Best John Azoni Podcasts (2024)

1
#64 - In-house Marcom Staff vs. External Partners w/ Joel Goodman of Bravery Media 1:08:12

16h ago1:08:12

1:08:12

My guest today is Joel Goodman, founder of Bravery Media. Joel helps colleges and universities increase their web conversion rates using hospitable design practices. In this episode, we discuss insights from the Simpson Scarborough CMO study and how it relates to budget constraints, staffing, and curating the best marketing communications team with…

1
#63 - How a Project Management Tool Broke Down Silos and Transformed Content Collaboration at UMass Lowell w/ Kristin Nichols 50:57

2h ago50:57

50:57

My guest today is Kristin Nichols, a higher education marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience at top universities in the Northeast. In this episode, Kristin discusses how implementing project management tools like Trello helped unite her marketing teams, facilitated cross-pollination between departments, and enabled an efficient "inte…

1
#62 - Enchanting a Nation: How R. Ethan Braden is leading a bold vision for Texas A&M’s Marketing & Branding 50:34

17d ago50:34

50:34

My guest today is R. Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M University. In this episode, Ethan shares his vision for building a world-class marketing team and developing a national earned media strategy to amplify Texas A&M's brand. Ethan discusses the five priorities he's established for his team: …

1
#61 - Uniting Marketing, Enrollment, and Web Strategy at Rutgers Business School w/ Joshua Charles 54:50

12d ago54:50

54:50

My guest today is Joshua Charles, a senior marketing and communications leader at Rutgers Business School and board member for HighEdWeb, a professional development network for digital professionals in higher education. In this episode, we discuss Joshua's role at Rutgers, the structure and collaboration within his marketing team, their content str…

1
#60 - Hiring Videographers: Secrets to Thriving In-House and External Relationships w/ John Azoni 44:35

19d ago44:35

44:35

In this episode, Host John Azoni shares many tips for successful relationships with external videographers and as well as building in-house teams. Key Takeaways: Hire good editors who can create a compelling story and vibe that draws viewers in. Editing is where a video can fall apart, so prioritize finding videographers who are skilled editors. Lo…

1
#59 - How to Craft Compelling Student Testimonials and Content to Increase Enrollment Yield, w/ John Azoni + Shiro Hatori 42:05

26d ago42:05

42:05

On this episode, John Azoni was a guest on the Higher Ed Demand Gen podcast with Shiro Hatori. We talked about telling compelling student testimonials. Key Takeaways: Higher ed provides ample opportunity for meaningful, transformational stories that don't exist in the same way in other contexts Strong student testimonials have an arc - an "old norm…

1
#58 - Mastering The Email Newsletter: Tactics for Engagement, Trust, & Conversions w/ B2B and B2C expert, Jess Cook 56:13

1M ago56:13

56:13

My guest today is Jess Cook, Head of Content and Communications at Island and co-host of the That's Marketing, Baby podcast. Jess comes from a background working with major B2C brands like McDonald's, Kellogg's, and others before transitioning to B2B marketing. In this episode, we dive deep into email marketing strategies and tactics that higher ed…

1
#57 - How to Improve Yield and Capitalize On Commencement Season w/ Shiro Hatori from Concept3D 40:18

2M ago40:18

40:18

My guest today is Shiro Hatori, Director of DemandGen at Concept3D. In this episode, we discuss data from Concept3D's survey of 500 recently admitted college students that can inform your higher ed storytelling and content creation efforts. Shiro shares insights on the communication channels students prefer, the importance of virtual tours, address…

1
#56 - Unlocking the Potential of Scholarly Podcasts with Professors.fm, Featuring Robert Li 41:30

2M ago41:30

41:30

My guest today is Robert Li, co-founder and owner of University FM, and podcast network manager of Professors.FM, a podcast network featuring top scholars. In this conversation, Robert shares insights on the current higher ed podcasting landscape and the potential of scholarly podcasts to elevate research and university brands. We discuss launching…

1
#55 - Four Pillars of a Compelling Student Testimonial w/ Sarah Whorton from University of Missouri System 1:03:46

