ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast

Hosted by Ken Anselment

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104

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Apr 2026

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About the show

Ken Anselment hosts a series of one-on-one conversations with people who have been climbing the leadership mountain in the world of college admissions. Some are nearing the summit. Some are already there. But how did they get there? And what can other climbers learn from their mindsets, habits, and experiences? © Ken Anselment 2024

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April 17, 2026Episode 338 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Solitude with Angel Pérez

In this episode of Coming Back to Ourselves, Ken Anselment sits down with Angel Pérez CEO of NACAC to explore how silence, solitude, and intentional time away can help leaders reconnect with themselves—and lead more effectively.Angel shares how a period of burnout early in his tenure led him to meditation, journaling, and solo time in nature. What began as a personal reset has become a core leadership practice.Together, they explore:Why silence and solitude are essential in a noisy professionHow slowing down can actually improve decision-makingThe idea of “working in seasons” instead of constant outputHow meditation sharpens awareness and presenceWhy time away should be considered part of your work strategyFinding awe—even in small, everyday momentsThe conversation also touches on gratitude, journaling, and the power of noticing what’s already around us—but often unseen.For folks navigating pressure, pace, and constant demand, this episode offers a different path forward—one grounded not in doing more, but in coming back to yourself.(Recommended reading: Cal Newport's Slow Productivity: The Lost of Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout)00:00 — Introduction to Angel Pérez and the idea of “coming back to ourselves”02:00 — When you need to step away… where do you go?03:00 — “I turn to silence”: solitude as a leadership practice04:10 — Meditation as training (start small, build the muscle)06:25 — Silence as problem-solving: letting answers emerge09:00 — Solitude, rest, and showing up as your best self12:45 — “You can go faster by going slower”14:00 — Seeing the world differently after slowing down16:15 — Burnout → awakening: the moment that changed everything18:30 — Investing in yourself (and why it matters now)20:10 — Shenandoah: perspective, gratitude, and being a “tiny speck”22:35 — Holding onto silence after the moment ends24:00 — Accessing awe anywhere—even in the middle of a city25:30 — Gratitude journaling and capturing moments that matter27:30 — Creating a daily “fortress of solitude”29:00 — Time away as part of your work strategy (not separate from it)31:30 — Working in seasons and protecting your energy33:15 — Listening for the “whispers”34:30 — Noticing what’s already there (the “trust the process” moment)36:45 — Final reflections: making space, slowing down, and coming back to yourself38:00 — ClosingThe ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

April 10, 2026Episode 236 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Deep Listening with Brian Pertl

In this episode of Coming Back to Ourselves, Ken is joined by his longtime friend and creative partner, Brian Pertl—a musician, ethnomusicologist, didgeridooist, and practitioner of deep listening.Together, they explore the practice of deep listening, a concept developed by composer Pauline Oliveros, and what it means to truly pay attention to the world around us ... and within us.Through stories, laughter, and reflection, Brian shares how deep listening can:awaken creativity and playbuild connection and belonginghelp us regulate, reset, and remember our five-year-old selvesThis episode also includes a guided deep listening exercise with a full minute of intentional silence.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction to Brian Pertl (didgeridoo, deep listener, and longtime collaborator)00:30 — Why this season calls us to “come back to ourselves”03:27 — What is deep listening? The story behind the practice05:35 — Listening beyond what we normally notice07:46 — Deep listening as culture-building and leadership practice11:22 — A simple deep listening exercise using words and sound13:18 — From vulnerability to shared meaning: what emerges in groups15:27 — “Feeling comfortable being uncomfortable”18:08 — Sound, space, and play22:20 — Why there are no wrong notes (and no wrong ways to participate)23:43 — Practicing deep listening in nature26:05 — What do you hear when you pause?28:00 — Listening as presence—and as an embodied practice31:05 — Guided deep listening exercise (find a quiet place)32:50 — One minute of intentional silence33:55 — Returning from the exercise: what did you notice?35:19 — Final reflections and remembering your five-year-old selfThe ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

April 3, 2026Episode 137 min

Coming Back to Ourselves: Microdosing Awe with Joy Jordan

Springtime in admissionsland has a way of pulling us out of ourselves and making us more human doings than human beings. In this opening episode of a special ALP miniseries—Coming Back to Ourselves—Ken is joined by mindfulness teacher (and former Lawrence statistics professor) Joy Jordan to explore a different way of moving through this season.Together, they talk about: the idea of “microdosing awe” why mindfulness doesn’t require more time—just more noticing how small pauses can restore perspective, agency, and clarity and what it really means to “come home” to yourself Highly recommend checking out Joy's website: bornjoy.com and signing up for her free Pocket Pause00:00 – Opening + framing the series02:00 – The phrase that launched this miniseries: “microdosing awe”03:15 – Joy’s path: statistics → mindfulness06:10 – The moment of truth08:45 – What she actually teaches (and always has)09:30 – What mindfulness really is11:00 – The power of three breaths12:00 – Practical micro-practices15:00 – The hardest place to practice: with other people16:30 – The deeper truth18:45 – Practice outside the moment20:30 – The trap: hustling your own well-being25:00 – How Ken's panic moment can model vulnerability27:00 – Reframing nerves as excitement28:15 – For the skeptics: the science is clear29:30 – Awe as a practice31:00 – Ways to microdose awe33:25 – Dacher Keltner's work Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life34:30 – You are enough The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 24, 2025Episode 1158 min

