Higher Ed Storytelling University

By John Azoni

What's Higher Ed Storytelling University about?

A podcast dedicated to helping higher ed marketers tell better stories and enroll more students.

Hosted by video producer and storytelling coach, John Azoni, these episodes provide quick-win practical advice you can put to use in your marketing right away.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Higher Ed Storytelling University episodes:

06.26.2024
#67 - Student-Led UGC and Building a Dynamic Video Content Creation Team w/ Andy Murphy from Siena College
My guest today is Andy Murphy, Associate Director of Marketing at Siena College. In this episode, Andy shares insights on building and managing a video content creation team that includes full-time staff and student interns. Andy discusses Siena's approach to...
06.12.2024
#66 - Empowering Faculty to Build Their Personal Brands w/ Dr. Sheena Howard
My guest today is Dr. Sheena C. Howard, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and professor of communication. In this episode, Dr. Howard discusses her book "Academic Branding: A Step-by-Step Guide to Increased Visibility, Authority, and Income," and how universities can empower...
05.29.2024
#65 - Higher ed, this is why you’re not growing on social media
John Azoni is the founder of the Higher Ed Storytelling Podcast and Unveild, a video branding agency that helps colleges and universities tell compelling institutional stories. In this solo episode, John discusses effective content creation strategies for higher education institutions....
05.15.2024
#64 - In-house Marcom Staff vs. External Partners w/ Joel Goodman of Bravery Media
My guest today is Joel Goodman, founder of Bravery Media. Joel helps colleges and universities increase their web conversion rates using hospitable design practices. In this episode, we discuss insights from the Simpson Scarborough CMO study and how it relates...
05.08.2024
#63 - How a Project Management Tool Broke Down Silos and Transformed Content Collaboration at UMass Lowell w/ Kristin Nichols
My guest today is Kristin Nichols, a higher education marketing consultant with over 20 years of experience at top universities in the Northeast. In this episode, Kristin discusses how implementing project management tools like Trello helped unite her marketing teams,...
05.01.2024
#62 - Enchanting a Nation: How R. Ethan Braden is leading a bold vision for Texas A&M’s Marketing & Branding
My guest today is R. Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Texas A&M; University. In this episode, Ethan shares his vision for building a world-class marketing team and developing a national earned media strategy to...
04.24.2024
#61 - Uniting Marketing, Enrollment, and Web Strategy at Rutgers Business School w/ Joshua Charles
My guest today is Joshua Charles, a senior marketing and communications leader at Rutgers Business School and board member for HighEdWeb, a professional development network for digital professionals in higher education. In this episode, we discuss Joshua's role at...
04.17.2024
#60 - Hiring Videographers: Secrets to Thriving In-House and External Relationships w/ John Azoni
In this episode, Host John Azoni shares many tips for successful relationships with external videographers and as well as building in-house teams. Key Takeaways: Hire good editors who can create a compelling story and vibe that draws viewers in. Editing is...
04.10.2024
#59 - How to Craft Compelling Student Testimonials and Content to Increase Enrollment Yield, w/ John Azoni + Shiro Hatori
On this episode, John Azoni was a guest on the Higher Ed Demand Gen podcast with Shiro Hatori. We talked about telling compelling student testimonials. Key Takeaways:Higher ed provides ample opportunity for meaningful, transformational stories that don't exist in...
04.03.2024
#58 - Mastering The Email Newsletter: Tactics for Engagement, Trust, & Conversions w/ B2B and B2C expert, Jess Cook
My guest today is Jess Cook, Head of Content and Communications at Island and co-host of the That's Marketing, Baby podcast. Jess comes from a background working with major B2C brands like McDonald's, Kellogg's, and others before transitioning to B2B...
03.27.2024
#57 - How to Improve Yield and Capitalize On Commencement Season w/ Shiro Hatori from Concept3D
My guest today is Shiro Hatori, Director of DemandGen at Concept3D. In this episode, we discuss data from Concept3D's survey of 500 recently admitted college students that can inform your higher ed storytelling and content creation efforts. Shiro shares...
03.20.2024
#56 - Unlocking the Potential of Scholarly Podcasts with Professors.fm, Featuring Robert Li
