The AV Life

This week Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, and James King discuss communication, neurodiversity, and leadership in higher education AV. Murphy announces the Audible release of her AV Project Management Handbook and uses it to explore a key project-management lesson: teams receive information differently, whether through print, digital tools, audio, email, text, or real-time messaging.

Tim connects the conversation to a Temple Grandin webinar moderated by Jenn Steinhardt, highlighting the value of recognizing visual, auditory, and written learning preferences. The hosts emphasize making room for people who think differently and intentionally building AV career pathways rather than having people...

This week Tim Van Woeart and Murphy Daley have a wide-ranging conversation that begins with Murphy’s upcoming project-management office hours, her new audiobook, and the Spanish translation of her AV Project Manager Handbook. The discussion then takes a serious turn toward the Cornell fraternity sexual-assault case, higher-education responsibility, Greek-life culture, bystander intervention, personal accountability, and the importance of speaking up when something is wrong. Both hosts emphasize that allegations should be distinguished from established facts while discussing the broader lessons around safety, respect and values. Tim connects the conversation to his own fraternity experience and the responsibility of organizations to...

The crew welcomes Mike Pederson of Iowa State University and Seth Warner of Plexus AV for a discussion of the 2026 AV landscape. Join hosts this week Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, Brandy Johnson, James King as they explores why AV over IP is having its biggest impact yet, from scalability and flexibility to the growing need for interoperability through technologies such as Dante, NDI, and IPMX. They emphasize that successful AV over IP deployment depends on thoughtful network design, bandwidth, clocking, QoS, IP addressing, and early collaboration with IT. 

The conversation also examines constrained budgets, rising p...

This week on The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, and James King continue the value of regional and national AV trade shows, with Joe Way joining later in the discussion. They explore how limited budgets, travel time, and return on investment require manufacturers, integrators, and end users to attend events more strategically. The group agrees that trade-show floors remain useful for discovery, but longer conversations over meals, in meeting spaces, and during follow-up visits often lead to a clearer understanding of project needs and solutions. Murphy proposes virtual project-management office hours to include professionals—such as pr...

Chris Netto joins The AV Life Podcast this week for a candid discussion about the evolving AV trade show and road show landscape. The panel examines lower attendance at major events, the rapid growth of regional roadshows, rising exhibit costs, and the need for clearer return on investment. They agree that meaningful conversations, meals, and follow-up meetings often create more value than booth traffic alone.

The conversation also explores the convergence of residential, commercial, IT, broadcast, and higher education AV; the growth of studios and video-first communications; and the importance of audio, lighting, acoustics, and network design in...

How can technology be used as a learning tool in a classroom and not as a distraction? This week on The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Brandy Johnson, and Nancy Blanchard discuss the growing debate over technology in education. The group examines New Jersey's bell-to-bell student cellphone ban, distractions caused by phones and AirPods, social media bullying, and the importance of face-to-face interaction. They also consider whether schools should limit laptop and Chromebook use, while emphasizing that technology remains essential for preparing students for modern workplaces.

The conversation expands into the importance of teaching traditional life...

Tim Van Woeart hosts Troy Hanna of 22 Miles alongside Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, Brandy Johnson, and Nancy Blanchard for a conversation about AV and software migrations, with digital signage as the primary example. The discussion examines why organizations migrate platforms—from acquisitions and discontinued relationships to dissatisfaction with existing systems or a desire to consolidate multiple solutions under one umbrella.

Murphy Daley used Dolly Parton as the inspiration for her PM Minute, speaking about Dolly's enormous talent and every reason to put herself first, but instead she was known for lifting other people up, encouraging them, and sharing ge...

Join this week's panel as they discuss how the AV industry continues improve its recognition of women in the AV industry. Brandy Johnson introduces her new LinkedIn Women of AV Hall of Fame award, beginning with the recognition for Renee Benson. The group reflects on women’s representation in AV, the industry’s progress away from booth-babe culture, and why inclusive representation benefits both teams and customers. Nancy shares firsthand concerns about investment-firm ownership, including pressure for short-term financial performance and its effects on employees and business development. Murphy connects the conversation to project management: successful organizations must understand the diff...

