SASFAA's Swoonpies and Money

SASFAA
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

A podcast for members by members, where financial aid, community, and a little Southern flavor come together.

  1. 5d ago

    S3:E19: Finding Your Why

    Today, we’re joined by two SASFAA leaders that we're especially excited to hear from: Helen Faith from the University of Virginia and Jackie Copeland from UNC Chapel Hill. And this time, Sam Hicks is taking a little break from asking What’s Keeps You Up At Night to turn the conversation in a more professional direction. Sam sits down with Helen and Jackie to talk about a very timely theme that Kitty Conrad has set for SASFAA this year: Finding Your Why. For so many of us, financial aid is much more than a job. It’s a profession built around helping students, supporting families, mentoring colleagues, and trying to make a real difference, often during some pretty challenging moments. But when the days get busy and the work gets complicated, it can be easy to lose sight of what brought us here in the first place. So today, Sam asks Helen and Jackie to reflect on what continues to inspire them, what gives their work meaning, and what keeps them connected to this profession after so many years. For just a little while, forget about what’s keeping you up at night; instead, think about what gets you up in the morning. Here’s Sam with Helen Faith and Jackie Copeland.

  2. Sep 10

    S3: E18: OB3 and The Eye of the Storm

    Why compare OB3 to a hurricane? Because after months of preparation, anticipation, and the intensity of the first year of implementation, it feels as though we’ve withstood the fury of the storm’s first wall and may now be sitting in the eye. It’s a chance to assess what happened and what we’ve learned, while knowing the next wall of the storm is still to come. In this episode of Swoonpies and Money, we look back at what institutions learned during year one of OB3 and ask what the next “eyewall” could bring for students, families, enrollment, borrowing, institutional strategy, and the financial aid profession. Michelle talks with Nancy Ferguson and Caitlin Lambert about an upcoming SASFAA webinar featuring professionals sharing their perspectives on the impact of OB3. Then Bill is joined by Katie Conrad (of Georgia Tech), Heidi Kovalick (of Rowan University), and Daniel Barkowitz (of... well we'll get to that) for a candid conversation about where we started, where we are today, what surprised us, and what challenges still remain. Speaking of Daniel, September 8 marked his first day at Penn State. Yes, we know Penn State is outside the SASFAA region, but Daniel remains a SASFAA Hall of Famer, lifetime Swoonie, and podcast contributor. If you head over to our Facebook page, you’ll see the picture the Barkowitz family shared with us. There’s little Daniel, ready for his big day at school, backpack and lunchbox in hand, standing outside the house and headed to the bus stop. The initial wave of OB3 is behind us, but the storm isn't. What does the next eyewall bring?

  3. Sep 2

    S3: E17: Sorry Honey, I Forgot Our Anniversary

    Some milestones deserve balloons, cake, confetti, and maybe even a little fanfare. Our 50th episode probably deserved all of that. Unfortunately, we forgot. In this episode of SASFAA’s Swoonpies and Money, Bill reflects on the podcast’s recently passed 50-episode milestone and looks ahead to the close of Season Three and the upcoming launch of Season Four. There’s plenty ahead. The podcast is expanding with new segments, new contributors, and more voices from across the SASFAA region, and beyond, while continuing to deliver the mix of insight, information, storytelling, and entertainment our listeners have come to expect. This episode features Michelle's interview with SASFAA President, Katie Conrad and her perspective on leadership in these challenging times. We also try to figure out what all that cheering in Miami and National Harbor were about back in July. You’ll have to listen and then head over to our Facebook page for the video evidence.

  4. Aug 25

    S3:E16: From "How I Got Here" to "Where Do I Register?"

    Today’s episode features Emily Baldwin’s "How I Got Here" segment, highlighting the mentor-mentee relationship between Alison Rabil and Jonathan Ibarra of Appalachian State University. They share their perspectives on mentorship, professional growth, and the relationships that help shape a career in financial aid. Also, in her role as co-chair of the SASFAA Webinar Series alongside Brad Barnett, Emily provides an overview of this year’s webinar schedule, previews some of the topics ahead, and shares why you’ll want to mark your calendars.