My guest today is Robert Li, co-founder and owner of University FM, and podcast network manager of Professors.FM, a podcast network featuring top scholars. In this conversation, Robert shares insights on the current higher ed podcasting landscape and the...
03.13.2024
#55 - Four Pillars of a Compelling Student Testimonial w/ Sarah Whorton from University of Missouri System
My guest today is Sarah Whorton, Senior Strategic Communication Consultant at University of Missouri system. Sarah has a background in screenwriting and leverages storytelling principles in her higher education marketing work. In this episode, Sarah shares her insights on...
03.06.2024
#54 - How Nikki Sunstrum built high-performing content teams at Indiana University and University of Michigan
My guest today is Nikki Sunstrum, Assistant VP of Strategic Communication at Indiana University and Instructor at University of Michigan School of Information. Nikki has built social media teams at both IU and Michigan. In this episode, Nikki shares...
02.28.2024
#53 - Making Research Relatable with Kate Young, host of This is Purdue podcast
My guest today is Kate Young, host, writer and producer of This Is Purdue, an award-winning podcast that highlights exciting stories of innovative Boilermakers and shares them with a global audience. In this episode, Kate provides an inside look...
02.21.2024
#52 - Instagram is King: Why Today's Prospective Students Turn Here First w/ Jeremy Tiers from Tudor Collegiate Strategies
My guest today is Jeremy Tiers, Senior Director of Admissions Services for Tudor Collegiate Strategies. He has helped thousands of college and university admission and marketing professionals become better recruiters, communicators, writers, and leaders through training programs and mentoring over...
02.14.2024
#51 - Crafting Irresistible Program Pages: A Blueprint for Higher Ed w/ Copywriter Jo Marshall
My guest today is copywriting expert Jo Marshall, founder of All Things Words, a specialist copy and content agency focused on higher education clients. Jo has over 20 years of experience helping universities find their voice, shape their messaging, and...
02.07.2024
#50 - What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About Storytelling and How to Fix It w/ Zach Busekrus & John Azoni
Today we are sharing with you an episode where host, John Azoni, was a guest on the Enrollify podcast. In this episode hosted by Zach Busekrus we talk about John's journey into storytelling through working with the unhoused population in...
01.31.2024
#49 - Recruiting Students In Your Sleep With an AI Enrollment Officer w/ Cade Scott from Enroll Boost AI
0My guest today is Cade Scott, founder of Enroll Boost AI. Cade helps Tech and Trade Schools boost enrollment by building AI-powered chatbots to engage prospective students around the clock. In this episode we discuss how implementing automated yet...
01.24.2024
#48 - Inclusive Storytelling: The Importance of Content Featuring People with Disabilities w/ Jaime Hunt from The Higher Ed CMO
My guest today is Jaime Hunt, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Old Dominion University. Jaime is a seasoned higher ed marketer with expertise in areas like brand strategy, recruitment marketing, and digital innovation. In this episode we discuss...
01.17.2024
#47 - Creating Personalized Storytelling Content with AI w/ Ardis Kadiu from Element451
My guest today is Ardis Kadiu, CEO and co-founder of Element451, an AI-powered CRM platform for higher education institutions. Ardis is an entrepreneur and technologist passionate about leveraging AI to transform student engagement and admissions processes. In this episode...
01.10.2024
#46 - How to Create Content People WANT to Watch with the “Side Door” Approach w/ John Azoni
In this solo episode, John talks about the power of using a "side door" approach when creating content that aims to draw audiences into your brand emotionally. Key takeaways:Front door content directly states brand values and goals, while side door...
11.15.2023
#45 - How Students' Raw Stories Unite Campus w/ Nate Jorgensen from Miami University
My guest today is Nate Jorgensen, Senior Director of Academic Marketing and Communications at Miami University in Ohio. In this episode we discuss Miami's storytelling initiatives, including their Major Insight podcast, and strategies for centralizing university marketing. Key takeaways:Miami's...
11.08.2023
#44 - Attracting Adult Learners to Your Higher Ed Programs w/ Chris Rapozo from Hannon Hill
My guest today is Chris Rapozo, Marketing Specialist at Hannon Hill. As an adult learner himself, Chris shares his personal story and insights on marketing to non-traditional students. He offers a unique perspective on the motivations and challenges of the...
11.01.2023
#43 - Your “WHY” is not your story w/ John Azoni
