Most college parent pages were built by someone who ran out of time and dumped every link they didn't know what to do with into a pile. Laura Rudolph has spent a decade trying to fix that.

Laura is the founder of Square One Consulting, where she helps colleges communicate more clearly and — as she puts it — speak more human. She started her career as a journalist with a crime beat, fell into enrollment marketing, and eventually realized that the audience nobody was talking to — parents — was the one she was most drawn to write for. Turns out, skeptical Gen X parents who want honesty and hate marketing fluff are basically the ideal audience for a former investigative journalist.

In this episode, Laura breaks down why most parent pages fail, what good actually looks like, and the three pieces of content she'd build first if she were starting from scratch. We also walk through real examples from University of Washington, UT Austin, Hamilton, and Wake Forest — and Laura shares a free AI-powered tool she just launched that lets you drop in a URL or paste a parent email and get an honest assessment of whether it's actually working.

In this episode:

• Why most parent pages are "informationally present but emotionally absent" — and what that costs you

• The filing cabinet problem: why organizing your site around your org chart is failing families who don't know what a bursar does

• The three content pieces Laura would build first: a "Start Here" guide, a "What Families Worry About" hub, and a "How to Support Without Taking Over" section

• Why telling parents why you want their contact info resulted in a dramatic increase in opt-ins at Laura's former institution

• What University of Washington, UT Austin, Hamilton, and Wake Forest are doing right — and what makes each of them a model worth studying

• The parent-to-parent trust play most schools are completely ignoring

• Why there's a middle ground between helicopter parenting and institutional silence — and how your content can actually help create it
  

The free tool: Laura's AI-powered Parent & Family Communication Analyst is live at squareoneky.com. Drop in a URL or paste an email and get a scored, tiered review of how well your communication is actually working for a parent audience. It's free.

Good parent page examples mentioned:

• University of Washington: https://www.washington.edu/parents/

• University of Texas at Austin: https://parents.utexas.edu/

• Hamilton College: https://www.hamilton.edu/parents

• Wake Forest University: https://parents.wfu.edu/

• Providence College (honorable mention for parent blog): https://parents.providence.edu/

Connect with Laura:

• Website: squareoneky.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laurakrudolph

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Website: unveild.tv

• Newsletter: unveild.tv/newsletter

If your school just came off a yield season that didn't go the way you hoped — or if you're staring down summer melt and wondering what to actually do about it — this episode is for you.

Rita Winthrop is a marketing consultant with 15 years in higher ed and edtech who helps institutions and brands build content that actually moves people. She runs Rita Winthrop Consulting out of Newport, Rhode Island, specializing in enrollment email campaigns, LinkedIn ghostwriting for higher ed executives, and content strategy that doesn't just fill a calendar. She also has a lot of feelings about yield season — which is exactly why I wanted to get her on the show.

Rita has a rare background: she was both an admissions counselor and the person writing the MarCom for her team at the same time. That dual perspective shapes everything she talks about in this episode — why the disconnect between admissions and MarCom is so damaging, what actually moves students from accepted to enrolled, and why May 1st is halftime, not the finish line.

In this episode:

• Why the personalized experience students get with their admissions counselor so often evaporates the moment they deposit — and what a good handoff actually looks like

• What bad yield communication strategy looks like in practice: too much volume, too many CTAs, and content that forgets it's talking to a 17-year-old making the biggest financial decision of their life

• Why parent communications deserve their own dedicated strategy with its own tone, cadence, and content — and why most schools treat parents as an afterthought

• What you can still do right now if you didn't make your class — including how to re-engage fence sitters without looking desperate

• Why silence is the biggest driver of summer melt, and what a smart anti-melt campaign looks like from May through August

• Transfer students as an underutilized population — why they should be a year-round conversation, not a backup plan

• What EdTech vendors consistently get wrong about the people they're selling to (and why cold emailing admissions counselors in April will get you yelled at)

Resources mentioned:

• Mailed It! by Day Kibilds and Ashley Budd:https://emailbook.co/ 

Connect with Rita:

• LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-winthrop/

• Website: https://ritawinthrop.com

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Website: https://unveild.tv

• Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter

If you've been feeling the pressure to overhaul your entire web presence for AI search, this episode is your permission slip to take a breath.

Georgy Cohen is a content strategist who has spent her career in and around higher ed — in-house at universities, at agencies, and as an independent consultant. She joined the show to talk about one of the most practical and overlooked problems in higher ed marketing: how to actually structure your website so it answers the questions prospective students are asking — without relying on the sprawling, ungovernable FAQ page that becomes a dumping ground the moment you create it.

