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 Discussed

1. 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