🎙️ The Liminal: When Your Face Becomes the Product — Graduation Photos, Biometrics, and the GradImages Lawsuit

In this deep dive episode of The Liminal, the studio gets a little… meta. With Chase Rigby taking the week off, his synthetic substitutes host the conversation to unpack one of the most consequential legal cases in the graduation industry: Gertner v. Commemorative Brands (GradImages). Using facial recognition to sell graduation photos may have seemed like harmless automation—but a newly certified class action lawsuit suggests otherwise.

From $49.99 JPEGs to a potential $190M liability, this episode breaks down how biometric privacy laws collide with legacy graduation photo business models, and why the industry may be heading for a fundamental reset.

📝 Topics Discussed:

How graduation photos became a flashpoint for biometric privacy

Why students feel like their memories are being “held hostage”

The mechanics of facial recognition in graduation photography workflows

What the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) actually requires

Why this lawsuit isn’t about copyright—but consent

How cloud servers, facial geometry, and email marketing intersect

The failed defenses GradImages used to fight class certification

Why selling photos can count as “profiting from biometrics”

The difference between surveillance-based matching vs user-initiated matching

How a SaaS model changes the privacy and economics of graduation photos

Why free photos may be worth more than commission checks

Equity, access, and why graduation photos shouldn’t be a luxury item

📌 Episode Highlights:

[00:00] A synthetic Chase joins the show—using AI voice tech to discuss biometric tech[01:26] The infamous email: watermarked photos and $49.99 price tags[02:11] The “190 million pound straw” that could break the graduation photo industry[02:50] Why this lawsuit isn’t about photography—it’s about what happens after[03:13] Facial recognition at scale: face maps, cloud servers, and automation[04:36] What makes BIPA the “nuclear option” of privacy laws[05:38] Section 15C: when selling photos becomes profiting from biometric data[06:19] Judge McGlynn certifies the class—500+ events, 190,000 graduates[06:47] Why moving data to another state doesn’t avoid Illinois law[07:19] The bizarre credibility attack involving a meme—and why it failed[08:39] Why the old model is now “legally radioactive”[09:14] What a compliant, user-initiated photo flow actually looks like[09:44] Why making photos free changes everything[10:26] Trading a $1,000 commission check for $19,000 in organic impressions[11:20] Graduation photos as an equity issue—not a luxury add-on[11:41] “Privacy by design” vs “privacy by accident”[12:34] Your face as the ultimate password—and why consent matters[12:53] Why this lawsuit may permanently reset the industry

🎓 Rethinking graduation photos?

Tassel helps schools modernize ceremonies with privacy-first tools—from ticketing and name reading to announcements, displays, and compliant photo delivery.

Learn more → tassel.com

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — the platform trusted by hundreds of schools to power commencement logistics while putting students, privacy, and experience first.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

n this international episode, Tassel CEO Chase Rigby sits down with Beth Lincoln (Manchester Met) and Richard Barden (King’s College London) to explore how graduation is evolving across the UK. From hiring gowns to running 29 ceremonies in two weeks, this episode digs into the differences—and surprising similarities—between UK and US commencement traditions.

📝 Topics Discussed:

How UK universities handle cap and gown rentals (and why no one throws their cap)

Running “relaxed” graduation ceremonies for students with sensory or access needs

The growing trend of smaller, more personalized ceremonies

Why printed programs might be on their way out

Student costs, inclusion, and how some schools are helping grads attend

A behind-the-scenes look at 14–29 ceremonies in a single week

Forming the UK’s graduation planning community—and what US schools can learn from it

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:38] Beth and Richard share their own graduation memories (spoiler: one involved a Lord!)[05:06] How a UK-wide group of 300+ graduation planners formed during COVID[06:35] “Relaxed ceremonies”: a low-sensory alternative for anxious or neurodivergent grads[12:31] Why students hire (not buy) their gowns in the UK—and what it costs[18:10] 14 ceremonies in a week? Why UK venues limit capacity[20:43] 29 ceremonies at Manchester Met and how the team pulls it off[24:02] The push for personalization: student-focused speakers and stories[28:27] Printed brochures are out—what students want instead[32:14] How collaboration across departments improved graduation logistics[36:28] Supporting students who can’t afford to attend[37:32] Why universities still invest in graduation—despite budget pressures

🎓 Want to deliver a more personalized, modern ceremony?

Learn how Tassel can help → tassel.com

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — the platform trusted by hundreds of schools to power commencement logistics, from ticketing and name reading to announcements and displays.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: From Paper to Power — Jermaine White on Ticketing Innovation and Graduation Equity

In this episode, Kate Williams chats with Jermaine White, Assistant Superintendent of Harnett County Schools, about how moving to digital guest ticketing transformed their seven high school ceremonies. From fighting fraud to helping families feel more included, Jermaine shares how Tassel’s tools saved time, improved security, and made graduation smoother for everyone.