What happens when private equity enters AV? This week's AV Life Podcast is a wide-ranging episode that moves from higher education AV events into one of the industry's biggest business questions about private equity's growing presence in AV. The group recaps the Buffalo Roadshow, discussing how HETMA continues evolving its events and learning from each experience. They also highlight accessibility and Title II discussions from a recent industry event.

The main conversation centers on private equity, sparked by a reported $2.6 billion investment involving the New York Yankees. The panel compares investment in professional sports with AV-industry acquisitions and...

This week's AV Life heats up as storms continue to wreak havoc on life and projects across the nation. Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, Brandy Johnson, James King, and guest Steve Borho discuss the pressures of late-summer AV work in higher education. Murphy shares a project-management reminder: focus on what the project truly needs, especially during tense, high-emotion situations. The group explores extreme heat, severe storms, HVAC challenges during classroom installations, and the need for strong coordination among AV, IT, facilities, and campus leadership before planned power outages. They also discuss backup cooling and monitoring needs in medical-school...

With Tim Van Woeart unexpectedly unable to host, Joe Way takes over The AV Life for an impromptu episode that turns into an engaging conversation with Nancy Blanchard of ScreenBeam. What begins as an unscripted discussion evolves into a wide-ranging look at the AV industry, higher education, and career experiences.

Joe and Nancy discuss the current state of higher education funding, the importance of supporting community colleges, consultant and manufacturer relationships, and why application-focused conversations are more valuable than feature-heavy product pitches. They also debate AI's role in AV, standardization versus customization, remote management, wireless collaboration, and the...

As the summer moves along quickly, our hosts pause to discuss concerts, travel, major sporting events, and the approaching fall event season. The conversation highlights the community impact and logistical scale of FIFA fan festivals, stadiums, volunteers, and event production, with curiosity about the AV, IT, and project-management lessons learned behind a global event.

In the PM Minute, Murphy Daley emphasizes that effective AV professionals should regularly reassess their systems, standards, software, and tools—especially as AI introduces new possibilities. The group also discusses the value of transparent product evaluation, exploring alternatives beyond familiar consultant specifications, and maintaining an...

On this week's AV Life Podcast, Tim Van Woeart is joined by James King, Murphy Daley, Renee Benson, and Nancy Blanchard to discuss whether "good enough" AV is still sufficient in higher education. The panel begins by recapping the successful HETMA Roadshow at Creighton University, highlighting collaboration between vendors, institutions, and smaller colleges that rarely attend major industry events. 

Murphy Daley’s PM Minute focuses on asking questions, communicating openly, and never assuming something is impossible without first exploring the options.

The main discussion centers on whether “good enough” AV is still sufficient in higher education. The gro...

In a special Women of AV Takeover episode of The AV Life, Renee Benson hosts an engaging discussion with Nancy Blanchard, Murphy Daley, Brandy Johnson, and guests Gisela Ramirez & Erin Maher-Moran about leadership, mentorship, and the experiences of women working throughout the AV industry. The panel reflects on networking events from InfoComm 2026, including the AVIXA Women's Breakfast and WAVIT's Glow Up event, highlighting the importance of authentic relationships, trust, and intentional mentorship. Inspired by the women's council breakfast keynote speaker Mariana Atencio, the conversation explores building confidence, discovering purpose, and developing meaningful professional connections. The group also shares personal stories...

In this special episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Tim Albright (AVNation) and Tim Neviska (HETMA) for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, professional growth, and the state of the AV industry. Tim Albright discusses the inspiration behind his new book, Building on Ashes, sharing lessons about resilience, failure, and the importance of developing a personal operating system while continually passing knowledge to others.
The conversation then turns to InfoComm 2026, where the group reflects on attendance trends, higher-quality conversations, changing trade show dynamics, and the value of discovering innovative products through guided tours. Tim...

Missing Tim Van Woeart for the final live report from InfoComm, our hosts fight through the noise of the HETMA happening happy hour below to wrap-up InfoComm 2026. The group debated whether traditional booth tours still provide value for experienced AV professionals, with manufacturers emphasizing the importance of demonstrating new technology, gathering customer feedback, and showcasing concepts that can’t be replicated over a video call.

