The Liminal Podcast

Episode 19 - AI @ Graduations: Straight From the Horse’s Mouth In the middle of our largest spring season ever, AI at graduation has been making headlines - and not always for the right reasons. Between the Glendale glitch, graduates booing speakers, and a broader wave of AI backlash, it’s easy for the real story to get lost. So instead of just talking about it ourselves, we’re sharing an intervie...

🎙️ The Liminal: When Your Face Becomes the Product — Graduation Photos, Biometrics, and the GradImages Lawsuit In this deep dive episode of The Liminal , the studio gets a little… meta. With Chase Rigby taking the week off, his synthetic substitutes host the conversation to unpack one of the most consequential legal cases in the graduation industry: Gertner v. Commemorative Brands (GradImages) . U...

n this international episode, Tassel CEO Chase Rigby sits down with Beth Lincoln (Manchester Met) and Richard Barden (King’s College London) to explore how graduation is evolving across the UK. From hiring gowns to running 29 ceremonies in two weeks, this episode digs into the differences—and surprising similarities—between UK and US commencement traditions. 📝 Topics Discussed: How UK universitie...

🎙️ The Liminal: From Paper to Power — Jermaine White on Ticketing Innovation and Graduation Equity In this episode, Kate Williams chats with Jermaine White, Assistant Superintendent of Harnett County Schools, about how moving to digital guest ticketing transformed their seven high school ceremonies. From fighting fraud to helping families feel more included, Jermaine shares how Tassel’s tools save...

🎙️ The Liminal: The Product That Pays Students Back — Behind the Scenes of Graduation Announcements In this special episode, Tassel CEO Chase Rigby sits down with Systems Administrator Jake Mayer to talk about the launch of Graduation Announcements —Tassel’s newest product that lets grads tell their story, share a link, and receive financial gifts straight to their Venmo or PayPal accounts. They d...

🎙️ The Liminal: Getting Every Name Right — Lindsay Kimbrough on Ceremony, Legacy, and the Power of the Perfect Moment In this episode, Manny Vozos sits down with Lindsay Kimbrough, Assistant Principal at East Kentwood High School in Michigan—one of the most diverse high schools in the U.S.—to talk about what it really takes to make graduation meaningful for every student. From QR codes and jumbotr...

🎙️ The Liminal: From Solo Coordinator to Seamless Ceremonies — James Cuaresma on Evolving Commencement at Cal State LA In this episode, Staci Matt-Beal talks with James Cuaresma, Senior Director of University Events and Protocol at Cal State LA. From running commencement as a one-person team to orchestrating nine ceremonies with 150 volunteers, James shares how Cal State LA transformed its approac...

🎙️ Inside the Build: Surveys, Programs, and Putting Students First In this episode of The Liminal , Jess DuBridge sits down with Austin Adair from Tassel’s product team to go behind the scenes of two new tools designed to improve graduation: post-ceremony surveys and digital programs . They walk through how these features went from pilot to product, what early feedback revealed, and how schools li...

🎙️ The Liminal: Tassel Trends — The Data Behind Participation, Pride, and the Perfect Moment In this episode, Staci Matt-Beal and Chase Rigby dig into the findings from the inaugural Tassel Trends report—an industry-first deep dive into what drives commencement participation. From data-backed insights to heartwarming stories, this episode explores how small decisions can lead to meaningful moments...

🎙️ The Liminal: From GED to JD — Paris Thomas on Overcoming the Odds and Owning the Podium In this episode, Chase Rigby sits down with Paris Thomas, a former high school dropout turned full-ride law school graduate, who delivered the commencement speech selected by both faculty and peers. Paris shares his remarkable journey from homelessness to higher education, and the moment he stood at the lect...

Aaron High, Director of Engineering at Tassel, joins host Chase Rigby for a behind-the-scenes look at the massive tech overhaul powering Tassel’s future. Together, they dive into the why, what, and how of rewriting a 20-year-old legacy codebase while still serving millions of students—and what that means for the future of commencement. 📝 Topics Discussed: What “technical debt” really means—and wh...

Brenna Brown, Associate Director of University Events at Metropolitan State University of Denver, joins host Chase Rigby to share her expertise in commencement planning. As a power user of Tassel, Brenna has developed numerous strategies to streamline graduation ceremonies, ensuring an organized and memorable experience for students and administrators alike. 📝 Topics Discussed: The unique structu...

Adam Gordon, Manager of IT and Media Application Services at Oakland University, joins host Chase Rigby to peel back the curtain and look at commencement behind-the-scenes. They explore how Oakland’s IT team uniquely supports commencement, the challenges of integrating new technology, and the evolving digital trends in higher education ceremonies. 📝 Topics Discussed: The unique role of IT in Oakl...

Stephanie Albach, a key leader in university relations at Utah Valley University, joins host Chase Rigby to discuss how UVU is rethinking commencement to create more meaningful and personalized graduation experiences. They explore how the university embraces family involvement, the logistical challenges of large-scale ceremonies, and how technology is shaping the future of graduation events. 📝 To...

Dr. Courtney Hills-McBeth, Chief Academic Officer and Provost at Western Governors University, joins host Chase Rigby to discuss how WGU redefines commencement to serve its unique student body. They explore how the university balances accessibility, affordability, and meaningful celebration to create an experience that resonates with students and their families. 📝 Topics Discussed: The evolving r...

Deepthi Peri, Tassel’s lead technologist, joins host Chase Rigby to explore how AI-powered name pronunciation is transforming the graduation experience. They discuss the impact of mispronounced names, the importance of inclusivity for international students, and how AI is solving a long-standing commencement challenge. 📝 Topics Discussed: Why correct name pronunciation is a critical moment for gr...

Nicole Ojeda, a higher education expert and first-generation college graduate, joins host Chase Rigby to discuss the power of inclusive graduation ceremonies. They explore how schools can balance tradition with innovation, shorten ceremonies without losing their impact, and make commencements more meaningful for every student and their family. 📝 Topics Discussed: The unique challenges and triumph...

Taylor DeGiovanni, Associate Director of Commencement, Student Ceremonies, and Engagement at UC Santa Cruz, joins host Chase Rigby to discuss the intricacies of graduation planning. From managing 13 unique ceremonies to overcoming logistical challenges, Taylor shares her journey of balancing tradition with innovation in creating memorable experiences for students and families. 📝 Topics Discussed:...

Dan Frierdich, a veteran commencement planner with over a decade of experience at St. Louis University and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, joins host Chase Rigby to discuss the transformation of cap and gown traditions. They dive into how universities can move beyond outdated processes to create a seamless, student-focused graduation experience.  📝 Topics Discussed: -The inefficiencies...