Roundtable Talk

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Bridget Weston, CEO of SCORE, a nonprofit dedicated to mentoring and educating small business owners. Bridget has spent more than 16 years helping lead SCORE’s mission, which has long relied on the expertise of retired and older mentors who bring decades of business experience to the entrepreneurs they serve.

Derek and Bridget discuss how SCORE pairs seasoned professionals with younger entrepreneurs, how older mentors stay engaged and purposeful through volunteering and the role of encore entrepreneurs (age 55+) in starting new ventures.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we're joined by Laurie Orlov, a leading expert in aging and technology. As the founder of Aging and Health Technology Watch, Laurie leverages her extensive experience in IT and personal caregiving challenges to offer insights into how technological innovations can enhance the lives of older adults.

In our conversation, Laurie shares her journey to becoming a thought leader in age-related technology. Laurie also discusses the transformative potential of AI in senior care, advocating for proactive technological solutions and greater inclusivity of older adults in product design processes.

As the co-founder of the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) and founder of Nexus Insights, Bob Kramer has been called a “disruptive force” in the field, always challenging us to think differently about aging, housing and care.

In the newest episode of Roundtable Talk, Bob challenges the prevailing negative perceptions of aging, describing ageism as a prejudice against our future selves. He also highlights the significant, yet overlooked, potential of older adults in the workforce and addresses the epidemic of loneliness.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Barbara Sullivan, National Director of the Village to Village Network. With a background in long-term care and nonprofit leadership, Barbara has been a key force behind the village movement, which helps older adults age in place with community support.

Derek and Barbara discuss how villages serve the “missing middle,” the vital role of volunteers, and creative partnerships with senior living, healthcare, and faith-based groups. Barbara also shares how villages combat social isolation and her vision to expand the movement

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Marvell Adams, Jr., a longtime leader in aging services and the founder of W. Lawson, a consulting firm focused on equity and inclusion. He also serves as CEO of Caregiver Action Network, supporting millions of unpaid family caregivers across the country.

Marvell shares how the Longevity and Inclusion Alliance Fellows Program helps leaders embed belonging into aging services. He also discusses the emotional realities of caregiving, the importance of succession planning, and why the future of senior living must be more inclusive, intergenerational, and community-connected.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Dr. Linda Fried, a world-renowned geriatrician, public health expert, and Dean of Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. A pioneer in the science of healthy aging and frailty, Dr. Fried has dedicated her career to understanding how we can build systems and communities that support longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives.

Derek and Dr. Fried explore the medical realities of frailty, why physical activity is the best prevention strategy, and how public health systems must evolve to meet the needs of an aging population.

On this episode of Roundtable Talk, Dr. Tom Kamber, founder of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet, shares how he's helping older adults thrive through digital connection, education, and empowerment.

He discusses the evolution of OATS, the power of community-centered tech education, and how tools like smart homes, AI, and telehealth are reshaping what it means to age well in the digital era.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Dr. Louise Aronson, a nationally recognized geriatrician, educator, and the bestselling author of Elderhood. As a professor of medicine at UCSF and a leading voice in aging and eldercare, Dr. Aronson challenges cultural and medical assumptions about growing older and advocates for a more nuanced, inclusive view of elderhood.

Derek and Dr. Aronson discuss why aging should be seen as a diverse, decades-long life stage. She highlights the impact of ageism in healthcare, the value of intergenerational programs, and the need for better training and broader reforms to help older adults live fully.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Andrew Carle, a nationally recognized expert in senior living and the founder of UniversityRetirementCommunities.com. With more than three decades in the field, Andrew has served as a senior living executive, educator, and consultant. Today, he continues to lead innovation as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.

In his conversation with Roundtable Talk host Derek Dunham, Andrew shares how university retirement communities (URCs) are reshaping the future of aging. He also breaks down his five-point framework for successful URCs and his theory that URCs could even slow or reverse aspects of aging by tapping into powerful college-era memories.

On this episode of Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, we sit down with Larry Carlson, retired president and CEO of United Methodist Communities. With over 45 years of experience in senior living, Larry is known for pioneering person-directed care, integrating cutting-edge technology, and reimagining dementia care.

Derek and Larry explore the evolution of senior living, how AI and tech tools have transformed operations and improved staff workflows and why the industry must embrace innovation or risk falling behind.