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:E11: State Heavyweights, Hope, and Pablo EscoBEAR

    Welcome back to the podcast! Spring conference season is buzzing louder than a ballroom before the opening session, and today we’ve got two SASFAA state heavyweights. First, you’ll hear from Nadine Bailey, Conference Co-Chair for the upcoming FASFAA Conference. Nadine shares the story behind this year’s conference charity partner, Family Renew Community. It is a lifeline for families with children in Volusia and Flagler Counties, helping them move from homelessness to stability and hope. Beginning next week, and centered around the conference theme “Welcome Aboard,” the entire FASFAA membership, including those not attending the conference, is coming together to support this incredible cause. Then, Swoonpie producer Spencer Morris takes us inside an experience that could only happen in Tennessee: TASFAA Bingo. Somehow, a game once thought to be reserved for geriatrics has evolved into one of the most legendary and memorable nights on the association calendar. At the center of the chaos and camaraderie is none other than the legendary Pablo EscoBEAR. He is pictured below. Created from the imagination of founding member Charles Harper, Pablo has become the official mascot of the Kings of Bingo and Queen of Cards. Each year, Pablo is auctioned off during TASFAA Bingo to benefit the President’s Charity. The winning school gets to have Pablo for the year and incorporates him into financial aid office events. This year, Tennessee State University won and has the honor of hosting him until next spring. Finally, TASFAA member David Haggard shares his vision and journey in creating Blazing Hope Ranch, this year’s conference charity. Blazing Hope Ranch provides a safe, healing space for survivors of human trafficking and works to combat trafficking through education and community outreach efforts.

    34 min

  2. MAY 15

    S3:E10: Healing and Sobriety

    Welcome to a special weekend edition of Swoonpies and Money. This episode is devoted entirely to a powerful message: sobriety is not a weakness or a sacrifice; it is a bold, life-affirming choice that requires courage, honesty, and daily commitment. Host Sam Dunman sits down with guest Christine Harvey for a candid and reflective conversation on healing, and the importance of having a strong community—one that holds you accountable, supports you through challenges, and reminds you that you’re never navigating the journey alone. Together, they explore how even simple practices like intentional breathing can ground you in difficult moments and help you regain control. In this light, sobriety becomes more than an individual’s path; it’s a journey strengthened by connection, self-awareness, and small, powerful tools that make lasting change possible.

    38 min

  3. MAY 11

    S3:E9: Politics or Dungeon Crawler Carl. Can you tell the difference?

    To open the show, we’re joined by Emily Baldwin, who’s here to preview the upcoming New Aid Officer’s Workshop, SASFAA’s annual training opportunity designed to help new financial aid professionals build their knowledge, confidence, and sense of community. Emily also highlights GASFAA’s featured conference charity, Open Paws Food Pantry. It is dedicated to supportingstudents at Augusta University facing food insecurity, Open Paws is working to ensure no student has to choose between their education and their next meal. You’ll find links to support the Food Pantry below. Then, we dive into a conversation with Will Shaffner, who shares what he’s hearing inside the Beltway and what may lie ahead for higher education policy and shifting institutional trends. And just when you think you’ve deciphered Will's news, Sam Hicks and her merry band of sci-fi aficionados take things in acompletely different direction, keeping you up at night with a lively discussion of Dungeon Crawler Carl. Two ways to support Open Paws Food Pantry:  Open Paws Pantry: https://www.augusta.edu/student-affairs/open-paws.php   Also, an Amazon Wishlist to donate: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39DXVQ4L6Q1LY?ref_=wl_share

    58 min

  4. MAY 5

    S3:E8: FSA's Aaron Lemon-Strauss on Fraud, Michelle is back and we're on social media!

    In today’s episode, Bill is thrilled (and maybe a little relieved!) to welcome back co-host Michelle Gunnin, formerly Michelle Hemmer, returning from leave after welcoming baby Hana into the world in February. We’re so glad to have her back. Our featured segment is last week’s conversation with Aaron Lemon-Strauss, Executive Director of the FAFSA program, recorded live on the SASFAA YouTube channel. If you missed it, we’ve got the full audio here, covering the critical topic of fraud mitigation in financial aid, as well as other breakthroughinitiatives from our FSA colleagues. You’ll also hear a couple of quick announcements: a reminder that SASFAA’s New Aid Officers Workshop rate increases soon, and for our Georgia friends, a call to submit your charity auction items for the upcoming GASFAA conference. And finally, the really cool big news, we’re now on social media! The Swoonies are late to the party, but we brought snacks. Let's party like it's 2011! Now on Facebook & Instagram! Follow Swoonpies & Money and engage with your SASFAA colleagues while listening to the podcast, because the best conversations don’t end when the episode does. https://www.instagram.com/sasfaapodcast  https://www.facebook.com/swoonpiesandmoney

