Sarah Crowder’s leadership journey is a masterclass in growth, courage, and authenticity. From speech therapist to Director of Clinical Services, Sarah shares what it was like stepping into the roles of highly respected leaders and learning that success doesn’t come from being just like them, it comes from being the best version of yourself. 

In this episode, Sarah opens up about leading through fear, embracing feedback, and navigating the challenges of moving from peer to leader. She discusses why curiosity has been one of her greatest leadership strengths, how vulnerability builds trust, and why the best leaders never stop learning. 

You’ll also hear powerful insights on building team buy-in, creating a culture of continuous growth, and helping people connect to a larger vision. Sarah’s message is simple but impactful: stay curious, stay coachable, and keep climbing, because the real growth happens along the journey. 

Hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan sit down with Tobias, Executive Director, and Adriana, Director of Clinical Services, from Emblem Hospice Tucson for an honest and inspiring conversation about the realities of leadership. Their journey is anything but linear—marked by moments of major success, periods of significant financial hardship, and ultimately culminating in earning the Phoenix Award.

 In this episode, Tobias and Adriana reflect on the highs and lows that have shaped their leadership approach, offering a candid look at what it takes to persevere through uncertainty and challenge. They share how their growth has been driven by the influence of peer leaders, a willingness to learn through trial and error, and a deep well of grit and passion.

Their story is a powerful reminder that resilience and adaptability are at the heart of meaningful leadership.

In this powerful episode of Believe. Behave. Become., the team sits down with renowned mountaineer, adventurer, and latest keynote speaker, Jeff Evans live from the 2026 Pennant Group Leadership Summit.

Jeff reflects on why Pennant’s culture stood out to him as a rare “outlier” in corporate leadership, praising the organization’s cluster model and peer-to-peer accountability approach as something deeply unique and powerful. Together, the group unpacks how great leaders create environments where people feel trusted, challenged, and empowered to grow.

Drawing from years of guiding climbers through some of the world’s most dangerous mountains, Jeff shares profound leadership lessons on trust, peer accountability, resilience, humility, and what it truly means to climb together. Through stories from Everest, Denali, and high-stakes expeditions, the conversation explores how the strongest teams are built—not through hierarchy or ego—but through shared ownership, preparation, compassion, and commitment to one another.

In this episode of Believe. Behave. Become., we sit down with Sarah Nigro, Senior Vice President of Partnerships at BetterRx, alongside John Gochnour, to explore what it truly means to ascend together through purpose-driven partnership.

Recorded live at the Pennant Group Annual Meeting, this conversation dives into the evolving relationship between The Pennant Group and BetterRx—one built not on transactions, but on trust, shared goals, and a commitment to delivering life-changing care.

Sarah shares her deeply personal journey into post-acute care, revealing how experiencing hospice firsthand reshaped her purpose and ignited a passion for improving the end-of-life experience for patients and families. From that foundation, the discussion expands into leadership—how great leaders anchor in their “why,” lead with empathy, and empower others to grow.

Together, the group explores the future of healthcare partnerships, the role of innovation and data integration in improving outcomes, and the urgent need to educate communities about hospice care. At its core, this episode is about more than strategy—it’s about people, purpose, and building relationships that elevate care and leadership at every level.

Key Takeaways:

• Purpose Fuels Leadership
• Partnership > Vendor Relationships
• Leadership is Rooted in Empathy
• Technology Should Enable Care, Not Complicate It
• The Future Requires Connected Systems
• Great Organizations Stay Humble and Hungry

This episode explores the real journey of leadership—not as a title or achievement, but as a continuous climb. Through the lens of rapid growth and new leadership responsibility, the conversation with Jared Green unpacks what it truly means to “earn your rope” every day.

From building a strong first team to uncovering the deeper “why” that drives individuals, this discussion highlights the foundational elements that turn struggling teams into thriving ones. It challenges leaders to move beyond surface-level conversations, lean into vulnerability, and create environments where trust and authenticity can take root.

The episode also reinforces a powerful truth: sustainable leadership starts with personal discipline. Physical health, mental resilience, and intentional habits aren’t side notes—they’re essential to leading well.

At its core, this conversation is about ascent—not reaching the summit, but embracing the ongoing climb. Because the best leaders don’t arrive… they keep climbing.

Key takeaways:

• Leadership is earned daily - not given once
• Your first team is everything
• Great leaders start with "Why"
• Vulnerability drives real team growth
• You can't lead well if you're not well

In a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, the future of home health and hospice will be defined by one thing: partnership. In this episode, we sit down with Si L. Luo, CEO of CareXM, to explore how leaders are reimagining care in the home—moving from reactive service to proactive, coordinated, and deeply human-centered experiences.

Together, we unpack how partnerships between providers and innovators like CareXM are expanding clinical capacity, transforming after-hours care, and unlocking powerful data insights that improve outcomes. From workforce challenges to the shift toward proactive patient engagement, this conversation highlights what it means to lead at the forefront of home-based care—and how the right partnerships help us all climb higher.

Key takeaways:

• The future of home-based care is built on partnership
• Leadership must shift from reactive to proactive care
• After-hours care is a hidden opportunity
• Data turns patient interactions into actionable insight
• Leadership is the ultimate differentiator

aIn this episode, we sit down with Dr. Derrel Walker, Chief Medical Officer at The Pennant Group, for a powerful conversation on what it truly means to lead as a physician in today’s complex healthcare environment.
From his early experiences in hospital medicine to shaping innovative care models, Dr. Walker shares how compassion, communication, and leadership—not just clinical expertise—are the keys to transforming patient outcomes.
Key takeaways:

• Why Physician Leadership Matters More Than Ever
  
• The Power of Hard Conversations
  
• The Broken Care Continuum (and How to Fix It)
  
• Rethinking Care Delivery
  
• “Bullets Before Cannonballs” Strategy
  
• Leadership Principles for Physicians
  
• Growth Through Feedback

Great healthcare isn’t just about treating illness—it’s about guiding people through their most vulnerable moments with clarity, compassion, and connection. 
And great physician leaders aren’t defined by what they know—but by how they lead, listen, and grow.

What if the key to better performance, stronger culture, and deeper trust wasn’t another leadership tactic—but how fair your team feels you are?

In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become, Rich and Elliot sit down with Tella, Executive Director at Symbii Home Health and Hospice - Utah County, to explore one of the most overlooked (and powerful) leadership frameworks: organizational justice.

From bringing her full self to work—including birds in the office—to building high-performing teams rooted in trust. Tella shares how authenticity, empathy, and fairness combine to create cultures where people thrive.

This isn’t theory. It’s leadership you can apply immediately.

Key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity Builds Trust Faster Than Perfection
2. Organizational Justice = The Foundation of Culture
3. “Yes, And” is a Leadership Skill
4. Fixing Mistakes Builds More Trust Than Avoiding Them
5. Beware of Ruinous Empathy
6. Clarity > Comfort in Tough Conversations
7. Stop Saying This Phrase Immediately "Let me know if there’s anything I can do…"

What does it look like to lead when the stakes are high and the answers aren’t clear? In this episode of Believe Behave Become, we sit down with Dr. Lauren Templeton, nationally recognized hospice physician and educator, to explore how humility, preparation, and active listening shape exceptional leadership. Dr. Templeton shares her unexpected journey into hospice care, her passion for hard conversations, and why leaders don’t need to have all the answers to be effective.

From navigating emotionally charged situations to leading through uncertainty, this conversation highlights how education and connection empower leaders to show up with confidence, compassion, and credibility.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why listening first is one of the most powerful leadership skills
• How humility builds trust and strengthens leadership presence
• The role preparation plays in navigating hard conversations
• Why leaders don’t need all the answers, but do need the right questions
• How education and clarity create confidence for teams and clinicians
• What COVID taught us about vulnerability, leadership, and connection
• How ownership includes both accountability and humility
• Why embracing the full human experience, including laughter, makes leaders more effective

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In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become, Travis Jones shares his leadership journey from physical therapy to healthcare administration and how the principle of “First Who, Then What” shaped his approach to building strong teams and thriving cultures. Travis reflects on lessons learned, the importance of finding the right people, and practical strategies like peer interviews that create lasting impact. He also discusses why slowing down the hiring process and leveraging internal networks can transform organizational success.

What You’ll Learn:

• How “First Who, Then What” is the foundation of great leadership
• The difference between building the right team and the wrong team
• How your best people bring your next best people
• Why peer interviews create buy-in and stronger onboarding
• Strategies for slowing down the hiring process to get it right

Whether you’re a new leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation offers actionable insights on building trust, fostering growth, and creating a culture where people thrive.

Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts02:18 Travis Jones’ Professional Journey05:42 Discovering Pennant and Transitioning to Leadership09:15 What “First Who, Then What” Really Means14:32 Why the Right People Matter More Than Strategy18:50 Finding Leaders in Your Community and Internal Network23:40 Peer Interviews The Overlooked Hiring Practice29:12 Slowing Down the Hiring Process for Better Results34:55 Building a Tribe and Creating Buy-In40:20 Lessons from Kinder Hearts and Team Culture47:18 One Last Thing Advice for New Leaders52:00 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations

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