Uplift Aging

Amanda is joined by Nathan Jones and Shelby Rayner of Dash Media (a LeadingAge Texas gold sponsor), a storytelling and social media agency working with aging services providers across the country.Nathan, a former college football coach, found his way into aging services after a sermon about "the dash" on a gravestone representing the life that is lived. Shelby built her career in senior living sales and went viral making videos with her grandmother, Nanny, before joining Dash.They share what it takes to tell these stories well and lessons they've learned from interviewing 1000+ people in aging services organizations.TakeawaysThe dash is the part you get to choose. The dates on either end are fixed. How you live in between is not.Storytelling is a system, not a project. Consistent, resident-led storytelling moves the needle on culture, leads, and workforce.The best content starts with dignity. The protagonist is always the resident or employee, not the organization.How someone feels after sharing their story matters as much as the story itself. Workforce starts with visibility. Many don't know these roles exist in aging services, and telling those stories is how the field grows.Special Links & ResourcesDash Media's websiteDash Media's socials:InstagramYouTubeFacebookLinkedInTikTokSenior Living Stories — the aggregator account Nathan started in 2017Shelby's book: Grandma's in the Phone!Two of Shelby's TikTok Videos with "Nanny" that started it all: The Rockettes! & "How do you think you've lived to be 97?"LeadingAge Texas Annual Conference & Solutions EXPO — use code: UPLIFT for a discountThis episode is made possible by LeadingAge Texas' Partners: Communities of Faith, RRG, LeadingAge Texas Health Plan, Inc., Value First, and Ziegler.---Visit upliftaging.org/episodes for show notes and more information about each episode.Join the movement as we continue to elevate the conversation on aging by visiting upliftaging.org and following us on our socials @upliftaging. ---The Uplift Aging Podcast is a production of LeadingAge Texas.

Amanda sits down with Christie Hinrichs, President & CEO of Frasier (Boulder, Colorado) and LeadingAge (national) Board Chair. From her first job at 15 in a rural Nebraska nursing home to leading one of the most prominent life plan communities in the country, Christie's career is a masterclass in persistence, purpose, and servant leadership.The conversation covers the thirty years she spent growing into nearly every role at Tabitha in Nebraska, what legacy meant when it was time to go, along with the burnout she navigated and finding renewal at Frasier in Boulder. Christie speaks candidly about the workforce challenges she sees at the national level, the tension between technology and human connection, and her deep conviction that a person's ZIP code should never determine their access to care.TakeawaysThe concept of "servant leadership" gets thrown around a lot. Christie is someone who actually lives it — and she breaks down what that looks like when the pressure is real, and the resources are thin.Legacy is about leaving a place better than you found it and trusting that the mission carries on.Burnout is real, even for the most seasoned leaders. The antidote is not going it alone.Technology gives us tools. Compassion gives us meaning. Both matter, and neither replaces the other.The field acknowledges the access and equity gap of care. Christie pushes further and asks what it will actually take to move the needle.Christie will be co-presenting the Closing Keynote with George Linial, President & CEO of LeadingAge Texas to close out the LeadingAge Texas Annual Conference & Solutions EXPO in Austin this May. Special Links & ResourcesFrasier — Christie's community in Boulder, COLeadingAge — National association of nonprofit aging services providers"Rebel with a Cause: Christie Hinrichs" — McKnight's Long-Term Care News, James M. Berklan, March 2026LeadingAge Texas Annual Conference & Solutions EXPO — Register (use promo code: UPLIFT) to attend and see Christie and George Linial close out the 2.5-day eventThis episode is made possible by LeadingAge Texas' Partners: Communities of Faith, RRG, LeadingAge Texas Health Plan, Inc., Value First, and Ziegler.---Visit upliftaging.org/episodes for show notes and more information about each episode.Join the movement as we continue to elevate the conversation on aging by visiting upliftaging.org and following us on our socials @upliftaging. ---The Uplift Aging Podcast is a production of LeadingAge Texas.

In this episode, Amanda and Mark Lenhard, President & CEO of UMC, continue their discussion recorded at LeadingAge's Annual Meeting in Boston, MA (November 2025), going deeper into Mark's TEDx Talk, "Re-envisioning Aging Successfully," and what it was like to step onto that stage. They explore the power of storytelling in shaping how we understand and communicate about aging, the ripple effect of human connection, and the hope Mark carries for the future of our field and the people in it.The conversation reflects on what it means to be a "hopeful contrarian," the importance of listening to the people we serve, and why engaging the next generation gives reason for optimism.TakeawaysStorytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have in changing the narrative around aging.Being a hopeful contrarian means challenging the status quo with possibility, not cynicism.The aging population we serve is more vocal, engaged, and expectant than ever before.Youth involvement in aging services is a genuine reason for hope.Vulnerability in leadership invites others to show up more fully.Learning is lifelong — and that's something to celebrate, not fear.Connection is at the heart of everything we do in aging services.Action, even when messy, moves us further than conversation alone.Don't miss Part 1 of this conversation (Season 2, Episode 1) if you haven't already — and check out Mark's TEDx talk!---Special thanks to Mark Lenhard and LeadingAge for making this first on-location episode possible!This episode is made possible by LeadingAge Texas' Partners: Communities of Faith, RRG, LeadingAge Texas Health Plan, Inc., Value First, and Ziegler.---Visit upliftaging.org/episodes for show notes and more information about each episode.Join the movement as we continue to elevate the conversation on aging by visiting upliftaging.org and following us on our socials @upliftaging. ---The Uplift Aging Podcast is a production of LeadingAge Texas.

In this conversation, Amanda and Mark Lenhard, President & CEO of UMC, sit down at LeadingAge's Annual Meeting in Boston, MA (November 2025) to explore the themes of aging, human connection, and leadership within the context of aging services. They discuss Mark's TEDx Talk, "Re-envisioning Aging Successfully," the importance of living abundantly, the role of relationships in being human, and the challenges and opportunities that come with navigating change. The conversation emphasizes the significance of vulnerability in leadership and the need for personal growth and community engagement in the aging sector.TakeawaysAging is not just about quantity but quality of life.Living abundantly means finding purpose at any age.Human connection is essential in the aging process.Change can lead to personal and professional growth.Leadership in aging services requires vulnerability and openness.Family support is crucial for success in leadership roles.Networking is key to innovation and collaboration.It's important to embrace the unknown and seek help.Engagement with the community enhances the aging experience.Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.Enjoy, and don't miss Part 2 of this conversation (coming soon in Season 2, Episode 2)!---Special thanks to Mark Lenhard and LeadingAge for making this first on-location episode possible!This episode is made possible by LeadingAge Texas' Partners: LeadingAge Texas Health Plan, Inc., Value First, and Ziegler; along with LeadingAge Texas' Diamond Sponsor: Communities of Faith, RRG.---Visit upliftaging.org/episodes for show notes and more information about each episode.Join the movement as we continue to elevate the conversation on aging by visiting upliftaging.org and following us on our socials @upliftaging. ---The Uplift Aging Podcast is a production of LeadingAge Texas.