By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
What does a posthumous degree have to do with transfer yield, neurodivergence, tuition discounting, or the questions higher education professionals sometimes hesitate to ask out loud?
They’re all part of the conversation on our AACRAO Podcasts.
Across “For the Record,” “Admit It,” “Transfer Tea,” and “H.E.A.R.D,” hosts and guests are exploring higher education from very different angles—many times finding unexpected connections. For Doug McKenna, host of “For the Record,” that covers the AACRAO Strategic Plan all the way to a recent conversation about posthumous degrees illuminating the registrar’s place at “the complex intersection of data integrity, institutional responsibility, and human compassion.”
“’Admit It’ covers a lot of ground with everything from tuition discounting and enrollment strategy to the harder cultural questions,” said host Alex Fonduto. “A recent favorite was my conversation with Teege Mettille, author of College Is Broken, on the discount-rate arms race and why so many enrollment leaders stay quiet even when they know a strategy won’t work.”
On “H.E.A.R.D.,” Portia LaMarr found an unexpected personal connection in an episode about neurodivergence. “I loved hearing their stories and finding myself showing some of the same behaviors but thinking it was just me,” LaMarr said of the conversation with Ellissa Thomen, Sara Sullivan, and Sullivan’s son, Will. “HEARD offers candid, authentic conversations about diversity, equity, and the real experiences of professionals working in higher education,” offered co-host Tashana Curtis. “We laugh, we cry, and we bring together voices from across the field to discuss challenges, innovations, and the human side of institutional work. If you’re looking for thoughtful dialogue that blends practical insight with honest reflection, HEARD belongs in your rotation.”
And then there’s “Transfer Tea,” where Dra. Loida Gonzalez-Utley describes the podcast’s approach a little differently: “The goal isn’t to pretend we have all the answers. It’s to ask better questions, challenge some sacred cows, and occasionally say the quiet part out loud. And obviously, the tea is always hot.”
The conversations range from deeply personal to highly practical, with topics spanning admissions, enrollment strategy, records and registration, transfer, policy, technology, leadership, student success, and learning mobility.
If you’re looking for an episode for your commute, preparing for SEM 2026, or have an idea worthy of the microphone yourself, our AACRAO Podcast hosts have plenty to put in your queue.
For the Record
The registrar’s work may be rooted in records, policy and institutional responsibility, but “For the Record” frequently shows how quickly that work becomes personal.
McKenna said recent episodes have covered “everything from creative problem-solving, to becoming a higher education leader,” along with a recent discussion with Dr. Kim Barber of Florida State University about posthumous degrees.
He recommends the episode, “Honoring the Unfinished Journey,” as one listeners may want to revisit.
“’For the Record’ is such a joy to host because I get to talk to all sorts of people about all sorts of topics that affect the work of registrars. AACRAO has such a deep well of knowledgeable and experienced professionals who are incredibly generous with their time and expertise.”
Admit It
“Admit It” covers familiar enrollment-management territory, including tuition discounting and enrollment strategy, but host Alex Fronduto also wants the podcast to explore some of the harder conversations behind the numbers. “If you’re new to the show … whatever piece of the enrollment puzzle you’re wrestling with this year, there’s a good chance we’ve had a conversation that speaks to it,” Fronduto said. “That includes questions about “trust, leadership, and how presidents and enrollment leaders talk—or don’t talk—to each other honestly.”
Fronduto also has a message for AACRAO members who may have an idea of their own: The podcast is looking for guests.
“If someone has an idea, a piece of research, or a perspective on enrollment or admissions they want to get in front of colleagues, I want to hear about it,” he said.
That makes “Admit It” not only something members can listen to, but also another place to contribute to the professional conversation.
Have something to say? Consider pitching an idea, research finding, or perspective for a future Admit It conversation.
Subscribe to “Admit It” directly or to our email list to get the latest episodes.
Transfer Tea
Transfer may be the starting point for “Transfer Tea,” but it rarely stays there.
“We talk about the things that make higher education people say, ‘Wait … why do we do it that way?’” Dra. Gonzalez-Utley said.
Those questions lead into enrollment, advising, policy, technology, student success, and learning mobility—all areas that increasingly overlap as institutions serve students whose educational paths may cross multiple institutions, credentials, and systems.
Connect: What conversations or themes from your podcast feel especially relevant as colleagues head into a new academic year?
