The AV Life: Recent Episodes
Tim Van Woeart
This week's AV Life heats up as storms continue to wreak havoc on life and projects across the nation. Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, Brandy Johnson, James King, and guest Steve Borho discuss the pressures of late-summer AV work in higher education. Murphy shares a project-management reminder: focus on what the project truly needs, especially during tense, high-emotion situations. The group explores extreme heat, severe storms, HVAC challenges during classroom installations, and the need for strong coordination among AV, IT, facilities, and campus leadership before planned power outages. They also discuss backup cooling and monitoring needs in medical-school spaces. The conversation later turns to youth sports, artificial turf, player safety, coaching, officiating, and the importance of making sports accessible and visible to young people.
Topics Discussed:
* A project-management approach centered on the project’s real needs
* Managing difficult customer expectations during project issues
* Minimum viable classroom functionality for semester openings
* Late-summer AV installations and orientation deadlines
* HVAC reliability in classrooms during installation work
* Coordination between AV, IT, facilities, and administration
* Planning for building power outages and recovery time
* Backup cooling and supervision for critical medical-school spaces
* Extreme heat, storms, tornadoes, flooding, and water restrictions
* Artificial turf, field conditions, and athlete injury concerns
* Youth sports visibility, affordability, and coaching development
* Referee conduct, parent behavior, and player safety
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
With Tim Van Woeart unexpectedly unable to host, Joe Way takes over The AV Life for an impromptu episode that turns into an engaging conversation with Nancy Blanchard of ScreenBeam. What begins as an unscripted discussion evolves into a wide-ranging look at the AV industry, higher education, and career experiences.
Joe and Nancy discuss the current state of higher education funding, the importance of supporting community colleges, consultant and manufacturer relationships, and why application-focused conversations are more valuable than feature-heavy product pitches. They also debate AI's role in AV, standardization versus customization, remote management, wireless collaboration, and the growing number of video bar products entering the market.
The episode also offers a more personal side of the guests, touching on volunteer work in the Philippines, career journeys, life in Canada versus California, and the importance of building genuine relationships within the higher education AV community. Despite its spontaneous beginning, the conversation delivers valuable insights for AV professionals across education and enterprise.
Topics discussed:
* Tim's last-minute cancellation and Joe Way's surprise takeover
* Volunteer work in the Philippines
* Higher education funding and community college opportunities
* Building long-term manufacturer and consultant relationships
* Supporting HETMA and the higher education community
* Application-based selling versus feature demonstrations
* Wireless collaboration and ScreenBeam use cases
* AI's future role in the AV industry
* Standardization versus customization in AV deployments
* Consultant best practices and customer trust
* Rapid-fire AV opinions (Zoom, Teams, ISE, AI, ecosystems)
* Career experiences, layoffs, and navigating today's AV market
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
As the summer moves along quickly, our hosts pause to discuss concerts, travel, major sporting events, and the approaching fall event season. The conversation highlights the community impact and logistical scale of FIFA fan festivals, stadiums, volunteers, and event production, with curiosity about the AV, IT, and project-management lessons learned behind a global event.
In the PM Minute, Murphy Daley emphasizes that effective AV professionals should regularly reassess their systems, standards, software, and tools—especially as AI introduces new possibilities. The group also discusses the value of transparent product evaluation, exploring alternatives beyond familiar consultant specifications, and maintaining an open-minded approach to emerging AV solutions.
Topics discussed:
* Summer schedules, family activities, and back-to-school timing
* Post-InfoComm workload and the value of taking time to decompress
* Wildfire smoke and event disruptions
* Concerts, festivals, and live-performance experiences
* Upcoming travel, including Napa and San Francisco
* CEDIA, HETMA, and EDUCAUSE planning
* FIFA events, fan festivals, and host-city experiences
* Stadium infrastructure and dedicated soccer venues
* Community engagement, volunteers, and major-event logistics
* FIFA event wrap-ups and lessons learned
* Reassessing AV project-management systems and standards
* AI, product evaluation, and openness to new AV tools
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
On this week's AV Life Podcast, Tim Van Woeart is joined by James King, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, and Nancy Blanchard to discuss whether "good enough" AV is still sufficient in higher education. The panel begins by recapping the successful HETMA Roadshow at Creighton University, highlighting collaboration between vendors, institutions, and smaller colleges that rarely attend major industry events.
Murphy Daley’s PM Minute focuses on asking questions, communicating openly, and never assuming something is impossible without first exploring the options.
The main discussion centers on whether “good enough” AV is still sufficient in higher education. The group argues that modern AV design is less about flashy technology and more about creating reliable, consistent, easy-to-use environments that improve student and faculty experiences. They discuss accessibility, neurodivergent learners, sustainability, standardization, manufacturer feedback, AI integration, and the growing importance of end-user input in product development. The episode concludes with a call for manufacturers and integrators to listen closely to higher education professionals when designing future technologies.
Topics Discussed:
* HETMA Roadshow recap at Creighton University
* Benefits of regional higher education technology events
* Murphy Daley’s PM Minute: asking questions and embracing possibility
* Technology as a factor in student recruitment and retention
* Is “good enough” AV really good enough?
* Standardization versus flashy technology
* Improving the student and faculty user experience
* Accessibility and supporting neurodivergent learners
* Sustainability through intentional technology design
* Higher education becoming more self-sufficient in AV planning
* Manufacturers listening to customer feedback
* AI and the future of AV management
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In a special Women of AV Takeover episode of The AV Life, Renee Benson hosts an engaging discussion with Nancy Blanchard, Murphy Daley, Brandy Johnson, and guests Gisela Ramirez & Erin Maher-Moran about leadership, mentorship, and the experiences of women working throughout the AV industry. The panel reflects on networking events from InfoComm 2026, including the AVIXA Women's Breakfast and WAVIT's Glow Up event, highlighting the importance of authentic relationships, trust, and intentional mentorship. Inspired by the women's council breakfast keynote speaker Mariana Atencio, the conversation explores building confidence, discovering purpose, and developing meaningful professional connections. The group also shares personal stories about overcoming challenges in a traditionally male-dominated industry, earning a seat at the table, and the male mentors who helped support their careers. The discussion concludes with ideas for attracting younger professionals into AV through internships, outreach, and continued mentorship to strengthen the future of the industry.
Topics Discussed:
* Reflections on InfoComm 2026 networking opportunities
* AVIXA Women's Breakfast keynote by Mariana Atencio
* WAVIT and the Glow Up networking event
* Building trust through authentic professional relationships
* Mentorship and supporting women entering the AV industry
* Personal experiences overcoming gender bias
* Developing confidence and finding your voice
* The importance of supportive male allies and mentors
* Work-life balance and customer relationships
* Recruiting younger professionals into AV
* Internships, career awareness, and the future workforce
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this special episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Tim Albright (AVNation) and Tim Neviska (HETMA) for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, professional growth, and the state of the AV industry. Tim Albright discusses the inspiration behind his new book, Building on Ashes, sharing lessons about resilience, failure, and the importance of developing a personal operating system while continually passing knowledge to others.
The conversation then turns to InfoComm 2026, where the group reflects on attendance trends, higher-quality conversations, changing trade show dynamics, and the value of discovering innovative products through guided tours. Tim Neviska shares his transition into retirement, remaining active through HETMA while exploring new opportunities. The episode wraps up with a lighthearted discussion about the popularity of the name "Tim," mentorship, welcoming new AV professionals into the industry, and the importance of always continuing to learn and share knowledge.
Topics Discussed:
- Tim Albright's new book Building on Ashes
- Learning from failure and developing resilience
- Building a personal operating system for career growth
- Sharing knowledge and mentorship in the AV industry
- Reflections on InfoComm 2026 attendance and engagement
- Quality vs. quantity of trade show attendees
- Value of guided booth tours and discovering new technology
- HETMA's role in supporting higher education AV professionals
- Tim Neviska's retirement and next career chapter
- Bringing new professionals into higher education AV
- Industry trends and professional development
- The story behind three AV professionals all named Tim
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Missing Tim Van Woeart for the final live report from InfoComm, our hosts fight through the noise of the HETMA happening happy hour below to wrap-up InfoComm 2026. The group debated whether traditional booth tours still provide value for experienced AV professionals, with manufacturers emphasizing the importance of demonstrating new technology, gathering customer feedback, and showcasing concepts that can’t be replicated over a video call.
The conversation shifted to how end-user feedback directly influences product development, the increasing focus on cybersecurity in AV, and the overall health of the industry. The panel also reflected on memorable networking experiences, the standout Peerless-AV party, and the importance of reconnecting with colleagues across higher education and commercial AV.
Although attendance felt lighter than previous years, everyone agreed the conversations were higher quality, making InfoComm 2026 a successful and encouraging event.
Topics Discussed:
* Value (or lack thereof) of booth tours for experienced AV professionals
* Demonstrating products that can’t be appreciated remotely
* Manufacturers using InfoComm to gather customer feedback
* How customer suggestions shape future AV product development
* Tailoring booth experiences for technical end users
* Building stronger relationships between manufacturers and higher education
* Growth of cybersecurity awareness within the AV industry
* Overall impressions of InfoComm 2026 attendance and quality
* Networking and reconnecting with industry peers
* Highlights from the Peerless-AV party and networking events
* Canadian attendance and international travel observations
* Final reflections and biggest takeaways from the week
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Day two of The AV Life's live coverage from InfoComm 2026 focuses on the momentum building across the show floor as attendees juggle booth demonstrations, networking events, and evening receptions. Murphy shares the overwhelming response to her AV Project Management Handbook, including selling out the books she brought on her first day.
The panel also highlights one of the week's most impactful events—the AVIXA Women's Council Breakfast—where NBC journalist Mariana Atencio delivered a keynote centered on trust, human connection, and leadership. The discussion expands into the growing importance of manufacturer partnerships, integrated AV solutions, and collaboration across the industry rather than standalone products.
Topics Discussed:
* Day two observations from InfoComm 2026
* Navigating the expanded convention floor
* Murphy Daley's AV Project Management Handbook success
* Industry partnerships and integrated AV ecosystems
* PTZOptics technology demonstrations
* Sony partner ecosystem and solution-based demonstrations
* AVIXA Women's Council Breakfast with Mariana Atencio's keynote on trust and leadership
* HETMA networking events and happy hours
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded live from InfoComm 2026, hosts Tim Van Woeart and Murphy Daley, along with live reports from Renee Benson (Sony Electronics), Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics), and Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam) from the HETMA booth on the first day of InfoComm 2026!
The group shares their first impressions of the opening day, discussing attendee traffic, the redesigned exhibit hall layout, and the excitement of reconnecting with colleagues across the AV industry. Brandy highlights PTZOptics' collaboration with LayerJot and Intel showcasing AI-assisted medical cart tracking, while Renee discusses Sony's new P Series displays and the industry's growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Murphy previews conversations around AI-assisted project management and the continued evolution of her AV Project Management Handbook.
The conversation also covers travel delays, networking, HETMA activities, staying hydrated in the Las Vegas heat, and what each guest hopes to accomplish during the remainder of the conference.
Topics Discussed:
* Opening day attendance and show floor observations
* HETMA community booth and member activities
* Redesigned exhibit hall layout and attendee flow
* PTZOptics, LayerJot, and Intel AI medical cart demonstration
* Sony's new P Series professional displays
* Sustainability and power efficiency in AV technology
* AI applications in AV project management
* Networking and reconnecting with industry colleagues
* Flight delays and travel challenges
* Planning meetings and maximizing time during InfoComm
* Preview of upcoming Day 2 and Day 3 coverage
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week's AV Life Podcast is the one to start InfoComm 2026! Join our full panel of hosts Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, Murphy Daley, Brandy Johnson, Joe Way, and James King as they welcome guests Michael Gunderson of Highland Community College and Steve Borho. The lively conversation includes reflections on previous InfoComm experiences and looks ahead at preparing for this year's InfoComm with tips on maximizing networking opportunities, navigating the show floor, and taking advantage of HETMA events and campus tours.
Michael shares practical advice for first-time attendees, emphasizing the importance of getting oriented before tackling the massive exhibit floor. Joe highlights several HETMA initiatives, including the Qualified Buyer Happy Hour, Education Summit, booth activities, and networking opportunities designed to connect higher education AV professionals with manufacturers. The group also celebrates the 2026 HETMA Hall of Fame inductees, recognizing their lasting contributions to higher education AV. Additional discussions cover AV-over-IP trends, professional development, campus tours, and the value of building authentic relationships throughout the industry.
Topics Discussed:
* Tips for first-time InfoComm attendees
* Navigating and organizing time on the show floor
* HETMA booth activities and networking events
* Qualified Buyer Happy Hour program
* Higher Ed AV Summit and educational sessions
* Campus technology tours at UNLV
* AV-over-IP adoption and future trends
* Building vendor and peer relationships
* AV Project Manager Handbook audiobook plans and course development
* 2026 HETMA Hall of Fame inductees and their contributions
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
With InfoComm 2026 just around the corner, Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, Brandy Johnson, and Murphy Daley preview the upcoming show, share booth information, discuss networking opportunities, and highlight key events attendees should not miss. The conversation covers HETMA activities, the Higher Ed AV Awards, community meetups, vendor events, and the importance of building relationships across the AV industry.
Murphy delivers a project management segment focused on running efficient meetings and the value of strong agendas. The group also explores AI adoption, autonomous vehicles, workplace automation, and balancing technology with human expertise. Nancy announces ScreenBeam’s sponsorship of the HETMA Happy Hour, while Brandy shares exciting news about PTZOptics’ newest hire. Throughout the episode, the hosts emphasize that InfoComm is about far more than products—it’s about reconnecting with colleagues, learning new solutions, and strengthening the AV community.
Topics Discussed:
* InfoComm 2026 planning and event schedule
* HETMA booth activities and AV Life live recordings
* Higher Ed AV Awards and Education Summit
* Vendor booth previews and product demonstrations
* ScreenBeam sponsorship of the HETMA Happy Hour
* PTZOptics booth activities and partnership showcases
* Networking opportunities and industry meetups
* Project management best practices and meeting efficiency
* AI adoption and workplace technology trends
* Autonomous vehicles and trust in automation
* Building relationships within the higher education AV community
* InfoComm travel preparation and attendee tips
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this solo episode, host Tim Van Woeart reflects on the fast arrival of June and the transition period it represents for higher education AV professionals. Tim discusses the close of the academic and fiscal years, graduation season, summer campus projects, and preparations for InfoComm. He shares personal thoughts about family milestones, including his son’s move to middle school, and emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, vacations, and professional growth.
