Tech, Tales, and the Power of Connection Through Storytelling
Release Date: 11/05/2025
Harmony and Hope: Inside the Second Verse Choir, with Anne Rigley and Kris Boggs
Elevate Eldercare
Music isn’t just an activity; it’s a powerful tool for connection, dignity, and redefining what’s possible for people living with dementia. This has been proven by Second Verse Choir, a community choir created for people living with dementia and their care partners, and the subject of this week’s episode. AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Second Verse Co-Founders Anne Rigley and Kris Boggs to discuss their impetus for creating the choir and how it has grown from a small group of 13 into a thriving choir of 20 members who meet weekly and perform for the community. Anne’s...
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A Human Rights Approach to Dementia Care, with Jennifer Carson, PhD, and Allen Power, MD
Elevate Eldercare
In this episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan interviews two of the top experts in dementia, Jennifer Carson, PhD, and Al Power, MD. Together, they examine some of the most entrenched and damaging practices in dementia care and what can be done to eliminate them. Drawing from clinical experience, research, and personal caregiving journeys, they unpack how the overuse of antipsychotics often mask deeper systemic failures, from under-resourced environments to inadequate training. Dr. Carson highlights the serious risks, including increased mortality, while Der....
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A Bit About Vision Loss With Kelly Tremblay, PhD
Elevate Eldercare
In this episode of Brain Bytes, host Kelly Tremblay, PhD, neuroscientist and hearing and brain health expert, examines the truth about screen time and eye health—what it does and doesn’t do to your vision. She explains why digital devices won’t permanently damage the eyes, but can still cause real discomfort in the short term. The conversation expands into aging and vision loss, challenging the common belief that serious eye conditions are inevitable. Dr. Kelly highlights how lifestyle, health, and early intervention play a critical role in protecting vision over...
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From Activism to Innovation: The Story of OATs, with Tom Kamber
Elevate Eldercare
This week on Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Tom Kamber, founder of Older Adults Technology Services (OATS) and Senior Planet, to explore how technology can empower older adults. Tom shares his journey from a young activist inspired by his father’s library to a national leader in digital inclusion. After 9/11, he shifted his focus toward technology as a tool for social change—sparked by a transformative experience with an 80-year-old woman named Pearl learning to use tech for the first time. From humble beginnings teaching classes in senior...
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Ethical AI in Eldercare, with Mohammad Mahoor, Phd
Elevate Eldercare
This week’s episode features Mohammad Mahoor, professor of computer science at the University of Denver, where he leads research in artificial intelligence, computer vision, and social robotics. AgingIN CEO sits down with Mohammad to explore how artificial intelligence can support emotional well-being and cognitive health in aging. With a unique background spanning computer science, biomedical engineering, and psychology, Mohammad shares how his early work with children with autism evolved into a focus on addressing loneliness, social isolation, and early-stage dementia in older adults.A...
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Rewiring Brain Health: From Memory Care to Neuro Wellness, with Sue Paul
Elevate Eldercare
Sue Paul, an occupational therapist with more than 35 years of experience, joins AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan to share her journey reimagining dementia care through the lens of brain health. Reflecting on a time when Alzheimer’s care was often institutional and limiting, Sue, who is senior director of well being and brain health for Asbury Communities, developed a more proactive, person-centered framework focused on prevention, dignity, and understanding the trajectory of cognitive change. Her work has evolved into a strong emphasis on...
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Listening and Learning as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Elevate Eldercare
In this week’s episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Beverly Gianna, who recently became a long-term care ombudsman after a three-decade career with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, now known as New Orleans & Company. Having earned at least three master’s degrees—one from the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology— Beverly has become a passionate advocate for nursing home residents. Her fascinating story takes listeners...
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A Bit About Hearing Loss and the Brain with Kelly Tremblay, PhD
Elevate Eldercare
In this episode of Brain Bytes, host Kelly Tremblay, PhD, neuroscientist and hearing and brain health expert, explores the powerful—and often overlooked—connection between hearing and the brain. In recognition of World Hearing Day on March 3, Dr. Kelly sheds light on why hearing health is critical to overall well-being, especially for older adults. ...
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Data-Driven Change in Seniors Housing with Lisa McCracken
Elevate Eldercare
In this week’s episode, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with industry leader Lisa McCracken to explore how data, innovation, and bold thinking are reshaping the future of eldercare. With more than 26 years of experience spanning Holleran, Ziegler, and now the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, Lisa shares how research and analytics can drive access, affordability, and meaningful choice for older adults. From the growing urgency of serving the “forgotten middle” to the promise (and noise) of AI, this conversation offers a candid,...
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Rethinking Affordable Housing for Older Adults with Amy Schectman
Elevate Eldercare
In this week’s episode AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan sits down with Amy Schectman, CEO of 2Life Communities, to explore how affordable housing, community connection, and supportive services can transform the experience of aging. She shares insights into how innovative housing models are helping older adults thrive while remaining connected to their communities....
info_outlineIn the realm of storytelling in the senior living field, few come close to what Jack York has done in his decades-long career as a tech entrepreneur and now professional storyteller.
In this episode of Elevate Eldercare, AgingIN CEO Susan Ryan welcomes Jack, founder of iN2L and co-founder of Talegate, whose journey from Silicon Valley to the world of eldercare has inspired an industry-wide shift toward recognizing the power of stories and how they foster meaning and connection.
In addition to reflecting on his early struggle as a tech founder, Jack shares the pivotal experiences that shaped his life’s work. Through his latest venture, Talegate, Jack describes the Vintage Voices 100 Tour, an initiative that has culminated in recorded interviews of nearly 150 centenarians.
Jack also discusses the profound intergenerational potential of this work—how connecting high school students with elders to record and share their stories can deepen empathy, preserve history, and change how society views aging.
More about Talegate here: https://talegate4joy.com/