The conversation shifted to how end-user feedback directly influences product development, the increasing focus on cybersecurity in AV, and the overall health of the industry. The panel also reflected on memorable networking experiences, th...

Day two of The AV Life's live coverage from InfoComm 2026 focuses on the momentum building across the show floor as attendees juggle booth demonstrations, networking events, and evening receptions. Murphy shares the overwhelming response to her AV Project Management Handbook, including selling out the books she brought on her first day.

The panel also highlights one of the week's most impactful events—the AVIXA Women's Council Breakfast—where NBC journalist Mariana Atencio delivered a keynote centered on trust, human connection, and leadership. The discussion expands into the growing importance of manufacturer partnerships, integrated AV solutions, and collaboration across the...

Recorded live from InfoComm 2026, hosts Tim Van Woeart and Murphy Daley, along with live reports from Renee Benson (Sony Electronics), Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics), and Nancy Blanchard (ScreenBeam) from the HETMA booth on the first day of InfoComm 2026!

The group shares their first impressions of the opening day, discussing attendee traffic, the redesigned exhibit hall layout, and the excitement of reconnecting with colleagues across the AV industry. Brandy highlights PTZOptics' collaboration with LayerJot and Intel showcasing AI-assisted medical cart tracking, while Renee discusses Sony's new P Series displays and the industry's growing focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. Murphy...

This week's AV Life Podcast is the one to start InfoComm 2026! Join our full panel of hosts Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, Murphy Daley, Brandy Johnson, Joe Way, and James King as they welcome guests Michael Gunderson of Highland Community College and Steve Borho. The lively conversation includes reflections on previous InfoComm experiences and looks ahead at preparing for this year's InfoComm with tips on maximizing networking opportunities, navigating the show floor, and taking advantage of HETMA events and campus tours.

Michael shares practical advice for first-time attendees, emphasizing the importance of getting oriented before tackling the massive...

With InfoComm 2026 just around the corner, Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, Brandy Johnson, and Murphy Daley preview the upcoming show, share booth information, discuss networking opportunities, and highlight key events attendees should not miss. The conversation covers HETMA activities, the Higher Ed AV Awards, community meetups, vendor events, and the importance of building relationships across the AV industry.

Murphy delivers a project management segment focused on running efficient meetings and the value of strong agendas. The group also explores AI adoption, autonomous vehicles, workplace automation, and balancing technology with human expertise. Nancy announces ScreenBeam’s sponsorship of the HE...

In this solo episode, host Tim Van Woeart reflects on the fast arrival of June and the transition period it represents for higher education AV professionals. Tim discusses the close of the academic and fiscal years, graduation season, summer campus projects, and preparations for InfoComm. He shares personal thoughts about family milestones, including his son’s move to middle school, and emphasizes the importance of work-life balance, vacations, and professional growth.

The episode also highlights the value of continuing education, community involvement through HETMA, and upcoming events like the HETMA Education Summit and Higher Ed AV Awards. Tim co...

This week on episode 334 of the The AV Life Podcast, our hosts cover a wide-ranging discussion from practical hydration tips at InfoComm in Las Vegas to today's hiring challenges in AV, AI impacts, and career growth.

The team kicks off with InfoComm preparation tips, emphasizing hydration, conference planning, certification preparation, and excitement around industry networking events. Murphy Daley’s Project Management Minute focuses on organization systems, emphasizing that successful AV project management depends on structured information management. A major discussion centers around hiring within higher education AV and IT departments. Hosts share experiences reviewing applicants, interview strategies, culture fi...

In Episode 333 of The AV Life, Tim Van Woeart may be temporarily off camera, but the crew has no trouble keeping the show moving. Renee Benson checks in from the road as InfoComm preparation ramps up, sharing the pace and pressure of visiting customers ahead of major product announcements. Brandy Johnson joins the conversation with her usual energy, humor, and road-tested perspective, while Murphy Daley gives an update on the continued momentum around The AV Project Manager Handbook, including plans for an audiobook, a possible course, and the idea of making...

This week on The AV Life, Tim Van Woeart is joined by Brandy Johnson, Nancy Blanchard, Renee Benson, Steve Borho, and a surprise drop-in from Joe Way for a classic crew conversation that starts with a serious higher ed technology disruption and somehow still finds its way to dogs, border crossings, World Cup logistics, InfoComm plans, and youth sports officiating.

