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What do frozen chips, shrinking wardrobes, higher ed leadership, and a heated color draft have in common? Somehow, they all make perfect sense in this episode of The Pickup Meeting.

Kevin and Brody kick things off with some real-life wardrobe struggles, Kevin’s 111-pound weight-loss journey, and the surprisingly controversial suggestion that chips belong in the freezer. From there, they settle some very important snack debates—Cool Ranch Doritos, sour cream & onion, kettle chips, Gripos, and more—before shifting gears into the realities of leadership in higher education.

They dig into what it means to assume good intent, build strong professional relationships, find common ground when things get political, and remember that even when people disagree on the path forward, they often want the same thing: better outcomes for students.

And because no Pickup Meeting would be complete without a completely unnecessary competition, Kevin and Brody finish with a color draft that gets much more personal than expected.

🍟 Should chips be frozen?
🤝 Can assuming good intent make us better leaders?
🎨 And which colors deserve a first-round draft pick?

Grab your favorite snack—frozen or otherwise—and join the meeting.

Do good. Be nice. And we’ll see you at the next Pickup Meeting.

*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.

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What do advising strategy, data-driven decisions, leadership, jazz, Fortnite, and baking have in common? Somehow, they all make their way into this episode of The Pickup Meeting.

Kevin Thomas and Michael “Brody” Broshears sit down with Stephanie Kraft-Terry, newly named Director of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, for a conversation that’s equal parts higher-ed insight and wonderfully unpredictable detour.

Stephanie shares her journey from postdoctoral research to academic advising and now academic leadership, including what she’s learned about breaking down campus silos, building meaningful advising standards, using data to challenge assumptions, and making technology work for advisors rather than the other way around. She also talks about her experience with the NACADA LEAD track and what she’s carrying from advising into her new leadership role.

And because it wouldn’t be The Pickup Meeting without a few side quests, the crew also gets into questionable music genres, sleep deprivation, late-night Fortnite, baking lessons, dream lottery purchases, and the eternal question of what makes a truly terrible car conversation.

Come for the higher-ed leadership lessons. Stay for the chaos.

*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 do Trapper Keepers, 250 years of American history, chain restaurants, and the future of higher education have in common? Somehow, they all made it into this episode of The Pickup Meeting.

Kevin and Brody sit down with Dr. Aaron Brown, Executive Vice President of the Council for Opportunity in Education, for a conversation about why higher education still matters—and why its value goes far beyond a paycheck.

As a first-generation college graduate and TRIO alum, Aaron brings both professional expertise and personal experience to the conversation. Together, they unpack the role colleges play in creating opportunity, the incredible influence of academic advisors, the power of simply believing in a student, and how one educational opportunity can ripple across an entire family.

Plus, the guys debate preparing vs. winging it, imagine what people might say about The Pickup Meeting 250 years from now, and tackle the truly important questions—like which chain restaurant deserves a spot at the top.

Come for the higher ed conversation. Stay for the Trapper Keepers and Texas Roadhouse.

*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.