The Big WHY Behind The elev8.io Podcast

Why Gary created The elev8.io Podcast00:00

Gary Garth: Welcome back to the Elevate Podcast, where we explore the strategies, innovations, and leadership insights driving growth in behavioral health. If you caught our very first episode with Trevor Rand from Google, you know we dove straight into the deep end — unpacking Google's AI Overviews, the latest search trends, and what that means for behavioral health marketing. Today we're taking a different angle. This one is personal. I want to take you behind the scenes and share the mission, the vision — the big why — behind elev8.io and this podcast. Because while trends and tactics are important, the reason we do this work is even more important.

The personal story behind elev8.io's mission01:00

Gary Garth: I've been an entrepreneur most of my life, but my journey into behavioral health — that's personal. Over the years I've seen addiction up close. I've watched people I care deeply about wrestle with substance use disorders. I've seen the toll it takes — not just on them, but on their families, their careers, the companies they work for, the communities they live in. And here's the heartbreaking part: in 2024, nearly 50 million Americans met the criteria for substance use disorder. What's mind-blowing is that only 6.5% of those people got the treatment they needed. Think about that for a moment. That means millions of people right now who are suffering are not getting the help they need. Maybe you know somebody in your life who needed help and never got it. Maybe it was because of cost. Maybe they didn't have the right insurance. Maybe it was stigma. That's the reality we're fighting against.

The behavioral health industry's biggest challenges02:00

Gary Garth: A couple of years back I started looking at this industry from a business lens, and I was shocked by what I found. Relapse and regression rates upwards of 40–60%. Patient acquisition costs sometimes ranging up to $10,000 per admission. And the insurance complexity — 95% of admissions are funded by insurance, but it creates a maze of authorizations, verifications, and billing hurdles for facilities. I realized there was a massive gap. These incredible facilities with dedicated clinicians and owners trying to make a difference — they were struggling to fill their beds. Not because they weren't doing good work. Not because they don't have the right treatment. But because they couldn't cut through the noise in one of the most competitive marketing landscapes on this planet. That's why I created elev8.io — to help treatment centers connect with the right patients, reduce acquisition costs, and grow sustainably.

Why sustainable growth means saving more lives03:00

Gary Garth: Our mission is simple: close the gap between the tens of millions of people struggling with addiction and mental health, and connect them with the facilities best equipped to help them. Our vision is an industry where every high-quality behavioral health facility can achieve full census while thriving financially — because that sustainability allows them to change more lives. More people in recovery. Stronger families. Healthier communities. That's why I get out of bed each morning.

Rising patient acquisition costs and marketing competition04:00

Gary Garth: But let's be real — it's not easy. Facilities are competing for the same high-intent keywords with $100–$200 cost per click. Some states are completely oversaturated. Without an in-house team with the right expertise, most facilities I speak with are flying blind on ROI. Every single dollar counts, and every empty bed isn't just an opportunity lost — it's a life that you could have helped.

What listeners can expect from future podcast episodes05:00

Gary Garth: What we aim to do with this podcast is change that. Every week you'll hear from industry leaders, investors, innovators — people in the trenches making things happen. We'll cover marketing and admissions strategies that actually work, how AI and tech are changing the landscape, leadership lessons for sustainable growth, and M&A trends shaping the industry's future. And I promise — this isn't theory. This is real-world, proven, actionable insight you can take back to your team and implement tomorrow.

The mission to help treatment centers achieve full census06:00

Gary Garth: So there you have it. That's the big why. That is the purpose that drives elev8.io. If you believe in what we're doing — if you want to be part of this conversation — hit subscribe, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it, and let's together keep building a stronger behavioral health industry. This is Gary Garth, and you've been listening to The elev8.io Podcast. See you next time.