The episode also highlights the value of continuing education, community involvement through HETMA, and upcoming events like the HETMA Education Summit and Higher Ed AV Awards. Tim congratulates Tim Albright on his new book release and encourages listeners to stay engaged, hydrated, and connected as the AV industry heads into its busy summer season.
Topics Discussed:
* June as a transition month in higher education
* Preparing for InfoComm 2026
* Importance of hydration during Las Vegas events
* School graduations and personal milestones
* End-of-fiscal-year budgeting in higher ed AV
* Summer AV infrastructure and classroom projects
* Work-life balance and taking vacation time
* Summer camps and youth development experiences
* Professional development and lifelong learning
* HETMA Higher Ed Summit details
* Higher Ed AV Awards and CTS continuing education credits
* Community building within higher education AV
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week on episode 334 of the The AV Life Podcast, our hosts cover a wide-ranging discussion from practical hydration tips at InfoComm in Las Vegas to today's hiring challenges in AV, AI impacts, and career growth.
The team kicks off with InfoComm preparation tips, emphasizing hydration, conference planning, certification preparation, and excitement around industry networking events. Murphy Daley’s Project Management Minute focuses on organization systems, emphasizing that successful AV project management depends on structured information management. A major discussion centers around hiring within higher education AV and IT departments. Hosts share experiences reviewing applicants, interview strategies, culture fit considerations, and concerns about candidate preparedness.
The conversation expands into workforce readiness, education gaps, life skills, parenting responsibilities, and how younger generations enter the workforce. AI also emerges as a major theme, with debate around automation, layoffs, and how AV professionals should embrace AI as a tool rather than fear it as a replacement. The episode closes with advice for job seekers: prepare, research organizations, ask thoughtful questions, and prioritize finding the right culture fit.
Topics Discussed:
* InfoComm 2026 preparation and conference planning
* Hydration and conference survival tips for Las Vegas
* AI-generated marketing and event promotion examples
* HETMA Education Summit and certification preparation
* Project management organization strategies
* Hiring challenges in higher education AV and IT
* Candidate interview preparation and culture fit
* Workforce readiness and life skills development
* Generational differences entering the workforce
* AI’s impact on jobs and business decisions
* Human skills versus technical skills in hiring
* Job application processes and applicant experience
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In Episode 333 of The AV Life, Tim Van Woeart may be temporarily off camera, but the crew has no trouble keeping the show moving. Renee Benson checks in from the road as InfoComm preparation ramps up, sharing the pace and pressure of visiting customers ahead of major product announcements. Brandy Johnson joins the conversation with her usual energy, humor, and road-tested perspective, while Murphy Daley gives an update on the continued momentum around The AV Project Manager Handbook, including plans for an audiobook, a possible course, and the idea of making project management more accessible to AV professionals who may not learn best by reading alone.
The conversation moves from practical project management into full AV Life chaos in the best possible way. Murphy’s PM Minute focuses on the value of every project team member understanding just enough about everyone else’s role to improve handoffs, respect timelines, and reduce friction. From there, the crew dives into a very AV-adjacent courtroom story involving Elon Musk, OpenAI, a monitor, a dongle, and a group of lawyers trying to solve what every AV person has seen before: the room is ready until someone actually has to connect something. The episode wraps with a more serious higher ed discussion about the recent Canvas disruption, teaching continuity, Princeton’s move to require exam proctors again, and the broader question of how institutions should rethink learning, assessment, and academic integrity in a world where AI tools are now part of the landscape.
Topics Discussed
1. Tim’s camera trouble and the rare host blackout episode
2. Renee’s road schedule ahead of InfoComm
3. New product launches and pre-show customer preparation
4. Murphy Daley’s AV Project Manager Handbook momentum
5. Plans for an audiobook version of Murphy’s book
6. Turning the book into a course or training resource
7. The PM Minute: learning enough about other roles to improve project handoffs
8. AV project teamwork, respect, boundaries, and cross-training light
9. The Elon Musk, OpenAI, monitor, and dongle courtroom story
10. Courtroom AV standards, or the lack of them
11. InfoComm planning, HETMA activity, and hydration reminders
12. Rumors about InfoComm locations and Vegas versus Orlando
13. Rutgers, Canvas recovery, and teaching continuity
14. Business continuity thinking in higher education technology
15. Princeton, AI-assisted cheating, and the return of exam proctors
16. Whether traditional assessments are becoming too easy to hack with AI
17. Lockdown browsers, phone collection, and exam room controls
18. Why academic integrity may require redesigned learning experiences
19. The need for future AV Life episodes on AI, teaching, and continuity
20. Inviting more voices into future AV Life conversations
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week on The AV Life, Tim Van Woeart is joined by Brandy Johnson, Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, Steve Borho, and a surprise drop-in from Joe Way for a classic crew conversation that starts with a serious higher ed technology disruption and somehow still finds its way to dogs, border crossings, World Cup logistics, InfoComm plans, and youth sports officiating.
The episode opens with the recent Instructure and Canvas cyberattack, its impact on higher education during finals week, and the reminder of just how dependent campuses have become on learning management systems. From there, the conversation moves into the ripple effects of exam delays, student travel, residence life, and campus operations before shifting into World Cup planning in New Jersey, Kansas City, and Toronto, HETMA Lunch and Learns, the Higher Ed AV Awards, InfoComm FOMO, and why live events always seem easier to plan until the calendar gets real.
Topics Discussed
• The Instructure and Canvas cyberattack during finals week
• How LMS outages affect exams, grades, student travel, and campus operations
• Cybersecurity, phishing, and the frustration of malicious technical talent
• Rutgers’ response and the challenge of protecting student data
• Residence life complications when exams are postponed
• Joe Way’s travel through Japan and Dubai
• World Cup 2026 logistics in New Jersey, Kansas City, and Toronto
• Train pricing, parking restrictions, and event transportation headaches
• HETMA Lunch and Learns and staying connected to the community
• Dave Labuskes’ Higher Ed AV Podcast appearance ahead of InfoComm
• Higher Education Summit keynote announcements
• Higher Ed AV Awards submissions and judging timelines
• Why giving finalists more notice matters for higher ed travel approval
• InfoComm Vegas versus InfoComm Orlando energy
• Tim’s InfoComm FOMO and plans for remote AV Life coverage
• Brandy’s driving reputation and Chris Neto’s survival story
• Steve’s dog Marty making an unofficial AV Life appearance
• Joe’s voluntary guest status after arriving late
• Tim’s softball injury and player-manager self-demotion
• Youth sports, officiating frustration, and passionate parent moments
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337.
This episode of The AV Life features host Tim Van Woeart alongside Murphy Daley for a spring check-in that blends higher ed life, project management lessons, family milestones, and the growing momentum around Murphy’s Audio Video Project Manager Handbook. Recording on the final day of April, Tim reflects on Rutgers University Newark kicking off its 80th anniversary celebration and finishing his first MBA course, while Murphy shares updates from Southern California and her recent experience speaking at Cavlo in Tennessee.
Murphy’s PM Minute centers on one deceptively simple idea: people matter. Drawing from her Cavlo education sessions, survey feedback, and her own experience with imposter syndrome, she talks through the importance of bringing the project team into uncertainty instead of pretending to have every answer. Tim connects that directly to his own higher ed AV work, emphasizing transparency, team learning, and the value of giving younger staff real project context instead of keeping information siloed.
The conversation also covers Murphy’s possible next steps for turning her handbook into a course, Tim’s education and personal development planning, HETMA’s growing event presence, InfoComm updates, the Education Summit, and a potential non-attendees episode for those not traveling to the show. The episode closes with a lighter family-focused turn, including prom dress adventures, fifth-grade dance prep, talent shows, and the reminder that wherever AV is happening, HETMA is probably somewhere nearby.
Topics Discussed:
Rutgers University Newark kicking off its 80th anniversary celebration
Tim completing his first MBA course and reflecting on imposter syndrome
Murphy’s experience speaking at Cavlo in Tennessee
The value of smaller AV events compared with the scale and intensity of InfoComm
Airport Whataburger, AV foodies, and post-conference travel stories
Murphy’s PM Minute on bringing people into project uncertainty
Why transparency matters when sharing project information with AV teams
The importance of mentoring younger staff through real project involvement
Murphy’s ideas for expanding the AV Project Manager Handbook into a course
Possible CTS-credit project management training opportunities
HETMA roadshows, InfoComm Education Summit, and the Higher Ed AV Awards
Tim’s plan for a virtual InfoComm non-attendees episode
Spring semester wrap-up, exams, summer projects, prom, and school milestones
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Brandy Johnson, Nancy Blanchard, virtual Murphy Daley,and special guest Chris Kelly, Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media. The crew reflects on a successful NAB Show, noting a pivot toward "quality over quantity" in leads. Excitement builds for InfoComm 2026, with plans forming for a multi-state "HETMA mobile" road trip involving a minivan and several industry veterans.
The conversation shifts to casinos as conference venues before pivoting to major tech news regarding Tim Cook’s transition out of his role at Apple and what a hardware-focused successor means for the company's AI strategy. As AV professionals in academia, the group discusses AI becoming a "Gen Ed" requirement for students and the necessity of daily AI engagement for staff.
The episode concludes with a review of the AI-centric film Mercy and a breakdown of upcoming HETMA roadshows spanning from Omaha to Belgium.
Topics Discussed:
NAB 2026 Recap: Analyzing the shift toward high-quality leads and booth experiences
* InfoComm Travel Logistics: Navigating airline discounts and Southwest/Delta promo codes
* The HETMA Road Trip: Planning a "minivan" journey from Jersey to Vegas for InfoComm
* Casino-Based Conferences: Discussing the atmosphere and logistical challenges of events at casino resorts
* Las Vegas Experiences: Personal anecdotes regarding gambling, dining at Capo’s, and wedding chapels
* Apple Leadership Transition: Implications of Tim Cook stepping down as President of Apple
* Hardware vs. Software Focus: Predicting Apple’s future trajectory under new hardware-centric leadership
* AI in Higher Education: The rise of AI as a core general education requirement
* Workplace AI Training: The importance of using AI tools for at least one hour daily to stay relevant
* AI Ethics and Cinema: A review of Chris Pratt’s Mercy and AI’s role in the legal system
* 2026 HETMA Roadshows: Upcoming events at Marshall, Creighton, Buffalo, and Belgium
* Podcast Recruitment: Opening the floor for listeners to join The AV Life* as future guests
This episode features Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley discussing current trends across the AV industry and higher education. The conversation highlights a recent wave of mergers and acquisitions, supply chain and labor challenges impacting installations, and preparations for summer project season.
Murphy’s “PM Minute” focuses on eliminating unnecessary project documentation and instead prioritizing clarity around project goals and key performance indicators. The group also explores the importance of mission vs. vision alignment in AV work.
Additional discussions include PPE requirements for on-site work, real-world installation challenges, upcoming industry events like InfoComm and Cavlo, and the value of hands-on AV experience. The episode blends practical insights with industry observations, offering a grounded look at how AV professionals can stay focused and adaptable in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Topics discussed:
* Recent M&A activity in the AV sector (CTI acquiring Nomad, AJA acquiring Comprimato)
* Higher Ed AV challenges, specifically increased lead times for furniture like podiums
* Site safety and PPE, including personal anecdotes about steel-toed boots and OSHA-approved slip-ons
* The technical nuances of rack building and why it often requires a "woman’s touch" for detail
* Zip tie etiquette and the physical dangers of not using flush-cut snips
* Project Management documentation, specifically the utility of RACI and RAID logs in AV
* The distinction between vision statements and mission statements in business success
* The impact of mass layoffs at Disney and the "cyclical" nature of reliance on AI
* Strange current events, such as unauthorized drone sightings at baseball stadiums
* Upcoming trade shows, including Cavlo in Nashville and InfoComm in Las Vegas
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This episode of The AV Life features host Tim Van Woeart alongside Nancy Blanchard, Joe Way, Murphy Daley, and new crew member Brandy Johnson, with guest Steve Borho, a 40-year AV veteran.
Murphy delivers a “PM Minute” focused on understanding project systems at a foundational level—encouraging professionals to decouple rigid workflows and adapt when disruptions occur. The group reinforces the importance of flexibility in both project management and AV sales, especially in higher education environments.
Murphy also shares momentum around her newly released AV Project Manager Handbook, highlighting strong early feedback and its growing adoption as a training resource.
The conversation underscores that successful AV work—whether in project delivery or sales—requires adaptability, collaboration, and a deep understanding of outcomes rather than rigid processes.
Topics Discussed:
* Introduction of new crew member Brandy Johnson
* Guest background: Steve Borho’s 40 years in AV
* AV integrator evolution and business focus
* “PM Minute”: systems thinking in project management
* Adapting workflows when project dependencies fail
* Real-world install challenges (paint, wallpaper delays)
* Flexibility in AV sales strategies
* Differences in selling to higher ed vs corporate
* Murphy Daley’s book launch and marketing strategy
* Using LinkedIn for AV thought leadership
* Training and onboarding value of AV project frameworks
* Industry events (InfoComm, Kavlo, HETMA involvement)
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This St. Patrick’s Day-themed episode of The AV Life Podcast features hosts Joe Way, Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley, joined by returning guests Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics) and Philip Leimbach. The group blends humor and industry insight, starting with Murphy’s “PM Minute,” emphasizing the importance of effective project management and promoting her new AV Project Manager Handbook.
The conversation shifts between AV industry perspectives and lighthearted topics, including AI-generated debate questions, music trends, and workplace culture. The hosts explore the role of AI in creativity, discuss evolving AV trends, and reflect on work-life balance challenges in higher education environments. Personal anecdotes—from travel plans to Disney experiences—add a relatable touch.
Overall, the episode balances professional insight with casual camaraderie, highlighting the human side of AV while reinforcing the value of strong project management and adaptability in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Topics Discussed:
* Project management success rates and best practices
* Promotion of the AV Project Manager Handbook
* AI-generated content and creative experimentation
* St. Patrick’s Day themed debates and humor
* Music trends and AI-generated song styles
* Work-life balance challenges in AV roles
* Travel plans and Disney experiences
* AV community events (AVIXA Women’s Council)
* Food culture and regional differences
* eSports in higher education
* Industry networking and conferences (InfoComm)
* Team dynamics and workplace culture
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life, hosts Tim, Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley celebrate the release of Murphy Daley’s new book, The AV Project Manager Handbook. The team discusses the growing interest in AV-specific project management resources and how the book fills a gap for professionals seeking practical, field-ready guidance rather than general management theory.