Georgy brings a content strategy and information architecture lens to a conversation that usually stays at the surface level of SEO and branding. The result is a genuinely useful framework for thinking about your web content on two levels at once — what the human sees and what the bots are crawling — and why attending to both doesn't have to mean starting from scratch.

In this episode:

• Why FAQ pages are well-intentioned but create more problems than they solve — and what to do instead

• The difference between the "viewable web" and the "semantic web," and why higher ed is mostly only thinking about one of them

• Why clear communication fundamentals will get you most of the way to AI findability — and why panicking won't

• How to bridge the gap between subject matter experts (faculty, financial aid staff) and the content strategists who know how to structure information

• Why higher ed's reluctance to have a point of view is hurting both their brand and their findability

• The role user research should be playing — and why it's underused

• Two short books Georgy recommends for anyone who wants to build a foundational understanding of content strategy and information architecture
  

Resources mentioned:

• Everyday Information Architecture by Lisa Maria Marquis: 

• The Elements of Content Strategy by Erin Kissane

• About Schema Markup: 

  • https://schema.org/docs/schemas.html

  • https://www.google.com/webmasters/markup-helper/u/0/

  • https://search.google.com/test/rich-results

  • https://www.seerinteractive.com/insights/higher-education-schema-how-your-school-can-win-google

Connect with Georgy:

• LinkedIn: Georgy Cohen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgy/

• georgycohen.com

In this solo episode, John breaks down the fundamental camera settings and workflow decisions that can immediately elevate your video quality—whether you're brand new to video or looking to refine your technical foundation as an in-house higher ed videographer.

Key takeaways:

• The four critical camera settings: frame rate (shoot 24fps for cinematic look), aperture (lowest f-stop for background blur), shutter speed (set to 2x your frame rate), and ISO (keep as low as possible to avoid grain)

• Why shooting in 4K but editing in 1080p gives you flexibility without unnecessary file sizes

• The case for auto white balance in run-and-gun scenarios to avoid color correction nightmares

• Why shooting in LOG color profiles often creates more problems than it solves for in-house teams

• How to avoid the two biggest stabilization mistakes: micro-jitter from handheld shooting and overusing gimbal shots

• Audio quality matters more than video quality—record directly into your camera and hide those lav mics

• Think about workflow and asset management, not just the single video you're making right now
  

Connect with John:

• Email: john@unveild.tv

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Website: https://unveild.tv

• Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter

In this solo episode, John addresses a critical gap in how colleges use video content during yield season. Most institutions have great video content scattered across platforms, but admissions counselors often don't have easy access to share it in one-on-one conversations with prospective students—exactly when it could make the biggest impact.

Key takeaways:

• Video shouldn't just be a broadcast tool measured by views—it's a powerful one-to-one communication asset

• Five strategic views from an admissions counselor to fence-sitting students may be more valuable than 5,000 algorithm-driven views

• Marketing, social media, and admissions teams often operate in silos, missing opportunities to leverage existing content

• A simple Google Doc library organized by student questions can bridge this gap in an afternoon

• Don't just rely on the algorithm to deliver your content—be the algorithm by hand-delivering the right video at the right moment

• Measure success not just through broadcast metrics, but through counselor feedback on whether videos helped close enrollment gaps
  

Resources mentioned:

• Free Google Doc template: https://unveild.tv/strategytoolbox

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Email: john@unveild.tv

• Website: https://unveild.tv

• Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter

My guest today is Jolene Travis, Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Pratt Institute. In this episode, Jolene shares how Pratt built a comprehensive campaign to combat negative headlines about creative arts education and shift public perception.

Jolene discusses the "Power of a Creative Education" framework that emerged from a single question from her president: "What are we going to do about these headlines?" She walks through the internal process of building messaging that all stakeholders could see themselves in, the importance of listening to faculty pushback, and how strategic media relations generated nine top-tier placements including The New York Times, NBC Nightly News, and WNYC—all amplifying a counter-narrative that painting and drawing programs have waiting lists while critics claim art school is dead.

Key Takeaways:

• GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) is critical for higher ed—95% of AI citations come from earned media, not your website.

• A creative education teaches critical questioning and problem-solving, not just technical skills—it prepares graduates to pivot across industries.

• Internal alignment on messaging is non-negotiable—if faculty and staff don't see themselves in your framework, it won't work externally.

