The Pickup Meeting

Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Self-Improvement

Ever stumbled into an unexpected convo that left you energized, inspired, and maybe even laughing out loud? That’s The Pickup Meeting. Join higher ed besties Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas as they sit down with passionate changemakers who put students first and aren’t afraid to shake up the status quo. These are the unplanned conversations that just might become the best part of your day.

  1. Ep. 40 - Karen Archambault, Rowan College at Burlington County

    5d ago

    Ep. 40 - Karen Archambault, Rowan College at Burlington County

    Send us Fan Mail What do wallets, walk-up songs, learning to drive a stick shift, and enrollment management have in common? More than you'd think. This week on The Pickup Meeting, Kevin and Brody welcome Karen Archambault, Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Rowan College at Burlington County, for a conversation packed with practical leadership wisdom, student success strategies, and a healthy dose of laughter. Karen shares how a professor's encouragement unexpectedly changed the course of her career, why enrollment management should be everyone's responsibility, and how redesigning advising, removing administrative barriers, and meeting students' basic needs can transform outcomes. Along the way, the conversation detours into favorite walk-up songs, lifelong learning, quilting, photography, driving a manual-transmission Corvette, and even twirling fire. Whether you're an advisor, enrollment leader, student affairs professional, or simply someone who loves learning something new, this episode is full of ideas you'll want to take back to campus—and maybe even into your own life. In this episode:  🎵 Finding your walk-up song  🎓 Why enrollment management is about people—not just numbers  💡 Simple changes that make a big difference for students  🚗 Learning new skills (including driving a stick shift!)  🔥 The surprising hidden talent Karen's colleagues may not know about Grab your headphones, hit play, and join the conversation—you might just leave inspired to learn something new yourself. *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.

    1h 14m
  2. Ep. 39 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Jul 1

    Ep. 39 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Send us Fan Mail Brody Broshears and Kevin Thomas are back with another lively pickup meeting, diving into World Cup excitement, summer in higher education, and why soccer has one of the most confusing rules in sports. They also tackle the future of developmental education, explore how co-requisite support is transforming student success, and wrap up with a spirited debate over the worst fast-food chains—guaranteed to spark opinions and maybe even a little outrage. *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.

    41 min
  3. Ep. 38 - Beth Lesen, California State University, Long Beach

    Jun 24

    Ep. 38 - Beth Lesen, California State University, Long Beach

    Send us Fan Mail Leadership, laughter, and a little Dairy Queen debate? This episode has it all. Dr. Beth Lesen joins The Pickup Meeting to share how trust, compassion, and authentic leadership can transform campus culture, support first-generation students, and inspire teams to do their best work. From rebuilding divisions and leading through crisis to career coaching, financial wellness, and the future of student affairs, Beth offers practical wisdom and insight for listeners. Plus, the crew tackles Dilly Bars vs. Blizzards, beach vacations, and why sometimes the best leadership advice is simply to slow down, stay curious, and care for people. *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.

    1h 15m
  4. Ep. 37 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Jun 17

    Ep. 37 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Send us Fan Mail This week, the rails were more of a suggestion than a destination. Kevin celebrates his 46th birthday while Brody shares his philosophy that every birthday is worth celebrating. Along the way, the conversation veers into unexpected territory: the disappearance of neckties, the quest for the perfect joggers, movie theater etiquette (put the phone away!), and whether theaters are destined to become the drive-ins of the future. Eventually, the duo finds their way back to higher education, exploring what professional development really means beyond annual conferences. From peer observations and book clubs to campus-based learning opportunities and the importance of creating time for growth, they discuss how leaders can cultivate meaningful development experiences—even when budgets are tight. *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.

    35 min
  5. Ep. 36 - Katie Dawson, University of Louisiana System

    Jun 10

    Ep. 36 - Katie Dawson, University of Louisiana System

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when adult learners, online education, micro-credentials, baseball parks, and “other duties as assigned” all walk into one podcast episode? You get a lively conversation with Dr. Katie Dawson, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Innovation, and Talent Strategy for the University of Louisiana System. Katie joins Kevin and Brody to talk about Compete Louisiana, a systemwide effort helping adults with some college credit finish what they started. Along the way, she breaks down the real barriers stop-out students face, why relationships still matter in enrollment work, how online learning can be built to actually serve students, and why micro-credentials may deserve a seat at higher ed’s grown-up table. The conversation also wanders, delightfully, through mentorship, digital literacy, workforce pathways, grocery delivery, summer nostalgia, and a spirited debate over America’s best ballparks. *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.

    1h 7m
  6. Ep. 35 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Jun 3

    Ep. 35 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Send us Fan Mail Michael “Brody” Broshears and Kevin Thomas revisit Saturday morning cartoons, video games, hockey debates, and conversations that shaped their early years. They then turn to higher education, challenging the assumption that conferences are the primary form of professional development and highlighting creative, practical ways educators and administrators continue to grow without travel or reimbursement forms. *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.

    31 min
  7. Ep. 34 - W. Kent Barnds, Augustana College

    May 27

    Ep. 34 - W. Kent Barnds, Augustana College

    Send us Fan Mail Brody and Kevin sit down with W. Kent Barnds, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Augustana College, for a conversation that zigzags from enrollment strategy to storytelling, from FAFSA frustrations to liberal arts value, and from Nebraska football loyalty to why innovation in higher ed is less about shiny new toys and more about smart combinations that actually matter. Kent brings the heat on what makes strategic plans stick, why public thinking matters, how small colleges can compete in a noisy market, and why higher ed still has to stay deeply human in the age of AI. Along the way, the crew talks admissions essays, musical taste, red meat, Slate dashboards, and the old-person habits they have proudly adopted. It’s thoughtful, funny, a little nerdy, and exactly the kind of meeting you actually want to be in. *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.

    1h 12m
  8. Ep. 33 - A "Just Us" Episode

    May 20

    Ep. 33 - A "Just Us" Episode

    Send us Fan Mail May is doing May things: inboxes are chirping, calendars are packed, batteries are blinking red, and somehow Brody is recording while standing up. In this “Just Us” episode of The Pickup Meeting, Brody and Kevin celebrate a major milestone, unpack the weird little work habits that make us all twitch, and dig into why academic and career advising should stop living in separate silos. This episode has it all from “reply all” crimes to recharge culture, lifeguard life lessons, AI as an advising sidekick, summer goals, and vinyl record collections. *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.

    29 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Ever stumbled into an unexpected convo that left you energized, inspired, and maybe even laughing out loud? That’s The Pickup Meeting. Join higher ed besties Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas as they sit down with passionate changemakers who put students first and aren’t afraid to shake up the status quo. These are the unplanned conversations that just might become the best part of your day.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael "Brody" Broshears and Kevin Thomas
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Pickup Meeting
  • Show Website
    The Pickup Meeting

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