In this solo episode, John explores the true meaning of "storytelling" and how it differs from creative messaging in marketing. He discusses how the term has become diluted in higher ed, with many thinking creative messaging equals storytelling. Key...
10.25.2023
#42 - LinkedIn Growth Hacks for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Casey Hill from ActiveCampaign
My guest today is Casey Hill, a growth veteran with over a decade of experience helping software companies scale fast. In this episode, we dive deep into LinkedIn strategy and optimization for higher ed marketers. Casey currently leads organic growth...
10.18.2023
#41 - Mastodon and Decentralized Social Networking Models for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Andrew Cassel of Middlebury College
My guest for this episode is Andrew Cassel, Senior Social Strategist at Middlebury College. In this episode we dive into emerging social platforms like Mastodon, BeReal, and the future of social networking in a Web 3 environment. Key Takeaways:Understanding the...
10.11.2023
#40 - The World's Largest Focus Group: Tapping into Social Listening for Higher Ed Storytelling w/ Liz Gross, CEO, Campus Sonar
My guest today is Liz Gross, founder and CEO of Campus Sonar. In this episode we discuss using social listening to inform higher ed storytelling and strategy. Key takeaways:The importance of listening to your audience's narratives and addressing misperceptions through...
10.04.2023
#39 - The 5 C’s of Higher Ed Social Media Execution With Limited Resources w/ Lizzie Chen from Moody College of Communication
My guest today is Lizzie Chen, Assistant Director of Digital Media at Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. In this episode we discuss running an impactful social media strategy with limited resources. Key takeaways:Build community...
09.27.2023
#38 - Tapping Student Talent for Video and Social Media Content w/ Dr. Josie Ahlquist
My guest today is Dr. Josie Ahlquist, Josie is a renowned expert in digital leadership, guiding educational leaders, organizations, and students through speaking, coaching, and consulting. Her practical and evidence-based frameworks empower clients to create tailored digital engagement strategies. Among...
09.20.2023
#37 - Higher Ed Marketing In a Skills-Based-Economy w/ Eric Stoller, VP of Digital @ Territorium
My guest today is Eric Stoller, VP of Digital at Territorium. In this episode we discuss the value of higher education in a skills-based economy and how colleges need to better connect the dots for students between their education and...
09.13.2023
#36 - Marketing to Adult Students w/ Shane Baglini, Director of Marketing & Recruitment, Muhlenberg College
My guest today is Shane Baglini, Senior Director of Marketing and Recruitment at Muhlenberg College's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education. In this episode we discuss strategies for marketing to and recruiting adult learners. Key takeaways:Adult learners often come back...
09.06.2023
#35 - Belonging Is Crucial: How To Create Experiences That Help New Students Find Their People w/ Allison Turcio From Siena College
My guest today is Allison Turcio, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Siena College. In this episode we discuss creating an environment where students naturally want to share their positive experiences. Key takeaways: - The importance of studying...
08.30.2023
#34 - FOMO is Not a Strategy: The Case for Picking Your Platform and Owning It w/ Darren Roubinek of University of Central Missouri
My guest today is Darren Roubinek, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at the University of Central Missouri. In this episode we discuss the challenges of social media platform overwhelm and knowing where to focus your efforts. Key takeaways:The difference...
08.23.2023
#33 - Tradition, History, Innovation: Owning Your University's Unique Stories w/ Andy Fuller, Ex. Director of Brand Content at Notre Dame
My guest today is Andy Fuller, Executive Director of Brand Content at the University of Notre Dame. In this episode we go deep on the power of narrative ownership and storytelling to strengthen your university's brand. Key takeaways:What narrative ownership...
08.16.2023
#32 - Telling BIGGER Stories - How One College Went All In On Their Iconic Coach w/ Jen Porter of Rochester University
My guest today is Jen Porter, Director of Alumni Relations at Rochester University in Michigan. We discuss the full-length documentary film they produced about Garth Pleasant, their former basketball coach About the Film:Garth Pleasant coached basketball at RU for over...
08.09.2023
#31 - How Bart Caylor Saves 10-15 Hours Per Week Using AI
My guest today is Bart Caylor. If you’ve floated around the higher ed marketing sphere for very long you’ve probably come across Bart at least once. Bart is the founder of the education marketing agency, Caylor Solutions as well as...
