SASFAA's Swoonpies and Money

To open the show, we’re joined by Emily Baldwin, who’s here to preview the upcoming New Aid Officer’s Workshop, SASFAA’s annual training opportunity designed to help new financial aid professionals build their knowledge, confidence, and sense of community.Emily also highlights GASFAA’s featured conference charity, Open Paws Food Pantry. It is dedicated to supportingstudents at Augusta University facing food insecurity, Open Paws is working to ensure no student has to choose between their education and their next meal. You’ll find links to support the Food Pantry below.Then, we dive into a conversation with Will Shaffner, who shares what he’s hearing inside the Beltway and what may lie ahead for higher education policy and shifting institutional trends.And just when you think you’ve deciphered Will's news, Sam Hicks and her merry band of sci-fi aficionados take things in acompletely different direction, keeping you up at night with a lively discussion of Dungeon Crawler Carl.Two ways to support Open Paws Food Pantry: Open Paws Pantry: https://www.augusta.edu/student-affairs/open-paws.php Also, an Amazon Wishlist to donate: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/39DXVQ4L6Q1LY?ref_=wl_share

We’ve got breaking news and an important programming note—this is a Swoonpies and Money exclusive.Following our recent live coverage of the FSA Conference on SASFAA’s YouTube channel, we’re bringing you another can’t miss conversation. Mark your calendars for April 22nd at 4:00 PM, when we’ll be joined by FAFSA Program Executive Director Aaron Lemon-Strauss. Along with Daniel Barkowitz, he’ll dive into the Department of Education’s latest efforts to crack down on financial aid fraud, including new detection strategies, enhanced identity verification measures, and what these changes mean for financial aid professionals and the students they serve.Regarding today’s episode, we kick things off with an introduction recorded live at the recent Alabama conference, featuring special guest co-host Joan Bailey.Next, Emily Baldwin returns with a follow-up to her recent medical school panel. She’s joined by Johnathan Chancellor (AAMC) and Veronica Herrera (Experian) to explore the growing importance of consumer credit, especially in light of pending OB3 changes and its impact on student loans.Finally, we take a closer look at innovation in action with an overview of the NASFAA AI Task Force. Task force leader Sam Hicks sits down with fellow members Celena Tulloss and Wayne Kruger to discuss their plans.Please enjoy this episode. And again, be sure to join us live on April 22nd at 4:00 PM right here to hear our interview with Aaron Lemon-Strauss, EXCLUSIVELY on Swoonpies and Money!

We’re wrapping up our SASFAA conference coverage. In this final episode, you’ll hear one of our favorite moments: walking through breakfast, chatting with attendees, getting their takeaways, and shoutouts back at the office.You also hear from Dr. Happy and what’s ahead with the podcast. And then Katie’s acceptance speech and a few final thoughts from Joan.And to wrap it all up, there’s a short epilogue recorded after the conference, where we catch up with Melissa Smith and Chad Sartini, our conference chairs, to reflect on the past year and their leadership of the committee and producing this fabulous event.In addition to the latest episode, we’ve included links to days 1 and 2. This will allow you to binge the conference on your next road trip.S3:E2: SASFAA Conference Day 2 - The 2026 Swoonie Awards! Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6R3EHVwTE1GWH3oXaSNi7n?si=7UIaeynaR_uDBAmIcGu3hA Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s3-e2-sasfaa-conference-day-2-the-2026-swoonie-awards/id1807406753?i=1000756363274 SASFAA Conference Day 1Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7t7gYzbcHYPzg8AE8gPY4o?si=oVQmWIMVT4G4MqW0aKt_0Q Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s3-e1-sasfaa-annual-conference-day-1/id1807406753?i=1000755656119

Welcome to Swoon Pies and Money, Season 3. That’s right, we’re starting our third season. Why? Because we can. The Swoonpies team has been on the road for the last month, covering the NASFAA Leadership and Legislative Conference, the SASFAA Annual Conference, and our live coverage of the FSA Conference. Many of you completed the trifecta along with us, so you know that being out of the office that long requires checking in with your boss and acknowledging your day job. We’re no different here at Swoon Pies — which means we’ve got a bit of a backlog when it comes to cranking out the podcast. Now, about Season 3, we’re starting, appropriately, with our most celebrated event of the year: the Annual Conference. We gathered so much great content at this year's conference that we’re spreading it across three episodes. Today, we’re starting with Day One. First, you’ll hear from Lynn Ivy, founder of The Ivy, the conference charity selected by Joan. This is a remarkable organization that supports people living with neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s — and it also creates a space for their caregivers to connect with one another. Then we’ll feature conversations with several conference attendees:Rachelle Feldman, our Legislative Chair;Celena Tulloss, winner of the NASFAA Regional Leadership Award;Zita Barree, winner of the SASFAA Honorary Lifetime Membership Award;The current and soon-to-be presidents of the Florida Association, Egan Hansonand Arminta Johnson. And we’ll introduce you to Dee Dee Carter from UNC Greensboro, a reminder that one of the benefits of any conference is the chance to sit down at lunch or dinner with someone you don’t know, start a conversation, and walk away with a new friend.