    1h 2m

  5. APR 30

    S3: E7: The Resilience Playbook: VASFAA, Escape Room, and D&D

    In this episode, we take you inside the recent Virginia Association conference held in Norfolk, highlighting the shared experiences that connect members across the SASFAA region. Even if you’re from Florida, South Carolina, or Tennessee, no matter where you are, the challenges are basically the same. Different states but same OB3, same deadlines, and same whiplash announcements. This conference had a little bit of everything. An escape room (because nothing says, “professional development” like "get me out of here!"), leadership lessons from behind the Dungeons & Dragons dungeon master screen, and plenty of creative ways people manage stress—think Scottish country dancing, baking side gigs, and concert-hopping road trips. Most importantly, we hear from VASFAA President Loretta Jones, who shares insights about the association’s charitable efforts supporting Bobby’s Pit Bull Rescue and Sanctuary in Spotsylvania County. Also, Loretta honors several VASFAA members whose hard work and dedication have made a lasting impact on the association.   This episode is a reminder that while the work we do can be challenging, the people in SASFAA bring creativity, resilience, and a strong sense of community to everything they do.

    1h 20m

  6. APR 22

    S3:E6: From Huntsville with Heart: The AASFAA Community

    Today’s episode is all about community, connection, and the energy that makes this profession so special. We’re taking you inside the recent Alabama Financial Aid Association Conference, held just a couple of weeks ago in Huntsville. AASFAA may be small, but it punches well above its weight; you can feel it in the leadership, hear it in the conversations, and see it in the camaraderie that carries throughout their annual conference. We’ll kick things off with a meaningful conversation around the association’s charitable work with the Alzheimer’s Association. Then, we’ll take you around the room, checking in with attendees and sponsors to capture the pulse of the conference, before wrapping up with AASFAA President Jamie Burt from the University of Alabama. In addition, today we give you a quick look at what’s coming up on Swoonpies and Money: this week, Daniel Barkowitz sits down with FAFSA Program Executive Director Aaron Lemon-Strauss to break down new fraud-detection strategies and identity verification updates from the Department of Education. In the coming weeks, we’ve got more conference coverage from Virginia, a conversation with Dr. Happy focusing on mindset and holistic recovery, then Sam Hicks and friends continue to explore the question “What keeps you up at night?” with a deep dive into Dungeon Crawler Carl.

    1h 10m

  7. APR 14

    S3:E5: Breaking News, Financial Literacy Month and AI

    We’ve got breaking news and an important programming note—this is a Swoonpies and Money exclusive. Following our recent live coverage of the FSA Conference on SASFAA’s YouTube channel, we’re bringing you another can’t miss conversation. Mark your calendars for April 22nd at 4:00 PM, when we’ll be joined by FAFSA Program Executive Director Aaron Lemon-Strauss. Along with Daniel Barkowitz, he’ll dive into the Department of Education’s latest efforts to crack down on financial aid fraud, including new detection strategies, enhanced identity verification measures, and what these changes mean for financial aid professionals and the students they serve. Regarding today’s episode, we kick things off with an introduction recorded live at the recent Alabama conference, featuring special guest co-host Joan Bailey. Next, Emily Baldwin returns with a follow-up to her recent medical school panel. She’s joined by Johnathan Chancellor (AAMC) and Veronica Herrera (Experian) to explore the growing importance of consumer credit, especially in light of pending OB3 changes and its impact on student loans. Finally, we take a closer look at innovation in action with an overview of the NASFAA AI Task Force. Task force leader Sam Hicks sits down with fellow members Celena Tulloss and Wayne Kruger to discuss their plans. Please enjoy this episode. And again, be sure to join us live on April 22nd at 4:00 PM right here to hear our interview with Aaron Lemon-Strauss, EXCLUSIVELY on Swoonpies and Money!

    1 hr

  8. APR 2

    S3:E4: Cancer Journey: One More Day To Be Alive

    This deeply moving episode returns to a theme we first introduced Swoonpies and Money last year: sharing perspectives that reach beyond financial aid and the rhythms of our daily routines. It centers on the human experience of living with cancer, told through one person's extraordinary and transformative journey. Samantha Dunman (aka Dr. Happy) sits down with a three-time cancer survivor whose story is not defined by fear, but by courage, resilience, and profound self-discovery. Rather than focusing on clinical details, their conversation unfolds the emotional and spiritual landscape of a life interrupted yet awakened by diagnosis. Together, they explore what it means to face reality without labeling it as “good” or “bad,” but instead meeting each moment with honesty and grace. This is a conversation about standing in the unknown and choosing faith anyway. About finding stillness in the chaos, presence in the pain, and meaning in every breath. It’s a powerful reminder that even in life’s most uncertain moments, there is beauty to be found, and that simply being alive is, in itself, a gift.

    40 min
See All (45)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

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

Information

You Might Also Like