  5. Aug 17

    S3:E15: New Aid Officers Workshop Joie de Vivre

    Did you miss us? The Swoonies took a well-deserved break in July. We’ve all been working hard, and candidly, several of us needed time to focus on important matters back in our respective offices. Today’s episode is all about NOAW. To set the stage, we’re kicking things off with a clip from one of the workshop instructors that perfectly captures the energy and joie de vivre of the entire week. If you’ve attended one of these workshops before, you already know there’s something special about them. Just as important as what you learn are the conversations, the connections, and the chance to spend time with people who truly understand this work. If you’ve never attended a workshop, I hope today’s episode gives you a real sense of the experience — and maybe even inspires you to join us at the workshop next spring. Two quick programming notes before we dive in. First, today’s episode is nearly an hour and a half, which is fairly long for a Swoonpies and Money episode. But there was so much wonderful content, and so many great personalities to share, that we didn’t want you to miss a minute. So if the episode feels a little long, break it up. Listen on your way to work, pick it back up on the drive home, or enjoy it whenever it’s convenient. Second, Season 4 of Swoonpies and Money officially launches in September. We have several new segments to share and some new Swoonies joining our merry band.

  6. Jun 25

    S3:E14: Day 2 coverage of the FASFAA conference and AWESOME The Doctor Happy Contest Continues!

    Today we're bringing you Day Two of our Florida Association Conference coverage. The conference was held last month in beautiful Daytona Beach, Florida, and we're picking up right where we left off in our previous episode covering the first half of the conference. In this episode, you'll hear: Jody Walker and Kim Gordon discussing the LEAP ProgramLou Murray and Tim Young sharing their love for LEGOArminta Johnson's closing remarks, wrapping up another successful conferenceThe Doctor Happy Contest Continues! Today's show is the conclusion of our Doctor Happy (aka Samantha Dunman) Contest. If you missed the last episode, here's the challenge: Doctor Happy conducted five brief interviews with conference attendees. Your mission is to count how many times Doctor Happy says the word "Awesome" throughout those interviews. Think you've got the answer? Email your total to sastapodcast@gmail.com for a chance to win an amazing gift package. The first listener to submit the correct number of "Awesomes" wins.  So, listen carefully, and if necessary, revisit our Day One conference episode (S3:E13) to double-check your count. Start tallying those Awesomes and enjoy Day Two of the FASFAA Conference.

  7. Jun 11

    S3:E13: Day One in the Sun and an Awesome Listener Contest

    We're kicking off our two-part coverage of the 2026 FASFAA Conference from Daytona Beach! There was simply too much great content to fit into a single episode, so we're bringing you the highlights from FASFAA’s annual celebration across two shows. On Day One, you'll hear from Lindsay Elliott of Family Renew Community, this year's conference charity partner, along with two outstanding presenters: Dr. Karemah Campbell Manselle, Director of Student Financial Assistance at the University of Central Florida, and Dave Sobush, Director of Research and Policy for the Florida College Access Network (FCAN). You'll also hear from our awesome Health and Wellness correspondent, Samantha Dunman—better known to listeners as Dr. Happy. For the first time, we took her out of the comfort of her Embry-Riddle studio and sent her into the wild armed with a fuzzy microphone. The results were entertaining, insightful, and—if you've listened to Dr. Happy before—not surprisingly, awesome. By now, you've probably noticed a theme. That's because we're turning Dr. Happy's awesomes into a contest. As you listen, count how many times she says "awesome" during her interviews. The first listener to email the correct total to sassapodcast@gmail.com will win an awesome prize package, including a personalized voicemail greeting recorded by Dr. Happy herself, an autographed t-shirt (most likely an old t-shirt from her home) and a complimentary SASFAA membership, and a few other surprises. So, grab your headphones, start counting those awesomes, and enjoy Day One of our FASFAA Conference coverage. And don't miss Day Two, dropping in just a few days, featuring Jody Walker and Pam Gordon discussing the LEAP Program, the always delightful Lou Murray and Tim Young from Earnest, incoming FASFAA President Armenta Johnson's closing remarks, and the conclusion of the Dr. Happy Awesome Challenge. Family Renew Community donation link: https://www.familyrenew.org/our-program/

  8. Jun 2

    S3:E12: Breaking News, final NPRM...kind of

    While waiting for final regulations, we decided to create a few of our own. In today's episode, we're putting our own spin on NPRM. No, it's not the final regulations; it's the Swoonpie version: Notice, Pause, Reset, Move. Join Swoonie colleagues Sam Dunman (Dr. Happy) and Lou Murray as they explore a mindful and practical approach to navigating the challenges we face in financial aid and beyond. Together, they share a stress survival guide designed to help listeners recognize pressure, create space for reflection, reset their mindset, and move forward with intention when feeling overwhelmed by the constant demands of the profession. Plus, in another installment of What Keeps You Up at Night?, Sam Hicks sits down with Egan Hanson, current president of FASFAA, for a thoughtful conversation about LinkedIn and its role in professional engagement, networking, and building meaningful connections within the financial aid community. Whether you're looking for strategies to manage stress or insights on strengthening your professional network, this episode offers practical takeaways to help you thrive.

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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

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A podcast for members by members, where financial aid, community, and a little Southern flavor come together.

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