The Nursing Home Operator

Devan Bennion

The Nursing Home Operator is a fun, interview-style podcast featuring some of the most interesting people in the nursing home industry. We talk with administrators, directors of nursing, regionals, owners, executives, clinicians, consultants, and everyone in between. We laugh at the stories that can only happen in a nursing home, learn something new about the industry, and get an honest look at the people who make it all work. Want to be a guest or give some feedback? - https://forms.gle/e4JbEFQZT4zyzbdx9

Episodes

  1. Sep 29

    10. Steve LaForte on How Nursing Home Deals Get Done

    On this episode of The Nursing Home Operator, I sat down with Steve LaForte, partner at Cascadia Healthcare, to talk about the business behind skilled nursing. We discuss how nursing home acquisitions get done, how facilities are valued, what makes distressed buildings attractive opportunities, and why relationships play such a major role in the post-acute care industry. Steve also shares what administrators should know if they eventually want to become owners, including the risks, personal guarantees, and mindset that come with ownership. We also look ahead at where skilled nursing is headed, from growing demand and reimbursement challenges to the impact AI could have on nursing home operations. If you’re an administrator, operator, investor, or someone interested in eventually owning facilities, this episode is packed with valuable insight from someone who has spent decades doing deals in the industry.

  2. Sep 5

    The Nursing Home Operator | Trailer

    The Nursing Home Operator is about the people, stories, challenges, and ideas shaping Nursing Homes. Hosted by nursing home administrator Devan Bennion, the show features candid conversations with operators, nurses, CNAs, owners, physicians, executives, and others across senior care. We talk leadership, culture, staffing, finance, caregiving, and the chaos that comes with running nursing homes.

  3. Sep 1

    9. Nick Jasmon on Why Caregivers Have the Hardest Job in Senior Living

    Most of my world is skilled nursing, so this episode was a chance for me to step into the senior living side of the industry with Nick Jasmon. Nick walks me through how independent living, assisted living, and memory care actually work, how residents and families choose communities, how senior living operators drive occupancy, what the leadership structure looks like, and what separates a successful community from a struggling one. We also talk about the hardest jobs in senior living, common misconceptions about the industry, and why great operators are constantly looking for ways to say yes. If you’ve ever wanted a simple, practical understanding of how the senior living industry works, this is a great place to start.

  4. Aug 25

    8. Kyle Griffitts on Why Culture Comes Before Results

    Kyle Griffitts went from playing and coaching football at BYU to running nursing homes and becoming a partner at Nova Health Services. In this episode, we talk about the surprising similarities between coaching football and leading a nursing home, building great teams, holding people accountable, what makes a great CNA and DSD, and why culture has to come before results. Kyle also shares what he is learning now as he helps build and grow a skilled nursing company. A fun conversation about leadership, grit, people, and nursing home operations.

  5. Aug 18

    7. Shubam Gautam on Why Your Staff Is Your Biggest Customer

    Shubam Gautam has one of the most unique paths into nursing home operations I’ve heard. He spent time as a Buddhist monk in the Himalayas, trained as a surgeon, worked in Alzheimer’s research, and eventually became the administrator of a 320-bed nursing home. We talk about building trust with frontline staff, identifying culture problems, earning the trust of families, what makes a great DON, and why every job in a nursing home matters.

  6. Aug 11

    6. Dr. Mike Wasserman on Why CNAs Need a Seat at the Table

    Dr. Mike Wasserman has seen nursing homes as a geriatrician, medical director, quality leader, and CEO of a large California nursing home chain. In this episode, we talk about balancing clinical care with operations and finance, building a stronger relationship with your medical director, and why CNAs, housekeepers, and ombudsmen deserve a real voice in how a nursing home operates.

  7. Aug 4

    5. Jayk Brooks on Faking It Till You Make It as a New Administrator

    What does it actually feel like to become a nursing home administrator for the first time? In this episode, I sit down with Jayk Brooks, who took over my first building after I left. We talk about the steep learning curve of being a new administrator, why no two buildings are the same, what "fake it till you make it" really looks like, and the story of Jayk's first resident council that quickly turned into a dogpile on the new administrator. If you're an administrator, an AIT, or just curious about what it's really like behind the scenes, you'll enjoy this conversation.

  8. Jul 28

    4. Jake Larson on Why Being a "Dog" Matters More Than Talent

    In this episode, I sit down with Jake Larson, Regional Vice President of Operations, former administrator, and the person who trained me when I first entered the industry. We talk about his journey from running a single building to overseeing multiple facilities, what he looks for when hiring administrators, and why being a "dog" might be the most important trait a leader can have. We also dive into some of the craziest phone calls he's received from administrators, the lessons he's learned from years of coaching leaders, and what separates the people who consistently succeed from those who struggle. If you've ever wondered what great operators do differently, or what a regional is really looking for when they evaluate a building and its leadership, this conversation is for you.

  9. Jul 21

    3. Ryan Turley on How D1 Football Helped Him Build Winning Teams in Nursing Homes

    What can a Division I offensive lineman teach us about leadership in nursing homes? In this episode, Ryan Turley shares how his experience playing football at The University of Arizona shaped his approach to building culture, developing people, and leading high-performing teams. We discuss the lessons he carried from the football field into nursing home operations, why attitude matters, and what separates good teams from great ones. Whether you're an administrator, department head, AIT, or simply interested in leadership, Ryan offers practical insights from years of building successful teams and creating cultures where people want to succeed.

  10. Jul 14

    2. Rob Zitsman on What Expert Witness Work Taught Him About Nursing Homes

    After 30 years in nursing homes, Rob Zitsman has seen what works, what fails, and what can land a facility in serious trouble. In this episode, Rob shares lessons from his career as an administrator, operator, and expert witness, including why new administrators need to “be a sponge,” why “nobody has a monopoly on bright ideas,” and the mistakes nursing homes keep making.

  11. Jul 5

    1. Clint Nielson on Three-Legged Dogs, Nursing Home Chaos, and Learning the Hard Way

    In the first episode of The Nursing Home Operator, Devan sits down with fellow nursing home administrator Clint Nielson for a funny, honest conversation about what it is really like to run a nursing home. Clint shares how he got into skilled nursing, what surprised him as a new administrator, and why nursing homes are anything but boring. The conversation covers first-building chaos, growing census, small-town recruiting, morning meeting routines, building culture, and the kind of moments that make administrators wonder what they got themselves into. And yes, Clint tells the story of how growing census somehow led to him taking home a 14-year-old three-legged dog. This episode is about the real work, the weird moments, and the hard-earned lessons that come with nursing home life.

  • 1 Trailer
    10 Episodes

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Nursing Home Operator is a fun, interview-style podcast featuring some of the most interesting people in the nursing home industry. We talk with administrators, directors of nursing, regionals, owners, executives, clinicians, consultants, and everyone in between. We laugh at the stories that can only happen in a nursing home, learn something new about the industry, and get an honest look at the people who make it all work. Want to be a guest or give some feedback? - https://forms.gle/e4JbEFQZT4zyzbdx9

Information

  • Creator
    Devan Bennion
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Devan Bennion
  • Show Website
    The Nursing Home Operator