Murphy’s “PM Minute” focuses on the importance of organized, searchable project information, emphasizing folder structures, standardized naming conventions, and the value of keeping documentation accessible during project execution.
The conversation also explores how AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are being used to summarize articles, generate quick start guides, and assist with meeting notes.
In a lighter segment ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, the hosts reflect on moments of luck, timing, and serendipity in their AV careers—especially how many of them became involved with the podcast. The team also looks ahead to a major milestone: the upcoming 10-year anniversary of The AV Life podcast later this year.
Topics Discussed:
Release of The AV Project Manager Handbook* by Murphy Daley
* Industry response and promotion of the new book
* AV-specific project management vs general PM resources
* Murphy’s PM Minute: organizing project information
* Folder structures and documentation best practices
* File naming standards and searchable systems
* AI tools in AV workflows (Microsoft Copilot, transcription, summaries)
* Creating quick-start documentation with AI assistance
* Career “luck” and serendipity stories in the AV industry
* Origins of the hosts’ involvement with The AV Life podcast
* Reflections on changes in the AV industry over the past decade
* Preview of the upcoming 10-year anniversary episode
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way, Nancy Blanchard, James King, and returning guest Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics) for a candid conversation about self-assessments and performance reviews in the AV industry.
The group explores how AV professionals can take an honest look at their performance, advocate for their accomplishments, and maintain ongoing communication with leadership rather than waiting for annual reviews. Panelists discuss strategies such as documenting achievements, maintaining regular one-on-one meetings, and setting clear expectations to avoid surprises during evaluations.
The conversation also touches on leadership challenges, managing remote teams, and the importance of flexibility when evaluating employees with different working styles. Beyond career development, the group briefly discusses AV industry trends, including potential chip pricing concerns, higher-ed budget pressures, and university mergers.
The episode closes with updates on InfoComm registration, travel challenges, and upcoming industry events, making this both a reflective and forward-looking discussion for AV professionals.
Topics Discussed:
* Self-assessments and performance reviews in AV careers
* Advocating for your work and documenting achievements
* The importance of regular one-on-one meetings with leadership
* Managing remote teams and visibility of contributions
* Leadership responsibilities during employee evaluations
* Growth mindset and identifying areas for improvement
* Balancing expectations between employees and managers
* Neurodiversity and flexibility in evaluation systems
* Higher education budget pressures and university mergers
* Semiconductor supply concerns and potential price increases
* InfoComm planning and industry travel challenges
* Career development and professional growth in AV
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week our hosts reflect on leadership, adaptability, and operational consistency in higher education AV. Murphy’s PM Minute focuses on a core project management reality: plans break. Whether it’s supply chain delays, weather events, or shifting requirements, effective leaders must pivot quickly, refocus teams, and maintain momentum without dwelling on lost goals.
The conversation expands into broader leadership themes, including defining outcomes versus rigid timelines, aligning teams around purpose, and ensuring organizational consistency. James shares a customer service experience highlighting how inconsistent communication erodes trust—reinforcing the importance of clear processes and a reliable “source of truth.” The episode blends practical AV management insight with real-world leadership lessons, emphasizing resilience, clarity, and long-term vision in project execution.
Topics Discussed:
* Adapting when project plans fail
* The role of a project manager as leader and motivator
* Defining broader goals vs. fixed deadlines
* Higher ed AV summer planning cycles
* Vendor partnerships and product transitions
* Technical support expectations for AV professionals
* Leadership consistency and employee experience
* Creating a knowledge base as a source of truth
* Customer service breakdowns and trust
* Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification
* Organizational behavior and MBA insights
* Innovation and long-term strategic focus
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded live during the HETMA Virtual Conference Happy Hour, this episode of The AV Life Podcast features hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Nancy Blanchard, and Joe Way alongside board members and guests including Dustin, Teddy, Troy, Tim, and Brittany.
The group reflects on keynote insights about AI in higher education AV, emphasizing historical context, philosophical implications, and practical readiness. Accessibility emerged as a major theme, including lecture capture by default, AI as a learning assistant, and expanded use cases for assisted listening systems to support hard-of-hearing and neurodiverse learners.
The conversation also highlights HETMA surpassing 10,000 members, engagement metrics, community growth strategy, and upcoming initiatives. Blending thoughtful discussion with classic AV Life humor, the episode captures the energy, innovation, and camaraderie of the higher ed AV community.
Topics Discussed:
* AI keynote insights and philosophical framing
* Practical implications of AI for higher ed AV
* Lecture capture by default
* Accessibility and neurodiverse learner support
* Listen assist over Wi-Fi applications
* Instructional design considerations
* HETMA surpassing 10,000 members
* Community engagement metrics and strategy
* State of HETMA updates
* Virtual conference highlights and panel discussions
* Cross-platform production (Zoom + StreamYard)
* Infocomm planning and future initiatives
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this HETMA Takeover episode of The AV Life, the hosts welcome leadership from the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) to preview this year’s highly anticipated virtual conference. The discussion highlights HETMA surpassing 10,000 members and the continued growth of its free, community-driven professional development model.
Panelists outline key sessions including accessible AV design, overcoming higher ed AV challenges, AV over IP, AI in AV, Wi-Fi and cloud-based assistive listening, classroom standardization, proactive monitoring, data analytics, digital whiteboards, and evaluating new technology through the HETMA Approved Program.
A recurring theme is the power of the live chat, where peer-to-peer interaction drives deeper learning. The conference’s flexibility, free access, and highly engaged community continue to make it a standout event for higher education AV professionals.
Topics Discussed:
* HETMA surpassing 10,000 members
* Overview of the HETMA Virtual Conference
* Community-driven session development
* Accessible AV design and Flex spaces
* Overcoming higher ed AV budget and infrastructure challenges
* AV over IP trends
* AI in higher ed AV
* Wi-Fi and cloud-based assistive listening systems
* Classroom standardization strategies
* Proactive monitoring and single-pane-of-glass management
* Data analytics for upgrade and lifecycle decisions
* Digital whiteboards and faculty adoption challenges
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded live during ISE in Barcelona, this episode captures the energy, exhaustion, and excitement of one of the AV industry’s largest global events. Tim Van Woeart and Renee Benson check in with returning guests and surprise cameos from the show floor to discuss scale, planning strategies, emerging themes, and how ISE continues to evolve—especially around collaboration, education technology, and ecosystem-based design. The conversation blends practical advice, industry insight, and classic AV Life spontaneity.
Topics Discussed:
* ISE vs. InfoComm Experience
* The Importance of Strategic Show Planning
* ISE’s Massive Growth and Expansion
* Information Overload and Conference Fatigue
* Ecosystem Thinking and Industry Collaboration
* Solution-Focused Booths and Cross-Manufacturer Collaboration
* Education Technology at ISE
* Show Floor Culture and Spontaneity
* Awards and Innovation Highlights
* The Human Side of Trade Shows
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, hostsTim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Renee Benson kick off February with a wide-ranging discussion focused on the current and future state of higher education AV. The conversation covers ISE travel and expectations, the need for truly innovative new AV products, and how professional conferences continue to shape the industry.
The hosts highlight upcoming HETMA initiatives, including the free HETMA Virtual Conference and the Higher Ed AV Awards, emphasizing community-driven education and recognition. They also explore leadership lessons, professional development, and the importance of stepping away to recharge.
A significant portion of the discussion addresses declining enrollment, institutional mergers, budget pressures, and how these challenges directly impact AV teams. The episode balances realism with optimism, reinforcing the value of connection, learning, and supporting one another within the higher ed AV community.
Topics Discussed:
* ISE travel and industry expectations
* Demand for meaningful AV product innovation
* HETMA Virtual Conference overview
* Higher Ed AV Awards and Education Summit
* Leadership styles and organizational culture
* Professional development and graduate education
* Enrollment decline and demographic trends
* Financial pressures and institutional mergers
* International student enrollment impact
* Immersive experiences and The Sphere
* Conference season planning (InfoComm, E4, CDW)
* Wellness, burnout, and self-care in AV
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this wide-ranging and candid episode of The AV Life Podcast, the panel dives headfirst into 2026 predictions for the AV industry, blending humor, hard truths, and lived experience. The conversation opens with reflections on lifelong learning and leadership, sparked by Tim Van Woeart’s return to graduate school and a broader discussion on how experience reshapes perspective in management and higher education.
From there, the group tackles industry turbulence—including mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and vendor consolidation—while examining how trade shows like ISE and InfoComm are evolving under budget pressure and shifting priorities. Panelists debate the real impact of AI in AV, pushing back on hype and emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human judgment, collaboration, and empathy.
The episode also explores post-COVID realities, including rushed deployments, looming refresh cycles, and the need to “do it right” the second time around. Along the way, listeners are treated to classic AV Life banter, project-management wisdom, and a reminder that in uncertain times, community, kindness, and authenticity matter more than ever.
Topics Discussed:
* 2026 predictions for the AV industry
* Leadership development and adult learning
* AI hype vs. real-world AV applications
* Layoffs, mergers, and market consolidation
* Trade show strategy: ISE, InfoComm, CES
* Higher education AV post-COVID refresh cycles
* Generational differences in the workplace
* Project management fundamentals
* Vendor ecosystems and community building
* The human element in technology decisions
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this debut episode of The AV Life Book Club, the team dives deep into The AV Project Manager Handbook with its author, Murphy Daley, exploring what it really takes to manage successful AV projects. From the importance of industry standards and CAD documentation to meeting agendas, scope control, and lessons learned, this conversation highlights why project management is more than just schedules and spreadsheets.
Murphy shares the origin story of the book, born from years of real-world experience and writing for the AV community, while Tim and Chi bring practical perspectives from higher education and enterprise AV environments. Together, they unpack how documentation builds trust with trades, why agendas and summaries matter more than AI-generated meeting notes, and how tracking effort, time, and scope protects both teams and projects.
This episode sets the tone for future Book Club discussions and invites listeners to help shape what’s next—reinforcing the AV Life philosophy of always be learning.
Topics Discussed:
Launching The AV Life Book Club and plans for future reader participation
* The origin and purpose of The AV Project Manager Handbook*
* Why AV project management needs structure and standards
* Using AVIXA and CAD standards to communicate with architects and trades
* AV’s role as the “last trade” and why documentation matters
* Meeting agendas, note-taking, and action items as PM essentials
* Why AI meeting summaries aren’t enough for real project control
* Scope of Work vs. Statement of Work (SOW) and managing scope creep
* Level of effort, labor estimation, and resource planning
* Lessons learned, archiving, and continuous improvement
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This episode of The AV Life reflects on major milestones in higher education AV while looking ahead to the future of the industry. Host Tim Van Woeart celebrates his 15-year anniversary in higher ed AV, sharing lessons learned, career growth, and the importance of people skills alongside technology. The conversation spotlights Chi Hang Lo, who was nominated for AV Professional of the Year by AV Nation, highlighting his servant leadership, technical vision, and dedication to mentoring his team.
The group discusses transformative projects such as UCLA’s cloud-first AV systems, the evolution of classroom technology, and how cloud infrastructure, AI, and agile methodologies are shaping the next generation of learning environments. Broader industry changes—including leadership transitions, recognition of higher ed innovation, and predictions for the next 15 years—round out a reflective yet forward-looking conversation centered on collaboration, innovation, and community.
Topics discussed:
* Tim Van Woeart’s 15-year anniversary in higher ed AV
* Chi Hang Lo’s AV Professional of the Year nomination
* Servant leadership and team-focused recognition
* Cloud-first AV system design at UCLA
* Agile and scrum methodologies in AV projects
* Evolution of classroom technology over the past decade
* AI’s role in AV analytics and learning environments
* Smart campuses and integrated systems
* Industry recognition of higher ed AV innovation
* Leadership transitions and industry transformation
* Predictions for the next 15 years of AV and higher ed
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this annual holiday party episode of The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson (Sony Electronics), and Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam) are joined by a wide-ranging group of higher education and AV industry professionals for an informal but insightful year-in-review conversation. Guests reflect on professional milestones such as promotions, job changes, awards, staffing challenges, and major personal moments, including new parents and career recognitions.
The discussion highlights the evolving higher ed AV landscape, from workforce shortages and equipment lifecycle planning to the growing impact of organizations like HETMA and major industry events such as ISE, InfoComm, and regional roadshows. The group also touches on industry acquisitions, travel demands, work-life balance, and the importance of community within AV. The episode wraps with lighthearted holiday debates, traditions, and must-watch seasonal movies, closing out 2025 with humor, gratitude, and optimism for the year ahead.
Topics discussed:
* End-of-year reflections and career milestones
* Higher education AV staffing challenges
* Promotions, job transitions, and professional growth
* HETMA initiatives, roadshows, and community building
* Major AV industry events (ISE, InfoComm, MCUAV)
* Industry acquisitions and market shifts
* Work-life balance and travel demands in AV roles
* Equipment reliability and classroom technology planning
* Mentorship and onboarding new AV professionals
* Holiday traditions and pop-culture debates in the AV community
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim Van Woeart:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-cts-45416826/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woert is joined by Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley for a candid, year-end conversation about the hectic fourth quarter in AV and higher education. The team discusses extreme workloads, slipping project timelines, unusual product lead times, and the pressure to stay constantly available for customers and campus needs.
Renee and Nancy share insights into navigating unlimited PTO, leadership expectations, and setting boundaries while maintaining strong customer relationships. Murphy offers a “PM Minute,” emphasizing returning to fundamentals when projects stall. The group also talks about higher ed purchasing delays, an upcoming Sony Bravia model shift, international travel for ISE, and Murphy’s soon-to-be-released AV project management book.
Topics Discussed: * Year-end workload spikes and burnout * Unlimited PTO and real-world expectations * Setting customer and leadership boundaries * Higher ed purchasing delays and dragged-out project timelines * Lead times, shipping slowdowns, and Amazon delays * Sony Bravia model changes approaching ISE/InfoComm * Travel demands and AV industry event schedules * Using PM fundamentals when projects stall * Work–life balance during the holidays * Decorating, family time, and personal downtime * Murphy Daley’s upcoming AV PM handbook * Inviting younger AV professionals to share their industry experience
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this post-Thanksgiving installment, Tim Van Woeart welcomes back co-host Murphy Daley for a warm, funny, and wide-ranging conversation. The pair catch up on holiday adventures (mashed potatoes, cranberries, Instant pots, olives, pickles, and more), reflect on the December HETMA theme—Productive Rest, and dive deep into collaboration, planning, and communication in AV and IT work.
As always, Tim and Murphy mix personal storytelling with professional insight—discussing everything from grad school applications, stocking-stuffer hacks, 3D printing, and de-cluttering, to setting boundaries, project management habits, and community building. The episode wraps with a call to action for the HETMA Prism Scholarship and a look ahead to the upcoming AV Life Holiday Party.
Topics Discussed:
* Thanksgiving Recap & Holiday Food Adventures
* Holiday Logistics & Family Patterns
* Productive Rest: December HETMA Theme
* Collaboration as a Skill & Necessity
* Lessons Learned & Communication Style Differences
* Tim’s Grad School Application
* Book Club & Community Enrichment Ideas
* Decluttering, Resetting, and Routines
* Holiday Planning, Stocking Stuffers & Five Below Hacks
* Prism Scholarship Call to Action
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this special solo episode, Tim sits down—crewless but full-hearted—to open December’s HETMA Road to 10K theme: Productive Rest. After dedicating the episode to his late colleague Steve Smith, he reflects on burnout, seasonal chaos, family life, and why AV pros need to set healthy boundaries during the busiest time of year.
He also shares updates on the upcoming AV Life Holiday Party, teases a big January anniversary episode, and reminds everyone to mark their calendars for the 2026 HETMA Virtual Conference. A short but meaningful check-in before the holiday whirlwind begins.
Topics Discussed:
* HETMA's December Theme – Productive Rest
* Holiday-Season Overload Holiday
* Higher Ed End-of-Semester Chaos
* The Power of Saying “No”
* AV Life Holiday Party (Dec 16) Invitation
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this special “Attitude of Gratitude” episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart welcomes an extended panel including Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam), Renee Benson (Sony), Murphy Daley, James King, Joe Way, and guests Aaron Baker, Philip Leimbach, and Tim Neviska. Together, the group reflects on career growth, the power of community within higher-education AV, and the role gratitude plays amid professional challenges and life transitions.
The conversation ranges from managing legacy equipment in AV projects, maintaining boundaries in support roles, and navigating shifting job markets, to deeply personal reflections on family, career pivots, mentorship, burnout, and faith. Contributors highlight how organizations like HETMA create opportunities for professional development, leadership, and connection—especially for those who begin as introverted “lurkers.”
The episode blends humor, heartfelt storytelling, and practical insight, ultimately underscoring the importance of community support, giving back, and embracing gratitude as both a mindset and a stabilizing force in a changing world.
Topics discussed:
* PM Minute with Murphy Daley--legacy equipment, CFE/OFE challenges
* Gratitude within AV careers and personal life
* Community and mentorship in higher-education AV (including HETMA involvement)
* Service workflows, troubleshooting, and faculty communication habits
* Work-life boundaries and managing support expectations
* Career mobility, job instability, burnout, and industry shifts
* Professional development, volunteering, and leadership opportunities
* Networking and engagement for introverted or new AV professionals
* Vendor/manufacturer perspectives and partnerships (ScreenBeam, Sony)
* Personal stories of growth, resilience, and life transitions
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week the AV Life crew digs into why the AV industry feels “weird” right now—from project delays and shifting budgets to higher ed’s changing technology demands. James King shares stories from LCME accreditation planning, emphasizing the power of basics, discipline, and preparation. Tim highlights HETMA’s mission and the value of small wins, while Renee offers insights from manufacturers and integrators navigating unpredictable conditions. A grounded, honest look at where AV stands today and how to keep moving forward.
Topics discussed:
* Rapid weather changes across regions
* Nationwide AV job market shifts
* Construction delays and funding reductions
* Higher ed technology refresh challenges
* LCME accreditation hybrid/in-person prep
* Differences in AV standards: wow-factor vs essentials
* Regional AV events and attendance trends
* HETMA Road to 10K: gratitude and small wins
* Teaching young professionals AV basics
* Integrator relationships and truth-telling to management
* The value of community: collaboration and support
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This week the AV Life crew welcomes guest Kevin Kwasneski from 22 Miles, and the team share their biggest AV war stories: stressful installs, communication breakdowns, project management lessons, and the moments that made them better pros. From oranges that looked ripe (Murphy’s PM Minute metaphor) to 2 a.m. installs, broken firewalls, and full-building refreshes before Labor Day, each story highlights the chaos, teamwork, and learning that come from AV project challenges.
🎧 Topics Discussed:
* Project readiness and “ripening” (Murphy Daley’s PM Minute)
* The Biamp–ClearOne acquisition and industry shake-ups
* Unexpected project crises and fast-tracked installs
* Managing clients, expectations, and communication gaps
* The role of teamwork and vendor collaboration under pressure
* Lessons learned and post-project reflection
* “Always be learning” mindset in AV work
* Partnership and collaboration in digital signage (22 Miles)
* Veterans Day appreciation and gratitude theme
* Humor and resilience in AV project management
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
It’s a spooktacular 👻 time on The AV Life podcast this week! Join Tim and Nancy with guests Tim Albright, Brittney Grant, and Jennifer Weaver as they celebrate Halloween AV-style — with stories, laughs, and plenty of tricks and treats. From creepy tech mishaps and haunted installations to favorite costumes and candy debates, this lighthearted episode shows the fun, community-driven spirit behind The AV Life team.
The hosts mix seasonal silliness with real AV-life reflections — proving that even in the world of professional tech, there’s always room for a good ghost story and a laugh with friends.
🎧 Topics Discussed:
* Halloween stories and traditions
* Favorite costumes and candy
* AV nightmares — tech gone wrong
* Balancing professional life with fun and personality
* Seasonal humor and community connection
* What’s next for The AV Life
* A busy coming week for HETMA — Nashville roadshow, Educause, rAVe LAVNCH Week, Midwich Tech Connect Boston
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
The AV Life crew welcomes guest Jon Youse, Regional Board Chair for HETMA and Director of Educational Technology Support at Ivy Tech Community College. Together, they preview the upcoming HETMA Roadshow in Nashville, explore the power of community in higher ed AV, and share insights about planning regional events that unite technology, education, and connection. Plus, the team dives into travel tales, weather woes, and reflections on learning, adaptation, and gratitude.
A lively mix of AV insights, personal stories, and a look ahead at what’s next for HETMA and the higher ed AV community.
Topics Discussed:
• Overview of HETMA’s regional Roadshow events
• The upcoming Nashville Roadshow at Vanderbilt University
• The growth and community impact of HETMA
• The benefits of centralized systems in community colleges
• Balancing work, wellness, and travel in the AV industry
• Upcoming HETMA initiatives: Educause, virtual conference, Higher Ed AV Awards, and 2026–27 roadshow plans
• Building consistency and community across events
• Reflections on learning, failure, and adaptation—from math struggles to AI in AV
• Family, education, and gratitude moments from the hosts
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this lively and wide-ranging episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woert welcomes Bex Wade from Igloo Vision, along with regular crew members Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, and Murphy Daley. They dive into immersive technology, project management, and industry events — and take hilarious detours into classic gaming, British vs. American accents, 90s pop culture, and even Rush’s comeback tour. Murphy shares updates on her upcoming book The AV Project Manager Handbook and offers a “PM Minute” on risk management.
This one has everything: immersive spaces, road trip stories, and why you should never drop the baton — in AV or anywhere else.
Topics Discussed:
• Introduction to Igloo Vision and immersive room technology
• Education and enterprise applications of immersive AV
• Murphy Daley’s AV Project Manager Handbook — preview and launch plans
• The PM Minute: How to manage risk during project handoffs
• Rush’s return to touring with a new drummer
• Cultural mix-ups: Spice Girls, Sharknado, Tiger King, and accents
• Travel tales: Driving vs. flying, Denver AV scene, and Red Rocks
• Disney pricing and expansion rumors
• Upcoming AV events: EDUCAUSE, Midwich Tech Connect, and Higher Ed AV Awards
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this one-on-one episode, Tim Van Woeart and Nancy Blanchard dive into a wide-ranging conversation that blends climate realities, tariffs, and the AV industry’s global supply chain. They reflect on erratic weather, climate change misconceptions, and how new U.S. tariffs could reshape manufacturing, pricing, and planning for AV projects in higher education. Nancy shares insights from her dual Canadian–U.S. perspective and previews the HETMA Roadshow in Toronto. The hosts discuss COVID’s lingering narratives, work ethic in younger generations, and how manufacturing and labor shortages affect AV production. Tim closes with plans for a future episode to “roast COVID once and for all” which is now posted as episode 301.
Topics Discussed:
* Climate change vs. “global warming” – correcting misconceptions and regional effect
* Extreme weather across North America: blizzards, fires, and tornadoe
* U.S. tariffs on imports from China, Mexico, and Canada – economic and AV implication
* Manufacturer impact: how supply chain and OEM components may drive up price
* Higher ed AV budgets and pre-purchasing strategies before tariff increase
* Dual citizenship perspective – Nancy’s take as a Canadian-American AV professiona
* Manufacturing migration from China to the U.S. and Mexico post-COVI
* Labor shortages and work ethic among younger generation
* Automation, AI, and manufacturing capacity in the U.S
* Preview of future “Roast of COVID” episode marking five years since the pandemic
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this “cozy” episode of The AV Life, hosts Van Woeart and Murphy Daley hold down the fort as a two-person crew. They reflect on the busy start of the semester, budget planning and deferred maintenance, and how to feed all the “little projects” competing for attention. With fall underway, they swap stories about Halloween AV setups, lighting effects, and calls for community members to share their creative projects. Murphy’s PM Minute explores transferable knowledge and how stepping into the unknown sparks growth. The conversation expands to public broadcasting’s future, art born from struggle, and the value of earned wisdom versus easy AI quotes.
Topics Discussed
• Semester kickoff: budget planning and deferred maintenance in higher ed
• Preparing for summer 2026 projects
• Seasonal AV fun: Halloween decorations, lighting, and AVL creativity
• Call for community to share holiday AV setups
• Murphy Daley’s PM Minute: transferable knowledge, growth, and fear in new projects
• Networking and signage responsibilities in new roles
• Reflections on earned wisdom vs. easy AI-generated content
• Public broadcasting challenges and need for creative reinvention
• Art, pain, and creativity as sources of innovation
• Call for more guests and community engagement on the podcast!
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart welcomes Chris Kelly from Creighton University to discuss classroom AV support in higher education, including strategies for lecture capture, synchronous learning, and Zoom’s new video management tool. The crew shares updates on Murphy Daly’s upcoming book, Mark Coxon’s serialized book project, and reflects on project management lessons about when projects die or how to hand them off when they end. They honor Corey Moss, preview upcoming HETMA roadshows, Educause, and the HETMA Golf Classic. The episode closes with a return of the firing range with a spirited debate on deepfakes and the need for regulation in the AV industry.
Topics Discussed:
• Introduction of Chris Kelly from Creighton University and his role in classroom AV support
• Higher Ed AV challenges: lecture capture, synchronous learning, converged networks
• Murphy Daly’s project management book and Mark Coxon’s serialized book release
• Project management lessons: when projects die or end and how to hand them off
• Honoring Corey Moss, founder of The AV Life
• HETMA Roadshows, Educause conference, and the HETMA Golf Classic preview
• Lecture capture technologies
• Faculty adoption and instructional design partnerships
• Firing range: deepfakes and the call for regulation in the AV sector
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This episode of The AV Life dives into UCLA’s groundbreaking AV as a Platform initiative. The hosts welcome special guest Chi Hang Lo, who shares details about the next-generation AV automation system being piloted on campus. The discussion explores how AV can function as a scalable, modular platform that ties together technology, facilities, security, and student experiences across the university. From scheduling and signage to safety and student experience, UCLA’s pilot is laying the foundation for the next decade of AV in higher education.
Topics Discussed:
* The concept of AV as a Platform vs. traditional AV systems
* Scalability and modular design for thousands of rooms
* Cloud-first technology (AWS, Kubernetes, custom “Bruin Cloud”)
* Integrating facilities, security, scheduling, and digital signage
* Student and faculty experience improvements
* Training strategies for diverse users (ages 5 to 95)
* Building cross-department buy-in and collaboration
* Leadership support and vision at UCLA
* Broader applications beyond higher ed (corporate, multi-campus, global)
* Reflections on pilots: data collection, champions vs. cross-section faculty
* The future of AV in higher education and beyond
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
In the 302nd episode of The AV Life, the hosts celebrate the continuing journey beyond their 300th show. They dive into the upcoming Prism Scholarship Golf Tournament, share stories about travel, processes, and project management, and explore the September theme of “Life is a Highway”—building systems and repeatable habits that foster long-term success. Along the way, the crew swaps fall drink preferences, cookie debates, and reflections on AV life in higher education.
Topics Discussed:
• Prism Scholarship Golf Tournament (September 21–22) and fundraising efforts
• Golfing stories, scrambles, and event traditions (including themed jello shots)
• Travel distances in California and Alaska–Russia connections
• September’s theme: Life is a Highway – creating systems, processes, and habits for success
• Project management insights and KPIs in AV work
• Faculty training, classroom refreshes, and start-of-semester challenges
• Food and beverage discussions: cookies at conferences, fall drinks (cider, wine, Baileys, pumpkin spice latte, horchata)
• Disney park decorations and fall/Halloween traditions
• AV industry impacts (tariffs, pricing, integrator collaboration)
• Teasers for the return of “The Firing Range” segment
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded March 18, 2025
Better late than never! Host Tim Van Woeart sits down with Chris Neto (Midwich; creator of AV in the AM) and crew members Joe Way, Renee Benson, and James King to “roast” COVID—airing grievances, acknowledging what changed for the better, and, finally, putting the topic to bed. Five years on, they revisit how emergency funding, supply-chain chaos, and fast pivots reshaped classrooms, conference rooms, and the AV/IT relationship.
Topics Discussed:* Why Tim wants to “roast COVID” and move on—capturing lessons without rehashing the past * Emergency funding (CARES/HEERF): acceleration vs. sustainability of new classroom standards * USB-C everywhere: single-cable BYOD, power/video/USB, and how it reshaped system design * UC became IT: platform consolidation, management/security, and AV’s changing seat at the table * From webcams to production gear: cameras, mics, lighting, and what “acceptable quality” means now * Supply-chain improvisation: substitutions, spec flexibility, and finding new vendors (e.g., Ikron) * Streaming beyond campus: bonded-cellular workflows for events when networks aren’t available * Standardization vs. speed: documenting “good/better/best,” lifecycle planning, and supportability * Community that stuck: AV in the AM, virtual happy hours, and peer networks as a lifeline * What’s next: pushing past “good enough,” balancing convenience with craft, and closing the chapter
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Chris:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherneto/
Twitter (X) – hhttps://x.com/chris_neto
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded June 25, 2025, this milestone episode celebrates The AV Life’s 300th recording with a perfect blend of old-school chaos and heartfelt reflection. Host Tim Van Woeart brings together the crew — Renee Benson, Murphy Daley, Nancy Blanchard, and Joe Way — alongside special guests Brandy Johnson, Aaron Peterson, and the always unpredictable Harry Mead.