08.02.2023
#30 - How to Not Be Boring and Capture Attention On Social Media w/ Mike Richeson of Homestead Production
My guest today is Mike Richeson. Mike is the founder of a video production company called Homestead Production and they work with clients in a variety of industries. Don’t waste your time trying to Google Homestead Production because they don’t...
07.26.2023
#29 - How to Write Better Emails - Newsletters, Marketing Emails, Everyday Comms w/ Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds
My guests today are Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds. Ashley is the director of marketing operations at Cornell University. Day is a strategist at Ologie which is a marketing and branding agency focused on educational institutions. Ashley and Day...
07.19.2023
#28 - Earned Media and the Power of Student Success Stories w/ Lauren Keane of SNHU
My guest today is Lauren Keane. Lauren is the Associate Vice President of Communications at Southern New Hampshire University and she wrote a fabulous article for Inside Higher Education called “harnessing the power of student stories.” In this episode...
07.12.2023
#27 - Behind The Scenes of Penn State's Democracy-Themed Podcasts w/ Jenna Spinelle
My guest today is Jenna Spinelle. Jenna is a writer podcast writer and speaker in higher education. She hosts and produces the "Democracy Works" podcast and the Narrative series "When People Decide." Both of those are productions of the McCourtney...
06.28.2023
#26 - Stop Boring Me! How To Harness Improv and Humor to Create Engaging Content w/ Kathy Klotz-Guest
My guest today is Kathy Klotz-Guest. Kathy is a comedian, a storyteller, an improv actor, a keynote speaker and author of the wonderful book that I highly recommend called “Stop Boring Me.” The subtitle is “How to create kick-ass marketing...
06.21.2023
#25 - Marketing An Art School and Starting a Podcast w/ Sabrina Dépestre, Marketing Director at MICA
My guest today is Sabrina Depestre. Sabrina is the marketing director at Maryland Institute College of Art.. where I actually attended for a brief stint which is what piqued my interest to get her on the show. She has...
06.14.2023
#24 - Social Media Strategies, PR and Testing Your Messaging w/ Bill Zimmerman, Advertising and PR Lecturer at Penn State University
My guest today is Bill Zimmerman. Bill is a lecturer at Penn State University’ Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. teaching Digital PR, Social Media Strategies and PR Media & Methods courses. We’ve never had a lecturer on this podcast,...
06.07.2023
#23 - The Future of Higher Ed Marketing in the Metaverse with Brian Piper, co-author of Epic Content Marketing 2nd Edition.
My guest today is Brian Piper. Brian is the Director of Content Strategy at Univeristy of Rochester in Rochester, New York. he is also the co-author of the 2nd edition of Epic Content Marketing along with Joe Polizzi, a book...
06.01.2023
#22 - A New Way to Find Student Success Stories At Your College/University w/ Seth Odell from Kanahoma
My guest today is Seth Odell. Seth has a solid background in higher ed marketing and producing great results for the institutions he’s worked at. He brings that expertise to his company, Kanahoma - a boutique education marketing agency based...
05.09.2023
#21 - Pioneering New Pathways in Higher Ed Social Media Marketing With Andrew Cassel of Middlebury College
My guest today is Andrew Cassel. Andrew is the Senior Social Strategist at Middlebury College in the beautiful state of Vermont. He’s heads up all of Middlebury’s social media strategy and execution and he’s here to tell us what’s working...
05.03.2023
#20 - The Insane Reach of Short Form Vertical Videos In Higher Ed Marketing
My guest today is Rob Clark. Rob and his family are social media sensations known as “that tall family” and you guessed it, they are all very tall individuals. They post mostly funny takes on being tall and have amassed...
04.26.2023
#19 - How to Differentiate Your College or University by Dramatically Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message
My guest today is Josh Cantrell. Josh is the founder of Signal Brandworks which is an agency working brands on clarifying and simplifying their messaging and marketing content and helping them craft marketing collateral that moves people to action. In...
04.11.2023
#18 - Fundraising: How Storytelling Helped Achieve a Single Gift of $27.1 Million - and More With Tammy Zonker of Fundraising Transformed
Emotions drive outcomes. That’s why vulnerability is at the heart of successfully getting people to take the action you want them to take. This is true in marketing, this is true in parenting, this is true in so many areas...