📝 Topics Discussed:

The moment Jermaine realized paper tickets had to go

What families remember most—and why it always makes him emotional

How Tassel's digital ticketing became essential after COVID

Building school and venue trust through transparency and data

Fighting fraud (yes, even ticket scams at graduation!)

Why personalized tickets created a moment of pride for one graduate

How to get school-wide buy-in for new tech—and make other principals jealous

What Jermaine would tell any high school leader considering Tassel

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:50] The speech, the cookout invite, and the last graduation his grandmother attended[03:30] Why graduation is as much for parents as it is for students[05:49] A fire marshal, a Google search, and the start of a digital transformation[07:40] How Tassel simplified logistics and brought peace of mind[08:06] Pre-Tassel chaos: boxes of paper tickets, manual counting, constant errors[10:20] How COVID helped accelerate digital ticketing adoption[11:20] Preventing fake tickets and giving unused ones to other families[14:24] A custom ticket for a Japanese Honor Society grad—and why it mattered[16:23] Tassel as a long-term part of the district’s graduation strategy[18:05] Jermaine’s favorite tactic to get buy-in: make other schools jealous[19:41] Strengthening venue relationships through real-time data and transparency

🎟️ Ready to simplify your ceremony with secure, modern guest ticketing?

Learn more at: tassel.com/ticketing

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — the platform that makes graduation easier for schools and more meaningful for every guest.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: The Product That Pays Students Back — Behind the Scenes of Graduation Announcements

In this special episode, Tassel CEO Chase Rigby sits down with Systems Administrator Jake Mayer to talk about the launch of Graduation Announcements—Tassel’s newest product that lets grads tell their story, share a link, and receive financial gifts straight to their Venmo or PayPal accounts. They dive into how the idea came about, why it matters, and the surprising impact it’s had on students, schools, and families.

📝 Topics Discussed:

The problem with $100+ paper announcements—and what comes next

How a birthday gift page led to a nationwide rollout

The philosophy behind putting money into students' pockets

Why one student made $3,500 just by sharing their story

How schools are using announcements to surface powerful, authentic stories

The ripple effect for branding, enrollment, and global family reach

How Tassel made it “easier than Instagram” to set up a page

What’s next for announcements: videos, richer content, and stage-walk clips

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:09] The outdated world of paper announcements—and the inspiration to digitize it[04:20] The MVP started as a birthday donation tool for Chase’s daughter[06:30] Tassel’s mission: stop squeezing students, start giving back[08:54] Students share what the money meant to them—and what they used it for[09:39] The recovery story that moved a university to tears[13:00] How real stories are now powering school marketing in a whole new way[16:01] What it’s like to create a page: upload, write, link your Venmo, done[18:19] Grandma messages, international donations, and future roadmap requests[24:41] The surprising ways students are sharing: LinkedIn, TikTok, even calendars[27:14] Beyond stories: announcements include livestreams, details, and ceremony links

🎓 Ready to create your own digital announcement? Visit: tassel.com/graduation-announcements

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — building tools that make every graduation easier, more inclusive, and more memorable.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: Getting Every Name Right — Lindsay Kimbrough on Ceremony, Legacy, and the Power of the Perfect Moment

In this episode, Manny Vozos sits down with Lindsay Kimbrough, Assistant Principal at East Kentwood High School in Michigan—one of the most diverse high schools in the U.S.—to talk about what it really takes to make graduation meaningful for every student. From QR codes and jumbotrons to family pride and student-led production, Lindsay shares the “why” behind every detail.

📝 Topics Discussed:

* Planning for 600+ grads: balancing logistics and emotion

* Why name pronunciation matters—and how Tassel helps get it right

* Evolving commencement into a personalized, tech-powered event

* Including underclassmen in the production (and building future buy-in)

* How ceremony efficiency creates room for connection

* Creating a ripple effect for families, staff, and even security

* New features Lindsay can’t wait to try next

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:53] Lindsay reflects on graduating from the same school she now helps lead[02:15] What students really remember from the ceremony[04:20] Using registration to spark excitement and ownership[05:40] Why saying names correctly is non-negotiable[07:39] Students take the lead on personalization—and take pride in it[08:13] ROI beyond the tech: building a live, student-powered production[10:33] Moments that matter: from first-gen grads to students with disabilities[13:37] The logistics that make 600 names go smoothly[15:45] Staying on time without feeling rushed—and why that helps everyone[17:59] How saved time becomes a better post-ceremony experience[21:45] Advice for high school leaders considering Tassel[22:41] Sneak peek: new chatbot and graduate announcements in Tassel’s Plus Package

💬 Want to explore Tassel at your school? Learn more at tassel.com

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — helping schools deliver the perfect moment with tools for registration, name pronunciation, ticketing, displays, and more.

