Send us Fan Mail

Leadership, laughter, and a little Dairy Queen debate? This episode has it all. Dr. Beth Lesen joins The Pickup Meeting to share how trust, compassion, and authentic leadership can transform campus culture, support first-generation students, and inspire teams to do their best work.

From rebuilding divisions and leading through crisis to career coaching, financial wellness, and the future of student affairs, Beth offers practical wisdom and insight for listeners. Plus, the crew tackles Dilly Bars vs. Blizzards, beach vacations, and why sometimes the best leadership advice is simply to slow down, stay curious, and care for people.

*The Pickup Meeting is a spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Also, subscribe to the Adventures in Advising YouTube Channel!

Have a question? Want to chat? E-mail us at thepickupmeeting@gmail.com!

Connect with Brody and Kevin on LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

This week, the rails were more of a suggestion than a destination.

Kevin celebrates his 46th birthday while Brody shares his philosophy that every birthday is worth celebrating. Along the way, the conversation veers into unexpected territory: the disappearance of neckties, the quest for the perfect joggers, movie theater etiquette (put the phone away!), and whether theaters are destined to become the drive-ins of the future.

Eventually, the duo finds their way back to higher education, exploring what professional development really means beyond annual conferences. From peer observations and book clubs to campus-based learning opportunities and the importance of creating time for growth, they discuss how leaders can cultivate meaningful development experiences—even when budgets are tight.

*The Pickup Meeting is a spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Also, subscribe to the Adventures in Advising YouTube Channel!

Have a question? Want to chat? E-mail us at thepickupmeeting@gmail.com!

Connect with Brody and Kevin on LinkedIn.

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when adult learners, online education, micro-credentials, baseball parks, and “other duties as assigned” all walk into one podcast episode? You get a lively conversation with Dr. Katie Dawson, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Innovation, and Talent Strategy for the University of Louisiana System.

Katie joins Kevin and Brody to talk about Compete Louisiana, a systemwide effort helping adults with some college credit finish what they started. Along the way, she breaks down the real barriers stop-out students face, why relationships still matter in enrollment work, how online learning can be built to actually serve students, and why micro-credentials may deserve a seat at higher ed’s grown-up table. The conversation also wanders, delightfully, through mentorship, digital literacy, workforce pathways, grocery delivery, summer nostalgia, and a spirited debate over America’s best ballparks.

*The Pickup Meeting is a spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast!

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook! Also, subscribe to the Adventures in Advising YouTube Channel!

Have a question? Want to chat? E-mail us at thepickupmeeting@gmail.com!

Connect with Brody and Kevin on LinkedIn.