2M ago1:03:46

1:03:46

My guest today is Sarah Whorton, Senior Strategic Communication Consultant at University of Missouri system. Sarah has a background in screenwriting and leverages storytelling principles in her higher education marketing work. In this episode, Sarah shares her insights on crafting compelling stories for higher education marketing. We discuss a four…

1
#54 - How Nikki Sunstrum built high-performing content teams at Indiana University and University of Michigan 52:14

2M ago52:14

52:14

My guest today is Nikki Sunstrum, Assistant VP of Strategic Communication at Indiana University and Instructor at University of Michigan School of Information. Nikki has built social media teams at both IU and Michigan. In this episode, Nikki shares her insights on building effective social media teams in higher education. We discuss sourcing talen…

1
#53 - Making Research Relatable with Kate Young, host of This is Purdue podcast 1:07:48

3M ago1:07:48

1:07:48

My guest today is Kate Young, host, writer and producer of This Is Purdue, an award-winning podcast that highlights exciting stories of innovative Boilermakers and shares them with a global audience. In this episode, Kate provides an inside look at how This Is Purdue came to be, how it fits into Purdue's overall content strategy, and key lessons le…

1
#52 - Instagram is King: Why Today's Prospective Students Turn Here First w/ Jeremy Tiers from Tudor Collegiate Strategies 52:47

3M ago52:47

52:47

My guest today is Jeremy Tiers, Senior Director of Admissions Services for Tudor Collegiate Strategies. He has helped thousands of college and university admission and marketing professionals become better recruiters, communicators, writers, and leaders through training programs and mentoring over the past nine years. In this episode, Jeremy shares…

1
#51 - Crafting Irresistible Program Pages: A Blueprint for Higher Ed w/ Copywriter Jo Marshall 1:00:31

3M ago1:00:31

1:00:31

My guest today is copywriting expert Jo Marshall, founder of All Things Words, a specialist copy and content agency focused on higher education clients. Jo has over 20 years of experience helping universities find their voice, shape their messaging, and tell compelling stories. In this episode, Jo and I discuss strategies to optimize university pro…

1
#50 - What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About Storytelling and How to Fix It w/ Zach Busekrus & John Azoni 1:03:05

3M ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Today we are sharing with you an episode where host, John Azoni, was a guest on the Enrollify podcast. In this episode hosted by Zach Busekrus we talk about John's journey into storytelling through working with the unhoused population in Detroit, what higher ed gets wrong about storytelling, the Netflix show Love is Blind, and more.…

1
#49 - Recruiting Students In Your Sleep With an AI Enrollment Officer w/ Cade Scott from Enroll Boost AI 49:02

4M ago49:02

49:02

0My guest today is Cade Scott, founder of Enroll Boost AI. Cade helps Tech and Trade Schools boost enrollment by building AI-powered chatbots to engage prospective students around the clock. In this episode we discuss how implementing automated yet personalized communication can drastically improve lead response times and enrollment rates. Cade sha…

1
#48 - Inclusive Storytelling: The Importance of Content Featuring People with Disabilities w/ Jaime Hunt from The Higher Ed CMO 57:16

4M ago57:16

57:16

My guest today is Jaime Hunt, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion University. Jaime is a seasoned higher ed marketer with expertise in areas like brand strategy, recruitment marketing, and digital innovation. In this episode we discuss the importance of telling authentic stories of college students with disabilities. We explo…

1
#47 - Creating Personalized Storytelling Content with AI w/ Ardis Kadiu from Element451 49:27

4M ago49:27

49:27

My guest today is Ardis Kadiu, CEO and co-founder of Element451, an AI-powered CRM platform for higher education institutions. Ardis is an entrepreneur and technologist passionate about leveraging AI to transform student engagement and admissions processes. In this episode we have an in-depth discussion on personalization in storytelling using AI. …

1
#46 - How to Create Content People WANT to Watch with the “Side Door” Approach w/ John Azoni 32:32

4M ago32:32

32:32

In this solo episode, John talks about the power of using a "side door" approach when creating content that aims to draw audiences into your brand emotionally. Key takeaways: Front door content directly states brand values and goals, while side door content focuses more on storytelling. Side door content takes audiences on a journey that immerses t…

1
#45 - How Students' Raw Stories Unite Campus w/ Nate Jorgensen from Miami University 55:48

