Shows
Aspire for More with ErinHow to Build Leadership Capacity So Pressure Stops Running YouSend me your feedback on this episode!If leadership feels heavier than it used to—if you can’t slow down, can’t say no, and feel like everything depends on you—this episode is for you.In this solo episode, Erin Thompson explores why capable leaders burn out not because they lack skill or commitment, but because responsibility has outgrown preparation. She introduces the concept of The Wing-It Window—the messy middle where leaders are expected to perform while they’re still learning—and explains why confidence isn’t the solution.Capacity is...
2026-01-2227 minAspire for More with ErinHow Great Leaders Turn Transitions into Long-Term ReferralsSend me your feedback on this episode!Transitions of care are some of the most emotionally charged moments in senior living — and they are where trust is either built or broken.In this episode, Erin is joined by regional long-term care business development leader Kaci to explore why transitions of care are not just operational or clinical challenges, but true leadership moments.Together, they unpack why senior living breaks down most often during transitions, how mismanaged emotions lead to fractured relationships, and why the way a family feels when they leave yo...
2026-01-1542 minAspire for More with ErinFailing Forward Isn’t Failing More, It’s Recovering Faster with Jacob BrownSend me your feedback on this episode!What if failure isn’t the problem — but how leaders respond to failure is?In this episode of Aspire for More with Erin, Erin sits down with Jacob Brown, former professional football player turned keynote speaker and author, to unpack what it really means to fail forward — and why fear-based leadership is quietly burning out capable leaders across industries.This conversation goes far beyond motivation. It’s about identity, recovery, and leadership capacity.Jacob shares his personal journey through...
2026-01-0844 minAspire for More with ErinHow to Stop Carrying Everyone's Problems (and Still Be a Great Leader)Send me your feedback on this episode!If you’ve ever felt the immediate urge to jump in, fix the problem, and make everything better — this episode is for you.In senior living leadership, the instinct to rescue is common. When someone comes to you overwhelmed or stressed, your body reacts before your brain does. Your chest tightens. Your heart races. You feel the pressure to act fast.That reaction isn’t leadership instinct — it’s anxiety.In this follow-up episode to The Questions That Build Leaders, Erin explores the skill underneath...
2025-12-1830 minAspire for More with ErinGratitude as a Growth Strategy: How Leaders RISE When They Learn to See What's WorkingSend me your feedback on this episode!In this powerful and deeply personal episode, Erin unpacks the hidden relationship between resentment, worthiness, emotional capacity, and gratitude. You’ll learn why hustling for validation keeps leaders stuck, why gratitude is NOT soft — it’s strategic — and how "stacking the evidence" can rewire your identity, rebuild your confidence, and protect you from burnout.If you've ever struggled to feel proud of what you’ve accomplished… or if you've been waiting for someone else to notice your work… this episode will shift something inside you.What You’ll Le...
2025-11-2034 min
Room for LovelyE142: Live It Out [Turning Words Into Witness]-- Heather Thompson DayHeather Thompson Day shares her journey from academia to ministry, emphasizing the importance of communication in faith. She discusses how Jesus modeled communication through questions, the power of personal stories in sharing faith, and the church's role in fostering community. Heather also addresses the challenges of navigating online divisions and encourages listeners to embrace uncertainty in their faith journey, ultimately highlighting the need for love and compassion in a polarized world.TakeawaysPersonal stories can bridge gaps and foster understanding in conversations about faith.Navigating online discourse requires discernment and a focus on real-life...
2025-11-1838 minAspire for More with ErinHow One Tech Tool Could Save Your Nurses, Reduce Risk, and Cost You $0Send me your feedback on this episode!Over 80% of state reportables in Alabama communities are due to falls—and they’re burning out your teams. In this powerful episode, Erin sits down with Joseph Ross of iWatch Live to uncover how their 24/7 live nurse monitoring system is revolutionizing resident safety without costing communities a dime.You’ll learn:Why fall-related incidents are the #1 claim in senior living—and how to prevent themWhat makes leaders resist technology—and how to overcome itHow this tech has extended resident length of stay by 3+ monthsWhat makes caregivers feel empowered...