The episode pays tribute to Corey Moss, the show’s late founder, and reflects on how his original vision — unpredictable, inclusive, debate-filled, and human — still anchors the podcast today. There’s plenty of AV nostalgia, HETMA shoutouts, and off-topic hilarity, including a heated Firing Range debate on AI’s impact on the AV industry, Taylor Swift engagement theories, Krispy Kreme conspiracies, and a callback to the infamous Impossible Burger taste test challenge. It’s funny, reflective, awkward, and exactly what the 300th episode should be.
Topics Discussed* Reflecting on 300 episodes and the legacy of Corey Moss * Debut of guest Brandy Johnson and return of familiar voices * InfoComm memories and changes in booth culture * Evolution of dress codes and gender norms in AV * Harry Mead’s city council adventures and water treatment talk * Murphy’s water certification exam and AV-adjacent career detours * The return of the Firing Range: AI’s impact on AV * CTS-D war stories and the trauma of old-school testing * Costumes, fog guns, inflatable suits, and Halloween memories * Spence Graham impersonations and honoring past crew members
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded: August 19, 2025
Crew: Host Tim Van Woeart, with Murphy Daley and Nancy Blanchard
As the show lines up its 300th milestone, Tim throws out an open invite for listeners to jump into the next recording by DM’ing for the link. He’s capping the virtual studio at around a dozen at a time, so expect some rotation if the crowd floods in. Consider this the pre-party: a quick check-in on summer rhythms, back-to-school ramp-ups, and how the show’s evolved since the 200th.
The crew also hits industry beats and life stuff: Commercial Integrator’s Forty Under Forty shout-out (congrats, Lex Evans), Disney travel tactics, Halloween in August, riptide-closed Jersey beaches, and a PM Minute on “precision of words” in AV project communication. There’s movie-house nostalgia too: TMNT ’90, CLUE’s rotating endings, The Breakfast Club, and why a slow release calendar means more classics on the big screen. Murphy teases her almost-ready, under-100-page project-management book, aiming to launch before year’s end.
Topics Discussed1. Open invite for the 300th recording: DM for the studio link; ~12 on at a time with rotation 2. Looking back from 200 to 299: evolving format and rotating crew 3. Commercial Integrator Forty Under Forty; Lex Evans props and bringing Dan back to explain the process 4. Disney logistics: booking when schedules drop, Halloween decor in August, overnight flip to Christmas 5. Summer wrap: Hershey Park, Wildwood beach baseball, family time, work reset 6. Safety PSA: riptides shutting down NJ beaches as storms churn offshore 7. Cinema lull = classics return: TMNT ’90, CLUE with different endings, The Breakfast Club, Cat Video Fest 8. AI takes: helpful tool, not a human replacement; skepticism about “AI teachers” 9. PM Minute: precision of words across stakeholders; translating fuzzy requests into install-ready directions 10. Murphy’s book update: concise, practical AV PM guide targeted for release this year
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded March 25, 2025
Host Tim Van Woeart and co-host Murphy Daley catch up on life and AV. Murphy shares a health update and why she’s diving into a water-management certification that’s heavy on geometry, conversions, and real-world stakes at city scale. Tim offers practical CTS study tactics (including how mentors and a pre-written formula sheet can help), and they point listeners to the HETMA Prism Scholarship pathway. The duo preview InfoComm week: the HETMA Education Summit via AVIXA registration, panel and small-group formats, and the 12 RU haul for CTS renewal. They also tease the Camp HETMA theme, booth plans, sponsor activation, and the Higher Ed AV Awards on Monday night, where wardrobe changes and showmanship are basically guaranteed.
Along the way they compare “math you thought you’d never use” with the math you can’t avoid, talk capacity and margins using an Excel-to-the-edges cautionary tale, and detour into Princess Bride lore (Billy Crystal chaos, Mandy Patinkin’s bruised ribs, the whole thing). Parenting notes pop up too: Minecraft’s “never dig straight down,” Roblox targeting grown-ups, and basic online safety. It’s a breezy reset episode that still packs in useful pointers for higher-ed AV pros ramping toward InfoComm.
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Topics Discussed* Murphy’s health update and why she’s pursuing a water-management certification (geometry, dosing, unit conversions, real-world scale) * CTS study tactics and mentorship; shout to Britt Yenser and community support paths * HETMA Prism Scholarship as an on-ramp to CTS, AVIXA membership, and mentoring * InfoComm prep: HETMA Education Summit format, registration via AVIXA, and 12 RUs toward CTS renewal * Camp HETMA theme: booth plans, t-shirts, and a revived sponsor-tied activity teased * Higher Ed AV Awards on Monday night; multiple outfits and stagecraft from the hosts * AV Life considering additional responsibilities at InfoComm (coverage possibilities) * Excel “no margins left” analogy for energy/capacity during treatment and recovery * Pop-culture detour: Princess Bride behind-the-scenes laughs and cast anecdotes * Parenting/online safety: Minecraft/Roblox, driving permits, and sensible guardrails
Recorded April 1, 2025
In this catch-up episode, Tim Van Woeart and Nancy Blanchard (now with PPDS Professional Display Solutions) reconnect to share updates, swap stories, and dive into Nancy’s on-the-ground review of the recent HETMA Roadshow in Toronto. From wild weather shifts to standout campus tours, they explore what made this stop unique — including the impressive sustainable “Timberlost” building project at George Brown College and how the event drew strong local higher ed participation.
The conversation blends personal updates with professional insights, covering how roadshows meet a critical need for local vendor–campus connections, the value of competitive two-minute vendor pitches, and what makes certain campus locations and builds truly memorable. Tim and Nancy also veer into Disney trip planning, conference travel quirks, and what’s next for HETMA Roadshows. Whether you’re in higher ed tech, AV, or just love hearing about industry events with a human touch, this is a fun, wide-ranging catch-up with plenty of nuggets for event planners and tech managers alike.
Topics Discussed
* Nancy’s Canada travels, family updates, and weather extremes
* The HETMA Roadshow Toronto: turnout, vendor list, and local higher ed engagement
* Highlights from the “Timberlost” sustainable building tour at George Brown College
* Competitive vendor “speed pitch” format and why it works
* Why roadshows meet an important regional need for AV/IT engagement
* Comparing campus design choices: concrete vs carpet from an acoustic perspective
* Disney World trip overlaps and conference travel stories
* Travel limitations for Canadian attendees due to exchange rates and current events
* Volunteer-driven nature of HETMA and how to get involved
* Upcoming HETMA Roadshow dates and InfoComm 2025 plans
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded in August 5, 2025, the crew reunites to catch up on summer adventures before diving into a full recap of InfoComm Asia. Host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way and Nancy Blanchard, bringing listeners into a lively conversation about vacations, baseball on the beach, Disneyland anniversaries, and the “tourist” spots that locals love to avoid. Joe shares his recent experience representing HETMA at InfoComm Asia in Bangkok, offering insights into the show’s unique size, focus, and energy compared to its North American and European counterparts.
Joe’s recap paints a vivid picture of the event’s intimate feel, diverse range of smaller exhibitors, and a heavy emphasis on innovation — from paper-thin rollable LED to AI-driven solutions. He also reflects on meaningful conversations with attendees, the region’s approach to technology in education, and the opportunities for HETMA to expand its advocacy in APAC. The crew compares notes on other events like the Utah Integrated Audiovisual Expo, Northwestern’s HETMA Roadshow, and upcoming stops in Nashville and beyond. Between the travel tales and trade show talk, the episode delivers both a personal and professional look at AV life in 2025.
Topics Discussed
* Summer highlights from the crew, including beach baseball and Disneyland trips
* Joe’s full recap of InfoComm Asia in Bangkok
* Differences in scale, exhibitors, and atmosphere compared to InfoComm and ISE
* Notable tech trends and innovative products spotted on the show floor
* The role of smaller companies and startups in the APAC AV market
* Education technology adoption in the region, especially at the high school level
* Opportunities for HETMA’s advocacy and networking in APAC
* Attendance stats and growth potential for InfoComm Asia
* Updates from recent and upcoming HETMA Roadshows
* Other AV events on the horizon, including Nashville and potential new locations
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded May 6, 2025
This crew episode features Tim Van Woeart and Murphy Daley catching up on life, career moves, travel mishaps, and what it means to hit the reset button. Tim talks about his new role at Rutgers Newark, his experiences with classroom technology, and how it’s changing his day-to-day approach. Murphy shares her own updates, from local government projects to family trips that include Weird Al, Annapolis, and even Germany.
The conversation dives into everything from air traffic control meltdowns and cross-country road trips to learning the “language” of new teams and navigating big transitions. This episode embodies what The AV Life does best—authentic dialogue about life and AV, infused with humor and personal insight, reminding us why sometimes a reset is exactly what’s needed.
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at https://higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
This episode dives into the human side of AV life—mistakes that teach us lessons, networks that support us, and how professional growth often happens in the most unexpected ways. Tim Van Woeart leads the conversation with crew members Nancy and James as they welcome guest Aaron Peterson to share his experiences navigating challenges, finding mentors, and embracing the power of connection.
The team explores the role of vulnerability and authenticity in professional networks, how learning from failures can strengthen relationships, and why having a strong community of peers is critical in the AV industry. Whether you’ve been in the field for decades or are just starting out, this episode offers valuable perspectives on turning missteps into opportunities and building a network that lifts everyone higher.
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Topics Discussed
* Aaron Peterson’s background and career journey
* Why mistakes are valuable learning opportunities
* The role of professional networks in overcoming challenges
* How vulnerability builds stronger professional relationships
* Memorable stories of career missteps and recovery
* The difference between “networking” and “building networks”
* Peer support in the AV industry and beyond
* Lessons learned from both success and failure
* Advice for those starting out in AV or IT fields
* Reflections on growth and the human side of technology work
Recorded July 22, 2025
Tim Van Woeart and Renee Benson welcome Brittney Grant, AV professional at Aims Community College and Chair of HETMA’s Approved Program, for a conversation themed around “True North.” They discuss professional growth, mentorship, and how to navigate an evolving AV industry while staying grounded in purpose and values.
Brittney shares her journey from student to AV leader, her passion for creating excellent experiences, and the mentors who shaped her career. The group reflects on lessons learned from recent HETMA Roadshows, the importance of quality over quantity in industry relationships, and how AV professionals can guide the next generation. Whether you’re seeking your own professional direction or looking to mentor others, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and a little humor.
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Topics Discussed
* Brittney Grant’s path from student to AV professional at Aims Community College
* Her role as HETMA’s Approved Program Chair and what it entails
* Lessons learned from the Chicago HETMA Roadshow and the value of quality over quantity
* Finding a personal “True North” in technology leadership and career development
* The power of mentorship and how AV professionals can guide future talent
* The influence of early AV experiences, from churches to theaters to higher education
* Why mentorship and passing knowledge forward is vital for the industry’s future
* The importance of community involvement and professional collaboration
* Staying engaged and continually learning in an evolving AV landscape
* How to ask for help, accept support, and keep moving forward
Recorded May 13, 2025
This “lost” episode of The AV Life goes back to a recording that didn’t post when originally captured but remains as relevant as ever. Host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way and Renee Benson for an unfiltered conversation that blends industry insight with personal updates and plenty of laughs.
The crew talks about Tim’s career transition to Rutgers Newark, the frantic run-up to InfoComm, and how tariffs, supply chain quirks, and travel shifts are changing the conversation in higher ed AV. It’s part industry talk, part after-hours planning session (yes, party invites included), and all classic AV Life.
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production.
More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/
TheAVLifePodYouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Topics Discussed* Tim’s move to Rutgers Newark and what drove the change * The crew’s take on InfoComm 2025 planning and party invites * Tariff shifts and whether manufacturers will adjust pricing * Travel restrictions and what they mean for end-user attendance * Regional roadshows as a response to travel cutbacks * The debate over product announcements and interoperability trends * How higher ed AV users respond (or fail to respond) to supply chain disruptions * The value of keeping projects moving despite funding uncertainty * Booth highlights, swag, and DJ Carbon keeping the HETMA booth energized
In this reflective and heartfelt episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by crew members Murphy Daley, James King, and Nancy Blanchard for a meaningful conversation with special guest Tammy Fuqua. Together, they explore the idea of discovering and living your “true north”—that internal compass that guides how you lead, grow, and show up for others.
Tammy shares her journey with vulnerability and strength, opening up about the importance of clarity, personal alignment, and staying grounded in your values, even in the face of challenges. The crew brings their own perspectives to the table, making for a rich discussion on empathy, trust, reflection, and purpose in both life and AV. Whether you’re a leader, a teammate, or just trying to figure things out—this episode is an invitation to pause and realign.* Defining your “true north” and what it looks like in action
* How reflection fuels personal and leadership growth
* Leading with empathy, clarity, and consistency
* Balancing vulnerability with resilience
* Staying aligned to values in fast-moving environments
* What it means to “show up” for others and yourself
* The importance of trust in teams and communities
* Intentionality in leadership and life
* Lessons from career pivots and personal challenges
* Advice for finding clarity when you feel off course
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded June 11-13, 2025, live at the HETMA Booth (4887), InfoComm Orlando.
The AV Life crew returns with a three-part episode recorded live from the show floor at InfoComm 2025. Across Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Nancy Blanchard and Renee Benson to reflect on the energy of the show, highlight key moments at the HETMA booth, and share their own experiences navigating a packed InfoComm schedule. With surprise guests—including a championship belt–wearing Ryan Gray—this live series captures the spirit of community, exhaustion, and excitement that only InfoComm can deliver.