The obscure show tune is Daniel's attempt at pop culture relevance. That, combined with our "RAP" up from FSA day 2, is worth sticking around for the next 58 minutes. Today, we were joined by two SASFAA luminaries and Swoonpies favorites, Katie Conrad and Brad Barnett. Guided by Daniel, they gave a thoughtful and detailed review of today's program. Grab some popcorn and enjoy FSA Day 2.

The FSA Conference is happening in Washington D.C. from March 4-6, 2026. Swoonpies and Money will be broadcasting every day from the conference. In this short episode hear from Daniel and Bill on what you can expect from our coverage.

The Swoonpies crew has been on the road for the past couple of weeks at the NASFAA Leadership & Legislative Conference, held somewhere just south of the Arctic Circle… also known as Washington, D.C., and then straight on to our own annual conference, which just wrapped in Charlotte.We’re kicking off our LLC coverage today with Part 1 of a two-part series. In this episode, you’ll hear conversations recorded on the ground at Leadership — the insights, the strategy, and yes, a little bit of the news that only happens when financial aid professionals gather in one place to talk policy and the future of our work. Part 2 is coming your way in just a couple of days.First up, you will hear from Melanie Storey, NASFAA’s President & CEO, with a thoughtful conversation about leadership and advocacy. Then we’re joined by Allie Arcese, NASFAA’s Senior Director of Strategic Communications, to unpack messaging, Off-The-Cuff origins, and what it really takes to move the needle in D.C.We close out with Emily Osborn, Senior Director of Financial Aid at Western Governors University, who presented in the Strategic Enrollment Management track at Leadership. And I strongly recommend you listen all the way to the end because Emily takes us from OB3 to Icelandic traditions and Nordic folklore. I promise you, that kind of content whiplash exists in exactly one place… and that’s Swoonpies and Money.

As we unpack the NPRM, the countdown to OB3 and the need for preparation is getting real. In this episode, Kate Brabandt of College Aid Services led a candid panel discussion focused on what institutions should be doing now to get ready.Kate is joined by a group of seasoned financial aid leaders: Dr. Heather Boutell (Vanderbilt University), Brenda Hicks (Southwestern College), and Audra Main (Moore Norman Technology Center). Together, they examine proposed changes related to federal loan programs, Workforce Pell eligibility, repayment plans, and expanded institutional accountability requirements across varied institution types.Programming note: The College Aid Services webinar was presented prior to the NPRM publication, with many details still unknown. Notwithstanding, the observations on operational readiness and compliance considerations to staffing, communication, and change management are firmlygrounded in what campuses are facing. Whether you’re deep in planning or still figuring out where to start, this episode offers actionable insights to help your team face OB3 with clarity and confidence.

This week, we’re joined by some very special guests who are bringing more than just their appetites — they’re sharing their favorite Thanksgiving dishes, the stories behind them, and the memories that make those recipes so meaningful.And because gratitude comes in all flavors, our guests are also opening up about what they’re most thankful for this year — from simple joys to quirky holiday dining habits that somehow became family traditions.Of course, this wouldn’t be Swoonpies and Money without a little twist. After the feature episode, you’re getting the behind-the-scenes version — the rehearsal, with all the laughter, the tangents, and maybe even a few culinarymisfires. Think of it like that bonus episode after your favorite streaming show — the one with outtakes, inside jokes, and just enough frivolity to keep things real.So grab a slice of pie, pull up a chair, and join us for a Thanksgiving special that’s part gratitude, part good-natured mischief, and 100% Swoonpies and Money.

Well, we made it, 13 episodes in, and somehow the wheels haven’t completely fallen off. The podcast made it through its first season — and not just survived but thrived. That’s right, folks: one remarkably successful season in the books, and we’re just getting warmed up.In today’s episode, you’ll hear Celena Tulloss reflect on her remarkable time on SASFAA Board. Then we’ll check in with a few of the past state presidents, as they roll off their respective boards. And finally, you’ll get to meet members of the Swoonie team as they pull back the curtain, celebratethe wins, and probably overshare just enough to make you squirm.It’s the perfect recipe to wrap up Season 1: a little reflection, a dash of humor, and a big ol’ slice of Swoonpie.

In the debut episode of Swoonpies and Money, co-hosts Michelle and Bill introduce listeners to SASFAA’s brand-new podcast — a space where financial aid, community, and a little Southern flavor come together. They outline what listeners can expect in future episodes, including timely updates, special guests, professional insights, and plenty of laughs along the way.The episode wraps up with a lively recap of the recent SASFAA Annual Conference, highlighting key moments, memorable sessions, and the magic of reconnecting with colleagues from across the region.