2025-11-1332 min
Born to Talk Radio ShowErin ThompsonToday’s guest is Erin Thompson. Erin is the Chief Operating Officer at the Polk Institute Foundation.
Meet Erin.
Erin earned a Jurist Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School where she graduated as a member of Phi Delta Honors Society. She was President of the Entertainment Law Society and Treasurer of the Mediation and Arbitration Society. Erin also studied abroad with the South Western Law School in London. She has a Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Columbia College. She also spent time studying at Augustana College and American University. Erin was an adjunct pro...
2025-11-101h 00Aspire for More with ErinFierce and Gentle Leadership: How to Reclaim your energy Before it is Too Late w/Dr. Kimber Del ValleSend me your feedback on this episode!What if burnout isn’t failure—but feedback?In this deeply moving and practical conversation, Dr. Kimber Del Valle, psychologist, author, and creator of The Fierce + Gentle Method, joins Erin to explore how our nervous system shapes every aspect of leadership, energy, and resilience.Together, they unpack how chronic urgency, unhealed stress, and emotional triggers show up in our leadership—and how awareness, presence, and regulation can restore capacity and peace.From real-world examples in senior living and healthcare to Dr. Kimber’s powerful personal...
2025-10-3048 minAspire for More with ErinIt’s Not the First Impression, It’s the Lasting One That Builds a LegacySend 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 to say when you don’t have all the answersHow to equip your team to respond with empathy, not avoidanceWhether...
2025-10-2341 minAspire for More with ErinThe Invisible Tornado: How Avoidance and Awareness Shape LeadershipSend 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.Why “100%” is not a metric—it’s a mindset.The choice every leader faces: react or respond.T...
2025-10-1624 minAspire for More with ErinSpeak Like a Visionary LeaderSend me your feedback on this episode!Speak Like a Visionary Leader: 5 Communication Shifts That Change EverythingDescription: 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, confidence, and leadership impact.You’ll learn how to:Speak to lead...
2025-10-0938 minAspire for More with ErinThe Power of Pauses, Potato Chips and Purposeful WordsSend 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 whether your team trusts you, your message lands, and y...
2025-10-0243 min
Incredible Life Creator with Dr. Kimberley LinertFinding Fulfillment Through Social Entrepreneurship - Erin Thompson Ep 581Erin Thompson wears many hats; she's a community engagement manager for a non-profit law firm focused on housing and benefits law for the unstably housed and those navigating their way back to housing. Although she has a JD, she chose not to practice. Sometimes she's a business consultant, and at other times she's a professor of social entrepreneurship with Loyola Marymount University's MBA program and The Polk Institute Foundation. She's also a songwriter with Writing Sessions America (an online songwriting group) And sometimes she's an author, you can find a chapter she wrote within a book called: My Story...
2025-10-0144 minAspire for More with ErinStart Where You Are, Use what You Have, Lead Anyway w/Norman HarrisSend 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 in long-term care leadership to launching a nonpro...
2025-09-2545 minAspire for More with ErinCreating a Culture that Sticks w/Kate BertamSend 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, pay bumps, and pizz...
2025-09-1143 minAspire for More with ErinFail Forward: The Freedom FrameworkSend 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 to stall leadership...
2025-08-2841 minAspire for More with ErinFrom Failure to Unstoppable GrowthSend 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 introduces the concept of Return on Failure (R.O.F.) and explores how le...
2025-08-2138 minAspire for More with Erin11 Truths No One Tells You About Being an ED...with Kent MulkeySend 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 back the curtain on the truths no one tells you about leadership in senior living—truths that could sa...
2025-08-0742 minAspire for More with ErinRethinking Dementia Training: Tools, Mindset, and ROI That Actually WorkSend 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 AmbassadorTogether, they explore what’s broken in today’s dementia education—and how it can be transformed.You’ll learn:Why most dementia training fails to create real changeHow the Dementia...
2025-07-3142 minAspire for More with ErinSimple Tools Profound Impact: Reimagining Dementia Education with Allyson SchrierSend 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 and reduce agitation—Allyson brings both heart and strategy.This e...
2025-07-2448 minAspire for More with ErinWhat Gets You to 100, in Occupancy and in LifeSend 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 consistency in leadershipHow to lead your community like you’re playing...