Over the course of these daily recordings, the crew discusses traffic patterns, social events, standout technology, and the evolving presence of HETMA on the show floor. From chaotic booth setups to an Amazing Race–style showdown and the emotional highs of the Higher Ed AV Awards, this episode is an authentic snapshot of the higher ed AV community’s biggest week of the year. Whether you were there in person or watching from afar, this one brings the floor to you.* Daily booth traffic, attendance trends, and scheduling surprises * Reflections on the Higher Ed AV Awards and Renee’s back-to-back wins * Swag strategies and the art of last-day scavenging * HETMA’s Camp-themed engagement, including the sash-and-pin challenge * Reactions to major manufacturers pulling out vs. creative partner activations * Highlights from vendor meetings and product discoveries (Sony, Absen, Newline, Q-SYS, etc.) * Social events and after-hours meetups including CTI, Midwich, and Universal Studios * The “Tech Tangle” and “Amazing Race” contests featuring higher ed leaders * Commentary on tariffs, budget cuts, and their impact on InfoComm attendance * Behind-the-scenes moments with the AV Life crew reconnecting in person
- Host: Tim Van Woeart
- Co-hosts: Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson
- Special Guest: Ryan Gray (HETMA, Higher Ed AV Media)
The AV Life is a Higher Ed AV Media production. More at higheredav.com.
Connect with Tim:
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-van-woeart-45416826/
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TVanWoeart
Connect with The AV Life:
Twitter (X) – https://twitter.com/TheAVLifePod
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@theavlife3337
Recorded June 26, 2025
After a hot and humid week in Orlando, the crew of The AV Life reconnects to swap stories, shout out favorite moments, and wind down from another whirlwind InfoComm. With Tim Van Woeart back at the helm, the team dives into their personal takeaways from the show floor, standout booth designs, and a few philosophical detours about the AV community itself. It’s equal parts reunion, recap, and real talk.
Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, and Murphy Daley join Tim for this informal, wide-ranging episode that celebrates what makes InfoComm special beyond the gear: the people. Whether they’re hyping up Canadian karaoke, marveling at logistics, or reflecting on AV’s evolving landscape, the crew brings insight, laughter, and a big dose of post-conference camaraderie.
Topics Discussed Favorite booths and product experiences from InfoComm 2025 * AVIXA’s role in growing community and conversation * Reflections on booth size, presence, and approachability * Canadian karaoke and after-hours fun * Cross-border AV representation and the international vibe * The shift in expectations for trade show content * Travel logistics, exhaustion, and the “post-con fatigue” * Building genuine connection through podcasting and presence * How “family” feels different in AV than in other industries * Looking ahead to how The AV Life* shows up at future events
In this special 4th of July release, The AV Life team gathers for a conversation that connects where the show started with where the AV community is heading.
Host Tim Van Woeargt is joined by Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and James King, and Joe Way.
Joe shares recent updates from HETMA, including growth, outreach, and upcoming initiatives.
The crew also takes a few moments to reflect on the early days of the podcast and the legacy of Corey Moss, one of its original creators. Though Corey isn’t on the mic, his influence on the show and the broader AV community still resonates.
This is an uplifting episode with space for both updates and reflection—something to play while the fireworks go up.
This is an episode made for YouTube! Tim, Murphy, Nancy and Joe talk about so many conference items that are coming up or just happened. HETMA Virtual Conference, HETMA Toronto Roadshow, Infocomm, HETMA Education Summit! Check out all the fun times!! Head over to YouTube and search for The AV Life! Make sure you like and subscribe while you're there!
Hey everyone! Now this was a great episode! Tim and Renee check in with Nancy and Joe while they are at ISE in Barcelona and the list of people we get on the show is incredible! AVIXA CEO Dave Labuskes gets pulled right off the floor and straight onto the show, followed by Erin Maher-Moran, Troy Powers, and Britt Yenser! They all give their early impressions on what is shaping up to be a great ISE Show! Sit back and enjoy!
Hey everyone! This week Tim, Nancy, and Joe discuss what they are most excited for at ISE and Nancy's experience at the HETMA Roadshow in Arizona! Hope you listen in as you make your travels to ISE or elsewhere and be safe along the journey!
Happy New Year AVTweeps!! We welcome Joe Way and Murphy to the show to talk about our plans and resolutions for the New Year and about HETMA and their involvement at ISE 2025! This is a great conversation that you don't want to miss!!
As Joe Way would say: "Boy, do we have a great one for you today!" We welcome George Chacko and Rich Miller to the show as we discuss all the things that they have going on (and spoiler alert: it's a lot!). Listen in as Tim and the crew find out all the fun things they have coming up!
Tim, Renee and Murphy kick things back in gear for the fall here on the podcast! Listen in as we get the ball rolling for this fall! Sit back and enjoy!
Hey Everyone! This week Tim, Murphy and Joe welcome Erin Maher-Moran and Ryan Gray to a shenanigans-filled episode where the new HETMA Chair and Vice Chair (respectively) talk about their aspirations for the direction of HETMA and what we can expect from them over the next year. Sit back and enjoy!
They say it's always good to look at something with a fresh pair of eyes. This week we welcome Robyn Bryce and Jon Gunzel to the show as they give their first-timers insight to Infocomm '24. Listen in for their point of view and our sidequest down AI Alley. Sit back and enjoy!
Tim and Nancy wrap up the last day on the floor at Infocomm. They share their experiences and thoughts and don't miss products! Sit back and enjoy!
Today we have a quick episode where we welcome Joel Carroll from Mersive! Renee and Tim share their thoughts about the show up to now and Joel gives us a little inside as to what Mersive has to offer coming down the road! Sit back and enjoy!
Hey everyone! We had a great day for the first day of Infocomm '24! Listen in to find out our early thoughts. Murphy, Renee, Nancy and Tim with special surprise guests Frank Padikkala and Andre Miller!
It's almost time!!! Tim, Murphy, and Nancy talk about some of the last minute things you need to be aware of! See you at Booth C5651! Wednesday through Friday!! Sit back and enjoy!
Hey Everyone! This week we welcome Carrie Garcia to the show! We talk about our goals for Infocomm '24 and a Ted Talk that Tim found about wearable Audio Computers by Jason Rugolo. Listen in to the great conversations and important Infocomm information!! Sit back and enjoy!
Tim and crew start talking about all the awesome things coming up with Infocomm. The workshops, the education, the Higher Ed AV Awards, and so much more!! Sit back and enjoy!!
Hey everyone! Tim, Renee, Nancy, and Murphy recap the NJ HETMA Roadshow and that leads into a great discussion about the importance of creating partnerships. Don't forget about the upcoming Roadshow at THE Ohio State University on May 10! Listen in and enjoy the show!
And we're back! We welcome back Joe Way as a crew member. Does he keep his crew-level-credibility? Will he get put back to a guest? His streak is on the line! Murphy talks a little about Coachella! Consolidations and focus! Sit back and enjoy our discussions!
Welcome to March AVTweeps!! As the HETMA Conference wraps up and we all MARCH towards our summer projects we talk about the great 5 years that HETMA has had and out plans for this month of MARCH. Let's make this verb month great!! Sit back and enjoy!
As we close out the month of February we welcome Adrian Doughty from Nureva to the show! It's time for us to talk about all the things we love about our industry! And it wouldn't be The AV Life without us straying away on the side quests along the way! Sit back and enjoy!
It's that time of year again!! HETMA takes over The AV Life! Ryan Gray and Mike Pedersen join us and Tim, James and Joe all put our HETMA Hats on! Hear about all the great things HETMA has going on including the Virtual Conference, PRISM Scholarship, and the Aurora Technology Scholarship. Sit back and enjoy!!
Hey AVTweeps! Tim and the crew welcome the one and only Rich Ventura to the show as we share our bold (and maybe not so bold) predictions for 2024! Is it Digital Signage? Is it AR/VR? Is it something completely different?? Take a listen and see what you think!! Sit back and enjoy!
Happy Holidays everyone!! What more could we ask for on our Holiday Party Episode than a PACKED house! We welcome an All Star group of AVTweeps to the show including: Tim Albright, Jennifer Weaver, Richard Hutton, and Mike Pedersen. We talk AV, Rock 'n' Roll, and the holidays! Come wrap up 2023 with us, sit back, grab your favorite beverage, and enjoy!
On this week's episode we welcome back one of the TPoAV, Lisle Waldron! Tim, James, and Lisle talk about the importance of professional development and investing in yourself and investing in the team members who will benefit the most from continuing their education. Sit back and enjoy!
We're starting to put a wrap on 2023 and as we do we have invited Dan Ferrisi and Harry Meade on to the show to join us and to talk about how they are finishing up their year and other random topics! Sit back and enjoy!
Welcome to the annual Thankful for AV episode! We have an All-Star group of guests with us today! Tammy Fuqua, Iffat Chaudhry, Jennifer Weaver, and Kaleo Lee! We have our PM Minute to get us all warmed up followed by the things we are thankful for! So many name drops in this episode! You'll have to listen to find out!
Tim and the gang welcome, Richard Hutton, Lex Evans, and Lisle Waldron to the show where we pull apart the Las Vegas Sphere as it gets more and more into the spotlight and we discuss it's future and possible financial changes. Sit back and enjoy!
This week is an incredible episode! Kameesha Jones, Britt Yenser, Kianna Pompa, Noreen Esson, Erica Carroll, Hunter Stacey, and our very own James King join as part of the CI: 40 Under 40 and we have some great content to share with you all! I'm not going to spoil it so just sit back and enjoy!!
This week Tim and the crew welcome Paul Harris, CEO of Aurora Multimedia, and Joe Way, wearing his HETMA hat, to the show as we discuss Aurora's $6.6 Million technology donation to help Higher Ed institutions in need! We also have a fun PM Minute with Murphy that is sure to "grow" on you. Sit back and enjoy!
Unfortunately, we couldn't get Robin Thicke for this episode but, Tim, James, and Nancy are talking about the Blurred Lines that are forming between the residential and commercial AV Verticals. Higher Ed is part of this blurring as well. And as usual we have our random off the rails talk as well! Sit back and enjoy!
Hey everyone! Welcome to fall!! Well the fall semester that is! Here's the high quality content you subscribe to here on The AV Life! Joe Way gives us his updates! Murphy and her PM Minute shine on us! We talk about getting back to our regular swing of things this fall. And of course we get off the rails. Sit back and enjoy!
Here's a special Friday edition of The AV Life! We welcome Erin Maher-Moran and Cindy Davis to the show as we talk about The 1st HETMA Roadshow stop in Baltimore and The AV/IT Summit in NYC. Coming up on August 1 and 2 respectively. Hear about these awesome FREE events. Check out HETMA.org and AVITSummit.com for more information!! Sit back and enjoy!
Let's beat the heat with this lost episode featuring an all-star group of AVTweeps!! It's our annual Christmas Episode with Michelle Loret, Ryan Gray, and Mike Pedersen. Let's get merry and bright!! Enjoy!!
This week Tim and the crew start talking summer and have a great PM minute with Murphy where we might nudge you a long with your summer projects. Sit back and enjoy!!
The crew gets together in-person from Wednesday at Infocomm '23 in beautiful Orlando, FL!! We share our early thoughts about the show and what we are expecting from the rest of the week! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week we welcome back Tammy Fuqua to the show! Tammy just published an article through Commercial Integrator that is a gentle reminder about Harassment. We are so very close to Infocomm and this is a great reminder for all of us to create a safe space for ourselves and for all of our AV Family. Listen in and enjoy!!
This week we welcome back Jimmie Singleton! We talk with Jimmie about the world outside of Higher Ed, the things he would bring to corporate, and more! This was a great conversation and it was topped off with a greatly missed PM Minute with our Minutetress Murphy! Sit back and enjoy!!
A long long time ago in a Podcast far far away... yes #avtweeps it's that time again! It's the Annual Star Wars episode! A tradition started back with our founder Corey Moss. Tim and the crew welcome AV Life veteran Michelle Loret to the show! We talk Star Wars, Infocomm, and our AV Family! Sit back and enjoy!
We've got your EARLY ACCESS preview for what HETMA and Higher Ed AV has planned at Infocomm '23!! HETMA Board Members and Higher Ed AV Contributors Joe Way, James King, and Tim Van Woeart (Wait they are also part of The AV Life! haha). Check out all the fun and education they have in store!!
No catchy title this week. Straight to the point as we have rising AV Rockstar Britt Yenser on the show! We have an awesome conversation with her about herself and her new podcast "BrAVe Space"!! We also have our PM Minute with Murphy and a little sports talk. Sit back and enjoy!!
This week Tim and the crew (with some interjections from ChatGPT) talk about the latest with AI. Where is it good? Where is it bad? Do we need to worry about Skynet? haha There's also breaking news from The AV Life and Infocomm!! Listen in and see for yourself!!
On this week's episode we are celebrating! Tim, Murphy, and Renee first celebrate the inaugural class to the Higher Ed AV Hall of Fame! We congratulate all the award winners for their unwavering support and contributions to Higher Ed! There's a great PM with Murphy and we also do a bit of celebrating for St. Patrick's Day! Listen in and enjoy the great conversation.
The first of our Lost Episodes comes to us from an awesome Zoomtopia conversation that Tim, Murphy and Nancy had while the rest of the crew was out an about at various conferences! It was a fun night! We also talk cars and the start of the 2022 holidays! Listen, watch and enjoy!
We recorded this right after International Women's Day. Renee, James and Tim talk about some of the strong women in our lives and how much they have influenced us over the years. As always sit back and enjoy!
'Tis the season to clean up! We dust off our Spring equipment and get it ready to come out of hibernation. Winter is almost done and Spring is upon us! We talk about what we do in March to prep for the sprint to the summer! We have another great PM Minute with Murphy. Tim and the crew have their usual antics as well! Sit back and enjoy!
It's that time of the year! Time for HETMA to take over The AV Life! Ryan Gray, BC Hatchett, and Troy Powers add on to Tim and James's usual HETMA push. We have another incredible PM Minute and talk about HETMA's 5th Annual Virtual Conference, "Now What?". Sit back and enjoy!!
Welcome to our annual For The Love of AV episode! We welcome Ryan Gray, Will DeWitt, Richard Hutton, and Aaron Peterson to the show! This gives us a great cross section of our industry! We have an amazing PM Minute and wrap things up with all the things we love about our industry. Tim makes it a little difficult on everyone come and see how!! Enjoy!!
Welcome to our latest episode! Tim, Murphy and James hold down the fort while the team is over at ISE and other various trade shows! We get Tim's book update, discuss education and Temple Grandin, Tim brings up the ever-funny Don McMillan, and we crowd source a PM minute among the crew. We also have a big discussion regarding how we as an industry are doing thanks to some numbers provided by Kym Frank! Sit back and enjoy!
Welcome to this week's episode! James and Tim kick things off talking about ISE and our favorite things about this show. Murphy jumps in on the conversation and, in true AV Life fashion, we switched gears completely and move into books and reading. Murphy gives her recommendations and Tim is going to try and do better on doing reading as well. Sit back and enjoy!