Emily Smith: This One Goes to 11

For the Season 11 finale—the season's 11th episode—we go to 11, earning ourselves an "E" for some cussin'In the ALP's most meta-episode, two podcasters hit record and promptly turn the show into a show about conversation, consulting, and being human. Emily Smith, VP of Partner Success at CollegeVine and host of the terrific podcast, The Vinedown with Emily Smith, joins Ken to talk podcast origin stories, why vendor content too often feels “imperious,” and how she builds a looser, more generous show that invites guests to actually "go there."We compare notes on consulting craft (including Ken's early tendency to overdeliver), the outsider/insider lens she’s honed across work with hundreds of colleges, and a smart take on AI as a thought partner—not a cheat code. Emily also drops a keeper: pattern-break vision—spotting the stale thing we repeat for no good reason and reframing it so others can finally see it.The episode, in true Emily fashion, is quick, witty, and wildly human. (Her take on Mary Oliver's poetry in the Rapid Descent is gold.)00:00 — Cold-open chaos05:38 — Emily’s show origin, friction of starting, and why “imperious” content misses the mark07:32 — Trust from CollegeVine; leaning out from salesy moments10:44 — Early episodes, dropping the brand preamble, finding the voice13:37 — Doubt & impostor syndrome thread (and why it shows up)15:46 — Outsider vs. insider: value of the outside lens; “600 colleges” perspective19:18 — Consulting arc: outsider credibility, my over-delivering phase, and the line “everything you say must be true… but you need not say every true thing”22:22 — “Noise-lumberjack”: cutting clutter vs. adding it24:28 — Community building and how Emily chooses (and handles inbound) guests29:02 — Jeff Selingo gets a public invite to join the show + the “VP Council” mini-series idea (a teaser for season 12).34:06 — Using GPT well: training on transcripts; AI as creative accelerator40:30 — Key takeaway, from pattern-match to pattern-break vision43:33 — Rapid Descent (spoiler, there's talk of heliskiing in Alaska)55:16 — Outtake: first meeting, Colorado life, and Emily's “Hello Humans” signThe ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 17, 2025Episode 1049 min

Chris George: On Joy, Grit, Epic Runs and Organ Donation

Chris George—Associate Vice President for Enrollment at St. Olaf College—brings joy, grit, and a runner’s curiosity to this conversation that has less to do with enrollment leadership than it does with living life fully. We trace his path from student life to directing financial aid on day one; how the Lawlor Summer Seminar jump-started a lifelong habit of building a board of experts; and why he asks his team to buy two coffees a year with people outside their lane. We detour to Japan (the Shimanami Kaidō ride), a sunrise stair run inside Athens’ original Olympic stadium, and a family story that turns organ donation into triumph—culminating in a father–son-daughter triathlon three months post-transplant. (I'm not crying; you're crying.) We close with what Japan is doing about its own enrollment cliff and the best advice Chris ever got: understand why a process exists before you change it.Inspired by Chris's story? Visit donatelife.net00:00 — Cold open with the “most joyful person in admission.”02:45 — From residence life to enrollment: the six-story Christmas Eve flood that changed everything.05:05 — “Director on day one”: learning financial aid by building a network fast.08:20 — Lawlor Summer Seminar → lifelong connectors; creating your board of experts.11:55 — Internal networking: have two coffees a year outside your lane.13:30 — Campus beat reporters example (disability services as cross-campus liaisons).15:10 — Chris's approach to curating his social persona: runs, rides, and family.16:15 — On how to truly arrive in a place. Chris's approach is to run in every city you sleep in (and what it reveals about place).18:50 — Japan: solo ride on the Shimanami Kaidō; hospitality and arrival.25:35 — Athens: alone inside the Panathenaic Stadium at sunrise—an all-timer.27:55 — The arc of his son's post organ transplant journey: hospital hallway walks → stolen bases → a family triathlon.32:05 — Call to action: become an organ donor (donatelife.net).33:15 — Japan’s enrollment cliff: pathways to residency, international student strategy.41:05 — Rapid Descent: walkout song, books, breakfast, and staying connected to Colorado sports.45:25 — Best advice: understand the “why” before changing the “how.”47:20 — Bucket list (Australia, Alaska, Ireland… and bring the family back to Greece).The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 10, 2025Episode 950 min

Jen Gagne: Laughter, Leadership and Memorable Rituals

Even though we've only known each other for less than two years, this episode feels like one between two old friends. The newly-minted Dr. Jen Gagne, Executive Director of Admissions at Colorado School of Mines, brings warmth and wit while digging into important stuff: pathways to thriving for queer-spectrum students, how she navigated being an internal candidate, why grad schools are structurally “separate and replicated,” and a spot-on pattern-match between kindergarteners and first-year college students.We also hit college football haircuts (yes, really), her terrific bucket-list twist on the B&B.Stick around for the epilogue where we swap stories about high-touch, memorable college welcome rituals that create community and belonging.Highlights00:00 — An unusual opening and origin stories03:30 — Overseeing undergrad and grad admissions at Colorado School of Mines.04:50 — Mountains, mines, and the glowing “M” that lights up Golden.05:50 — College football haircuts and mustaches (look it up, friends).06:30 — From interim to Executive Director.08:10 — Doctoral work on queer-spectrum students and the college experience.09:30 — Language matters: why Jen uses “queer spectrum and trans spectrum.”11:00 — Invisible minorities, safe-space signals, and vanishing LGBTQ centers.15:20 — Inside view: navigating the tricky path of being an internal candidate.19:30 — A non-traditional path through advising, career, and student life to EM.22:20 — Why graduate admissions feels “separate and replicated.”26:30 — The complexity of overlapping grad cycles and constant motion.29:50 — Finding community and confidence in Colorado’s admissions network.31:20 — Leadership in flux: “If you say you know what to do, you’re lying or delusional.”33:35 — Pattern matching: how kindergartners and first-year students share the same transition.36:00 — Rapid Descent, (HOT TO GO!, Handsome, and The Speed of Trust)45:15 — Epilogue: Helluva Welcome week, ten-pound rocks, whitewashing the “M,” and hard-hats. Also, class colors, dirt and the formula for chlorophyll.The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

October 3, 2025Episode 854 min

Brian Troyer: On Pausing to Let Our Soul Catch Up

Brian Troyer, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Marquette University, joins the ALP for a conversation that explores the deep roots of Jesuit leadership and the lighthearted joys of life in Milwaukee, including:Marquette’s Gift of Time and why institutional rest matters.How the university discerned its move to test-optional admissions, grounded in archival research and mission alignment.The legacies of leaders like Ray Brown, Roby Blust, and the late President Mike Lovell — and how Brian carries that mantle forward.Reflections from the Ignatian Colleagues Program, including the reminder to “pause and let our soul catch up.”Brian’s dissertation on how high schoolers’ ecological environments shape their sense of what’s possible after graduation.Plus: Tolkien manuscripts, bourbon tours, and a meditation on raw vs. fried cheese curds.It’s a conversation about integrity, mission, and belonging ... peppered with a fair amount of laughter, reflection, friendship and bourbon.01:30 – A family road trip and Marquette’s Gift of Time.04:20 – Remembering Mike Lovell and lessons in leadership.07:10 – Why and how Marquette went test-optional, with help from the archives.09:20 – Tolkien manuscripts, reading The Hobbit to his son, and dreaming of Stephen Colbert in the archives.12:30 – Retention milestones: two of the best years in Marquette’s history.15:00 – Honoring Ray Brown and Roby Blust (and how Roby's fishing skills resemble that of a well-known biblical fisherman).18:55 – Leadership lessons: integrity, mission alignment, and Shaka Smart’s “relationships, growth, victory.”25:45 – Ignatian Colleagues Program and contemplatives in action.28:45 – A six-day silent retreat and the wisdom of pausing to let our soul catch up.31:30 – Dissertation insights: how ecology shapes student horizons.36:00 – A bourbon detour: Eagle Rare, Buffalo Trace, and Kentucky connections.39:45 – Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce: Kopp’s burgers, Lakefront Brewery, and cheese curds.43:15 – Raw vs. fried cheese curds: a meditation.44:20 – Rapid Descent.The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

September 26, 2025Episode 745 min

Candace Boeninger: Holding Power with Purpose

Candace Boeninger, Vice President for Enrollment Management at Ohio University, joins the ALP to share lessons from her journey into senior leadership, reflecting on her experience working with an executive coach and how it helped her navigate the transition to cabinet-level leadership, as well as her evolving understanding of power—and the responsibility that comes with it.Candace also shares her approach to “being a student of the profession,” including the podcasts and newsletters that keep her sharp.00:00 — Welcome and Candace’s path to Ohio University.06:00 — From construction software to admissions: “other duties as assigned” and career pivots.13:30 — On career progression: “I want to do work that matters, and I don’t want to work for a bozo.”15:30 — Leadership development and discovering executive coaching.18:50 — The Hogan assessment and learning to find direction without waiting for top-down instruction.24:20 — Lessons from coaching: finding her voice, learning to hold power, and using it responsibly.28:50 — The tension between being a people pleaser and wielding power.29:50 — “If you aren’t willing to become a student of the profession, then you’re probably not going to have very much fun.”31:50 — Her routine for digesting information: Future U, NASFAA’s Off The Cuff, NACAC Admission News, NASFAA newsletter.38:20 — Rapid Descent.The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

September 12, 2025Episode 647 min

Rakin "Rock" Hall: From the Standup Stage to the Enrollment Stage

Rakin “Rock” Hall, Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success at Ithaca College, brings a unique mix of reflection, humor, and leadership to The Admissions Leadership Podcast.In this wide-ranging conversation, Rock shares his take on the promise and perils of AI in higher education, why he's been creating short-form video reflections on leadership and life, and how his first-generation journey shaped the way he now guides his own daughter through the college search.We also dive into his surprising background in stand-up comedy—what Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and basement record players taught him about timing, connection, and stage presence—and how those lessons echo in his current leadership and storytelling.It’s a conversation about creativity, courage, and how "leadership is a verb."00:00 – Introduction: Rock Hall, VP for EM at Ithaca College, joins the show.01:30 – Insights on AI: Insights on artificial intelligence from the CollegeVine Vineyard conference, AGI, and higher education.07:00 – Playing with AI tools: How Rock uses ChatGPT and other platforms for reflection and writing.09:30 – TikTok beginnings: Why his wife nudged him to start short-form video reflections—and how they’ve grown.13:30 – “The path of preference is the psychology of choice”: Rock explains one of his more memorable posts.17:00 – Accompanying his daughter through the college search: Reflections as a first-gen father and enrollment leader parent.26:00 – Comedy roots revealed: Hat-tip to Marie Bigham the heads up to Ken, Rock shares how basement record players, Pryor, and Carlin lit the spark for an early journey in comedy.27:00 – College course in stand-up: From class requirement to 15-minute set, and the thrill of getting the crowd on his side.28:30 – Sliding doors moment: Considering a move to LA for comedy before admissions work pulled him in.31:00 – Stage effect today: How comedy chops translate into speaking, presenting, and leading.32:30 – Bombing, self-reflection, and lessons learned: Rock on humility, feedback, and growth.35:30 – Leadership as a verb: Using writing and reflection to stay grounded in service.39:40 – Rapid DescentThe ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment

August 29, 2025Episode 555 min

Phil Moreno: Finding Stillness in Motion

Phil Moreno—Associate Director of College Counseling at the Nueva School and Board Chair for the National Association for College Admission Counseling—joins this episode of The ALP to talk about what it means to lead leaders in challenging times, why gratitude and handwritten notes matter, and how he’s learned to “stay on the bike” while also carving out intentional moments of stillness and renewal. He shares the practices—from solo retreats to time outdoors under dark skies—that help him restore his energy and model balance for others in a profession that asks us to give constantly.Come for the insights, stay for the velvety voice of a professionally trained broadcaster (the guest; not the host).Highlights00:00 – Introduction: Phil introduces himself, his role at Nueva, and his work as NACAC Board Chair.03:36 – The Nueva School: Founded on Nobel laureates’ vision, Nueva emphasizes curiosity, design thinking, and social-emotional learning.06:45 – Switching sides: Why Phil left college admissions after nearly 20 years to counsel students at the secondary level.09:06 – Relationships first: The mentors, associations, and small invitations that shaped his career—and why he now works to extend those same invitations to others.13:36 – Leading in challenging times: Guiding NACAC through political attacks on DEI, and reflecting on past moments of crisis leadership.16:47 – A unifying role: How Phil sees himself as a bridge-builder and “leader of leaders,” making space for every voice at the table while keeping the group focused on action.21:31 – NACAC as family: Why he views conference season as a chance to check in on colleagues and carry their lived challenges into board decision-making.24:15 – Self-care (perhaps Ken's favorite part of the episode): Phil’s philosophy of “staying in motion” and the importance of intentional pauses. He describes finding renewal through stillness, solo getaways, and immersion in art and nature.28:17 – Reset moments: From visiting Michael Heizer’s vast desert installation City to hiking remote trails and camping under dark skies, Phil explains how solitude outdoors restores his perspective.36:55 – College Horizons: Why he commits time each year to this extraordinary program (run by ALP alumna, Carmen Lopez) serving Native students, and how it reinvigorates his sense of purpose.39:16 – Leadership qualities: Gratitude, lifting others up, modeling behavior through action, and the power of living authentically.43:43 – Rapid Descent.The ALP is supported by Human Capital Education. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment