Higher Listenings

Top Hat

A lively look at the trends and people shaping the future of higher education, featuring thought leaders from across the industry. Brought to you by Top Hat. 

  1. The Zen of Embracing Our Authenticity

    -4 J

    The Zen of Embracing Our Authenticity

    Let’s be real: teaching can feel like performance art. But what if your most powerful teaching tool is you—fully present, emotionally honest, and yes, a little messy?  In this episode, we talk with Liz Norell, author of The Present Professor, about what it really means to bring your whole self to the classroom—without oversharing, or overperforming. Authenticity, she reminds us, isn’t about disclosure—it’s about alignment. When your values shape how you relate to students, the classroom becomes something more than just content delivery. It becomes human. And maybe even joyful. Guest Bio  Dr. Liz Norell teaches political science at Chattanooga State and leads with heart—as an author, educator, and advocate for authentic, relationship-rich teaching. With more than two decades of college-level experience—including political science, journalism, statistics, and writing—she now supports faculty through SoTL, assessment, and professional learning focused on disability and neurodivergence. Her research interests include public opinion and the Supreme Court. Liz is the author of The Present Professor and is passionate about helping mid-career educators reconnect with joy, purpose, and presence. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    29 min
  2. SNAFU Happens: A Love Letter to Imperfect Teaching

    30 SEPT.

    SNAFU Happens: A Love Letter to Imperfect Teaching

    We’ve all seen the movies: the perfectly polished professor who captivates every student without missing a beat. But in real classrooms, things go sideways—more often than we might like.  In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jessamyn Neuhaus, author of SNAFU EDU, to explore what really happens when teaching goes off-script—whether it’s a name you keep mispronouncing or the emotional gut-punch of a student failing your course. With humor, humility, and hard-earned wisdom, Jessamyn offers strategies for responding to these inevitable moments with clarity and care. You’ll leave with a lighter heart, a few laughs, and a practical “teaching go-bag” to help you handle whatever the classroom throws your way. Guest Bio Dr. Jessamyn Neuhaus is the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence at Syracuse University and a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She’s the author of SNAFU EDU: Teaching and Learning When Things Go Wrong in the College Classroom and Geeky Pedagogy: A Guide for Intellectuals, Introverts, and Nerds Who Want to Be Effective Teachers. A longtime champion of inclusive, evidence-based teaching, Jessamyn empowers educators to teach more effectively by embracing their humanity, quirks, and inevitable classroom snafus. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    33 min
  3. Same Side Pedagogy: Less Policing, More Partnership

    16 SEPT.

    Same Side Pedagogy: Less Policing, More Partnership

    What if student motivation didn’t have to be a tug-of-war? In this episode, cognitive psychologist and author Dr. Michelle Miller joins us to explore what happens when faculty stop policing students and start partnering with them.  We dig into the research behind motivation, the power of learning student names, and small shifts that can make a big difference—for students and instructors. Because motivated students aren’t born—they’re made.  Whether you're burned out on late work emails or just tired of playing bad cop, this conversation offers a more human way forward. Guest Bio  Dr. Michelle Miller is the author of Minds Online: Teaching Effectively with Technology and Remembering and Forgetting in the Age of Technology: Teaching, Learning, and the Science of Memory in a Wired World. Her latest book is A Teacher's Guide to Learning Student Names: Why You Should, Why It's Hard, and How You Can.  A Professor of Psychological Sciences and President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow at Northern Arizona University, Dr. Miller writes, teaches, and speaks about maximizing learning in today’s technology-saturated and rapidly-changing world. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    30 min
  4. Don’t All Talk at Once: Creating Better Classroom Discussions

    13 MAI

    Don’t All Talk at Once: Creating Better Classroom Discussions

    When students go quiet after your best discussion question, it’s tempting to assume the worst. But what if that quiet moment means something else entirely? In this episode, we’re joined by educator, speaker, and author of Teaching at Its Best, Dr. Todd Zakrajsek, to rethink the role of classroom discussions—not as performance, but as practice. We explore why our go-to methods often favor fast-thinking extroverts, and how small shifts in tone, timing, and structure can make space for more voices to be heard. Learn why awkward pauses might be your best pedagogical tool, and what it really takes to create psychologically safe environments that encourage—not force—participation. Guest Bio Dr. Todd Zakrajsek is an educator, speaker and the author or co-author of seven books on teaching and learning, including the widely used Teaching at Its Best. Dr. Zakrajsek directs four Lilly Conferences on College and University Teaching and is a frequent keynote speaker at institutions around the world. With decades of experience advising faculty and contributing to educational boards and journals, he brings both deep expertise and infectious energy to every conversation about improving student learning. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    27 min
  5. Silos to Symphonies: Orchestrating Student Success