Welcome to this week's podcast where we start off RETRO! We reminisce about our time in the 90's! Murphy reminds us about the golden window of install opportunity in our PM Minute. We talk about the awesome women of the newly formed Women in AV/IT (WAVIT) and all of our excitement around them, we move right into the HETMA Prism Scholarship, and wrap up discussing the Higher Ed Awards brought you by our very own HigherEdAV.com! Sit back and enjoy all the awesome information!
Hey everyone! Happy New Year from The AV Life! We are back after a short hiatus! Tim will be catching you up on all the action as the coming weeks happen. This week though we look into our crystal balls and try to predict what 2023 will look like! A little preview... Tim was right!!! Well sorta haha also Joe makes a bold prediction. (not that any of us were surprised by this). Listen in and enjoy!!
It's Party Time and who says Spooky Season ends in October! Check out all the costumes and listen as we talk Halloween and our favorite Villains! Muahahahahaha! Dave Pequeno and Harry Meade join us as guests for the dark tales! Listen in to all the fun!
Bring on the Nightmare of Lightning Rounds!! Richard Hutton joins us this week as we strike at Bigfoot, Aliens, Divers being swallowed by whales, and Hot Sauce getting in Hot Water! It is truly a scary cast of characters!! Listen in and enjoy!
This week the nightmare focuses on James's Higher Ed AV article about having a recovery plan in case disaster strikes!! Business Continuance has been a nightmare for many organizations for the better part of 2 decades now. We also have our PM minute as always!! Listen in and enjoy!!
As the nightmares return to us at The AV Life we welcome back Richard Mitchell from Biamp! We have our PM Minute with our Minutress Murphy! And we try to not be frightened by these nightmares! Listen in if you dare!! But really do listen in! haha
This week the Nightmares Begin on The AV Life! We welcome long-time friends of The AV Life, Gina Sansivero and Joe Way (yes we put him in a guest role this week). We discuss all of our AV nightmares! Listen in to the scary stories!!
Welcome to The AV Life: Lightning Rounds!! cue thunder sound effect We welcome back the one and only Harry Meade to the show as we strike at vampires in Poland and AI Artwork. This is a work in progress so bear with us! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week it's just James, Murphy, and Tim. We start off by coming up with the next great car innovation. We then roll into our thoughts of parenting. Next we take on the whole elephant with The PM Minute. And in true AV Life fashion we get side tracked into some of our favorite movies. Sit back and enjoy!!
We are back!! Back to school, back to podcasting, and back to having fun! We welcome first time AV Life guest and newbie to twitter Richard Mitchell from Biamp and multi-time guest Aaron Peterson from Mechdyne to the podcast as we talk being nostalgic with getting back to school, new construction projects, and take moment to remember the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Sit back and enjoy!!
This week we wrap up July's Mental Health Month with a serious conversation about all things Mental Health. We welcome back Tammy Fuqua, who is very passionate about this subject matter, and our awesome crew member Renee's sister Adrienne O'Neal. As we state in the episode we are here for our AV and AV Adjacent community! Please reach out to us and we can provide info on where to get help if it's needed!
Tim and the Crew discuss James's July 2022 article on higheredav.com. James challenges us to take 24 hours and put down all our tech. Disconnect from the technology so we can re-connect with our family and ourselves. Listen in and maybe you can take the challenge yourself!
Let's talk Summer!! We welcome back, Tammy Fuqua, Mike Pederson, Aaron Peterson, and Will DeWitt to the podcast!! Joe Way shows up after intros and gets put into a guest position (The NFT's call to him!!) We talk about all our summer favorites! Food, Fun, and Fireworks! We keep it fun and light because that's what is needed right now! Sit back and enjoy!
This episode we let it be heard! Let's hear it for the Women in AV!!! Let's hear it for young girls who are going to break barriers!!! Let's hear it for AVIXA and Infocomm!!! Let's hear it for adventure (even though "it's a dangerous business")!! Listen in to Tim and the crew as we finish our Infocomm conversation! Sit back and enjoy!
We are LIVE at Infocomm '22!! listen in to our awesome conversation, take aways from the conference, and special guests who drop in along the way!!
This week we welcome the TITAN of the industry Richard Hutton from Sharp/NEC and the incredible Joe' Lloyd from AVIXA!! We talk about all your last minute information before Infocomm '22! Get ready for the heat! Drink your water! Be ready for the fun!! Find us at the Starin Booth W1903, Thursday June 9 at 10 AM!! (Don't listen to Tim in this episode he got the location wrong again)
Happy Memorial Day to all of our US listeners. Thank you to all who have lost their lives so that we can maintain the freedoms we love. We have a lot of problems in this country. We all have our opinions on what needs to be done. We can't sit and be quiet anymore. Tammy Fuqua joins us as we discuss them all. Guns, mental health, and more. This would have been a week of the Firing Range. We have decided to rename the segment. That will be announced when we find an appropriate replacement name. As a reminder these are our individual opinions and not connected with any of our organizations.
It's Tim and the awesome Women of AV this week! Nancy brings us her insights from ISE, we talk about the lack of badges there, we talk about the excitement of Infocomm 2022, and we have our PM minute with Murphy! listen in on all the fun!!
Get ready for fun episode! Ok maybe we're a little biased but this is awesome! We welcome Alex Delvecchio, the Manager for the Rutgers Cinema, Sean Lohan from Sharp-NEC, and Tom Tokar, retired high school science teacher and independent film maker. We talk all things movies and getting back to seeing movies in the theatre! We also talk about streaming from different providers and giving the small movie makers a platform to show. Check out www.higheredav.com for more links from this episode!
This week we welcome AV Rockstar Tammy Fuqua and multi-time guest David Pequeno to the show! We talk fun times, Infocomm times, and times where we have to work with tough people. Sit back and enjoy the conversation!!
Nancy and Renee have rejoined us! Nancy shares her stories from the road, we talk about the burger poll from Twitter, we lament about the continuing supply chain issues, and James joins us from his new digs in Las Vegas! It's an incredible episode, so sit back, relax, and enjoy!!
Tim, Murphy, and James have a great conversation this week and tackle so many topics. Infocomm, Supply Chain, the PM Minute and much much more!! sit back and enjoy!!
This week it's the Firing Range! David Pequeno joins Tim and Murphy and boy did we have some good targets to take aim at! We have our PM Minute and then we turn our sights on to Will Smith, Chris Rock, and The Oscars after which we take a deep look into consciousness after decapitation! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week it's just a few of our favorite things... first off the return of our favorite Kym Frank!!! Then our favorite segment The PM Minute. Then we wrap things up with our favorite vintage AV! Listen in on all the fun and excitement!!
This week is truly a Happy Hour! Mr. Dreamy Sparkly Pants aka Joe Way, makes a very special appearance and Erin Maher-Moran joins us for all the St. Paddy's Day fun! We talk the PM Minute with our Minutress Murphy, discuss who the Patron Saint of AV would be, and our favorite green characters! Sit back and enjoy!
This week we welcome 2021 AV Professional of the Year, Lex Peters! We are beyond thrilled to have her with us. We have our PM minute with our Minutress Murphy. We talk to Lex and her experiences over the course of the last year and we talk Infocomm 2022! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week we discuss the ongoing conflict over in the Ukraine and its effects on the global cybersecurity of all verticals. We have Murphy's PM Minute and we get a special end of episode arrival of Frank Padikkala! Listen in, enjoy, and join us in our hope for a peaceful resolution to all that is happening in the Ukraine.
It's Firing Range time and BC Hatchett, co-founder of HETMA, joins us to take aim on Celebrity Sausage and Cilantro Ice Cream. We are filling our bellies and getting ready for Fat Tuesday as we dig in to these two articles. Sit back and enjoy your helping of The AV Life!!
Tim wasn't ready for what was ahead of him. We bring in Joe Way and the crew just a few hours after the close of the HETMA conference and Tim lost control. We talk about the conference, we get our PM Minute from Murphy in two parts, one in the beginning and one in the end, and we get sappy about The AV Life. Sit back and enjoy!
Happy Valentine's Day to all of our listeners!! We love you all!! This week Tim and the crew take on a bunch of topics... the upcoming HETMA conference, Infocomm registration being open, bricked car stereos, good listening skills, and of course The Super Bowl! James had a prediction to who was going to win, see if he's right!! Enjoy!!
The HETMA Conference is coming! The HETMA Conference is coming!! HETMA has taken over The AV Life this week to give us a sneak peak into their Annual Conference coming up February 15-17, 2022! There is some great content coming up for their conference so sit back and find out! This is great for Higher Ed and non-Higher Ed people alike! Also we get everyones events if we were to have an AV Olympics! Sit back and enjoy!
It's Firing Range time!!! This month Tim and the crew take aim at Lottery winners and their spam filters and Dairy Transporters helping with the supply chain crisis. Listen in and enjoy!!
On this week's episode: Tim, Renee, Murphy, and Nancy tackle football, Project Management Systems, Nancy's experiences at CES, the Omicron Variant, and Figment Popcorn Buckets (IYKYK), Sit back and enjoy the fun!!
Tim and the crew are celebrating the entire episode! It's James's birthday, the opening of the Prism Scholarship with HETMA, Playoff Football, Our ranking of being 130th technology podcast in Canada (Thanks listeners!) , and much, much more!! Listen in and have fun!!
Happy New Year AVTweeps!! We have returned and are looking back at our Holiday time off. We branch off into the extensive career of the one and only Val Kilmer and go all over the place from there! We should have Stayed on Target like Murphy wanted us to in the PM minute but that's not our style. Enjoy!
Tim and the crew welcome back Harry Meade to the podcast as we take aim at two articles in... The Firing Range!! Pew Pew!! Is serving spicy food to kids in Korea violating their human rights??? Are we going too far with "Fixing" humans?? See what everyone has to say on the final Firing Range of 2021!! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week is the Holiday Party!! We get festive with our backgrounds and for some of us our apparel. We welcome, Troy Powers, Will DeWitt, and Mike Pederson to the party and we talk about all we are thankful for and what we are hoping to find under the tree this Holiday Season! Take a listen and enjoy the fun!!
Tim and James, as the two lone gentlemen, have a great group of Women in AV on this week! On this episode we welcome Cory Schaffer from QSC and Page Stanberry of Legrand to the show, with the crew, and we give our Bold Predictions for 2022! We lead off with our PM minute with Murphy where we look at ourselves in the mirror. We then give our bold predictions: Hybrid Working, returning to "normal", what is normal?, and so much more! Sit back and enjoy!!
Tim and the crew have 3 awesome Firing Range articles and 3 awesome guests to join us on this week's ALL FIRING RANGE EPISODE! We welcome, Will DeWitt, Aaron Peterson, and David Pequeno as we take aim at Selfie Deaths, FisherPrice Toys, and Unexpected Autopsies! Sit back and enjoy!!!
This week it's just the crew! First we give thanks for those who have served our country and we celebrate the meaning of November 11 around the world, and in Murphy's life. We give some teasers for the weeks to come. We have our PM Minute with Murphy where we "Embrace the Lollipop." We talk supply chain, Tim's car and refrigerator, as well as cars for everyone! Sit back and enjoy!!
This week Tim and the crew welcome Will DeWitt and Gabbi Dunn. They are InfoComm first timers along with Tim and James. We share our experiences (just like in this week's PM Minute) and much much more! And look we are exactly at 45 minutes!! We are going to be sticking with that length going forward so keep an eye (and ear) out! Sit back and enjoy!
Welcome to the 200th episode of The AV Life!!! We welcome Mark Coxon, Michelle Loret, Kym Frank, Gina Sansivero, Renee Benson, and Joe Way on to share their stories and experiences with The AV Life from its inception through our current episodes and beyond! Your host, Tim, sits down with each of them individually so they can have their time to share. Listen in and see how The AV Life has been changing to meet the lives of AV professionals for 200 episodes and beyond!
Welcome to another week and Infocomm is just getting fired up! We have invited Tim Albright and Richard Hutton on to the show to give us a little teaser of what to expect from CTI, Sharp-NEC, and from the show in general. We also talk about the important topic of where to find food and drink! Take a listen and we hope to see you at the show!! Enjoy!
Listen up all Infocomm First Timers and for those with some questions about this years Infocomm!!!! This week we welcome Joe' Lloyd from AVIXA and Justine Fafara from Fafaraway Travel to talk about the things you need to know about this year's Infocomm and the fun and excitement of the Orlando area! Sit back, grab you favorite Disney treat, and take a listen!!
This week Will DeWitt comes back to join the crew along with Joe Way! We talk about TikTok, Supply Chain Issues, Disney (as it relates to Project Management haha), Infocomm, and much much more!!!
This week celebrates 1 year with our host, Tim, at the helm of The AV Life! The crew talks about what it means to them and hint at our upcoming 200th episode!! We have Purpose with our PM minute with Murphy. We name drop Higher Ed AV Podcast and Ask The Programmer along with many others! We give some great suggestions to AVIXA and to our regional partners and get excited for Infocomm!!! Site back and enjoy!!
This week Tim welcomes Aaron Peterson from Mechdyne on the show to talk Augmented Reality. We discuss practical and entertainment usage of the technology in everything from car design to gaming. Hear where we have seen it all in the wilds of the world! Sit back and enjoy!
Disney!! Infocomm!!! Immersive Experiences!! Incompetence on Projects!! Harry Meade!!! These are all the topics we dive into with Tim and the Crew on this week's episode. Harry joins us as our guest and we welcome back Spence to the crew after his summer vacation. Take a listen and enjoy!!
Well the BBQ got rained out thanks to Ida, but Will DeWitt joined us from his beautiful backyard. Murphy and Tim decide that Will can be an honorary Crew Member this week as Tim vents about a manufacturer, Murphy enlightens us to OODA, and the conversation goes from there! Enjoy!!
Like we have always said: security will be an on going topic on the show. With LinkedIn being attacked and other devices being at risk Tim and the crew dive right back in on the action. We welcome back Murphy and her PM Minute and have a great time with all of our normal shenanigans. Take a listen and enjoy!
This week we welcome more guests than Crew Members! We have 4 esteemed members of our Higher Ed community. Thomas Love, Mark Eggert, Will DeWitt, and Kevin Hartman. We talk all things Higher Ed and what we have been doing to be ready for our fall semesters, what ever they may look like. Listen in on all the fun and excitement!
This week we welcome Steve Greenblatt from Control Concepts on to our show. The Crew and Tim have a great conversation that includes talking about Teamwork, the Triple Constraint, Programming, and Thrill rides! Sit back and enjoy the ride!