6M ago55:48

55:48

My guest today is Nate Jorgensen, Senior Director of Academic Marketing and Communications at Miami University in Ohio. In this episode we discuss Miami's storytelling initiatives, including their Major Insight podcast, and strategies for centralizing university marketing. Key takeaways: Miami's Major Insight podcast features raw, authentic convers…

1
#44 - Attracting Adult Learners to Your Higher Ed Programs w/ Chris Rapozo from Hannon Hill 52:52

6M ago52:52

52:52

My guest today is Chris Rapozo, Marketing Specialist at Hannon Hill. As an adult learner himself, Chris shares his personal story and insights on marketing to non-traditional students. He offers a unique perspective on the motivations and challenges of the non-traditional learner demographic that higher ed marketers want to attract. Key Takeaways: …

1
#43 - Your “WHY” is not your story w/ John Azoni 33:18

7M ago33:18

33:18

In this solo episode, John explores the true meaning of "storytelling" and how it differs from creative messaging in marketing. He discusses how the term has become diluted in higher ed, with many thinking creative messaging equals storytelling. Key takeaways: Marketing teams often claim to be telling stories when they are really just presenting in…

1
#42 - LinkedIn Growth Hacks for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Casey Hill from ActiveCampaign 58:15

7M ago58:15

58:15

My guest today is Casey Hill, a growth veteran with over a decade of experience helping software companies scale fast. In this episode, we dive deep into LinkedIn strategy and optimization for higher ed marketers. Casey currently leads organic growth at ActiveCampaign, where he's pioneering creative ways to grab attention and break from the mold. K…

1
#41 - Mastodon and Decentralized Social Networking Models for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Andrew Cassel of Middlebury College 1:07:32

7M ago1:07:32

1:07:32

My guest for this episode is Andrew Cassel, Senior Social Strategist at Middlebury College. In this episode we dive into emerging social platforms like Mastodon, BeReal, and the future of social networking in a Web 3 environment. Key Takeaways: Understanding the decentralized, ad-free experience of Mastodon instances and the Fediverse Growing authe…

1
#40 - The World's Largest Focus Group: Tapping into Social Listening for Higher Ed Storytelling w/ Liz Gross, CEO, Campus Sonar 54:49

7M ago54:49

54:49

My guest today is Liz Gross, founder and CEO of Campus Sonar. In this episode we discuss using social listening to inform higher ed storytelling and strategy. Key takeaways: The importance of listening to your audience's narratives and addressing misperceptions through strategic storytelling. Using social listening to identify insights for strategi…

1
#39 - The 5 C’s of Higher Ed Social Media Execution With Limited Resources w/ Lizzie Chen from Moody College of Communication 58:56

8M ago58:56

58:56

My guest today is Lizzie Chen, Assistant Director of Digital Media at Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode we discuss running an impactful social media strategy with limited resources. Key takeaways: Build community both online and offline. Host events to bring your social media audience together in r…

1
#38 - Tapping Student Talent for Video and Social Media Content w/ Dr. Josie Ahlquist 50:43

8M ago50:43

50:43

My guest today is Dr. Josie Ahlquist, Josie is a renowned expert in digital leadership, guiding educational leaders, organizations, and students through speaking, coaching, and consulting. Her practical and evidence-based frameworks empower clients to create tailored digital engagement strategies. Among many other things, In 2023, Josie was selecte…

1
#37 - Higher Ed Marketing In a Skills-Based-Economy w/ Eric Stoller, VP of Digital @ Territorium 53:19

8M ago53:19

53:19

My guest today is Eric Stoller, VP of Digital at Territorium. In this episode we discuss the value of higher education in a skills-based economy and how colleges need to better connect the dots for students between their education and employability after graduation. Key takeaways: Why a skills-based focus is important for communicating value to tod…

1
#36 - Marketing to Adult Students w/ Shane Baglini, Director of Marketing & Recruitment, Muhlenberg College 49:49

8M ago49:49

49:49

My guest today is Shane Baglini, Senior Director of Marketing and Recruitment at Muhlenberg College's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. In this episode we discuss strategies for marketing to and recruiting adult learners. Key takeaways: Adult learners often come back to school to overcome challenges and achieve personal goals. Marketer…

1
#35 - Belonging Is Crucial: How To Create Experiences That Help New Students Find Their People w/ Allison Turcio From Siena College 42:58

9M ago42:58

42:58

My guest today is Allison Turcio, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Siena College. In this episode we discuss creating an environment where students naturally want to share their positive experiences. Key takeaways: - The importance of studying other colleges known for exceptional student experiences. - Making student-centered d…

1
#34 - FOMO is Not a Strategy: The Case for Picking Your Platform and Owning It w/ Darren Roubinek of University of Central Missouri 44:57

9M ago44:57

44:57

My guest today is Darren Roubinek, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Central Missouri. In this episode we discuss the challenges of social media platform overwhelm and knowing where to focus your efforts. Key takeaways: The difference in resource capacity between Darren's previous team at Avila University and his …

1
#33 - Tradition, History, Innovation: Owning Your University's Unique Stories w/ Andy Fuller, Ex. Director of Brand Content at Notre Dame 49:42

9M ago49:42

49:42

My guest today is Andy Fuller, Executive Director of Brand Content at the University of Notre Dame. In this episode we go deep on the power of narrative ownership and storytelling to strengthen your university's brand. Key takeaways: What narrative ownership is and why it's so important for universities to own the stories about their history, build…

1
Global Education with Brantley Turner 32:54

9M ago32:54

32:54

Last week’s conversation on Anchored in Education talked about taking on leadership responsibilities in different parts of our world in a moment of crisis. Today, I want to explore what leadership in education looks like in different parts of our world, leaving out the crisis part. The Dwight School is a private independent for-profit college prepa…

1
#32 - Telling BIGGER Stories - How One College Went All In On Their Iconic Coach w/ Jen Porter of Rochester University 54:02

9M ago54:02

54:02

My guest today is Jen Porter, Director of Alumni Relations at Rochester University in Michigan. We discuss the full-length documentary film they produced about Garth Pleasant, their former basketball coach About the Film: Garth Pleasant coached basketball at RU for over 40 years and is the winningest college basketball coach in Michigan The film is…

1
#31 - How Bart Caylor Saves 10-15 Hours Per Week Using AI 1:01:16

9M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

My guest today is Bart Caylor. If you’ve floated around the higher ed marketing sphere for very long you’ve probably come across Bart at least once. Bart is the founder of the education marketing agency, Caylor Solutions as well as the co-host along with Troy Singer of the Higher Ed Marketer podcast. He is also a keynote speaker, as well as a first…

1
Stranded in the Sky with Philip Jett 36:08

10M ago36:08

36:08

I have long said that some of the best leadership lessons I have learned have come from outside of education. I frequently mention the leadership of retired Navy Submarine Captain L. David Marquet. His intent-based leadership that he highlighted in his best-selling book Turn the Ship Around is something that I frequently mention when asked about my…

1
#30 - How to Not Be Boring and Capture Attention On Social Media w/ Mike Richeson of Homestead Production 54:43

10M ago54:43

54:43

My guest today is Mike Richeson. Mike is the founder of a video production company called Homestead Production and they work with clients in a variety of industries. Don’t waste your time trying to Google Homestead Production because they don’t have a website and as you’ll learn in this episode, that’s a strategic choice. In addition to being a tal…

1
Made for Learning with Debra Crouch 44:02

10M ago44:02

44:02

I am fortunate to be in a position in which I receive many books sent to me a month. One such book I received earlier in the year was Made for Learning: How the Conditions of Learning Guide Teaching Decisions. The authors are Debra Crouch and Brian Cambourne. The way this dynamic author duo came to be is a great story by itself, one that we will ac…

1
#29 - How to Write Better Emails - Newsletters, Marketing Emails, Everyday Comms w/ Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds 1:01:29

10M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

My guests today are Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds. Ashley is the director of marketing operations at Cornell University. Day is a strategist at Ologie which is a marketing and branding agency focused on educational institutions. Ashley and Day are co-authors of a new book that is forthcoming about emails. Writing effective emails that people actua…

1
#28 - Earned Media and the Power of Student Success Stories w/ Lauren Keane of SNHU 36:22