• Success in creative fields isn't always a Google salary—art residencies, grants, and having a "bar gig that supports your creative work" are valid markers of success.

• The most compelling messages often come from proximity to leadership—Jolene captured "there's a waiting list for painting and drawing" from staffing her president at an event.

• A single data point (applications up in fine arts) became the foundation for 9 major media placements when paired with proper media prep and relationship building.

• Partner with peer institutions rather than compete—a chorus is stronger than a single voice when shifting narratives.

• NBC produced a full campus segment without ever visiting campus because Pratt had organized B-roll in their digital asset management system.

• Zoom waiting room videos are an overlooked touchpoint—Pratt's 30-second video plays in 60,000 meetings annually, creating brand impressions before conversations even start.

• Start your campaign by listening, not by pushing out your message—understand what the other side is saying first.

• Holiday breaks are ideal times to think through big strategic challenges.

Connect With Jolene:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolenetravis/

Resources Mentioned:

• Pratt Institute website

• Bynder (Digital Asset Management system)

• Muck Rack GEO report

• The New York Times: "Pratt School of Art applications up" coverage

• WNYC/Gothamist: Trend piece on NYC art school applications

• NBC Nightly News segment on AI and creativity

• Blog post on Zoom waiting room videos: https://unveild.tv/blog

Connect With John:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Website: https://unveild.tv

• Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter

My guest today is Pez Perry (Robert Perry), Principal Consultant at Squiz. In this episode, Pez shares his expertise on why most higher education websites fail prospective students and what institutions need to do differently.

Pez discusses the fundamental disconnect between how universities organize their websites (around internal structures and stakeholder priorities) versus how prospective students actually search for information. He explains why the future of university websites looks more like ChatGPT than traditional navigation menus, and offers practical advice for making websites more user-centered.

Key Takeaways:

• Most university websites are organized around internal departments and leadership priorities rather than user questions and needs.

• Red flags of poor website design include president statements on the homepage, navigation by department names, heavy jargon, and homepage carousels with drone footage.

• Prospective students don't understand university terminology like "provost," "dean," "bursar," or "vice chancellor."

• The future of university websites is moving toward ChatGPT-style interfaces where users ask questions in natural language and receive immediate answers.

• Gen Z students (your future applicants) already expect AI-powered, conversational interfaces in their daily lives.

• University of Edinburgh embeds scholarship information directly on course pages, eliminating the need for students to navigate away to find financial aid details.

• Monash University gives departments freedom to experiment with content within clear brand guidelines.

• Universities are innovation hubs in research but surprisingly conservative in their digital communication strategies.

• The quickest win: eliminate jargon, acronyms, and high readability levels from your website content.

• Don't assume you know what students want—ask them through surveys, webinar registration questions, and intake forms.

• Content should answer user questions first, then deliver brand messaging second.

Connect With Pez:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertpezperry/

Resources Mentioned:

• University of Edinburgh website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/

• Monash University website: https://www.monash.edu/

• Squiz: https://www.squiz.net/

Connect With John:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni

• Website: https://unveild.tv

• Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter

In this episode, Jenny Petty and Stephanie Geyer talk about their experiences in higher education marketing, focusing on their collaborative efforts at the University of Montana. They discuss the challenges of enrollment decline, the importance of storytelling, and the revitalization of campus traditions. The conversation also touches on the significance of indigenous representation and the future of marketing strategies in higher education.

Takeaways

• The importance of mentorship in career development.

• Building a modern marketing team requires collaboration and innovation.

• Revitalizing campus traditions can enhance community engagement.

• Storytelling is a powerful tool in higher education marketing.

• Indigenous representation is crucial for fostering belonging.

• Enrollment strategies must adapt to changing demographics.

• Creating a brand identity requires input from the entire campus community.

• Digital marketing strategies are essential for modern enrollment efforts.

• Emphasizing retention is as important as recruitment.

• Continuous learning and adaptation are key in higher education marketing.

Links:

• Jenny’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennydurnanpetty/

• Stephanie’s Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-geyer-553a862/

Subscribe to the Higher Ed Storytellers Digest. A weekly newsletter for higher ed MarCom leaders: unveild.tv/newsletter

In this conversation, Christine Albano discusses her journey in social media management within higher education, particularly at Felician University. She shares insights on the importance of social media as a research tool for prospective students, the creative processes behind successful campaigns, and the challenges of managing a student content team. Christine emphasizes the need for authenticity in content creation and the role of AI as a supportive tool in marketing strategies. The discussion also covers engagement strategies, including giveaways and contests, and the future direction of Felician's content strategy, including a new podcast initiative.