Tim had a thought of what we were going to talk about tonight. Tim tried to stay on target (and it wasn't entirely Joe Way's fault) but, in typical The AV Life fashion, we go off and have an INCREDIBLE episode where we talk about aliens, Wawa, unemployment, alcohol, and Trusting but Verifying. Join Tim and the crew and hear how it all comes together!!
And we're back! We took the Fourth of July week off to recharge our batteries and to celebrate America! We come back to a full house of The Crew and Joe Way (in a guest capacity this week). Joe Way takes us for a spin in his boat as we re-evaluate our bold predictions from earlier this year, take on the PM Minute with Murphy, examine new education policies in NJ, and talk about a dirty situation with the CDC in The Firing Range. Strap in and enjoy the ride!!
This week it's just Tim and the Ladies of The AV Life (minus Kym, we miss you!). We hit the ground running with our usual conversations. We have a straight and to the point PM Minute with Murphy. We say hi to our founder Corey Moss (we miss you too!). Talk about what we are looking forward to the most this summer. Then in The Firing Range we ponder how high powered grenades go missing from an ammunition train. Sit back and enjoy!!
This week's episode leaves us guest-less, but that's no problem! Tim, Nancy, Murphy and James take on the PM Minute where we Dive Bomb all of our problems. We then reminisce of summers of old as we talk about our first jobs and what we learned from them. Because of James's employment with Korr's (us Jersey folk know) we get veer off into talking about Sonic White Castle, and Dairy Queen. Tune in for all the fun and banter!
On this week's episode we welcome back 3 awesome guests who bring the manufacturer's side of the return to in-person events and shows. Gina Sansivero, from Atlas IED (who Tim got her birthday wrong during the episode and he's very sorry for that haha), Adrian Doughty, from Nureva (a long time friend and multi guest of The AV Life), and David Pequeno, from Sony (the fastest rising multi appearance guest of The AV Life). We talk about the ROI of shows, what Infocomm might be this year, what the future of doing AV Business might look like, and how important our AV Family is to our vertical. We have a great PM Minute with Murphy where we feed our team and tap into our Third Eye on the Firing Range. Enjoy!
This week the Tim and The Crew welcome back David Pequeno (now with Sony) and Erica Williams (still with Henderson Engineering) and we talk about getting Back to the Show. We talk about the human interactions, the travel, and the risk and liability of COVID. We have a great PM Minute with Murphy and we put High Rise Acrylic Pools into The Firing Range! Tune in and enjoy!!
This week it's just Tim, Spence, Murphy, Nancy, and James. We talk about Security (because it always needs to be discussed), Forest Fires (Only you can prevent forest fires), and we respect our veteran knowledge with the PM Minute! We tease a little for our June episodes and have a ton of fun in the process! Listen in and enjoy!!
In this week's episode we welcome back some old friends of The AV Life: Michelle Loret, Frank Padikkala, and Rich Ventura. We take a moment to remember our good friend John Greene, have our PM Minute with Murphy, and we put an end to the AV in IT Saga as we see the rise of what will be AV IN IT! Take a listen and enjoy!!
We've been through a lot over the last 15 months so for this week's episode we had two rules: No shop talk and no talk of COVID. We were mostly successful in abiding by those rules. Tim and the crew welcome: Aaron Peterson, Tom Milner, Will DeWitt, Page Stanberry, and Harry Meade. We talk about our best and worst live events (because we're AV people and when you don't talk about work that's the closest thing you can), Murphy has a moment, and we all have an awesome time! Take a listen and enjoy!
This week the Tim and the crew welcome back Aaron Peterson and Will DeWitt to the show. We finally come down to our final (maybe?) answer to the AV in IT debate. We bring on Murphy with her PM minute and take on Virtual Office Windows in The Firing Range! Take a listen and see if you agree with our final answer to the AV in IT debate! We want to hear from you!
Welcome to May!!! May is AV and IT month here at higheredav.com! To kick things off we do a segue episode where we invite Rick Stanley from Userful to discuss their AV over IP products. This provides us a perfect transition from Emerging Technology into the hotly contested world of AV and IT... or is it AV in IT??? Or IT in AV?? That's what May is for! We have a great PM Minute with Murphy, talk about Rutgers upcoming Breathalyzer style COVID test, and set our sights on the scamming women for birthday presents in the Firing Range. Enjoy!!
This week Tim and the crew welcome Andrew Kornstein from Sennheiser and Erin Maher-Moran to join in on the fun and excitement. Before we even get going, we are invaded by a hooded figure, we are all befuddled! Erin is our AV Rock Star this week and she talks about all the amazing things she has going on plus we even talk about Roller Derby! Andrew enlightens us to emerging technology from Sennheiser. We have our PM Minute with Murphy where we dissect "Scope creep" and we take on digital advertising additions to classic films in the Firing Range. Enjoy!!
This week's episode brings Tim and the Crew together as we discuss having the hard conversations as a project manager, the chip shortage and how things aren't made the way they used, and the uptick in autonomous robotic delivery services on the Firing Range. Listen in for all the fun and excitement!
This week Tim is taking the week off to celebrate his birthday. While he is away Murphy takes the helm and leads the crew talking about a return to normality with trips, lunches, and golf tournaments. The PM Minute brings us how to be "Zoomagenic." We take a music break to honor our Founder Corey Moss. James talks about his new show: Ask The Programmer. We talk CAVLO and the new HETMA Board of Directors. And of course, we have the Firing Range featuring Aliens. Tune in and enjoy!!
This week we have another great episode featuring our AV Rock Star (and newlywed!) Erica Williams! We also bring back an old friend of The AV Life, Gabe Moronta. We have amazing discussions finding out more about Erica, The Meaning of AV, getting old, and Peep Flavored Pepsi on The Firing Range! Enjoy!
On this week's episode it's just Tim, Renee, Murphy, Spence, and James. We talk sports, the PM Minute with Murphy and the Star Wars Canteen, and the latest in Zoom audio interruption software on the Firing Range! Take a listen and enjoy!!
We've got another great one this week! We welcome Alesia Hendley as our AV Rock Star tonight and talk about herself and her newest Podcast adventure as well as promoting ourselves and others to make sure all of our voices are heard. We have our PM Minute where we (as usual) don't take ourselves too seriously and Joe Way finally gets back into the Firing Range! Enjoy!!
This week we welcome Tom Milner from across the pond (and in the wee hours of the morning) to the show. We kick off with the PM minute and then we open The Firing Range! We break down and take shots at 3 articles for the entire episode! Sit back and enjoy the fun!
On this week's episode we welcome Aaron Peterson and we start with talking about the integrator's point of view from our conversation from last week. We move on discussing how we are now that we've been in our COVID life for a year now. We squeeze the PM Minute into the conversations (Sorry Murphy) and have an incredible discussion not like how you've had with your Grandma (who we of course save on a weekly basis).
In this episode we welcome back Will DeWitt and welcome for the first time Richard Hutton. We talk about some hard topics that need to be addressed in wake of the last few weeks of conferences and online discussions. We hit the ground running on this one as I almost don't get to introduce our guests. We dive into the Scope of things for the PM Minute and let loose with the topics for the remainder of the show! Listen in on all the great conversations.
In this week's episode The Crew and Tim welcome a few of our younger (and single) AV professionals Jake Goldfarb, Page Stanberry, and Dave Pequeno as we discuss what it is like for them to be dating in this crazy COVID world we live in. Joe Way makes an appearance in the only way he knows how, and we talk a little about the very successful HETMA Conference that had just wrapped up before we recorded. Enjoy!
In this week's episode we welcome Aaron Peterson, David Pequeno, and Lex Peters to our craziness as we share all the things we love about AV. We also honor Lex as our first AV Rock Star! Lex shares about her drive, goal setting, and all the things she has her hands in that truely show how much of a Rock Star she is! We also talk about Infocomm and its move to October and the future of how we greet people. Enjoy!
On this week's episode we welcome Joe Way, Mike Pederson, Greg Koerner, and Will DeWitt who are all members of HETMA - the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (at least I got it right here in the write up). We discuss HETMA and their upcoming conference, February 9-11, 2021 (register at hetma.org), Joe Way attempts several times to take over the Podcast, we have our PM Minute, and travel on a variety of tangents along the way! Enjoy!
This week we welcome Mark Okern, Harry Meade, and Frank Padikkala. Make sure you make sure you are in a comfortable spot for this long and energetic discussion regarding Network Security. We talk about all aspects of it, not just the ones that relate to AV. We have a great edition of the PM Minute with Murphy and we drop our masks in the Firing Range!
In this short episode the crew and your host, Tim, welcome the latest Crew Member to join our ranks: Nancy Blanchard! We let Nancy introduce herself before giving our listeners a small glimpse into the next few months of The AV Life. What you don't hear from this episode was our crew brainstorming some INCREDIBLE episode ideas that will be released over the next few months! Don't miss a minute of all the fun!
Happy 2021! The Crew and I are back to our usual antics where we introduce an upcoming new segment "The AV Spotlight" where we will shine the spotlight on those AV Professionals who are doing awesome things that we might not all be aware of. We talk about the upcoming HETMA Conference, have a great conversation with the PM Minute, and talk about planning for Summer and the unknowns with our current economic climate. These conversations lead us into a great Firing Range that wasn't what we had planned but that's The AV Life!
In this quick episode your host, Tim, gives his reflections over the last 10 years of being in Higher Ed AV as well as 2020 for The AV Life. He also gives us a little sight into the future of The AV life in 2021.
HO HO HO!! Happy Holidays everyone! On this episode we welcome back some of our guests from 2020 as we reminisce about this roller coaster of a year we have gone through. First, we talk about the efforts being put forth to help our fearless leader Joe Way as he gathers his life back together after a devasting house fire. Check our Twitter account @TheAVLifePod or #AVintheAM for more details in how you can help. We welcome Kaleo Lee, Nancy Blanchard, Gina Sansivero, and Chris Neto as guests and welcome back Renee to the crew!! Check out all the Holiday Cheer and important info today! Oh and get comfy... it's a long one! Haha!
The AV Life - Bold Predictions for 2021: Me and the crew (at almost full strength) welcome Harry Meade, Jimmie Singleton, and Joe Way (sort of as a guest, he says he just wanted to cause trouble). We give our bold predictions for 2021 and much, much more. Things get exciting as opinions flare up and sides are drawn. We have our PM Minute where we call our shots and a fully armed Firing Range. Listen in and take in all the action!
This week on The AV Life! We are short-crewed again (I think it's all the extra Turkey that we couldn't share with our big tables) and on this episode we have our PM Minute with Murphy, talk about the things that we find joy in, plug James' IT in AV page on higheredav.com, and in typical The AV Life fashion we get off track and find ourselves having an incredible discussion about standards, both in AV and in IT. There are a bunch of name drops and we close out with the Firing Range where, The Matrix, Passengers (yes, I looked it up), and artists get thrown in the Range. Take a listen for all the fun!!
We are a small group for this episode, but when you’re talking about Thanksgiving this year that’s the way it should be. Myself, James King, and Murphy Daley, talk about Thanksgiving, our weekly Project Manager Minute, flying cars, and self-driving cars. Enjoy all the fun and Sci-Fi goodies in this episode!
On this week's episode we get serious. As our days get shorter and we bunker down for potentially another round of lockdowns we wanted to let our AVTweeps out there know that they are not alone. We all feel overwhelmed, stressed, and a whole host of other emotions, but we as an AV Family are there for each other. We also share our de-funkifying techniques for when you are feeling down. And of course, we have our PM Minute and we have fun on the Firing Range.
This week we welcome Danielle Karr and Kordon Vaughn to the show as they discuss Control4's latest product: Chime. They join in on all the fun with our PM minute with Murphy Daley and our Firing Range where we unearth the opening the latest Egyptian Tomb. Take a listen and hear all the fun!!
This is the first episode we recorded officially being under the Higher Ed AV Media Group. It’s just me and the crew this week. We talk about Higher Ed, K-12, and technology in education. We also discuss HigherEdAV.com, HETMA.org, and our roll in the AV world, including our AV adjacent friends. Our PM minute with Murphy where we talk about when you need to throw someone off a site and being the bad guy. This leads us into talking about our favorite bad guys. The change in culture for the holidays and Mischief Night (or lack thereof outside of NJ). And we wrap up things with The Firing Range.
Strap yourselves in AV Folks!!! This marathon of an episode brings Harry Meade, Kaleo Lee, and Nancy Blanchard as guests to our show. Michelle Loret also joins as my co-host... which I was not aware of when I invited her on 😊 In this episode we have a whole lot of fun and talk about food, alcohol, travel, throwing Kaleo in the Bellagio Fountain, Disney, and much, much more!
We have talked about AV Gurus and now we are continuing our conversation with Dan Goldstein, Lex Peters and Jimmie Singleton. This episode we delve into Leadership. We get the perspectives of our seasoned veterans as well as our younger future leaders and where they anticipate going with their skills. We mix things up a bit this week with the Great AV Debate.
Connect with me, your host, Tim Van Woeart on Twitter at @tvanwoeart as well as on LinkedIn. Follow along with The AV Life on Twitter @TheAVLifePod.
This week’s episode brings three strong #WomenOfAV, Gina Sansivero of Atlas-IED, Cory Schaeffer of QSC, and Michelle Loret of Kramer. We also welcome our newest crew member Murphy Daley. We discuss our mentors and #AVGurus who have guided us and how to find one if you are looking for one. We wrap things up with a wild Firing Range! Listen in for all the great conversation and good times!!
Here is part two of our incredible conversation with Chris Neto, Mark Coxon, and Lee Louie. We're "All about that Bass" and Saving Grandma! Hear our fun conversations and of course The Firing Range! Pew pew
This week the crew and I welcome, Chris Neto, Mark Coxon and Lee Louie for part one of a two-part conversation. We kick things off discussing the postponement of ISE and the state of the live events industry. As an industry we need to get back to in-person events but is now the right time? We continue with more fun and the Firing Range in part 2!
In this week's episode our crew welcomes James King from Stockton University in NJ, Jimmie Singleton, one of CI's 40 under 40, from USC and in a "guest-ish" role Joe Way. We whole-heartedly welcome back in his first The AV Life appearance in over a year the one and only Corey Moss!! We also wish a very Happy Birthday to the one and only Kym Frank! In this episode we discuss Life within COVID-19, football (Yes, Maura, Cam Newton is in New England now) , our best and craziest college food (Jimmie's Ramen Burritos sound interesting, but Jersey still has the best pizza), and of course The Firing Range. Tune in and hear the fun!