
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