Recorded August 8, 2025

In this episode of Off the Rails, Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, and Justin review the chaotic world of last-minute project requests. They share their experiences, strategies, and a few laughs while navigating the often unpredictable demands of faculty and staff just before the new semester kicks off.

The conversation kicks off with a lighthearted look at the absurdity of trying to accommodate requests that come in at the eleventh hour. The panelists discuss the importance of setting realistic timelines and the challenges of managing expectations when it comes to integrating new technology into classrooms. They reflect on their own institutions' processes for prioritizing projects and the fine line between accommodating urgent requests and maintaining a sustainable workflow.

As they explore the intricacies of preventive maintenance and room checks, the team emphasizes the value of proactive measures to catch issues before they become problems. With anecdotes about their unique approaches, they provide insights into how to keep AV systems running smoothly while also dealing with the inevitable chaos that comes with the start of a new academic year.

News article:

• https://www.edsurge.com/news/2025-08-06-how-sci-fi-taught-me-to-embrace-ai-in-my-classroom

• https://www.zerogpt.com

AI-generated alternate show titles:

• Last Minute Madness

• Can You Squeeze Me In?

• The Art of the Last-Minute Request

• AV Chaos: Back to School Edition

• Preventive Maintenance: The Unsung Hero

• Just One More Thing...

• When Time is Not on Your Side

• Classroom Crisis Management

• How to Say No Without Saying No

• AV Super Friends: Under Pressure

Far superior human alternate show titles:

• Learn calculus, damn it

• That means you're old and you're about to die

• We're in that same boat again!

• It depends who's asking

• I am the gatekeeper

• Reasonability

• Wheeling and dealing

• How reasonable is it?

• Small little turnovers

• Just say "No"

• There's a camera on the thing

We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com

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