AV SuperFriends

Recorded November 14, 2025 The AV SuperFriends kick off their first holiday special of the season with a spirited look at the gear, gadgets, and AV workflows that should make life easier, but only if you also bought the missing accessories, licenses, adapters, or seventeen extra widgets the manufacturer forgot to mention. In classic Christmas fashion, the crew shares their "Batteries Not Included"...

Recorded November 21, 2025 In this jam-packed episode, the AV SuperFriends welcome two guests from sunny Southern California, Raj Singh from USC and Joe Way from UCLA, to tackle one of the most challenging topics in higher-ed technology today: cloud-connected AV. The panel reviews what it truly means to run a "connected campus," exploring the benefits, hurdles, required workflows, stakeholder alig...

Recorded October 16, 2025 In this special Perspectives episode, Justin and Chris recorded live from ETC 2025 in Raleigh, NC, setting up in the middle of the action to capture conversations with Frank Alaimo from UNLV and Jim Spencer from Legrand. The panel digs into the real-world challenges facing campus AV teams today: modernizing aging classrooms, navigating procurement hurdles, managing user e...

Recorded November 7, 2025 In this episode, Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, Justin, and special guest Craig Park tackle the complexities of large capital projects, the importance of early engagement with AV consultants, and the often murky waters of project communication. The conversation takes a humorous turn as they explore the trials and tribulations of navigating institutional silos, the challenges...

Recorded October 24, 2025 In this Thanksgiving special, the crew gathers at the bustling Circus Circus in Las Vegas (by way of theater of the mind). Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, Justin, and special guest Frank Alaimo, dive into the chaos of AV integration during the holiday season, while serving up piping hot takes and mashed-up opinions. As they navigate the complexities of holiday technology reque...

Recorded throughout October 2025 The AV SuperFriends return for their annual Halloween adventure, and this year, the hauntings have gone stadium-wide. When the university football field is plagued by flickering lights, phantom crowd noise, and a scoreboard frozen at 13 seconds left, the team uncovers a century-old mystery: a championship game from 1925 that was never finished. Armed with motion-ca...

Recorded October 17, 2025 In our first ever live in-person episode of the Weekly Rivalry, the spotlight shines on Waco, Texas, as the Central Florida Knights take on the Baylor Bears in a thrilling showdown that transcends football. Justin and Chris with special guests Mike Ferry from UCF and Connor Krey from Baylor as they explore the intricate interplay between AV and IT teams that keep everythi...

Recorded Oct 8, 2025 In this episode, the crew tackles the realities of higher ed AV projects that just don't go according to plan. When timelines slip, budgets tighten, or rooms are handed over mid-flight, how do campus tech teams adapt and deliver before classes start? Chris, Marc, Larry, Jamie, Justin, and special guest Chris Gaut exchange tales about project rescues, impossible deadlines, and...

Recorded October 3, 2025 In this episode, the crew gears up for the 2025 ETC Conference in Raleigh, NC, swapping predictions, travel plans, and a few questionable presentation ideas. Brandon Pope from NC State and Tim Cichos from Notre Dame join to preview what attendees can expect from the conference, from the carefully planned venues and community spirit to the sessions that promise to mix genui...

Recorded September 19, 2025 It's October, and the AV SuperFriends are leaning into the spooky season with a conversation that's equal parts eerie and insightful. They tackle some of the haunted house problems in higher ed AV: ghost signals that won't quit, obsolete equipment that seems impossible to kill off, and the slow creep of outdated standards lurking in classrooms everywhere. Joining the di...

Recorded September 12, 2025 It's episode 1-2-3 Off the Rails, and the crew is joined by two special guests for an especially thick and robust panel for a discussion of multi-display classrooms that either delight faculty or guarantee support tickets, the eternal war over dongles, aspect ratios, and those pesky 4:3 PowerPoints that just won't die. Special guests Tino Kaltsas and BC Hatchett jump in...

Recorded September 5, 2025 The AV SuperFriends are back with two special guests, Casey Sisco (UTSA) and Atkins Fleming (Texas State). This one covers it all: from facial recognition at football stadiums, to the never-ending challenges of digital signage. The highlight of the show is our Weekly Rivalry segment, where Texas State and UTSA face off in a sports-style showdown for AV & IT bragging righ...

