John discusses the impact of a leader’s or teammate’s ego upon an objective, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy ego, and discussing the ways a dangerous ego manifests itself. To frame the issue, John discusses the role ego played in

Return, and Revenge: What Leaders Need to Know About Revenge and Cancel Mindset

Sep 6th, 2023 48m 2s

Higher Ground is back! John talks about: A pause from all things digital, including social media and the show, and the decision to continue Higher Ground; The amazing NACUA 2023 Annual Conference; The psychology of revenge; and The impact of r

The Way You Climb a Mountain Matters

Dec 20th, 2021 20m 37s

John reflects back on leadership and life perspective lessons learned after nearly two years of the pandemic and while we are still not out of the woods.

Don't Be Fooled w/ Melinda Latas

Dec 17th, 2021 51m 7s

John discusses big picture Clery Act compliance thinking and leadership with Melinda Latas, Director of Systemwide Clery and Campus Safety Compliance for the Cal State University system. Melinda has extensive knowledge and experience managing

Drama is Deadly (Part 2)

Dec 10th, 2021 56m 53s

John discusses some psychological factors and indicators of unhealthy drama, and provides suggestions on strategies to mitigate the impact of unhealthy drama on your workplace, school, team, or project.

Drama is Deadly

Nov 24th, 2021 47m 47s

Drama left unchecked in an organization can be lethal to survival of team, mission, individual, or all of those. John discusses the instinctive human drive toward drama and its dangerous impact on collaboration against the backdrop of literatu

In One Ear ft. Scott Schneider

Oct 8th, 2021 1h 3m

John Graff and returning guest Scott Schneider kick off the season by catching up on music, the realities of trial work, stand up comedy, UFC, and maintaining one’s own identity in a demanding career. They also dive deep on why the recent U.S.

SPARC: A Prevention Program for Higher Ed Communities

May 3rd, 2021 39m 8s

HRW's John Graff, Scott Roberts, and members of the SUNY ARRIVE Center team, Joseph Storch, Roma Shah, and Morgan Clifford, discuss the development and use of the Sexual and Interpersonal Violence Prevention and Response Course (SPARC). This pr

How To Be An Adult ft. Julie Lythcott-Haims

Apr 5th, 2021 1h 2m

Life for young adults was already complicated before the pandemic. Cell phones, tablets, video gaming systems, streaming videos, and helicopter – no, snowplow – parents removing character building adversity from the paths of their children. T

It's Not the Setback, It's the Get Back

Feb 12th, 2021 26m 28s

In our second episode of the year, John talks about the many difficult challenges facing higher ed leadership in 2021. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, social justice and political issues, and the pressure of social media watching it all. John

Vaccine Time…Or Is It?

Jan 12th, 2021 57m 36s

Happy New Year! John and Erinn welcome HRW colleagues Pete Moser, Kathleen Berney and Mark Macchi for an important discussion on COVID-19 vaccine rollout updates, the state of the law on mandatory vaccinations, and things employers absolutely n

What is Wrong with People? ft. Melissa Korn

Dec 11th, 2020 1h

John, Erinn, and Scott welcome The Wall Street Journal reporter Melissa Korn, co-author of the book Unacceptable: Privilege, Deceit & the Making of the College Admissions ScandaI, for an in-depth look at how criminal intent, cracks in the colle

RAPID: A New Type of Clery Training

Dec 8th, 2020 30m 22s

John and Scott welcome Joe Storch and Elizabeth Brady for a discussion of SUNY’s innovative collaboration with Ramapo College to develop a highly efficient approach to training Clery Act campus security authorities. Joe and Elizabeth talk abou

9 Months Later, It's Now Thanksgiving. And Students Are Traveling...

Nov 26th, 2020 23m 27s

In this special pre-holiday season solo episode, John breaks down Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidance on Thanksgiving travel and gatherings in light of a surge in college and university student travel this week. John points out some beha

Higher Ed Chat with Sarah Brown from The Chronicle of Higher Education

Nov 19th, 2020 1h 17m

John, and Scott welcome Sarah Brown, Senior Reporter at The Chronicle of Higher Education (https://bit.ly/3nEw1gq ) for some decompression after a long, long year in higher ed world. A ton of good laughs, a little musical deep dive, and of cour

The Presidential Election & What It Really Means For Higher Ed with Political And PR Strategist John Ashford

Nov 11th, 2020 58m 12s

Political strategist and public relations expert John Ashford of The Hawthorn Group in Alexandria, Virginia joins John and Scott for some post-election analysis and discussion about how the election outcome will impact higher ed going forward.

Special Ep, Part 2: Dept. of Ed Announcement Rescinding Clery Guidance

Oct 27th, 2020 42m 47s

In this second of a two-part episode, John breaks down the U.S. Department of Education’s new Clery Act compliance guidance. Recall that in Part 1, John discussed the context for the announcement – the developments leading up to the Department’

Special Ep, Part 1: Dept. of Ed Announcement Rescinding Clery Guidance

Oct 16th, 2020 1h 10m

On October 9, 2020, the Department of Education released brief guidance rescinding the 2016 edition of its Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting a.k.a. the Clery Handbook. The Department’s announcement constitutes a drastic shift in

WHAAAAAT? AND WHY NOW?

Oct 15th, 2020 1h 1m

COVID-19, social and political tension, Department of Education Investigations, and a little more on Jerry Falwell. John Graff, Scott Schneider, and special guest Josh Nolan of Bricker & Eckler LLP break down recent news about Department of Edu

Time for Higher Learning

Sep 24th, 2020 1h 3m

At no time in U.S. history has higher ed faced so many simultaneous challenges as it does now. Race relations, social issues, the free speech debate, scandal, law enforcement challenges, Department of Education enforcement, a new Title IX regul

Pending Title IX Regulations

Apr 20th, 2020 50m 37s

HRW's John Graff sits down with fellow higher education attorneys Courtney Bullard (Institutional Compliance Solutions) and Scott Schneider (Husch Blackwell) for a dynamic discussion about the pending Title IX regulations.

Instant Update: Coronavirus, Colleges, Employers

Mar 20th, 2020 53m 39s

HRW's John Graff chats with Peter Moser, his colleague at HRW who specializes in employment law. They cover the impact of coronavirus on crisis management and employment law.Video podcast available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1UbTRQl

Coronavirus on Campus: Fears and Facts

Feb 10th, 2020 39m 39s

HRW attorney John Graff details the timeline of the spread of the coronavirus. What steps should colleges take to protect students? What can students expect next? John explains what sets this illness apart from others and separates the facts fr

"American Hookup" Author Lisa Wade

Aug 30th, 2019 34m 6s

"American Hookup" author Lisa Wade joins John to talk about the new world order when it comes to hookup culture on college campuses.

Scott Schneider and Joe Storch

Jul 22nd, 2019 58m 31s

John is joined by Scott Schneider, partner at the law firm of Husch Blackwell, and Joe Storch, Associate Counsel in the SUNY Office of General Counsel and Chair of the Student Affairs Practice Group. The three of them discuss: Title IX, Clery A