What's Higher Ed Storytelling University about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Higher Ed Storytelling University episodes:

#67 - Student-Led UGC and Building a Dynamic Video Content Creation Team w/ Andy Murphy from Siena College

#66 - Empowering Faculty to Build Their Personal Brands w/ Dr. Sheena Howard

#65 - Higher ed, this is why you’re not growing on social media

#64 - In-house Marcom Staff vs. External Partners w/ Joel Goodman of Bravery Media

#63 - How a Project Management Tool Broke Down Silos and Transformed Content Collaboration at UMass Lowell w/ Kristin Nichols

#62 - Enchanting a Nation: How R. Ethan Braden is leading a bold vision for Texas A&M’s Marketing & Branding

#61 - Uniting Marketing, Enrollment, and Web Strategy at Rutgers Business School w/ Joshua Charles

#60 - Hiring Videographers: Secrets to Thriving In-House and External Relationships w/ John Azoni

#59 - How to Craft Compelling Student Testimonials and Content to Increase Enrollment Yield, w/ John Azoni + Shiro Hatori

#58 - Mastering The Email Newsletter: Tactics for Engagement, Trust, & Conversions w/ B2B and B2C expert, Jess Cook

#57 - How to Improve Yield and Capitalize On Commencement Season w/ Shiro Hatori from Concept3D

#56 - Unlocking the Potential of Scholarly Podcasts with Professors.fm, Featuring Robert Li

#55 - Four Pillars of a Compelling Student Testimonial w/ Sarah Whorton from University of Missouri System

#54 - How Nikki Sunstrum built high-performing content teams at Indiana University and University of Michigan

#53 - Making Research Relatable with Kate Young, host of This is Purdue podcast

#52 - Instagram is King: Why Today's Prospective Students Turn Here First w/ Jeremy Tiers from Tudor Collegiate Strategies

#51 - Crafting Irresistible Program Pages: A Blueprint for Higher Ed w/ Copywriter Jo Marshall

#50 - What Higher Ed Gets Wrong About Storytelling and How to Fix It w/ Zach Busekrus & John Azoni

#49 - Recruiting Students In Your Sleep With an AI Enrollment Officer w/ Cade Scott from Enroll Boost AI

#48 - Inclusive Storytelling: The Importance of Content Featuring People with Disabilities w/ Jaime Hunt from The Higher Ed CMO

#47 - Creating Personalized Storytelling Content with AI w/ Ardis Kadiu from Element451

#46 - How to Create Content People WANT to Watch with the “Side Door” Approach w/ John Azoni

#45 - How Students' Raw Stories Unite Campus w/ Nate Jorgensen from Miami University

#44 - Attracting Adult Learners to Your Higher Ed Programs w/ Chris Rapozo from Hannon Hill

#43 - Your “WHY” is not your story w/ John Azoni

#42 - LinkedIn Growth Hacks for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Casey Hill from ActiveCampaign

#41 - Mastodon and Decentralized Social Networking Models for Higher Ed Marketers w/ Andrew Cassel of Middlebury College

#40 - The World's Largest Focus Group: Tapping into Social Listening for Higher Ed Storytelling w/ Liz Gross, CEO, Campus Sonar

#39 - The 5 C’s of Higher Ed Social Media Execution With Limited Resources w/ Lizzie Chen from Moody College of Communication

#38 - Tapping Student Talent for Video and Social Media Content w/ Dr. Josie Ahlquist

#37 - Higher Ed Marketing In a Skills-Based-Economy w/ Eric Stoller, VP of Digital @ Territorium

#36 - Marketing to Adult Students w/ Shane Baglini, Director of Marketing & Recruitment, Muhlenberg College

#35 - Belonging Is Crucial: How To Create Experiences That Help New Students Find Their People w/ Allison Turcio From Siena College

#34 - FOMO is Not a Strategy: The Case for Picking Your Platform and Owning It w/ Darren Roubinek of University of Central Missouri

#33 - Tradition, History, Innovation: Owning Your University's Unique Stories w/ Andy Fuller, Ex. Director of Brand Content at Notre Dame

#32 - Telling BIGGER Stories - How One College Went All In On Their Iconic Coach w/ Jen Porter of Rochester University

#31 - How Bart Caylor Saves 10-15 Hours Per Week Using AI

#30 - How to Not Be Boring and Capture Attention On Social Media w/ Mike Richeson of Homestead Production

#29 - How to Write Better Emails - Newsletters, Marketing Emails, Everyday Comms w/ Ashley Budd and Dayana Kibilds

#28 - Earned Media and the Power of Student Success Stories w/ Lauren Keane of SNHU

#27 - Behind The Scenes of Penn State's Democracy-Themed Podcasts w/ Jenna Spinelle

#26 - Stop Boring Me! How To Harness Improv and Humor to Create Engaging Content w/ Kathy Klotz-Guest

#25 - Marketing An Art School and Starting a Podcast w/ Sabrina Dépestre, Marketing Director at MICA

#24 - Social Media Strategies, PR and Testing Your Messaging w/ Bill Zimmerman, Advertising and PR Lecturer at Penn State University

#23 - The Future of Higher Ed Marketing in the Metaverse with Brian Piper, co-author of Epic Content Marketing 2nd Edition.

#22 - A New Way to Find Student Success Stories At Your College/University w/ Seth Odell from Kanahoma

#21 - Pioneering New Pathways in Higher Ed Social Media Marketing With Andrew Cassel of Middlebury College

#20 - The Insane Reach of Short Form Vertical Videos In Higher Ed Marketing

#19 - How to Differentiate Your College or University by Dramatically Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message

#18 - Fundraising: How Storytelling Helped Achieve a Single Gift of $27.1 Million - and More With Tammy Zonker of Fundraising Transformed

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