AV SuperFriends: On Topic
The AV SuperFriends discuss design, installation, and support of classroom and commercial AV integrations.
Episodes
Recorded May 15, 2026
This episode of On Topic gets into the glamorous, soul-polishing world of how AV projects actually begin, which is apparently somewhere between a formal intake form, a support ticket that got out of hand, a hallway ambush, and someone discovering the room needs power, asbestos abatement, and lots of opinions.
The panel compares how dif...
Why are you doing speechlift from the can?
Recorded April 17, 2026
In this episode, the crew turns a simple question about classroom speakers into a full-blown AV theology fight. Should small classrooms use ceiling speakers, front-wall point-source speakers, voice lift, program audio, or whatever happens to be lying around in the warehouse? Naturally, the answer is “it depends,” followed immediately by 35 min...
It's functioning, but not fully functional
Recorded March 13, 2026
This episode of On Topic tackles “Spring cleaning” by focusing less on tidy closets and more on the grime higher ed AV teams create for themselves. The panel trades stories about delayed refreshes, inherited programming messes, legacy systems that refuse to die, rushed project deadlines, and the temporary fixes that somehow become permanent. B...
The Ten Suggestions
Recorded February 13, 2026
It’s March (yes, March– deal with it), the AV SuperFriends gather to lay down the law… higher ed AV law, that is. This month’s On Topic tackles the Top Ten Commandments of AV: the rules you should follow, the ones you sometimes break, and the ones you pretend you’ve always believed in.
From protecting audio at all costs and designing for serviceability, to avoidi...
Recorded January 16, 2026
In this episode of On Topic, the panel leans hard into the “Groundhog Day” reality of higher ed AV, where every semester feels like a rerun of the last one. From the same classrooms and support tickets to the same mysterious $7 HDMI cable failures, the panel reflects on why our work so often feels stuck on repeat, even as we insist “this...
It’s the AV SuperFriends New Year’s special, which means one part retrospective, one part speculation, and several parts nonsense. The panel looks back at their predictions for 2025 to see who deserves credit, who gets partial credit, and who should maybe stop predicting things altogether. From conference room technology to AV-over-IP realities, the team grades themselves with the kind of honesty only frie...
"I Bet They're Super Tech-Savvy"
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 holi...
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 classroom...
Episode 62
Back-toSchool Chatter
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 f...
Episode 61: The statute of limitations has run out, right?
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 tak...
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 tha...
Episode 59: Don't Skip Friday!
Recorded May 9, 2025
In this episode, the crew gathers for a lively roundtable discussion focused on the upcoming Infocomm trade show. Join Chris, Jamie, Marc, Rachel, Larry, and Justin as they share their excitement and insights about what to expect at the conference, along with their personal agendas and speaking engagements. The conversation is filled with the trademark humor ...
Recorded April 18, 2025
In this episode, the gang looks at the chaos and excitement surrounding commencement season in higher education. From the intricacies of AV setups to the humorous mishaps that can occur, our experts share their experiences and insights on managing these large-scale events. Tune in for a blend of technical expertise and light-hearted banter!
We also...
Recorded March 14, 2025
In this episode, the gang dives into the annual ritual of spring cleaning, sharing their unique takes on what it means to declutter in the AV world. From the challenges of managing outdated equipment to the humorous anecdotes of discovering long-forgotten gear, the panel explores the importance of refreshing and reorganizing their spaces.
Join...
Recorded February 19, 2025
In this lively episode, we tackle updating standards amidst fluctuating budgets and the pressure of one-time funds. The discussion also covers the practicalities of AV over IP technology and how it can reshape classroom environments. From the importance of stocking common components to the nuances of managing departmental requests, this epis...
Recorded January 17, 2025
It’s February, which means Groundhog Day! On this episode of On Topic, we review the perennial favorites of the IT and AV world that keep coming back year after year, from the trials of consultants to the challenges of wireless display technologies. We cover the ongoing debates around device compatibility, network security, and the ever-elusive search for...
Recorded December 13, 2025
Welcome to the future!
Join us as we review last year's predictions, with some hits and plenty of misses, and make bold new forecasts for the year ahead. From more Microsoft integration woes to the potential of all-in-one LED displays, there's plenty to discuss and debate. AI-suggested Alternate show titles:
- Predictions, Pontifications, and Preposterous...
Episode 53
"And then this morning happened..."
Recorded November 22, 2024
In this special holiday episode, we explore why we've all landed on AV Santa's naughty list this year. Jamie recounts a PTP clock fiasco, Marc reviews his overly ambitious Teams Rooms rollout, Larry finds himself recommending 21:9 displays, Justin grapples with direct view LED walls and network islands, and Chris rounds it off with tales...
Thanksgiving Special - AV Side Dishes
Recorded October 30, 2024
(I’m still letting AI write this, but I have to edit it more and more recently - cjd)
It's time for a Thanksgiving special with the AV SuperFriends! We’re discussing our favorite AV "side dishes"—those unsung heroes in AV systems that make everything work smoothly.
As they gather for a virtual Thanksgiving dinner, the AV SuperFriends explore the ro...
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