10M ago36:22

36:22

My guest today is Lauren Keane. Lauren is the Associate Vice President of Communications at Southern New Hampshire University and she wrote a fabulous article for Inside Higher Education called “harnessing the power of student stories.” In this episode we turn our attention to getting media exposure with your content and how student success stories…

1
Food Fight with Linda B. Davis 26:54

10M ago26:54

26:54

There are only a few foods I do not like. I don’t do olives of any sort. I don’t do pickled beets. And I despise Doritos of any flavor. That last one I am super serious about. I don’t even allow Doritos to be eaten in my car. So I am not a picky eater. I know a few picky eaters. Jennifer is one. My former secretary is another. But really, I would u…

1
#27 - Behind The Scenes of Penn State's Democracy-Themed Podcasts w/ Jenna Spinelle 52:28

10M ago52:28

52:28

My guest today is Jenna Spinelle. Jenna is a writer podcast writer and speaker in higher education. She hosts and produces the "Democracy Works" podcast and the Narrative series "When People Decide." Both of those are productions of the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State. She also teaches courses on freelancing and the creator economy…

1
Might As Well Be Dead with Mark Goldblatt 32:11

10M ago32:11

32:11

Recently, I have had several guests on Anchored in Education who have written fictional literature. Even though most of the works of fiction have been geared towards children and young adults, I have not hesitated to feature these guests. I have several reasons for this, with one of those reasons being that sometimes we need to escape from our adul…

1
The Stories Whiteness Tells Itself with David Mura 52:39

11M ago52:39

52:39

Just a few days from today will mark the seventh anniversary of the fatal shooting of Philando Castile in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area. A couple of months ago marked the three year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd, also in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan area. Located just miles from both of these tragic incidents was o…

1
#26 - Stop Boring Me! How To Harness Improv and Humor to Create Engaging Content w/ Kathy Klotz-Guest 55:00

11M ago55:00

55:00

My guest today is Kathy Klotz-Guest. Kathy is a comedian, a storyteller, an improv actor, a keynote speaker and author of the wonderful book that I highly recommend called “Stop Boring Me.” The subtitle is “How to create kick-ass marketing content, products, and ideas through the power of improv.” In this episode we talk about the many lessons that…

1
Welcome to Monsterville with Laura Shovan 33:25

11M ago33:25

33:25

I came across a new book, recommended to me by my friends at Books Forward. It’s called Welcome to Monsterville, and it’s illustrations of various monsters with an accompanying poem. If I stopped here, you might be left wondering how I am tying this in to anchored in education. Great question. Now let me tell you the back story. This book came abou…

1
#25 - Marketing An Art School and Starting a Podcast w/ Sabrina Dépestre, Marketing Director at MICA 44:42

11M ago44:42

44:42

My guest today is Sabrina Depestre. Sabrina is the marketing director at Maryland Institute College of Art.. where I actually attended for a brief stint which is what piqued my interest to get her on the show. She has also worked as a consultant for small businesses, delivering refined verbal identity and digital audits across all platforms and cha…

1
Video Storytelling with John Azoni 30:49

11M ago30:49

30:49

I sometimes wonder if the 1991 hit song by Genesis “I Can’t Dance” was written for me. I mean, I was only eight, so maybe it would be cruel that they would direct such harsh words to a young and impressionable child. Okay, maybe it was written with me in mind. But it is nearly accurate in all ways. I can neither dance nor sing. And a recent stroll …

1
#24 - Social Media Strategies, PR and Testing Your Messaging w/ Bill Zimmerman, Advertising and PR Lecturer at Penn State University 35:36

11M ago35:36

35:36

My guest today is Bill Zimmerman. Bill is a lecturer at Penn State University’ Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. teaching Digital PR, Social Media Strategies and PR Media & Methods courses. We’ve never had a lecturer on this podcast, and we haven’t had much of a PR influence either so I thought Bill would be a great voice for that stu…

1
Leaving Poverty: On Purpose and For Good with Charley Cass 34:27

11M ago34:27

34:27

If you are a regular listener of Anchored in Education, then you’ve heard my guest today on four previous episodes. And each time Charley Cass joins us he enlightens us with thought-provoking conversations. The other thing you would notice about my previous episodes with Charley is that they cover a wide variety of topics. We’ve tackled such topics…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

John Azoni Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide