Best Walsworth Yearbooks Podcasts (2025)

1
Yearbook Adviser of Note: Brit Taylor, Hagerty High School, Oviedo, Florida 53:30

1+ y ago53:30

53:30

Welcome to another exciting Adviser of Note episode of "Yearbook Chat with Jim." In this episode, Jim Jordan talks with the legendary Brit Taylor, CJE, a star of Florida scholastic journalism with 30 years of experience at Hagerty High School in Oviedo, Florida. Brit is a passionate educator, dedicated to helping high school students grow and thriv…

1
Susan Massy: Yearbook’s Queen of Storytelling 1:02:51

2y ago1:02:51

1:02:51

In the world of yearbooks, Susan Massy is a pretty big deal. Her program at Shawnee Mission Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, is NSPA’s most-winning program of their prestigious Pacemaker awards. Susan herself has received the JEA Lifetime Achievement Award, CSPA’s Gold Key, and was the 1999 National Yearbook Adviser of the Year. The …

1
Ask Mike | Yearbook Staffers Support Each Other at Patricia E. Paetow High School 39:56

2y ago39:56

39:56

We’re close to the end of the year now, and yearbook editors are preparing to hand over the torch to the next generation. In the latest episode of the Ask Mike podcast, host Mike Taylor chatted with Yvette and Gabbie, soon-to-graduate yearbook editors at Patricia E. Paetow High School in Katy, Texas. Both editors have been on yearbook staff since s…

1
Yearbook Adviser of Note Jim McCrossen, Blue Valley Northwest High School, Overland Park, Kansas 57:35

2y ago57:35

57:35

Jim McCrossen is a mild-mannered yearbook adviser at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas. Behind his gentle demeanor is a person with a wealth of interesting life experiences and a passion for making the world a better place. One way he works to improve the world around him is through his role as a teacher and scholastic jour…

1
Ask Mike | South to Texas with Chisholm Trail High School 41:16

2y ago41:16

41:16

Cortney Wood is in her first year of advising yearbook at Chisholm Trail High School in Fort Worth, Texas. She’s new to advising but has experience working on yearbook staffs in high school and college. Copy editor Sydney Hawkins also joined the conversation. In this interview with host Mike Taylor, CJE, Cortney and Sidney share their experiences c…

1
Adviser of Note Tucker Love, Shawnee Mission South High School, Shawnee, Kansas 54:53

2+ y ago54:53

54:53

In this episode, Jim chats with Tucker Love, from Shawnee Mission South High School in Shawnee, Kansas. Tucker is in his fifth year of advising the Heritage yearbook, and his staff were recently named NSPA Pacemaker Award finalists.By Walsworth Yearbooks with host Jim Jordan

1
Ask Mike | North to Minnetonka High School 37:35

2+ y ago37:35

37:35

As Anna, Halle and Gabby work to finish their yearbook, they're also preparing for a significant absence. Host Mike Taylor sat down with the three editors from Minnetonka, Minnesota, to discuss their roles in the yearbook team, their interests, and how they fill their time outside of yearbook. They share the the highs and lows of yearbook photograp…

1
NSPA Pioneer April van Buren, Madison East High School, Madison, Wisconsin 51:39

2+ y ago51:39

51:39

In this episode, host Jim Jordan chats with April van Buren, from Madison East High School in Madison, Wisconsin. April was named an NSPA Pioneer in 2022, NSPA awards to journalism educators who make substantial contributions to high school journalism programs and scholastic journalism education outside their primary employment. They discuss April’…

1
Rising Star Ben Langevin, Oviedo High School, Oviedo, Florida 1:02:48

2+ y ago1:02:48

1:02:48

In this episode, Jim Jordan chats with Ben Langevin, the yearbook adviser at Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida. Ben was recently named a JEA Rising Star and his staff published an especially noteworthy yearbook in 2022.By Walsworth Yearbooks with host Jim Jordan