2025-07-1746 min
Inspired Caring191. Senior Living Executive Director Leadership with Erin ThompsonSummary In this episode, Michele Magner interviews Erin Thompson, an experienced Executive Director in senior living, who shares her journey and insights into the complexities of caregiving, family dynamics, and the role of leadership in senior living communities. They discuss the emotional challenges faced by caregivers, the importance of communication between families and staff, and the financial realities of operating a senior living facility. Erin emphasizes the need for trust, understanding, and the value of adding quality to residents' lives, while also addressing the pressures and turnover in leadership roles. The conversation aims to bridge the gap between families...
2025-07-111h 02Inspired Caring191. Senior Living Executive Director Leadership with Erin ThompsonSummary In this episode, Michele Magner interviews Erin Thompson, an experienced Executive Director in senior living, who shares her journey and insights into the complexities of caregiving, family dynamics, and the role of leadership in senior living communities. They discuss the emotional challenges faced by caregivers, the importance of communication between families and staff, and the financial realities of operating a senior living facility. Erin emphasizes the need for trust, understanding, and the value of adding quality to residents' lives, while also addressing the pressures and turnover in leadership roles. The conversation aims to bridge the gap between families...
2025-07-111h 02
Connecting the Dots: Senior Living Success with Matt ReinersFrom Overwhelmed to Empowered: Using AI to Crush It as an Executive Director with Erin Thompson - Founder of Aspire for More with Erin & Co-Founder of The Mentoring CompanyToday, I’m hanging out with my friend Erin Thompson, founder of Aspire for More with Erin and co-founder of The Mentoring Company, and let me just say, this conversation brought it. We talk about how Executive Directors can move from feeling overwhelmed to truly empowered by using AI the right way without losing the human touch that makes senior living special.Erin shares her journey from volunteering in senior living at 19 to becoming an Executive Director, and now helping leaders build growth cultures while prioritizing what actually matters.We dive into:...
2025-07-0131 min
Glowing OlderEpisode 22:4 Erin Thompson on Transforming Senior Living Through LeadershipIn this episode of the Glowing Older podcast, host NancyGriffin interviews Erin Thompson, founder of Aspire for More and co-founder of The Mentoring Company. They discuss the importance of leadership in senior living, the challenges of navigating change in the industry, and the critical role of supporting caregivers. Aaron shares insights from his extensive experience in senior living, emphasizing the need for strong leadership to enhance resident experiences and the importance of personal growth for caregivers. The conversation also covers practical advice for families seeking the right senior living community and the emotional complexities involved in caregiving....
2025-06-2822 minAspire for More with ErinGrow the Leader, Save the Community with Blair QuasnitschkaSend 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 have a chance to shine.Together, they unpack:✅ Why “sink or swim...
2025-06-2645 minAspire for More with ErinHow Do You Know if You are Ready to Quit or Need to Grow?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 conversation will help you decide when to stay...
2025-06-1939 minAspire for More with ErinR.I.S.E. a Framework for Leadership in the Modern EraSend me your feedback on this episode!R.I.S.E. a Framework for Leadership in the Modern EraIn 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 discusses management-based leadership as an intermediary step, but emphasizes that influence-based leadership is the most effective way to empower teams and create a...
2025-06-1240 minAspire for More with ErinAssume Nothing... a conversation with Malinda ShulticeSend 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 practical tips, including creating an effective tier system for task management and emphasizing basic training and clarity within leadership r...
2025-06-0538 min
Your Gym Big Sister PodcastEp. 120 | Finding your identity outside of bodybuilding | Ft. Erin ThompsonWelcome back to the show! This week I am joined by Erin Thompson, an IFBB figure pro, coach, and host of the Take Up Space Podcast. I LOVED this chat and I know you guys will tooChapters00:00 Introduction to Erin Thompson and Her Journey02:54 The Impact of Moving Abroad on Personal Growth05:55 Cultural Differences: Abu Dhabi vs. Dubai08:56 Erin's Bodybuilding Journey: From Bikini to Figure Pro11:58 The Challenges of Competing in Bodybuilding14:47 The Dilemma of PED Use in...
2025-05-301h 03