Dra. Gonzalez-Utley: And as we continue talking about the alleged “enrollment cliff,” we probably need to get much better at understanding transfer students. If institutions are worried about who is—or isn’t—coming through the front door, we should also be paying attention to the students already moving throughout higher education. That means breaking down silos and understanding the entire student journey. Students experience one institution, even if we have twelve offices, seventeen processes, and a very impressive collection of acronyms. Transfer Tea asks a pretty simple question: How do we make all of that make more sense for students?
Connect: Is there a recent or favorite episode, soundbite, or moment you’d recommend listeners revisit right now, and why?
Dra. Gonzalez-Utley: I would revisit our live Transfer Tea × Transfer Nation podcast mashup from The Assembly. There is something incredibly grounding about hearing directly from students. As professionals, we can—and should—be proud of the progress we’ve made in transfer and learning mobility. Then you put students behind a microphone, listen to their lived experiences, and quickly realize, okay…we still have some work to do. That conversation brought us back to the reason we do this work in the first place. Students have a wonderful way of reminding us that progress deserves celebration, but it should never make us comfortable.
H.E.A.R.D.
Some higher education conversations begin with policy, systems, or strategy. H.E.A.R.D. often begins with lived experience. One of the strengths of a conversational format: Professional topics can become personal, and personal experiences can reveal questions institutions might otherwise overlook.
Connect: What conversations or themes from your podcast feel especially relevant as colleagues head into a new academic year?
Curtis: As we begin a new academic year, HEARD continues to center conversations around equity, belonging, and the lived experiences of historically underserved learners. Our discussions on inclusive policy design, and the realities of frontline student support resonate strongly with colleagues navigating shifting enrollment landscapes and evolving student needs. These themes remain foundational as institutions work to build environments where all students can thrive.
Connect: Is there a recent or favorite episode, soundbite, or moment you’d recommend listeners revisit right now, and why?
Curtis: A great episode to revisit is our conversation with David Williams on Customer Service and Inclusion. David offered powerful insight into how frontline interactions shape a student’s sense of belonging and trust in their institution. His reflections on inclusive service practices, especially the importance of listening, empathy, and consistency, are particularly relevant as campuses welcome new and returning students. It’s an episode that reminds us that inclusion isn’t only a policy conversation; it’s demonstrated in every daily touchpoint with learners.
Add These to Your SEM 2026 Listening Queue
For members heading to SEM 2026, several recent podcast conversations intersect directly with questions enrollment leaders are already considering.
Curtis pointed to HEARD episodes focused on student belonging and equitable access, as well as discussions about nontraditional learners, advising structures, and institutional policies.
“These conversations offer both strategic perspective and on-the-ground insight that can inform SEM planning and implementation,” Curtis said.
For Dra. Gonzalez-Utley, transfer and learning mobility belong in the same conversation.
Enrollment leaders are thinking about “pipelines, transfer yield, persistence, technology, adult learners, and increasingly complicated student pathways,” she said.
“Transfer has a habit of showing up in all of those conversations whether we invited it or not.”
That means transfer cannot sit exclusively within a transfer office, she added. It is also an enrollment, advising, policy, technology, and student-success issue.
Or, as Dra. Gonzalez-Utley puts it: “If your SEM strategy has a transfer-sized blank spot in it, we should probably have some tea.”
New to Podcasts? Start Here
Where can I listen to AACRAO podcasts?
You can listen to Admit It, For the Record, Transfer Tea, and HEARD through the AACRAO Podcast page. The podcasts are also distributed through Buzzsprout and are available through common podcast services, including platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Do I need a podcast app?
No. If you prefer, you can listen directly from a web browser through the AACRAO podcast pages. A podcast app simply makes it easier to keep your favorite shows together in one place.
What does it mean to “follow” or “subscribe” to a podcast?
Following or subscribing adds the podcast to your library in your preferred podcast app. New episodes will then appear as they are released, and many apps allow you to turn on notifications so you know when something new is available.
Does subscribing cost anything?
Following an AACRAO podcast does not require a paid podcast subscription. Some podcast services offer their own premium features, but simply following a show is generally free.
How do I know when a new episode comes out?
The easiest option is to follow the show in your preferred podcast app and enable notifications. You can also return to the AACRAO podcast page to browse the latest episodes.
Where should I start?
Pick the topic closest to what’s on your mind—or choose one of the hosts’ recommendations above. You don’t have to begin with episode one. Like any good professional conversation, you can join wherever the discussion gets interesting.
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