The Pickup Meeting
Ever stumbled into an unexpected convo that left you energized, inspired, and maybe even laughing out loud? That’s The Pickup Meeting. Join higher ed besties Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas as they sit down with passionate changemakers who put students first and aren’t afraid to shake up the status quo. These are the unplanned conversations that just might become the best part of your day.
Episodes
45 episodes
Ep. 44 - Joe Thomas, University of Colorado Boulder
What happens when the Resident Assistant you hired 20 years ago becomes one of higher education's most respected student affairs leaders?This week, Kevin and Brody welcome Dr. Joe Thomas, Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Stude...
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Ep. 43 - A "Just Us" Episode
It's another "Just Us" episode, and that means anything can happen! Kevin and Brody kick things off by reminiscing about back-to-school shopping, Trapper Keepers, NFL pencils, thermostat battles, surviving the summer heat, and the simple...
Ep. 42 - Kristy Firebaugh
What do community choirs, national parks, student success, chocolate bundt cake, and hidden restaurant menu items have in common? Somehow...they all end up in this episode! Kevin and Brody kick things off by celebrating a major podcast mileston...
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Ep. 41 - A "Just Us" Episode
Summer may be the "slow season" on campus, but Kevin and Brody know that's when some of the biggest conversations happen. In this Just Us episode, they swap stories about out-of-office replies, overpriced concerts, World Cup fever, and the quir...
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Ep. 40 - Karen Archambault, Rowan College at Burlington County
What do wallets, walk-up songs, learning to drive a stick shift, and enrollment management have in common? More than you'd think.This week on The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody welcome Karen Archambault, Senior Vi...
Ep. 39 - A "Just Us" Episode
Brody Broshears and Kevin Thomas are back with another lively pickup meeting, diving into World Cup excitement, summer in higher education, and why soccer has one of the most confusing rules in sports. They also tackle the future of development...
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Ep. 38 - Beth Lesen, California State University, Long Beach
Leadership, laughter, and a little Dairy Queen debate? This episode has it all. Dr. Beth Lesen joins The Pickup Meeting to share how trust, compassion, and authentic leadership can transform campus culture, support first-generat...
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Ep. 37 - A "Just Us" Episode
This week, the rails were more of a suggestion than a destination.Kevin celebrates his 46th birthday while Brody shares his philosophy that every birthday is worth celebrating. Along the way, the conversation veers into unexpected territ...
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Ep. 36 - Katie Dawson, University of Louisiana System
What happens when adult learners, online education, micro-credentials, baseball parks, and “other duties as assigned” all walk into one podcast episode? You get a lively conversation with Dr. Katie Dawson, Associate Vice President for En...
Ep. 35 - A "Just Us" Episode
Michael “Brody” Broshears and Kevin Thomas revisit Saturday morning cartoons, video games, hockey debates, and conversations that shaped their early years. They then turn to higher education, challenging the assumption that conferences are the ...
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Ep. 34 - W. Kent Barnds, Augustana College
Brody and Kevin sit down with W. Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Augustana College, for a conversation that zigzags from enrollment strategy to storytelling, from FAFSA frustrations to liberal arts va...
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Ep. 33 - A "Just Us" Episode
May is doing May things: inboxes are chirping, calendars are packed, batteries are blinking red, and somehow Brody is recording while standing up. In this “Just Us” episode of The Pickup Meeting, Brody and Kevin celebrate a major miles...
Ep. 32 - Clint-Michael Reneau, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Clint-Michael Reneau joins The Pickup Meeting for thought-provoking and wildly quotable conversation about leadership, belonging, vulnerability, and the real work of student success. As Vice President for Student Affairs at Norther...
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Ep. 31 - A "Just Us" Episode
Summer may look quiet on campus, but higher ed folks know better. In this episode of The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody dig into the myth of the “easy summer,” swap thoughts on orientation season, and reflect on the impact of the ...
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Ep. 30 - Emily Jones, Illinois State University
From Record Store Day lines to baseball nostalgia to teaching that truly transforms, this episode of The Pickup Meeting has a little bit of everything. Kevin and Brody welcome Dr. Emily Jones of Illinois State University for a liv...
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Ep. 29 - A "Just Us" Episode
In this “Just Us” episode of The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody bounce from Earth Day to Record Store Day to the very real question of how higher ed professionals survive the end-of-semester whirlwind. Along the way, they ...
Ep. 28 - Kyser Lough, University of Georgia
Kevin and Brody are back to chat with Dr. Kyser Lough, Associate Professor and Director of the News Literacy Certificate Program at the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Kyser discusses being a photojou...
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Ep. 27 - A "Just Us" Episode
Kevin Thomas and Brody Broshears reflect on the energy and renewal that spring brings before exploring the complex and timely topic of graduation. Their conversation examines graduation rates, institutional responsibility, and the policies and ...
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Ep. 26 - Rebecca Hapes, Texas A&M University
From March Madness hot takes and overrated things to FERPA, advising, and finding balance in higher ed life, this episode of The Pickup Meeting has a little bit of everything. Kevin and Brody welcome Dr. Rebecca Hapes, Associate Regist...
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Ep. 25 - A "Just Us" Episode
What if faculty are the secret sauce in student success? In this episode of The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody kick things off with sports hot takes, Olympics nostalgia, and the kind of job stories that include delivering newspapers i...
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Ep. 24 - Tyler Phelps, Washington University in St. Louis
What happens when you mix student success, Disney debates, video game nostalgia, and one of the most respected advising professionals in the field? You get an episode that’s both fun and full of substance. Kevin and Brody sit down w...
Ep. 23 - A "Just Us" Episode
March has arrived, and with it comes fake spring, real allergies, bracket dreams, and that annual daylight savings debate we all pretend will be resolved someday. In this "Just Us" episode, Kevin and Brody pull back the curtain on public speaki...
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Ep. 22 - Jerel Benton, Radford University
Kevin and Brody welcome Jerel Benton, Assistant Provost for Student Success at Radford University, for a conversation that travels from the tutoring rooms to the leadership table. Along the way, Jerel shares how a nursing major became a student...
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Ep. 21 - A "Just Us" Episode
Winter is (almost) over, spring break is playing hard to get, and The Pickup Meeting is back with a classic “Just Us” episode. Brody and Kevin kick things off with birthday gauntlets, daylight savings time grievances, and a spirited debate over...
Ep. 20 - Cecilia Olivares, University of Missouri
In this episode of The Pickup Meeting, Brody and Kevin welcome Cecilia Olivares, Director of Academic Advising Initiatives at the University of Missouri and former NACADA President, for a conversation that zigzags delightfully f...
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