330: Trade Shows, Travel Hacks, and Changes at Apple

Recorded on April 23, 2026: 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... Read More

Content, Media

April 23, 2026

16: Do Your Goodest | brAVe [skills]

Britt Yenser and Leon Prather are back together (in the same studio and everything!) for a conversation that's deceptively simple on the surface: what's the difference between best and right? Read More

Content, Media

April 23, 2026

Need for Speed: Self-Advocacy | Troy Story

Troy Powers writes about why self-advocacy matters, especially in higher ed AV and IT roles where responsibilities grow faster than titles do. He walks through what it really takes to make your work visible, ask for advancement clearly, and keep those conversations moving forward. If you are doing more than your job description reflects, this is a reminder that waiting rarely works. Read More

Articles, Content

April 22, 2026

Access, Power, and the Work of Showing Up | Empowered by Design

Chris Kelly reflects on why showing up matters for people who already hold power in the room, particularly white men in IT and AV. Drawing on lived experience, he examines responsibility, allyship, and what it looks like to listen and act without centering yourself. The work of equity does not happen by accident. It requires presence, humility, and intention. Read More

Articles, Content

Frantic professor hitting a lot of buttons

April 20, 2026

Designing Audio Systems for People Who Won’t Use Them Correctly | Sound Perspective

If an audio system can be broken, eventually it will be. This article looks at why designing for ideal behavior fails in higher ed spaces and how smart audio and control decisions can prevent common problems. Good sound design is not about perfection, it is about resilience. Read More

Articles, Content

April 20, 2026

329: AV Industry Shakeups & Summer Prep: What’s Ahead for Higher Ed | The AV Life Podcast

Recorded on April 16, 2026: 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... Read More

Content, Media