1
Ask Mike | Onward to Orlando with Boone High School 16:18

2+ y ago16:18

16:18

In this episode, taped live from Elite Weekend in Orlando, Mike sits down with the editors of Boone High School to discuss their yearbook.By Walsworth Yearbooks

1
Ask Mike | Mike Goes Down to Florida to Visit Dreyfoos School of the Arts 36:54

2+ y ago36:54

36:54

In this episode, Mike chats with Faith Parksinson, Editor-in-chief at A. W .Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. Their chat comes fresh off an Elite Weekend they both attended, and Mike and Faith discuss what was learned in the busy three days in Orlando.By Walsworth Yearbooks

1
Ask Mike | Staying in North Carolina with Southern Alamance High School 39:00

2+ y ago39:00

39:00

This week, Mike Taylor is in a different part of North Carolina as he continues his interviews from all over the country. In this episode, Mike speaks to Adviser Lynn Bare and the staff of the Southern Alamance High School yearbook. The Southerner’s Editor-in-Chief Noel, Assistant Editor Kinley, Sports Editor Lexie, Business Manager Emma, and staff…

1
Ask Mike | Heading South to Athens Drive Magnet School 41:22

2+ y ago41:22

41:22

Ask Mike is traveling the country this season! The last episode was from Maine, and for episode two Mike traveled south to North Carolina to talk to staff members from Athens Drive Magnet School. Co-editors-in-chief Zoe and Greta and Head of Design Nevaeh shared their thoughts on creating a yearbook for the 2022/2023 year.…

1
Ask Mike | Back to School with Presque Isle High School 40:49

3y ago40:49

40:49

Ask Mike is back! This season, host Mike Taylor will chat with yearbook staffs all over the United States, starting with Presque Isle, Maine, in the far northeast corner of the country. Listen in to hear about the 2023 yearbook plans for Presque Isle High School, ideas for coverage that you can use, and more information about potatoes than you'd ex…

1
Gary Lundgren - Critiques, Conventions and All Things Yearbook 56:48

3y ago56:48

56:48

Welcome to the sixth season of Yearbook Chat with Jim! In this season premiere, host Jim Jordan chats with Gary Lundgren, from the National Scholastic Press Association, about the state of yearbooks and scholastic journalism.By Walsworth Yearbooks with host Jim Jordan

1
Adviser of Note Jason Davis, Cactus Canyon Junior High, Apache Junction, Arizona 1:00:44

3y ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Jason Davis has had quite the journey. He grew up in Minnesota, but now lives in Arizona. His first job was as a fry cook in his family's restaurant, then as a professional journalist, and now is a teacher. He had no yearbook experience when he started advising, but how has one of the best middle school/junior high yearbook programs in the country.…

1
State Student Journalists of the Year: Part 2 58:00

3y ago58:00

58:00

Host Jim Jordan recently discovered that seven of the JEA State Journalists of the Year winners all have yearbook in their resumes AND their schools published their books with Walsworth Yearbooks. He believes strongly that yearbook students are also true scholastic journalists – just as much as newspaper, online and broadcast – and deserve this kin…

1
State Student Journalists of the Year: Part 1 1:01:36

3y ago1:01:36

1:01:36

Host Jim Jordan recently discovered that six of the JEA State Journalists of the Year winners all have yearbook in their resumes AND their schools published their books with Walsworth Yearbooks. He believes strongly that yearbook students are also true scholastic journalists – just as much as newspaper, online and broadcast – and deserve this kind …

1
Adviser of Note Monica Rodriguez 48:19

3y ago48:19

48:19

Monica Rodriguez – known to her students as M-rod – is the yearbook adviser at Gulliver Preparatory Upper School in Pinecrest, Florida. All of Monica's three staffs – the Reflections literary magazine, the Raider Voice news and and print magazine, and the Raider yearbook – received Crown and Pacemaker Finalist recognition in 2021. It's particularly…

