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. From Burnout to Flourishing: What Positive Psychology Reveals About Thriving in Today’s Classroom

    14 HRS AGO

    From Burnout to Flourishing: What Positive Psychology Reveals About Thriving in Today’s Classroom

    Burnout. Disengagement. AI anxiety. In higher education right now, flourishing can feel like a distant dream. But what if joy isn’t a distraction from serious teaching but the foundation?  In this episode, we sit down with Flower Darby, author of The Joyful Online Teacher, to explore the science of human flourishing and why it matters more than ever. Drawing on positive psychology and Martin Seligman’s PERMA model, Flower makes the case that when instructors thrive, students do too. And the best part? This isn’t about lowering standards or adding fluff. It’s about designing learning experiences that energize, connect, and endure. So the question is: Are you flourishing in your classroom, or just surviving? Guest bio An internationally-renowned instructor, author, and speaker, Flower Darby inspires educators to bring an equity-minded lens to enhance their teaching practices. As Associate Director of the Teaching for Learning Center at the University of Missouri, she draws on 28+ years of teaching across diverse subjects and modalities. Darby’s work empowers faculty to create inclusive learning experiences, and her publications include The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching (2023), Small Teaching Online (2019) and, most recently, The Joyful Online Teacher: Finding Our Fizz in Asynchronous Classes.  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
  2. Making Learning Matter for the WHY Generation

    FEB 17

    Making Learning Matter for the WHY Generation

    College has never cost more, or the payoff more uncertain. As students question the value of a degree, many are disconnecting, skipping class, ghosting assignments, and drifting through their education. Faculty, meanwhile, are working harder than ever to re-engage them. Enter Mark Perna, bestselling author of Answering Why and a leading voice on generational motivation. He believes today’s students are ready to invest when they see clear, compelling relevance. As he argues, the path forward doesn’t require a full reinvention of higher ed, just a smarter, more intentional way to frame what we’re asking students to do, and why it matters.  Because if we can’t clearly answer “What’s the point of this?”— how can we expect them to?  Guest Bio Mark C. Perna is a bestselling author, speaker, and international expert on generational engagement. As founder and CEO of TFS, a strategic communications firm, Mark has spent his career helping educators, employers, and parents connect with the passion and potential of today’s younger generations. His award-winning book, Answering Why, offers a blueprint for motivating Gen Y and Z with purpose and relevance. A frequent keynote speaker and Harvard guest presenter, Mark’s insights are reshaping how we think about education, work, and the future of talent. Learn more at MarkCPerna.com. 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
  3. Textbooks Are Failing Students (and Other Dangerous Ideas)

    2025-11-25

    Textbooks Are Failing Students (and Other Dangerous Ideas)

    Textbooks are the flip phones of higher ed: clunky, outdated, and yet somehow the model persists. The reality is, students aren’t buying them. And increasingly, faculty are asking: why am I still assigning something that isn’t delivering value? In this episode, Donna Battista and Bradley Cohen join us to explore a provocative new vision for course content, one that’s not just digital, but dynamic. Drawing on dozens of faculty and student interviews, they share insights into what’s broken, what’s possible, and why it’s time to move beyond static, one-size-fits-all materials. Because if the textbook is already on life support… what comes next? Guest Bio Donna Battista has spent more than 20 years leading content and product development in higher education. As the Managing Director of Learning Solutions at Top Hat, she is responsible for the strategy and development of our growing catalog of high-quality, interactive digital learning experiences, custom content delivery and content services. 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. Adopt, Resist, or Adapt? AI’s Crossroads in Higher Ed

    2025-11-11

    Adopt, Resist, or Adapt? AI’s Crossroads in Higher Ed

    AI isn’t knocking politely—it’s already moved into the classroom, and higher ed is still figuring out who gets the guest room. Marc Watkins, Director of the AI Institute for Teachers and Assistant Director of Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi, has become one of higher ed’s leading voices on the ethical and practical implications of generative AI. In this episode, he unpacks the divide between those eager to embrace AI and those determined to resist it, and we can learn from both sides.   From the pitfalls of institutional hype to the importance of “AI-aware” classrooms, Marc makes the case for a middle path grounded in ethics, curiosity, and connection. Together, we explore what meaningful teaching looks like when students can outsource thinking, and why the future of learning depends on keeping humans, not algorithms, at the center. Guest Bio Marc Watkins is Director of the AI Institute for Teachers and Assistant Director of Academic Innovation at the University of Mississippi, where he also lectures in Writing and Rhetoric. His work with generative AI in education predates ChatGPT, and he champions a stance of curious skepticism toward the technology. Featured in The Washington Post, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, Marc trains faculty nationwide in AI literacy and writes about the intersection of AI, teaching, and ethics on his Substack, Rhetorica. 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. Rewriting the Stories That Hold Students Back

    2025-10-28

    Rewriting the Stories That Hold Students Back

    Every student brings invisible baggage to college—stories about what they’re good at, what they’re not, and who they’re expected to be. But what if those stories are wrong—or just incomplete? In this episode, we talk with college educator Jeffrey Klausman, author of Composing a College Career, about how internal narratives shape student success—and what faculty can do to help students shift from self-doubt to self-authorship. From family expectations to cultural assumptions, we explore the hidden forces that shape the student experience—and how we can support learners in writing a story they actually want to carry with them. Guest Bio Jeffrey Klausman has taught English at Whatcom Community College since 1996, where he also served as Writing Program Administrator and WAC Coordinator. His work focuses on building inclusive, equity-centered writing programs that support the diverse needs of two-year college students. A widely published scholar, Jeffrey is the author of Composing a College Career, a strengths-based textbook designed to help first-year students navigate higher education with confidence and purpose. His research and teaching are rooted in social justice, accessibility, and humanizing the student experience. 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
  6. The Zen of Embracing Our Authenticity

    2025-10-14

    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
  7. SNAFU Happens: A Love Letter to Imperfect Teaching

    2025-09-30

    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
  8. Same Side Pedagogy: Less Policing, More Partnership

    2025-09-16

    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
See All (20)

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Top Hat
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Top Hat
  • Show Website
    Higher Listenings