Rephonic
Artwork for Higher Ed Pulse

Higher Ed Pulse

Mallory Willsea
Higher Education
Artificial Intelligence
AI In Higher Education
Student Engagement
Higher Education Marketing
Leadership
Enrollment Management
Admissions Process
Marketing
AI In Education
Digital Marketing
Generative AI
Engage Summit
Enrollment Marketing
AI Literacy
Enrollment
AI Integration
Marketing Strategies
College Admissions
AI Search Tools

Higher Ed Pulse is your weekly no-fluff guide to AI in higher ed. Higher ed leaders are expected to master AI overnight. But let’s be real — no one has time to sift through every headline, hot take, or research report. That’s why every Monday, we break down what actually matters — fast, clear, and to the point. Want to sound like the smartest person in the room? You’re in the right place. Higher E... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes600Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHow ToBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Higher Ed Pulse

Latest Episodes

2026 AI Search Trends: Brand (In)Visibility Brief

Mallory is joined by Andrea Gilbert and Mike Bell from Everspring to discuss their latest AI search trends report. The report finds big brand universities can be cited in AI overviews on non-branded ... more

In this 4th and final episode of Funnel Vision, Rishab Malhotra sits down with Valpo’s LeAnn Hughes and Rosa Alvarado to discuss how their team turned around a decade of enrollment decline through strategic leadership, trust, and a focus on core valu... more

Mallory is joined by Megan Cabrera, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Okanagan College, about an enrollment trap she calls “residual momentum,” where funnels look stable after marketing spend is cut, then collapse years later. Megan reco... more

In Part 3 of Funnel Vision, host Rishab Malhotra welcomes Anna Esaki Smith, author and co-founder of Education Rethink, to examine the critical state of higher education. Moving past the usual focus on demographic cliffs, they discuss the systemic he... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Higher Ed Marketer
The Higher Ed MarketerCaylor Solutions
Higher Ed Icons
Higher Ed IconsHigher Ed Icons
College Matters from The Chronicle
College Matters from The ChronicleThe Chronicle of Higher Education
Channels with Peter Kafka
Channels with Peter KafkaVox Media Podcast Network

Recent Guests

Anna Esaki Smith
Author, Forbes Higher Education contributor, co-founder of Education Rethink
Education Rethink
Episode: Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 3
Howard Heevner
Executive Director of Annual Programs at UC Berkeley and co-founder of the National Alumni Survey
UC Berkeley; National Alumni Survey
Episode: Higher Ed's Fundraising Model Is Broken
Clay Harmon
Executive Director, Association of International Enrollment Management (AIRC)
AIRC
Episode: Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 2
Clare Overmann
CEO, Association of International Education Administrators (AIEA)
AIEA
Episode: Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 2
Carrie Phillips
Conference speaker
Episode: Live from Engage Summit 2026: Conference First Impressions from Carrie Phillips and Brian Piper
Brian Piper
Conference speaker
Episode: Live from Engage Summit 2026: Conference First Impressions from Carrie Phillips and Brian Piper
Morgan Johnson
VP of Academic Experience at the University of Arizona Global Campus
University of Arizona Global Campus
Episode: The Real Reason Higher Ed Mergers Fail
Matt Boyce
Vice Provost for Enrollment, previously led enrollment efforts at several institutions
UMass Amherst
Episode: Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 1
Kalpen Trivedi
Former Senior International Officer of the Year, Senior Vice Provost for Global Affairs at UMass Amherst
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Episode: Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 1

Host

Mallory Willsea
Host of Higher Ed Pulse; affiliated with Enrollify Network and Higher Ed Pulse

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 39 ratings
  • Great show with great content

    Mallory and Seth do a great job sharing their deep expertise as they discuss some of the biggest issues facing higher ed marketing today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Whatjaimesaid
    United States2 years ago
  • Unsurprisingly, outstanding!

    I know it’s early into their tenure (no pun intended) in this podcast, but having known both hosts for some time, I’m not at all surprised that what they’re doing here is incredibly valuable and innovative. Really appreciate the abbreviated format and the deep insight. I’ll be listening to this every week. Keep it coming y’all!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ahatony
    United States2 years ago
  • Excellent Enrollment Management Resource

    Zach and the crew at Enrollify have filled a needed void in the enrollment marketing and management space. This podcast has helped me and my team rethinking a number of our marketing approaches.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RTaughrin
    United States6 years ago
  • An Incredible Resource for the GEM Community

    I am a HUGE fan of the Enrollify podcast and am grateful for what a tremendous resource it has been. I just joined the world of graduate enrollment marketing, making the professional pivot from the realm of consumer packaged goods. On my daily commute, I listen to the podcasts and they've helped me drink from the firehose as I learn my new role. Podcast guests are stakeholders from various functions who share their experiences, insights and learnings. The spectrum of topics varies and always... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SESnc16
    United States6 years ago
  • Love this resource!!

    This is a great podcast for any enrollment marketer looking for educational, compelling, and entertaining content! I learn something new each week and love the diversity in content topics. They feature conversations with everyone from Admissions Counselors and College Presidents to Software CEOs and VPs of Marketing. Everyone working in higher ed admissions or marketing should subscribe to this show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DavidGo.
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate concise, deep insight from hosts who cover real-world higher-ed issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Higher Ed's Fundraising Model Is Broken
Q: Why is technology not the silver bullet for fundraising, and how should institutions rethink their approach?
Technology should support relationship-building and listening, not replace human-centric engagement; institutions need to realign their structures to reflect donor preferences, use data to tailor giving options, and view donating as ongoing trust-building rather than a one-off transaction.
Higher Ed's Fundraising Model Is Broken
Q: What happened to lead you to this line of thinking about donor engagement and the data behind it?
Howard explains his evolution from viewing fundraising as a transactional, mass‑market effort to seeing it as a relationship and trust problem, guided by the National Alumni Survey data that shows donors want agency and meaningful impact rather than generic campaigns.
Pulse Check: Funnel Vision: One Campus, Two Markets — Part 2
Q: What are the biggest challenges your members are facing right now?
Members are navigating a chaotic government environment, decreased enrollments, and pressure on budgets, with a need to sustain relationships with agencies and partners while continuing to recruit international students.
The SUNY AI Mandate
Q: Of the seven SUNY-mandated pieces, which do you think campuses will underestimate?
Procurement safeguards are likely underestimated because while campuses may focus on policy wording, the vendor contracts and back-door risk (like contract exit rights and labor implications) often receive less attention, yet they are where exposure truly lives.
Before You Hire an AI Consultant, Do This
Q: How did you ensure the RFQ and scope were aligned with internal goals and governance needs?
They used a collaborative scope development process tied to governance, policy, and accountability structures, ensuring the consultant would be a multiplier and thought partner rather than a prescriptive vendor.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Higher Ed Pulse

What is Higher Ed Pulse about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A concise briefing on AI in higher education, this show focuses on practical adoption, governance, and strategy rather than theory. Across episodes, guests discuss scalable pilots, open-access learning, and how to deploy AI in classroom and campus operations with a people-first mindset. Notable themes include low-cost or free resources, documenting learnings (including failures), brand and marketing considerations, and the Engage Summit as a recurring event. Unique strengths lie in grounding AI initiatives in real-world campus contexts, governance structures, and cross-functional collaboration, making it valuable for enrollment teams, marketers, and academic leaders seeking actionable guidance.

Listeners are likely practicing higher-ed pro... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Higher Ed Pulse?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Higher Ed Pulse. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Higher Ed Pulse and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Higher Ed Pulse get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Higher Ed Pulse, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Higher Ed Pulse?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Higher Ed Pulse, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Higher Ed Pulse have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Higher Ed Pulse has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Higher Ed Pulse?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Higher Ed Pulse:

1. Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime Hunt
2. The Higher Ed Marketer
3. Higher Ed Icons
4. College Matters from The Chronicle
5. Channels with Peter Kafka

How many episodes of Higher Ed Pulse are there?

Higher Ed Pulse launched 7 years ago and published 600 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Higher Ed Pulse?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Higher Ed Pulse?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Higher Ed Pulse from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Higher Ed Pulse?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Higher Ed Pulse. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Higher Ed Pulse?

Recent guests on Higher Ed Pulse include:

1. Anna Esaki Smith
2. Howard Heevner
3. Clay Harmon
4. Clare Overmann
5. Carrie Phillips
6. Brian Piper
7. Morgan Johnson
8. Matt Boyce

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days