✨ Celebrate every student → tassel.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: From Solo Coordinator to Seamless Ceremonies — James Cuaresma on Evolving Commencement at Cal State LA

In this episode, Staci Matt-Beal talks with James Cuaresma, Senior Director of University Events and Protocol at Cal State LA. From running commencement as a one-person team to orchestrating nine ceremonies with 150 volunteers, James shares how Cal State LA transformed its approach—and how embracing digital tools helped along the way.

📝 Topics Discussed:

* Why Cal State LA has changed venues six times in 12 years—and what that’s taught them

* Scaling from one person to a team-supported operation

* Shifting from all-campus to college-based ceremonies

* Strategies for creating a truly student-centered experience

* How partnerships and cross-campus collaboration make it all possible

* The decision to adopt digital ticketing, chatbots, ceremony displays, and more

* Lessons learned from QR code mix-ups and how they plan to improve

* James’ philosophy: Give every student their moment, no matter what

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:00] Cal State LA’s six venue changes in 12 years—and the silver lining[02:54] From a team of one to a ceremony supported by five leads and 150 volunteers[03:44] The shift to college-based ceremonies and the importance of student recognition[07:47] James’ approach to creating meaningful moments that prioritize students[09:28] How Tassel helped simplify complex logistics with an all-in-one platform[12:31] Early adopter insights: Using chatbots to cut down on student emails[15:18] Why ceremony visuals matter—and how students and families respond[16:49] Keeping registration easy: balancing tech tools with clear communication[18:49] Multi-channel outreach: emails, posters, postcards, and more[21:17] Switching to pre-recorded names—and the benefits for students and staff[22:29] The biggest value of Tassel’s all-in-one solution for large-scale events[23:54] What James plans to try next: stickers over name cards to save time and stress

💡 Have a tip or want to share your ceremony story? Drop us a note.

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel — the leading platform for modern commencements. From registration to ticketing, name pronunciation, displays, and analytics, Tassel makes it easier for schools to celebrate every graduate.

✨ Give grads their perfect moment → tassel.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ Inside the Build: Surveys, Programs, and Putting Students First

In this episode of The Liminal, Jess DuBridge sits down with Austin Adair from Tassel’s product team to go behind the scenes of two new tools designed to improve graduation: post-ceremony surveys and digital programs.

They walk through how these features went from pilot to product, what early feedback revealed, and how schools like FGCU and UMGC are already using them to deliver more modern, inclusive ceremonies. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build with students—and school staff—in mind, this one’s for you.

📝 Topics Discussed:

* What grads really think—how surveys shape smarter ceremonies

* Why digital programs are replacing costly, wasteful printouts

* The balance between tradition and tech

* Feedback from early adopters: FGCU, UMGC, and more

* How Tassel designed both features with accessibility and admin ease in mind

* What’s next: AI summaries, guest feedback, and more self-serve tools

📌 Episode Highlights:

[03:45] Post-ceremony surveys: Closing the loop with grads[06:30] What students loved—and how schools acted on it[08:50] Designing surveys for admins: Setup, sharing, and decision-making[10:40] Digital programs: From outdated printouts to searchable, screen-reader-friendly tools[13:15] Guest access, name search, and eco benefits[15:30] “We’ll never not use Tassel for this”: Feedback from early adopters[17:00] Looking ahead: What’s next for these two features in the Expert package

Have feedback or ideas for future features?We’d love to hear from you. Head to tassel.com/roadmap or let your CSM know what you’d like to see next. Your input helps shape what we build—and how we build it.

✨ Give grads their perfect moment → tassel.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: Tassel Trends — The Data Behind Participation, Pride, and the Perfect Moment

In this episode, Staci Matt-Beal and Chase Rigby dig into the findings from the inaugural Tassel Trends report—an industry-first deep dive into what drives commencement participation. From data-backed insights to heartwarming stories, this episode explores how small decisions can lead to meaningful moments for every graduate.

