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Financial aid isn’t paperwork—it’s people. Rachel Gordon, Vice President for Student Financial Services at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine, joins Kevin and Brody to explore why money conversations are deeply personal, how advisors and aid professionals can work together, and what changing regulations mean for students.

Along the way, they debate potluck safety, small-town waves, homemade ice cream, and the greatest cakes and pies of all time. Come for the FAFSA talk; stay for the pistachio ice cream.

*The Pickup Meeting is a spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast!

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Pumpkin spice, giant skeletons, dishwasher drama—nothing is safe in this “just us” episode! Kevin and Brody kick things off with a fall-themed round of Overrated or Underrated before tackling a bigger question: Do advising models and systems drive student success, or does genuine care matter more?

They explore campus culture, the challenge of turning “pretty good” into excellent, and why checking in with students—and colleagues—can make all the difference. Plus, they draft their top comfort shows, from Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The West Wing to Ted Lasso, Parks and Recreation, M*A*S*H, and Schitt’s Creek. Cozy up and join a conversation that’s equal parts meaningful, candid, and delightfully off-script.

*The Pickup Meeting is a spinoff of the Adventures in Advising podcast!

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Have a question? Want to chat? E-mail us at thepickupmeeting@gmail.com!

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Packing lists, pie plans, and plenty of conference buzz—Kevin and Brody are headed to Oklahoma City for NACADA! Join them for a lively pre-conference catch-up on travel essentials, too many shoes, presenting together for the first time, and the sessions, friends, and food they can’t wait to experience.

Then, they dive into a big question for higher ed: how can we communicate with students in ways that actually cut through the noise? From personalized outreach and smarter subject lines to using AI as a helpful tool—not a replacement for human connection—they share practical ideas for making messages matter. Plus, stick around for their top movie soundtrack songs, complete with ‘80s montages, Celine Dion, and a few delightfully debatable picks.

*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

Packing lists, pie plans, and plenty of conference buzz—Kevin and Brody are headed to Oklahoma City for NACADA! Join them for a lively pre-conference catch-up on travel essentials, too many shoes, presenting together for the first time, and the sessions, friends, and food they can’t wait to experience.

Then, they dive into a big question for higher ed: how can we communicate with students in ways that actually cut through the noise? From personalized outreach and smarter subject lines to using AI as a helpful tool—not a replacement for human connection—they share practical ideas for making messages matter. Plus, stick around for their top movie soundtrack songs, complete with ‘80s montages, Celine Dion, and a few delightfully debatable picks.

*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 does it really mean to be “undecided”? This week, we’re joined by David Spight of UC Irvine to challenge the myths around major exploration, unpack why choosing a major is about far more than picking a label, and explore how advisors can help students build meaningful educational narratives.

We also dig into the future of advisor training, the real-world skills emerging advising leaders need, and the power of professional relationships in higher education. Plus: roundabouts, parking debates, and plenty of campus-life side quests.

Whether you advise students, lead a team, or are still figuring out your own next chapter, this episode is packed with thoughtful insights and practical inspiration.

*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!

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The Pickup Meeting hits episode 50! Kevin and Brody celebrate the milestone with bold NFL and college football predictions, including a few potentially regrettable hot takes. Then they dig into higher ed’s implementation fatigue—why constant new tools and policies can wear teams down, and what thoughtful leadership can do about it.

To wrap it up, they share the vehicles they’ve loved most, from a Chevy Chevette and minivan memories to a Prius and a brand-new 4Runner. It’s equal parts sports, real talk, and good-natured nonsense—just the way a “Just Us” episode should be.

*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!

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What do NFL uniforms, graphic design, AI, and multimillion-dollar philanthropy have in common? More than you’d think.

In this episode of The Pickup Meeting, Brody and Kevin sit down with Chandler Vandenberg, Senior Director of Development for Principal Gifts at the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, to talk about the art—and science—of building relationships that lead to transformational impact.

Chandler shares his unexpected journey from graphic design to higher-ed fundraising, why authenticity might be the most valuable skill in advancement, and what institutions get wrong when making the big ask. The crew also digs into how AI is changing fundraising, what the next generation of donors expects, and why sometimes you have to be willing to put a really big number on the table.

Plus, before any of that happens, there are strong opinions about NFL uniforms, the Dallas Cowboys, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and why some classics simply shouldn't be messed with.

In this episode: relationship-building, principal gifts, creative careers, high-performing teams, AI in advancement, the future of higher education—and just enough football trash talk to keep things interesting.

*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 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.