The AV Life

This episode of The AV Life reflects on major milestones in higher education AV while looking ahead to the future of the industry. Host Tim Van Woeart celebrates his 15-year anniversary in higher ed AV, sharing lessons learned, career growth, and the importance of people skills alongside technology. The conversation spotlights Chi Hang Lo, who was nominated for AV Professional of the Year by AV Na...

In this annual holiday party episode of The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson (Sony Electronics), and Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam) are joined by a wide-ranging group of higher education and AV industry professionals for an informal but insightful year-in-review conversation. Guests reflect on professional milestones such as promotions, job changes, awards, staffing...

In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woert is joined by Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley for a candid, year-end conversation about the hectic fourth quarter in AV and higher education. The team discusses extreme workloads, slipping project timelines, unusual product lead times, and the pressure to stay constantly available for customers and campus needs. Renee and Nancy shar...

In this post-Thanksgiving installment, Tim Van Woeart welcomes back co-host Murphy Daley for a warm, funny, and wide-ranging conversation. The pair catch up on holiday adventures (mashed potatoes, cranberries, Instant pots, olives, pickles, and more), reflect on the December HETMA theme—Productive Rest, and dive deep into collaboration, planning, and communication in AV and IT work. As always, Tim...

In this special solo episode, Tim sits down—crewless but full-hearted—to open December’s HETMA Road to 10K theme: Productive Rest. After dedicating the episode to his late colleague Steve Smith, he reflects on burnout, seasonal chaos, family life, and why AV pros need to set healthy boundaries during the busiest time of year. He also shares updates on the upcoming AV Life Holiday Party, teases a b...

In this special “Attitude of Gratitude” episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart welcomes an extended panel including Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam), Renee Benson (Sony), Murphy Daley, James King, Joe Way, and guests Aaron Baker, Philip Leimbach, and Tim Neviska. Together, the group reflects on career growth, the power of community within higher-education AV, and the role gratitude plays amid pro...

This week the AV Life crew digs into why the AV industry feels “weird” right now—from project delays and shifting budgets to higher ed’s changing technology demands. James King shares stories from LCME accreditation planning, emphasizing the power of basics, discipline, and preparation. Tim highlights HETMA’s mission and the value of small wins, while Renee offers insights from manufacturers and i...

This week the AV Life crew welcomes guest Kevin Kwasneski from 22 Miles, and the team share their biggest AV war stories : stressful installs, communication breakdowns, project management lessons, and the moments that made them better pros. From oranges that looked ripe (Murphy’s PM Minute metaphor) to 2 a.m. installs, broken firewalls, and full-building refreshes before Labor Day, each story high...

It’s a spooktacular 👻 time on The AV Life podcast this week! Join Tim and Nancy with guests Tim Albright, Brittney Grant, and Jennifer Weaver as they celebrate Halloween AV-style — with stories, laughs, and plenty of tricks and treats. From creepy tech mishaps and haunted installations to favorite costumes and candy debates, this lighthearted episode shows the fun, community-driven spirit behind...

The AV Life crew welcomes guest Jon Youse, Regional Board Chair for HETMA and Director of Educational Technology Support at Ivy Tech Community College. Together, they preview the upcoming HETMA Roadshow in Nashville, explore the power of community in higher ed AV, and share insights about planning regional events that unite technology, education, and connection. Plus, the team dives into travel ta...

In this lively and wide-ranging episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woert welcomes Bex Wade from Igloo Vision, along with regular crew members Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, and Murphy Daley. They dive into immersive technology, project management, and industry events — and take hilarious detours into classic gaming, British vs. American accents, 90s pop culture, and even Rush’s comeback tour. Mu...

In this one-on-one episode, Tim Van Woeart and Nancy Blanchard dive into a wide-ranging conversation that blends climate realities, tariffs, and the AV industry’s global supply chain. They reflect on erratic weather, climate change misconceptions, and how new U.S. tariffs could reshape manufacturing, pricing, and planning for AV projects in higher education. Nancy shares insights from her dual Can...

In this “cozy” episode of The AV Life, hosts Van Woeart and Murphy Daley hold down the fort as a two-person crew. They reflect on the busy start of the semester, budget planning and deferred maintenance, and how to feed all the “little projects” competing for attention. With fall underway, they swap stories about Halloween AV setups, lighting effects, and calls for community members to share their...