Recorded August 15, 2025 In this episode, Chris, Jamie, Larry, and Justin revel in the chaos and excitement of back-to-school preparations and reminisce about their experiences from ten years ago while tackling the challenges of the new academic year. The discussion kicks off with a lighthearted look at the absurdities of the back-to-school rush, including the frantic requests from faculty and the...

Recorded August 29, 2025 Just in time for the big Texas at Ohio State game, it's a special episode of AVSF! When the calendar hands us a rare fifth Friday, the AV SuperFriends don't take the week off. We go live with a special bonus episode full of chaos, competition, and classroom technology trash talk. Chris, Jamie, Marc, and Justin are joined by two guests: Chris Harshfield from Ohio State and...

Recorded August 22, 2025 We kick things off with the big news of the week: AOL finally pulling the plug on dial-up internet. Yes, it was somehow still a thing. Cue the nostalgia, sound effects, and plenty of snark. From there, we debate the future of AVoIP. Is it the solution for everything, just another tool in the quiver, or the next technology destined to quietly fade away? Expect strong opinio...

Recorded August 8, 2025 In this episode of Off the Rails, Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, and Justin review the chaotic world of last-minute project requests. They share their experiences, strategies, and a few laughs while navigating the often unpredictable demands of faculty and staff just before the new semester kicks off. The conversation kicks off with a lighthearted look at the absurdity of tryin...

Recorded July 11, 2025 In this episode, the goon squad discusses testing AV equipment and the often murky waters of bench testing. Join Chris, Jamie, Larry, and Justin as they share their experiences, opinions, and a few laughs about the realities of ensuring gear works as intended before it hits the field. The discussion kicks off with a humorous take on the common practice of just throwing gear...

Recorded July 25, 2025 In this episode, join Chris, Jamie, Marc, Larry, and Justin as they discuss the the broken business model of per room, per system, per month, per year cloud service pricing, the ongoing struggle with outdated features and devices that just won't die and the question of when to cut the cord on legacy systems, sharing their own experiences and the sometimes humorous realities...

Recorded July 16, 2025 In this episode, the panel looks at the world of automatic cameras and the evolving landscape of commercial displays in higher education. Join Chris, Jamie, Marc, and Justin as they share their experiences, insights, and a few laughs while discussing the pros and cons of automatic camera systems. The conversation touches on everything from user preferences to the challenges...

Recorded June 13, 2025 In this episode, Jamie brings you an exciting update from InfoComm 2025. He catches up with Mike from Magewell to discuss a groundbreaking new product designed to simplify the integration of NDI streams into video conferencing software. The Pro Convert IP to USB addresses a common pain point for users who need to connect NDI sources in environments with strict IT policies, s...

Recorded June 13, 2025 In this episode, Jamie catches up with Shaun from Xilica at InfoComm 2025 to delve into the innovative audio technology solutions that Xilica has been developing for over 20 years. Based in Toronto, Xilica is making strides in the audio DSP market, particularly in university classrooms, conference rooms, and courtrooms. Shaun shares insights into the company's flexible and m...

Recorded June 27, 2025 In this episode, the team reflects on their recent adventures at InfoComm 2025, highlighting innovative products and the implications of forced obsolescence in AV technology. They explore the sustainability challenges faced by institutions as they navigate the complexities of rapidly changing software and hardware landscapes. The conversation takes a humorous turn as they ta...

Recorded June 20, 2025 In this explosive Independence Day special, the AV SuperFriends celebrate five years of podcasting with a bang! Join Chris, Jamie, Larry, and Justin as they blow up the things they dislike about AV and IT in higher education. From cloud-based control systems to oversized DSPs, the panel tackles the industry's most frustrating trends and technologies that have overstayed thei...

Recorded June 13, 2025 Jamie chats with Jason from Blustream, who shares the company's exciting transition from residential to commercial AV solutions. Discover how Blustream is leveraging their expertise in HDMI technology and audio solutions to address the needs of the commercial market. Jason discusses their unique products, including the HDMI Bluetooth audio extractor and embedder, which merge...

Recorded June 13, 2025 Jamie catches up with Chuck from Visionary Solutions at InfoComm 2025 to discuss their latest innovations in AV over IP technology. Discover the exciting new features of Visionary's products, including the newly designed wall plates that integrate decoders and USB-C ports, allowing for seamless connectivity and power for devices like cameras and touchscreens. Chuck shares in...