Aspire for More with Erin

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 and reduce agitation—Allyson brings both heart and strategy.

This episode explores:

• How trauma and curiosity can birth impactful solutions
• Why traditional staff training misses the mark—and how to fix it
• How modeling and pre-framing transform caregiving outcomes
• Cultural awareness and the need to individualize training
• Zinnia TV’s power to soothe, connect, and empower

Whether you’re a senior living leader, family caregiver, or simply someone who believes in person-centered care—this episode will shift how you think about training, communication, and compassion.

🎥 Learn more about Zinnia TV: zinniatv.com

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

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 goal
• What consistency in podcasting taught Erin about consistency in leadership
• How to lead your community like you’re playing the long game,  with intentional action, not reactive hustle
• The mindset shift that turns discouragement into momentum
• How to define success by what you build in yourself, not just your census

 Key Quote

“I thought 100% occupancy was the win, but it was really about becoming the kind of leader who creates it, not chases it.”

Whether you’re at the beginning of your leadership journey or stuck in the messy middle, this episode is a powerful reminder that consistency, aligned with purpose, is the compound interest of leadership.

Show up. Build trust. Stay the course. Let’s go.

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

Send me your feedback on this episode!

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

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 have a chance to shine.

Together, they unpack:

✅ Why “sink or swim” doesn’t work in today’s complex leadership roles
 ✅ What mentorship actually looks like when done right
✅ How to create growth environments with grace for new leaders
✅ The power of emotional intelligence in retaining talent
✅ How operators and companies can rethink onboarding, support, and development

If you’ve ever asked:
 🔹 “Why do we keep losing great leaders?”
 🔹 “How do I support a struggling ED without taking over?”
 🔹 “Where do mentorship and margin intersect?”

Then this episode is for you.

Whether you’re a senior living operator, mentor, aspiring leader, or passionate advocate for this field — this conversation will challenge your assumptions and inspire change.

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

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, when to grow, and when to walk away wisely.

 Key Takeaways:

• The 4 Emotional Phases of senior living leadership (and where you are now)
• How the messy middle can make or break your career
• The difference between quitting for relief and quitting for strategy
• 3 clarity questions to ask before you quit
• Why finishing is rarer, and more rewarding, than starting

 Connect with Erin:
Ready to get the support you need to grow through the dip? Connect with Erin at Aspire For More with Erin or visit The Mentoring Company.

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

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 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 growth environment. 

Key concepts include the emotional bank account, the power of encouragement, and the importance of self-investment. 

The final part of the episode outlines the RISE framework in detail, providing practical strategies for leaders to build strong relationships, inspire their teams, implement strategic thinking, and empower others to take ownership. 

The episode concludes with a call to action for leaders to evaluate which pillar of the RISE framework they need to focus on to improve their leadership impact.

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast
00:34 From Control-Based to Influence-Based Leadership
03:37 The Emotional Bank Account Concept
10:24 The RISE Framework: An Overview
11:02 Building Relationships: The First Pillar
19:59 Inspiration: The Second Pillar
25:53 Strategy: The Third Pillar
28:57 Empowerment: The Fourth Pillar
35:35 Conclusion and Call to Action

Join my email list here: https://aspireformore.myflodesk.com/aspireformoreforyou

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

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 practical tips, including creating an effective tier system for task management and emphasizing basic training and clarity within leadership roles. The conversation aims to equip leaders with the mindset and tools to create a sustainable and effective work environment, ultimately enhancing both personal and team performance.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
00:38 Guest Introduction: Melinda Schultice
01:40 Realizing Assumptions in Leadership
04:23 Creating a Culture of Empowerment
05:56 The Importance of Psychological Safety
08:13 Personal Leadership Journeys
23:19 Prioritizing Tasks: Tiers of Work
33:00 Final Thoughts and Advice for Leaders
35:38 Conclusion and Contact Information

Here is the link to the New ED's Playbook Course: https://growyoursalesskills.thinkific.com/courses/the-new-eds-playbook-creating-an-impactful-community-culture

Here is Malinda Shultice's LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malinda-shultice-dhs-mpa-lnha-43225052/

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

Send me your feedback on this episode!

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

Send me your feedback on this episode!

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.

Send me your feedback on this episode!

Championing PACE: Comprehensive Care for the Elderly with Donna Wilhelm

In this episode, Erin reconnects with Donna Wilhelm, Vice President for Advocacy and Government Relations for Trinity Health Continuing Care, to discuss the impactful PACE (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) program. Donna shares insights about her career shift into senior living services, her role in the PACE initiative, and the comprehensive support it offers for seniors and their caregivers, from medical care to everyday necessities like air conditioners and laundry. The conversation also covers the political challenges PACE faces, including the necessity to advocate for federal and state support to ensure its sustainability and expansion. Both Erin and Donna emphasize the critical need for programs like PACE to become mandatory, amid the growing demand for senior care solutions.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:38 Donna Wilhelm's Role and Background
01:55 Overview of the PACE Program
02:28 Eligibility and Services of PACE
03:18 Financial Aspects and Risk Management
05:17 Real-Life Examples and Impact
06:46 Interdisciplinary Team and Care Approach
08:22 Expansion and Advocacy for PACE
15:53 Caregiver Support and Holistic Care
18:52 Dementia Care in PACE
20:37 Managing Expenses and Medicare Coverage
21:34 Political Implications and Advocacy
23:23 Medicaid Funding Challenges
25:27 Potential Cuts and Their Impact
27:22 The Importance of PACE
35:16 Scalability and Future of PACE
36:59 Conclusion and Call to Action

Learn more about the 100% Leader here 

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 experience in your senior living career.