📝 Topics Discussed:

* Why Tassel created the first comprehensive report on graduation trends

* The real reasons only ~60% of eligible students attend graduation

* What moves the needle on participation (hint: it's not budget)

* The 30-point boost from a simple name pronunciation feature

* Why emails and texts matter—and how many to send

* The shift from printed programs to digital-first experiences

* How small schools are setting the standard for inclusive ceremonies

* What higher education teams should consider when planning 2025 ceremonies

📌 Episode Highlights:

[01:10] Why participation matters—and how it impacts alumni affinity[03:12] Launching Tassel Trends: what it is, why it matters[04:45] Surprising stats: more emails = more students walking[08:25] The impact of timing: when and how to open registration[11:44] Pre-recorded names = more students attending (and less stress)[17:00] Parents and students react to hearing names pronounced right[20:40] Budget ≠ participation: what actually drives turnout[23:57] Schools embracing digital tools to save money and improve experience[28:02] What's next: future metrics, time savings, and user-submitted questions

Have feedback or want to suggest a topic for next year’s report? Drop us a note.

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel – the all-in-one platform modernizing graduation. From registration to name announcements, ticketing, stage displays, and analytics, Tassel powers stress-free commencements for every type of school.

✨ Give grads their perfect moment → tassel.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

🎙️ The Liminal: From GED to JD — Paris Thomas on Overcoming the Odds and Owning the Podium

In this episode, Chase Rigby sits down with Paris Thomas, a former high school dropout turned full-ride law school graduate, who delivered the commencement speech selected by both faculty and peers. Paris shares his remarkable journey from homelessness to higher education, and the moment he stood at the lectern to address his fellow classmates.

📝 Topics Discussed:

• Growing up in poverty, violence, and instability—and finding hope through mentors
• How belief from others sparked the internal fire to pursue education
• Getting accepted to law school with a full-ride scholarship despite the odds
• What it felt like to be selected to deliver the commencement speech
• The process of crafting a speech that inspires without preaching
• Why storytelling and vulnerability are essential in any great speech
• The power of sharing scars—and how it builds connection and credibility

📌 Episode Highlights:

• [01:29] Paris shares his early life story: loss, incarceration, homelessness, and dropping out
• [03:11] The turning point: meeting mentors, earning his GED, and enrolling in college
• [06:45] Why belief in others is the most powerful gift you can give
• [07:37] The surprise moment Paris found out he was chosen to speak at graduation
• [09:07] How he crafted his speech around the theme of belief—and honoring his mentors
• [12:00] The philosophy behind his storytelling approach and speechwriting process
• [16:14] Using humor and tone shifts to reflect the gravity of the moment
• [19:17] The Tuskegee University story he shared—and why it speaks to seeing people’s potential
• [23:15] The line he hopes people remember (and why it’s more about how they feel)
• [27:02] Advice for anyone preparing to give a commencement speech: be vulnerable, be you

Have a guest recommendation? Show notes? Send us a note.

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel – transforming the way the world celebrates graduations. From AI-powered name pronunciation to seamless ticketing, stage displays, and post-event analytics, Tassel is your all-in-one platform for modern, inclusive commencements.

Join the movement to make every graduation memorable for students, families, and administrators alike.

Visit tassel.com to learn more and see how we’re redefining the future of commencements.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com

Aaron High, Director of Engineering at Tassel, joins host Chase Rigby for a behind-the-scenes look at the massive tech overhaul powering Tassel’s future. Together, they dive into the why, what, and how of rewriting a 20-year-old legacy codebase while still serving millions of students—and what that means for the future of commencement.

📝 Topics Discussed:

What “technical debt” really means—and why Tassel had so much of it.

The decision to completely rebuild Tassel’s core architecture from the ground up.

How the engineering team is scaling quickly while improving performance and reliability.

Releasing in “bite-sized” pieces using the Strangler Fig approach.

The real student impact of faster, more reliable graduation tech.

How customer feedback directly shapes the roadmap and product priorities.

The vision behind the new graduate-facing experience and what’s next.

📌 Episode Highlights:

[00:07:33] Why Tassel needed a full rebuild—and what made that decision necessary.
[00:10:20] Aaron explains “technical debt” in plain terms and how it affects scale.
[00:13:16] Legacy issues: Repetitive code, hardcoded integrations, and brittle foundations.
[00:15:01] Why big-bang releases are out—and incremental rollouts are in.
[00:22:51] How Tassel is renovating the platform while still “living in the house.”
[00:27:06] A deep dive into the brand-new graduate site: faster, accessible, extensible.
[00:29:03] Performance wins: Dropping common operations from 2–3 seconds to 75ms.
[00:32:51] How customer-driven roadmaps are leading to faster, more meaningful releases.
[00:33:50] The human side of software—why every log line represents a real student.

Have a guest recommendation? Show notes? Send us a note.

This episode of The Liminal is brought to you by Tassel – transforming the way the world celebrates graduations. From AI-powered name pronunciation to seamless ticketing, stage displays, and post-event analytics, Tassel is your all-in-one platform for modern, inclusive commencements.

Join the movement to make every graduation memorable for students, families, and administrators alike.

Visit tassel.com to learn more and see how we’re redefining the future of commencements.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com