The episode opens with the recent Instructure and Canvas cyberattack, its impact on higher education during finals week, and the reminder of just how dependent campuses...

This episode of The AV Life features host Tim Van Woeart alongside Murphy Daley for a spring check-in that blends higher ed life, project management lessons, family milestones, and the growing momentum around Murphy’s Audio Video Project Manager Handbook. Recording on the final day of April, Tim reflects on Rutgers University Newark kicking off its 80th anniversary celebration and finishing his first MBA course, while Murphy shares updates from Southern California and her recent experience speaking at Cavlo in Tennessee.

Murphy’s PM Minute centers on one deceptively simple idea: people matter. Drawing from...

In this episode of The AV Life, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Brandy Johnson, Nancy Blanchard, virtual Murphy Daley, and special guest Chris Kelly, Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media. The crew reflects on a successful NAB Show, noting a pivot toward "quality over quantity" in leads. Excitement builds for InfoComm 2026, with plans forming for a multi-state "HETMA mobile" road trip involving a minivan and several industry veterans.


The conversation shifts to casinos as conference venues before pivoting t...

This episode features Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley discussing current trends across the AV industry and higher education. The conversation highlights a recent wave of mergers and acquisitions, supply chain and labor challenges impacting installations, and preparations for summer project season.
 
Murphy’s “PM Minute” focuses on eliminating unnecessary project documentation and instead prioritizing clarity around project goals and key performance indicators. The group also explores the importance of mission vs. vision alignment in AV work.

Additional discussions include PPE requirements for on-site work, real-world installation challenges, upcoming industry events like InfoComm and Cavlo...

This episode of The AV Life features host Tim Van Woeart alongside Nancy Blanchard, Joe Way, Murphy Daley, and new crew member Brandy Johnson, with guest Steve Borho, a 40-year AV veteran.

Murphy delivers a “PM Minute” focused on understanding project systems at a foundational level—encouraging professionals to decouple rigid workflows and adapt when disruptions occur. The group reinforces the importance of flexibility in both project management and AV sales, especially in higher education environments.

Murphy also shares momentum around her newly released AV Project Manager Handbook, highlighting strong early feedback and its growing adoption as a t...

This St. Patrick’s Day-themed episode of The AV Life Podcast features hosts Joe Way, Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley, joined by returning guests Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics) and Philip Leimbach. The group blends humor and industry insight, starting with Murphy’s “PM Minute,” emphasizing the importance of effective project management and promoting her new AV Project Manager Handbook.

The conversation shifts between AV industry perspectives and lighthearted topics, including AI-generated debate questions, music trends, and workplace culture. The hosts explore the role of AI in creativity, discuss evolving AV trends, and reflect on work-life balance challeng...

In this episode of The AV Life, hosts Tim, Renee Benson, Nancy Blanchard, and Murphy Daley celebrate the release of Murphy Daley’s new book, The AV Project Manager Handbook. The team discusses the growing interest in AV-specific project management resources and how the book fills a gap for professionals seeking practical, field-ready guidance rather than general management theory. 

Murphy’s “PM Minute” focuses on the importance of organized, searchable project information, emphasizing folder structures, standardized naming conventions, and the value of keeping documentation accessible during project execution.

The conversation also explores how AI tools like Microsoft...

In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, host Tim Van Woeart is joined by Joe Way, Nancy Blanchard, James King, and returning guest Brandy Johnson (PTZOptics) for a candid conversation about self-assessments and performance reviews in the AV industry.

The group explores how AV professionals can take an honest look at their performance, advocate for their accomplishments, and maintain ongoing communication with leadership rather than waiting for annual reviews. Panelists discuss strategies such as documenting achievements, maintaining regular one-on-one meetings, and setting clear expectations to avoid surprises during evaluations.

The conversation also touches on leadership...

This week our hosts reflect on leadership, adaptability, and operational consistency in higher education AV. Murphy’s PM Minute focuses on a core project management reality: plans break. Whether it’s supply chain delays, weather events, or shifting requirements, effective leaders must pivot quickly, refocus teams, and maintain momentum without dwelling on lost goals. 

The conversation expands into broader leadership themes, including defining outcomes versus rigid timelines, aligning teams around purpose, and ensuring organizational consistency. James shares a customer service experience highlighting how inconsistent communication erodes trust—reinforcing the importance of clear processes and a reliable “source of truth.” T...

Recorded live during the HETMA Virtual Conference Happy Hour, this episode of The AV Life Podcast features hosts Tim Van Woeart, Murphy Daley, Nancy Blanchard, and Joe Way alongside board members and guests including Dustin, Teddy, Troy, Tim, and Brittany.

The group reflects on keynote insights about AI in higher education AV, emphasizing historical context, philosophical implications, and practical readiness. Accessibility emerged as a major theme, including lecture capture by default, AI as a learning assistant, and expanded use cases for assisted listening systems to support hard-of-hearing and neurodiverse learners.

The conversation also highlights HETMA surpassing 10,000...

In this HETMA Takeover episode of The AV Life, the hosts welcome leadership from the Higher Education Technology Managers Alliance (HETMA) to preview this year’s highly anticipated virtual conference. The discussion highlights HETMA surpassing 10,000 members and the continued growth of its free, community-driven professional development model.

Panelists outline key sessions including accessible AV design, overcoming higher ed AV challenges, AV over IP, AI in AV, Wi-Fi and cloud-based assistive listening, classroom standardization, proactive monitoring, data analytics, digital whiteboards, and evaluating new technology through the HETMA Approved Program.

A recurring theme is the power of the li...

Recorded live during ISE in Barcelona, this episode captures the energy, exhaustion, and excitement of one of the AV industry’s largest global events. Tim Van Woeart and Renee Benson check in with returning guests and surprise cameos from the show floor to discuss scale, planning strategies, emerging themes, and how ISE continues to evolve—especially around collaboration, education technology, and ecosystem-based design. The conversation blends practical advice, industry insight, and classic AV Life spontaneity.

Topics Discussed:
ISE vs. InfoComm ExperienceThe Importance of Strategic Show PlanningISE’s Massive Growth and ExpansionInformation Overload and Conference FatigueEcosystem Thinki...

In this episode of The AV Life Podcast, hosts Tim Van Woeart, Nancy Blanchard, and Renee Benson kick off February with a wide-ranging discussion focused on the current and future state of higher education AV. The conversation covers ISE travel and expectations, the need for truly innovative new AV products, and how professional conferences continue to shape the industry.

The hosts highlight upcoming HETMA initiatives, including the free HETMA Virtual Conference and the Higher Ed AV Awards, emphasizing community-driven education and recognition. They also explore leadership lessons, professional development, and the importance of stepping away to...

In this wide-ranging and candid episode of The AV Life Podcast, the panel dives headfirst into 2026 predictions for the AV industry, blending humor, hard truths, and lived experience. The conversation opens with reflections on lifelong learning and leadership, sparked by Tim Van Woeart’s return to graduate school and a broader discussion on how experience reshapes perspective in management and higher education.

From there, the group tackles industry turbulence—including mergers, acquisitions, layoffs, and vendor consolidation—while examining how trade shows like ISE and InfoComm are evolving under budget pressure and shifting priorities. Panelists debate the real impact of AI...

In this debut episode of The AV Life Book Club, the team dives deep into The AV Project Manager Handbook with its author, Murphy Daley, exploring what it really takes to manage successful AV projects. From the importance of industry standards and CAD documentation to meeting agendas, scope control, and lessons learned, this conversation highlights why project management is more than just schedules and spreadsheets.

Murphy shares the origin story of the book, born from years of real-world experience and writing for the AV community, while Tim and Chi bring practical perspectives from higher education and enterprise AV...

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 Nation, highlighting his servant leadership, technical vision, and dedication to mentoring his team.

The group discusses transformative projects such as UCLA’s cloud-first AV systems, the evolution of classroom technology, and how cloud inf...

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 challenges, and major personal moments, including new parents and career recognitions.

The discussion highlights the evolving higher ed AV landscape, from workforce shortages and equipment lifecycle planning to the growing impact of organizations like HETMA and major industry events such as...