The Pickup Meeting

Send us a text 🎙️ From Shocker Spirit to Innovation Nation — with Bobby Gandu This week on The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody are back with birthday cake in hand for a laugh-filled chat that goes from tight-rolled jeans and cheesecake to Wichita State’s wildest ideas made real. 🎂 Their guest? The one and only Bobby Gandu, Associate Vice Provost at Wichita State University, a marketing-minded leader who shares how bold vision and collaboration has led to a thriving innovation hub that's chang...

Send us a text 🎙️ The Pickup Meeting: “From Songwriting Dreams to Student Success — A Conversation with Isabelle Langham” In this lively and laughter-filled episode, Brody and Kevin welcome the incredible Isabelle Rena Langham, Director of Advising and Technology Initiatives at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Isabelle shares her journey from aspiring songwriter to higher ed changemaker, revealing how she blends creativity, technology, and heart to empower students and teams alike. Exp...

Send us a text 🎙️ “Advising Legends, Dogs, Donuts, and the Energizer Bunny: A Conversation with Marsha Miller” Get ready for an episode that’s part celebration, part storytelling, and all heart. 🎉 Brody Broshears and Kevin Thomas sit down with NACADA legend Marsha Miller, award-winning author, mentor, and self-proclaimed “genealogical adventurer.” From camping mishaps in the Utah snow to shaping the field of academic advising, Marsha shares decades of wisdom (and a few hilarious stories) that...

Send us a text Get ready for a feel-good episode packed with wisdom, laughter, and a few surprise concert stories! 🎶 Brody and Kevin kick things off with their favorite music memories before welcoming the incredible Dr. Jenny Bloom from Florida Atlantic University, a true legend in higher education and co-founder of Appreciative Advising. From her unexpected journey into creating a global advising framework to her daily five-mile runs and porch-hour playlists, Jenny shares insights on connect...

Send us a text ⚾🍩 From Cardinals heartbreaks to donut debates, Kevin and Brody kick off this episode of The Pickup Meeting with laughter and plenty of sugar cravings. Then they’re joined by Todd Burrell, longtime admissions leader turned University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign regional rep, for a first-ever podcast appearance you won’t forget. Todd shares his journey as a first-gen student, his decades of leadership in admissions, and why saying yes to opportunities has shaped his career (and...

Send us a text Saving thousands on haircuts, binge-buying vinyl, and interviewing one of higher ed’s most approachable leaders. This week, Brody and Kevin sit down with Ben Gross for a conversation that blends laughter, leadership, and life lessons. Dr. Gross is department chair, mentor, and self-proclaimed fried chicken enthusiast from Lipscomb University. From fandoms to navigating faculty-staff collaboration, embracing AI in pharmacy education, and even the eternal Coke vs. Pepsi debate (#...

Send us a text Brody and Kevin are back for Episode 3 with more bantering about podcast bloopers, international listeners (yes, even you, Croatia 👀), and the electric energy of a new academic year. This week, they’re joined by John Vasquez, freshly appointed Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success at the University of Michigan. John shares his inspiring journey from first-gen student in cowboy boots and a bolo tie to national leader in advising and equity-driven student success. He gets re...

Send us a text Treehouses, thrift shops, and throwing firewood! In this not-so-filler second episode, Kevin and Brody are back! Join the fun as they welcome former NACADA President and advising superstar Dana Zahorik for a candid convo about leadership, community colleges, and why training and development should never just be about clicking through a handbook. Along the way, they tackle summer burnout, the thrill of fall on campus, and the which movies should never have had sequels. Dana shar...

Send us a text In the premiere episode of The Pickup Meeting, Kevin Thomas and Brody Broshears kick off their long-awaited podcast adventure! Their first guest? The unstoppable Tara Stopfel Warden from the University of Cincinnati! Tara dives into the powerful work she's doing to strengthen partnerships, redefine student success, and lead with a culture of clarity, comfort, care, and connection. She also shares what keeps her inspired, how she avoids burnout, and why she'd ditch higher ed for...

Send us a text In this teaser trailer, meet your new favorite duo: Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas...best friends, higher ed pros, and unapologetic disruptors of the status quo. If you've ever entered into an unexpected hallway chat that left you inspired, challenged, or laughing way too hard... this is that, in podcast form. Sometimes, the best meetings aren’t on the calendar. The Pickup Meeting is a fresh spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast! *The Pickup Meeting is a spi...