1
NSPA Pioneer Leland Mallett, Mansfield Legacy High School, Mansfield, Texas 52:33

3+ y ago52:33

52:33

When NSPA announced the three 2021 recipients of their prestigious Pioneer Award and Jim saw long-time friend Leland Mallett on the list, he knew he wanted Leland to come on the podcast again. In this episode, Jim and Leland chat about what this award means to Leland, how the yearbook world has changed over his 22-year career, and what the last two…

1
Rising Star Carly Gates, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, West Palm Beach, Florida 38:41

3+ y ago38:41

38:41

When JEA announced their 2021 Rising Stars and three Walsworth Yearbooks advisers were on the list, Jim Jordan knew he had to get them on his podcast. His third and final interview was with Carly Gates, from Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the previous interviews wit…

1
Rising Star Joanna Chadwick, Derby High School, Derby, Kansas 49:45

3+ y ago49:45

49:45

When JEA announced their 2021 Rising Stars and three Walsworth Yearbooks advisers were on the list, Jim Jordan knew he had to get them on his podcast. His second interview was with Joanna Chadwick, the yearbook adviser at Derby High School in Derby, Kansas. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the previous interview with Rising Star Laurel …

1
Rising Star Laurel Wicke, Drake Middle School, Arvada, Colorado 39:32

3+ y ago39:32

39:32

When JEA announced their 2021 Rising Stars and three Walsworth Yearbooks advisers were on the list, Jim Jordan knew he had to get them on his podcast. His first interview was with Laurel Wicke, the yearbook adviser at Drake Middle School in Arvada, Colorado. Stay tuned this week for interviews with two more JEA Rising Stars.…

1
Adviser of Note Karen Johnson, Kearney High School, Kearney, Missouri 53:45

3+ y ago53:45

53:45

Karen Johnson, MJE, always knew she wanted to be a teacher and a coach. When she started college, she realized that social studies (which often seems to go hand-in-hand with coaching) wasn't really for her. It wasn't long before she switched to English, then added a journalism minor. Since then, she's been a yearbook adviser at tiny schools and at …

1
Bobby Hawthorne and the Writing Process 1:07:14

4y ago1:07:14

1:07:14

Bobby Hawthorne is a master storyteller and journalist. He's well known in the scholastic journalism world, and can frequently be found teaching at journalism workshops and seminars. In this episode, Hawthorne and your host, Jim Jordan, share what it takes to be a good journalist and tell a great story in your yearbook. You can find more episodes o…

1
Ask Mike | What Happens when Five of NSPA’s Top 10 Pacemaker Winners Sit Down to Talk? 1:04:41

4y ago1:04:41

1:04:41

“Every book that has ever been done at Northwest, if you’ll go look at it you’ll find the fingerprints, the thumbprints, of everyone on this podcast,” yearbook adviser Susan Massy shared early on in the latest episode of the Ask Mike podcast, explaining the importance of having a yearbook family. In this episode, host Mike Taylor talks to five of t…

1
Yearbook Adviser of Note Liz Luna, Athens Drive High School, Raleigh, North Carolina 1:05:51

4y ago1:05:51

1:05:51

Elizabeth Luna sort of happened into graphic design, then wanted more, and now she's the yearbook adviser at a school that just won its first Pacemaker. She shared their journey over the last several years, and what it's like being the adviser of a small yearbook program. You can read more about this Adviser of Note on our blog.…

1
Adviser of Note Ronna Sparks Woodward, Liberty North High School, Liberty, Missouri 52:52

4y ago52:52

52:52

Here it is! The official 50th episode! And what a great person to interview. Ronna Sparks-Woodward loves yearbooks. She knew while she was still in high school that she wanted to be a teacher, and specifically that she wanted to be a yearbook adviser. She has turned her passion for a yearbooks into a career, and shares the insights she's gained on …

1
Our 50th Episode 4:01

4y ago4:01

4:01

It's our 50th episode! Today, we're sharing a mini-episode to reflect on where this podcast has taken us since we launched in 2018. Thank you to everyone who has been on this podcast journey with Jim and the Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network.By Walsworth Yearbooks with host Jim Jordan

1
A Family Affair 59:44

4y ago59:44

59:44

A few weeks ago, host Jim Jordan read two articles on the Walsworth Yearbooks blog about covering controversial topics in a yearbook. Those two articles were written by a father/daughter yearbook team, which sparked the idea for this episode. Jim Jordan was a yearbook adviser for 35 years, and during that time all three of his children were on his …

1
Ask Mike | How Can I Promote Myself? 45:02

4y ago45:02

45:02

In this extra special episode, Ask Mike and Yearbook Chat with Jim team up to talk about promoting your yearbook! Hosts Mike Taylor, CJE, and Jim Jordan are joined by three members of the Walsworth marketing team, Jenica Hallman, CJE, Jimmy Gilligan and Sarah Scott. They share tips for writing press releases, ideas for promoting your yearbook, and …

1
Promote Yourself and Your Yearbook 45:08

4y ago45:08

45:08

In this extra special episode, Ask Mike and Yearbook Chat with Jim team up to talk about promoting your yearbook! Hosts Mike Taylor, CJE, and Jim Jordan are joined by three members of the Walsworth marketing team, Jenica Hallman, CJE, Jimmy Gilligan and Sarah Scott. They share tips for writing press releases, ideas for promoting your yearbook, and …

1
Ask Mike | How Do I Make a Diverse, Inclusive Yearbook? 37:34

4+ y ago37:34

37:34

In honor of Scholastic Journalism Week and the importance of diversity and inclusion in scholastic journalism, host Mike Taylor, CJE, has a very special episode today! Listen in to hear Mike talk with June Straight, from El Paso, Texas, and Dennis Wade, from Ohio, about diversity and inclusion. This episode is tough, but important for yearbook staf…

1
JEA Special Recognition Adviser Tiffany Kopcak, Colonial Forge High School, Stafford, Virginia 57:42

4+ y ago57:42

57:42

Tiffany Kopcak was recently named JEA's H.L. Hall Yearbook Adviser of the Year Special Recognition Adviser. Her staff's 2020 yearbook was one of host Jim Jordan's favorite volumes, and they're known for their willingness to go in new directions for coverage and design. Listen in to hear more about her love of her home state Virginia and how her yea…

1
Rising Star Patty Gomez, Pine Crest School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 50:05

4+ y ago50:05

50:05

Patty Gomez has led an interesting life, and it's given her a unique perspective on education. She is the yearbook adviser at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and was recently named a JEA Rising Star for her commitment to scholastic journalism. In this interview, Patty shares a little bit about growing up in Venezuela, her work in che…

1
Rising Star Heather Rice, One School of the Arts, Longwood, Florida 43:21

4+ y ago43:21

43:21

For the first episode of 2021, host Jim Jordan interviews JEA Rising Star Heather Rice, from One School of the Arts in Longwood, Florida. Rising Star trophies are awarded to advisers who are in their first five years of advising and have shown great dedication to scholastic journalism. Heather took over a yearbook program that had previously been r…

1
Ask Mike | How Do I Take My Yearbook Above and Beyond in 2021? 47:55

4+ y ago47:55

47:55

How did are they doing it? All over the country, yearbook staffs are stepping up and making amazing yearbooks in the middle of a pandemic that has displaced almost everything about the school year. The yearbook program at Indian Trail High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is one of those who is making the most of their incredible year. Listen in to he…

1
Adviser of Note Emily Arnold, Aledo High School, Aledo, Texas 45:54

4+ y ago45:54

45:54

In this episode, host Jim Jordan chats with November 2020 Adviser of Note Emily Arnold. Listen to her story about how she built two different award-winning publications programs and how she is coping with in-person teaching and advising this year.By Walsworth Yearbooks with host Jim Jordan

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