Key Takeaways:

1. Social media is how prospective students research colleges: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok function as search engines, giving students a real look at campus life before they ever visit a website.

2. Strong engagement comes from relevance and creativity: Content performs best when it highlights real experiences, hands-on learning, and student voices rather than polished marketing clichés.

3. Student content teams need structure, trust, and training: Clear guardrails, hands-on coaching, and shared creative processes help students contribute effectively while staying on brand.

4. Giveaways and interactive formats can drive real momentum: Well-designed campaigns (like Felician’s anti-melt giveaway) can sustain interest, boost engagement, and support enrollment goals.

5. Authenticity and smart use of AI strengthen content strategy: Honest storytelling resonates most, while AI works best as a supportive tool for ideation, captions, and efficiency—not a replacement for human creativity.

Relevant links:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felician_university/

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@felicianuniversityYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@FelicianUniversity

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/felician-university/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicianuniversity

In this episode, host John Azoni sits down with Dan Giroux, independent consultant and former senior advancement communications leader at Drexel University, to explore why Advancement Marketing & Communications (MarCom) is one of the most overlooked — yet most critical — functions in higher education today.

Dan shares insights from his three-act career journey (agency, in-house, and independent consulting), discusses the structural challenges holding advancement teams back, and outlines practical, realistic ways institutions can create more authentic, impactful content — even with limited resources. The conversation dives deep into storytelling, leadership alignment, donor engagement, and why higher ed can learn a lot from modern creators like MrBeast when it comes to community-driven philanthropy.

This episode is a must-listen for advancement leaders, MarCom professionals, and anyone navigating fundraising, alumni engagement, or institutional storytelling in a rapidly changing higher-ed landscape.

Key takeaways:

1. Advancement MarCom plays a bigger role than many institutions realize: When it’s treated as tactical support instead of a strategic function, schools miss opportunities to drive engagement, loyalty, and giving.

2. Collaboration starts with leadership alignment: Strong partnerships between Central MarCom and Advancement leaders make cross-team collaboration possible; misalignment at the top creates silos everywhere else.

3. Authentic storytelling comes from specificity, not polish: Donors and alumni connect more deeply with real, detailed stories than with highly produced, generic campaign messaging.

4. Stewardship is a growth strategy, not an afterthought: Post-gift communication and impact storytelling strengthen relationships and increase long-term support.

5. Limited resources don’t have to limit impact: Small teams can scale by prioritizing the right work, using freelancers strategically, and building repeatable content systems.

In this episode, Ross Simmonds, CEO of Foundation Marketing and Distribution.ai, unpacks why Reddit has become one of the most influential platforms in the student decision-making process—shaping search rankings, AI responses, and campus reputation in ways most institutions aren’t tracking. He explains how universities can strategically participate without sounding promotional, how to build karma and credibility, and why owning your subreddit is now essential brand hygiene. Ross shares practical steps for teams of any size to start distributing content effectively, encourages leveraging student-generated stories, and highlights how repurposing existing assets can drive massive impact. He also discusses his book, Create Once, Distribute Forever, and offers low-lift strategies to help higher ed marketers turn Reddit from a risk into an unmatched opportunity.

Links:

Ross’ book: Create Once, Distribute ForeverRoss’ companies: Foundation Marketing and Distribution.ai

Key takeaways:

1. Reddit now shapes both search results and AI-generated answers used in the college search.

2. Universities must own and actively manage their subreddits to influence student perception.

3. Zero-click storytelling outperforms link-dropping and builds trust on Reddit.

4. Studying subreddit culture and tailoring content to it prevents bans and boosts engagement.

5. Consistency—15 minutes a day of authentic activity—compounds into real visibility and impact.

In this conversation, Erin Fields, the marketing director at Ology, discusses her journey in higher education marketing, emphasizing the importance of authentic content and understanding student needs. She shares insights on leveraging LinkedIn for thought leadership, the role of Reddit in gathering student feedback, and effective strategies for email marketing and blog content. Erin highlights the significance of spotlighting real student stories to build trust and relatability, and encourages higher ed professionals to embrace experimentation in their content creation efforts.

Key takeaways:

1. Authentic, human-sounding conversations should lead higher ed marketing.

2. Student needs and real questions must drive all content decisions.

3. Platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit are essential for understanding student sentiment.

4. Content should prioritize clarity, simplicity, and genuine value.

5. Building helpful, student-centered resources strengthens brand trust over time.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Dérecco Lynch shares his insights on transforming higher education through innovative marketing strategies, storytelling, and building brand affinity. He emphasizes the importance of engaging students and stakeholders by simplifying messaging and creating a culture of collaboration. Drawing parallels with Apple's approach to product launches, Dr. Lynch discusses the need for higher education institutions to adapt to market changes and actively engage with their communities. He also highlights the significance of celebrating wins to foster a positive organizational culture and motivate staff.

Student stories landing page referenced in episode: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/11/beyond-the-classroom-with-5-real-uc-students-around-the-country.html

DéRecco's Linkedin post about the Apple Keynote: https://shorturl.at/AyYrY

Key takeaways:

1. Story-driven messaging helps higher-ed institutions communicate real impact.

2. Simple, clear pillars make institutional visions easier to align around.

3. Activations and experiences are more effective than emails or PDFs for spreading vision.

4. Building brand affinity early leads to stronger long-term loyalty and advocacy.

5. Higher ed must innovate and adapt to stay competitive in a shifting market.

In this episode, John Azoni interviews Cory Glover, a Marketing Cloud Manager at the University of Michigan Dearborn, about reducing friction in email campaigns. They discuss the importance of personalization, the challenges of managing email communications, and the impact of strategic changes in messaging. Cory shares insights on improving student engagement through dynamic content and storytelling, emphasizing the need for clear, actionable communication. The conversation also touches on the role of technology in enhancing the student experience and the significance of creating a seamless journey for prospective students. They also review slides from a presentation that demonstrate the effectiveness of visual changes, such as adding icons, in improving email readability.

To view the presentation slides referenced in this episode click here.

Takeaways:

1. Personalization in email campaigns can significantly enhance student engagement.

2. Dynamic content and storytelling are effective in reducing friction in communication.

3. Clear, actionable communication is crucial for improving student experience.

4. Strategic changes in messaging can lead to increased application and deposit rates.

5. Technology plays a vital role in enhancing the student journey.

Chris Rapozo shares his journey from Germany to the United States, discussing his experiences as an international student and the cultural challenges he faced. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional needs of international students and the role of content in supporting their retention. The conversation also touches on the significance of personal connections and the impact of life decisions.

Key takeaways:

1. Invest in yourself for a 100% return.

2. Repurpose long-form content into short-form videos.

3. Address the fear of looking stupid in new environments.

4. Loneliness is a big deal for people moving to a new country.

5. Life decisions often lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.

In this conversation, Cheryl Broom, a leading expert in higher education marketing communications, discusses her experiences and insights into the challenges and strategies in marketing for community colleges. The discussion covers the importance of branding, the nuances of RFPs, and the parallels between student recruitment and online dating. Cheryl also reflects on the role of LinkedIn as a powerful networking and marketing tool, and on her viral “Don’t Tell Marketing” series, which underscores the risks of inconsistent branding. Throughout, she emphasizes the need for effective communication and collaboration between marketing and admissions departments to improve student engagement and enrollment processes.

Key Takeaways:

• Perseverance from surfing – Since age 12, Cheryl has learned patience and resilience through surfing, lessons she carries into her professional life.

• LinkedIn as a growth engine – She views LinkedIn as essential for brand building, networking, and driving opportunities in higher education.

• Brand consistency matters – Her “Don’t Tell Marketing” series highlights how off-brand colors, DIY logos, or rogue flyers can damage institutional credibility.

• RFP frustrations – Many higher ed RFPs already have a pre-selected partner, wasting valuable time and resources for other vendors.

• The student journey is like dating – Colleges must follow up with urgency and personalization; ignoring inquiries is the equivalent of “ghosting” a potential student.

In this conversation, John Azoni discusses the challenges and strategies of video content creation in higher education. He emphasizes the importance of a unified video strategy, intentional content creation, and the concept of 'going long to go short' to maximize engagement and meet institutional goals. Azoni also highlights the need to empower non-professionals in video production to enhance content quality and reach.

Key Takeaways:

• ​​Colleges often struggle with a scattered approach to video content.

• Intentional content creation is crucial for meeting institutional goals.

• Filming for posterity can lead to wasted resources.

• Short form video is essential for engagement on social media.

• Transforming events into engaging content can maximize impact.

In this episode, John Azoni discusses the integration of AI tools in video production, focusing on how they enhance workflow, improve collaboration, and streamline the creative process. He shares insights on using AI for transcriptions, casting, scripting, and audio cleanup, emphasizing the transformative impact of these technologies on content creation.

Key Takeaways:

1. AI accelerates video production workflows — Tools like ChatGPT streamline scripting, storyboarding, and editing by extracting insights from transcripts and organizing raw content efficiently.
   

2. Transcripts + AI = Actionable Insights — Transcribed client calls and interviews are used to generate creative briefs, map messaging pillars, and identify the strongest story arcs.
   

3. Custom GPTs enhance brand consistency — For recurring clients, tailored GPTs help maintain messaging tone and speed up ideation by “remembering” previous projects and goals.
   

4. Voice cloning and generative visuals save time — AI voiceovers (via 11 Labs) and tools like Google VO or Photoshop’s Generative Fill reduce production delays and increase flexibility without compromising quality.

5. Experimenting with AI leads to real production breakthroughs — From rethinking episode formats to saving damaged audio, testing AI tools has resulted in both creative and practical wins.

In this conversation, John Azoni and Seth O'Dell discuss the integration of AI in marketing, particularly within the context of a digital marketing agency. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding its limitations and leveraging it as a tool to enhance creativity and efficiency. Seth shares insights on implementing AI strategies, the tools being used, and the future of AI in content creation, ultimately advocating for a balanced approach to AI adoption in the marketing landscape.

The AI tools that were referenced in the episode are these:

🔧 1. ChatGPT Teams

Used by both your team and Seth’s for research, scriptwriting, and creative ideation.
 🔗 https://openai.com/chatgpt/teams

🧠 2. Whispr Flow

Used by Seth for voice-to-text input directly into any field (especially ChatGPT).
 🔗 https://wisprflow.ai/

🎥 3. Loom (with AI SOP feature)

Used to record processes and auto-generate standard operating procedures from video.
 🔗 https://www.loom.com

📞 4. Fathom

Used to record, transcribe, and summarize meetings, generating notes and follow-up actions.
 🔗 https://fathom.video

🎙 5. ElevenLabs

Used to clone voiceover artists for scratch tracks and real VO in marketing videos.
 🔗 https://www.elevenlabs.io

🎬 6. Opus Clip

Used for cutting up video content (e.g., podcast clips) into short-form, AI-generated social videos.
 🔗 https://www.opus.pro

🖼 7. Adobe Generative Fill (Photoshop)

Used to extend image backgrounds, clean up photos, and add visual elements using AI.
 🔗 https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/generative-fill.html

🎞 8. Google Veo

Used for abstract generative video, particularly when reenactments or B-roll are unavailable.
 🔗 https://deepmind.google/technologies/veo

🖥 9. Canva Magic Design (AI-powered slides)

Used by you to turn strategy outlines into full AI-generated presentation slides.
 🔗 https://www.canva.com/magic-design/

🔑 Key Takeaways

1. AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement

   It should be used as a “subcontractor” to support human creativity—helping with research, ideation, and repetitive tasks while keeping decision-making and taste in human hands.

2. Adoption starts with leadership and culture

   Leaders must actively encourage exploration, experimentation, and knowledge-sharing to create a culture where AI tools are embraced and integrated into workflows.

3. Understanding AI’s limits is as important as leveraging its strengths

   Knowing where AI fails is crucial for using it responsibly and effectively. Organizations should focus on learning both the capabilities and shortcomings of the tools they use.

4. AI unlocks efficiency, not just productivity

   From speeding up casting, scripting, and reporting to automating standard operating procedures, AI reduces friction—freeing teams to focus on high-value creative work.

In this conversation, Jennifer Porter and John Azoni discuss the critical role of storytelling in fundraising, particularly within higher education. They explore how to connect donors to specific needs, the importance of collaboration across departments, and the impact of authenticity in donor engagement. Real-life examples illustrate how effective storytelling can resonate with donors and drive contributions. The discussion emphasizes the need for fundraisers to be open about challenges and to use data and stories effectively to engage their audience.

🎯 Key Takeaways from the Episode:

1. Don’t be afraid to tell real, messy stories. Authentic narratives—especially ones that reveal challenges—create stronger emotional connections with donors.

2. Cross-department collaboration enhances storytelling. Fundraising, marketing, and alumni teams should align efforts to maximize storytelling impact and avoid working in silos.

3. Connect donors to people, not just statistics. Specific, human-centered stories resonate more deeply than generic data or institutional updates.

4. Make the donor feel their impact is tangible. Whether through a scholarship, mentorship, or general fund support, donors want to know exactly who and how they’re helping.