    29 AVR.

    Silos to Symphonies: Orchestrating Student Success

    Higher education is feeling the pressure—from shifting student expectations to mounting demands for proof of impact. But real change rarely comes with a crash of cymbals. Sometimes, it sneaks in quietly—with the right tools, small shifts in teaching practice, and a mission everyone can rally around.  In this episode, we explore how one university quietly orchestrated a 11.5% reduction in course withdrawals. Guests Derek Bruff, Gina Londino-Smolar, and Sue-Mun Huang show us why the right tech doesn't just support teaching, it shapes it. And how aligning technology decisions to mission and values can get every section of the orchestra playing from the same score. Guest Bios Derek Bruff is the associate director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Virginia. The author of Intentional Tech and Teaching with Classroom Response Systems, Derek is also the host of the Intentional Teaching podcast.  Gina Londino-Smolar is a teaching professor and Director of the Forensic & Investigative Sciences program at Indiana University. She was recently awarded the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Technology.  As Director of Product, Sue-Mun Huang leads the charge in building web and mobile solutions that make teaching and learning better. A champion of responsible tech, she’s on a mission to turn good ideas into everyday practice.  Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    28 min
  6. Emotional Support Frogs (+ Getting Your Spark Back)

    15 AVR.

    Emotional Support Frogs (+ Getting Your Spark Back)

    Higher ed may be going through stormy weather, but in this soul-nourishing episode, we’re choosing joy. Psychologist, author, and happiness researcher Sarah Rose Cavanagh joins us to explore the science (and the magic) of cultivating happiness—even when times are tough. From the chorus of spring peepers in New England wetlands to building resilience, Sarah shows us why collective effervescence isn’t just a beautiful phrase—it’s a survival strategy. We talk about why emotion is the secret sauce of learning, how to bring more curiosity and play into your classroom, and what “compassionate challenge” really looks like in practice. Oh—and keep an ear out for our very first feline guest: Sarah’s cat, Rogue, who drops in with impeccable timing. Whether you’re feeling discouraged or just need a dose of inspiration, this episode is your permission slip to lean into what makes you—and your students—feel alive. Guest Bio Sarah Rose Cavanagh is a psychologist, professor, and Senior Associate Director for Teaching and Learning at Simmons University, where she teaches classes on affective science and mental health, researches the intersections of emotion, motivation, and learning, and provides educational development for faculty. She’s the author of several books, including The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion and Mind Over Monsters: Supporting Youth Mental Health with Compassionate Challenge. Her essays are featured regularly in Psychology Today and The Chronicle of Higher Education.  Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    31 min
  7. What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

    1 AVR.

    What’s the Worst That Could Happen?

    What if the biggest barrier to innovation in our teaching isn’t time or training—but fear? And what if the antidote isn’t a full course redesign, but a single courageous step? In this episode, we sit down with teaching fellow, serial risk-taker and unshakable optimist, Damien Hommel to unpack what it means to be brave in the classroom. From small nudges to bold experiments, Damien argues that finding the courage to change is both more necessary—and more doable—than we think. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen? Guest Bio Demian Hommel is an associate professor and teaching fellow at Oregon State University. The recipient of Top Hat’s Most Innovative Educator Award, Demian is an advocate for place-based and experiential education, service learning and evidence-based instruction. When he’s not engaging his students (and boy does he ever), Demian shares his insights on teaching and learning in Faculty Focus and Harvard Business Publishing Education.  Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    28 min
  8. Is Metacognition the Ultimate Hack for Equitable Learning?

    18 MARS

    Is Metacognition the Ultimate Hack for Equitable Learning?

    Have you ever talked with students about study skills? Did they lean in with unbridled enthusiasm? Or did your intuition suggest this might not be the right approach? Dr. Saundra McGuire, a leading expert on student learning, has some helpful advice.  Together we tackle the metacognitive equity gap—that unseen divide between students who have been taught how to think about their learning and those who haven’t—and why talking about metacognition—not just study tips—could be the shift we need to get students to engage in real learning.  Guest Bio Dr. Saundra McGuire is an internationally-acclaimed speaker, Professor Emerita of Chemistry, and Director Emerita of the Center for Academic Success at Louisiana State University. She is the author of the best-selling books Teach Students How to Learn and Teach Yourself How to Learn. Her successful mentoring of underrepresented STEM students earned her the 2006 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/higherlistenings Higher Listenings is brought to you by Top Hat Subscribe, leave a comment or review, and help us share stories of the people shaping the future of higher education.

    28 min
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À propos

A lively look at the trends and people shaping the future of higher education, featuring thought leaders from across the industry. Brought to you by Top Hat. 

Informations

  • Créateur
    Top Hat
  • Années d’activité
    2024 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    15
  • Classement
    Tout public
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Top Hat
  • Site Web de l’émission
    Higher Listenings

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