In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart welcomes Chris Kelly from Creighton University to discuss classroom AV support in higher education, including strategies for lecture capture, synchronous learning, and Zoom’s new video management tool. The crew shares updates on Murphy Daly’s upcoming book, Mark Coxon’s serialized book project, and reflects on project management lessons about whe...

This episode of The AV Life dives into UCLA’s groundbreaking AV as a Platform initiative. The hosts welcome special guest Chi Hang Lo, who shares details about the next-generation AV automation system being piloted on campus. The discussion explores how AV can function as a scalable, modular platform that ties together technology, facilities, security, and student experiences across the university...

In the 302nd episode of The AV Life, the hosts celebrate the continuing journey beyond their 300th show. They dive into the upcoming Prism Scholarship Golf Tournament, share stories about travel, processes, and project management, and explore the September theme of “Life is a Highway”—building systems and repeatable habits that foster long-term success. Along the way, the crew swaps fall drink pre...

Recorded March 18, 2025 Better late than never! Host  Tim Van Woeart sits down with Chris Neto (Midwich; creator of AV in the AM) and crew members Joe Way , Renee Benson , and James King to “roast” COVID—airing grievances, acknowledging what changed for the better, and, finally, putting the topic to bed. Five years on, they revisit how emergency funding, supply-chain chaos, and fast pivots reshape...

Recorded June 25, 2025, this milestone episode celebrates The AV Life’s 300th recording with a perfect blend of old-school chaos and heartfelt reflection. Host Tim Van Woeart brings together the crew — Renee Benson, Murphy Daley, Nancy Blanchard, and Joe Way — alongside special guests Brandy Johnson, Aaron Peterson, and the always unpredictable Harry Mead. The episode pays tribute to Corey Moss, t...

Recorded: August 19, 2025 Crew: Host Tim Van Woeart, with Murphy Daley and Nancy Blanchard As the show lines up its 300th milestone, Tim throws out an open invite for listeners to jump into the next recording by DM’ing for the link. He’s capping the virtual studio at around a dozen at a time, so expect some rotation if the crowd floods in. Consider this the pre-party: a quick check-in on summer rh...

Recorded March 25, 2025 Host Tim Van Woeart and co-host Murphy Daley catch up on life and AV. Murphy shares a health update and why she’s diving into a water-management certification that’s heavy on geometry, conversions, and real-world stakes at city scale. Tim offers practical CTS study tactics (including how mentors and a pre-written formula sheet can help), and they point listeners to the HETM...

Recorded April 1, 2025 In this catch-up episode, Tim Van Woeart and Nancy Blanchard (now with PPDS Professional Display Solutions ) reconnect to share updates, swap stories, and dive into Nancy’s on-the-ground review of the recent HETMA Roadshow in Toronto. From wild weather shifts to standout campus tours, they explore what made this stop unique — including the impressive sustainable “Timberlost”...

Recorded in August 5, 2025, the crew reunites to catch up on summer adventures before diving into a full recap of InfoComm Asia. Host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way and Nancy Blanchard, bringing listeners into a lively conversation about vacations, baseball on the beach, Disneyland anniversaries, and the “tourist” spots that locals love to avoid. Joe shares his recent experience representing...

Recorded May 6, 2025 This crew episode features Tim Van Woeart and Murphy Daley catching up on life, career moves, travel mishaps, and what it means to hit the reset button. Tim talks about his new role at Rutgers Newark, his experiences with classroom technology, and how it’s changing his day-to-day approach. Murphy shares her own updates, from local government projects to family trips that inclu...

This episode dives into the human side of AV life—mistakes that teach us lessons, networks that support us, and how professional growth often happens in the most unexpected ways. Tim Van Woeart leads the conversation with crew members Nancy and James as they welcome guest Aaron Peterson to share his experiences navigating challenges, finding mentors, and embracing the power of connection. The team...

Recorded July 22, 2025 Tim Van Woeart and Renee Benson welcome Brittney Grant, AV professional at Aims Community College and Chair of HETMA’s Approved Program, for a conversation themed around “True North.” They discuss professional growth, mentorship, and how to navigate an evolving AV industry while staying grounded in purpose and values. Brittney shares her journey from student to AV leader, he...