# Escape Velocity

> Escape Velocity is a podcast for agency owners, higher education marketers, designers and creative leaders, hosted by artist and agency CEO Tracey Halvorsen. Episodes cover running a creative agency, higher education marketing and enrollment, brand strategy and positioning, AI in creative and marketing work, and the burnout, reinvention and resilience that come with an ambitious career. Guests are people who treat life as a continuous journey, who see obstacles as opportunities, challenges as gifts, and growth as mandatory: agency founders, designers, writers, filmmakers, marketers, coaches and executives, and once her seventeen-year-old niece in the middle of a college search. There is no set format and no questions sent in advance, because the premise of the show is that conversation itself is a creative act.

Escape Velocity is hosted by Tracey Halvorsen (CEO & President of Digital, adeo) and produced in Baltimore, MD. New episodes roughly twice a month. The show is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

## Key pages

- [All episodes](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/): full catalog of 32 episodes with summaries, guest information, and full transcripts (~32 episodes transcribed; see the #transcript section of each episode page)
- [About the host](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/about/): Tracey Halvorsen's background and why the show exists
- [FAQ](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/faq/): direct answers about the show, format, and how to listen
- [Blog](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/blog/): essays and show-note deep dives
- [Subscribe](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/subscribe/): platform links
- [Notes for AI assistants](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/ai/): canonical facts, the full guest list, topic index, and citation guidance

## Listen

- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0tGpG3F5DJg8Dyr1zxnPCc
- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/escape-velocity-where-strategy-meets-the-unexpected/id1792675902
- YouTube: https://youtube.com/@escapevelocity-podcast
- RSS feed: https://anchor.fm/s/10c9a97d4/podcast/rss
- Every episode page also has a built-in audio player and full episode MP3.

## Episodes

- Episode 32: [Carol Keese: A CMO Says Marketing Isn’t the Fix](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/32-carol-keese-a-cmo-says-marketing-isnt-the-fix/) — Carol Keese (VP for University Communications & CMO, University of Oregon), Jul 23, 2026
- Episode 31: [Jaime Hunt: Empathy Is Not a Soft Skill](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/31-jaime-hunt-empathy-is-not-a-soft-skill/) — Jaime Hunt (Founder, Solve Higher Ed Marketing · Author), Jun 1, 2026
- Episode 30: [Alia Poonawala: Building a Film Like a Startup Raise](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/30-alia-poonawala-building-a-film-like-a-startup-raise/) — Alia Poonawala (Filmmaker · Institutional Executive), Apr 29, 2026
- Episode 29: [Diane Querey: 20 Years of Digital Transformation at WWF](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/29-diane-querey-20-years-of-digital-transformation-at-wwf/) — Diane Querey (VP Digital Platforms, World Wildlife Fund), Apr 20, 2026
- Episode 28: [Adrienne Cooper: Building Cultures Where People and Ideas Thrive](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/28-adrienne-cooper-building-cultures-where-people-and-ideas-thrive/) — Adrienne Cooper (Founder, GLADsome Work Inc.), Mar 25, 2026
- Episode 27: [Dayana Kibilds: The Language Problem Killing Higher Ed Access](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/27-dayana-kibilds-the-language-problem-killing-higher-ed-access/) — Dayana Kibilds (VP of Strategy, Ologie · Author, Mailed It.), Mar 16, 2026
- Episode 26: [DEEO Returns: Art, AI, and Why Humans Decorate](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/26-deeo-returns-art-ai-and-why-humans-decorate/) — Monica Sanchez & Yianni Mathioudakis (Co-founders, DEEO Studio), Mar 6, 2026
- Episode 25: [Designing Resilience with Sabrina Depestre](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/25-designing-resilience-with-sabrina-depestre/) — Sabrina Depestre (Senior Director of Enrollment Marketing, MICA), Dec 29, 2025
- Episode 24: [Kris Land: The Infinity Within](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/24-kris-land-the-infinity-within/) — Kris Land (Entrepreneur, Technologist, Author), Dec 23, 2025
- Episode 23: [Brain Tumors, Bigness, and Believing in Everything with Jen Dary](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/23-brain-tumors-bigness-and-believing-in-everything-with-jen-dary/) — Jen Dary (Founder, Plucky · Leadership Coach · Author), Dec 9, 2025
- Episode 22: [Second Harvest: The Power of Connection](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/22-second-harvest-the-power-of-connection/) — Richard Banfield & Devon McDonald (Founders, Second Harvest), Nov 18, 2025
- Episode 21: [Elizabeth Stauderman: Creative Thought in Action](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/21-elizabeth-stauderman-creative-thought-in-action/) — Elizabeth Stauderman (VP Communications & Marketing, Skidmore College), Nov 3, 2025
- Episode 20: [Sarah Patterson: Tango with the Numbers](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/20-sarah-patterson-tango-with-the-numbers/) — Sarah Patterson (Fractional CFO · Founder, EssJay), Oct 8, 2025
- Episode 19: [Mallory Willsea: Build the Stage](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/19-mallory-willsea-build-the-stage/) — Mallory Willsea (Media Builder · AI Strategist · Host, Higher Ed Pulse), Sep 18, 2025
- Episode 18: [Christina Melito: Designing for Tension](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/18-christina-melito-designing-for-tension/) — Christina Melito (Creative Director, Fifteen4), Sep 8, 2025
- Episode 17: [Traci Barrett: Navigating the Journey](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/17-traci-barrett-navigating-the-journey/) — Traci Schubert Barrett (Founding Member, HGTV · Author · Executive Coach), Jun 27, 2025
- Episode 16: [Brigid Lawler: Rethinking Enrollment in an Age of Disruption](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/16-brigid-lawler-rethinking-enrollment-in-an-age-of-disruption/) — Brigid Lawler (Enrollment Strategist · Higher Education Consultant), Jun 23, 2025
- Episode 15: [What Today’s Students Actually Want from Colleges](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/15-what-todays-students-actually-want-from-colleges/) — Romy (Student · Gen Z Perspective), Jun 5, 2025
- Episode 14: [Pete Mackey: Listening Is Where Strategy Starts](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/14-pete-mackey-listening-is-where-strategy-starts/) — Pete Mackey (Strategist · Poet · Founder, Mackey Strategies), May 12, 2025
- Episode 13: [Richard Banfield: The Art of Being Human](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/13-richard-banfield-the-art-of-being-human/) — Richard Banfield (Artist · Author · Former Agency CEO), Apr 15, 2025
- Episode 12: [Tracy Gosson: Surviving Stage 4, Redefining Everything](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/12-tracy-gosson-surviving-stage-4-redefining-everything/) — Tracy Gosson (Brand Strategist · Founder, Sagesse), Apr 1, 2025
- Episode 11: [Carl Smith: Burnout, AI, and Bullsh*t](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/11-carl-smith-burnout-ai-and-bullsh-t/) — Carl Smith (Community Builder · Founder, Bureau of Digital), Mar 27, 2025
- Episode 10: [Ashley Budd: Mailed It!](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/10-ashley-budd-mailed-it/) — Ashley Budd (Senior Marketing Director, Cornell · Co-author, Mailed It!), Mar 6, 2025
- Episode 9: [Elizabeth Bawol Round 2: Creative Director at Wide Eye](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/9-elizabeth-bawol-round-2-creative-director-at-wide-eye/) — Elizabeth Bawol (Creative Director, Wide Eye), Feb 18, 2025
- Episode 8: [Nancy Lyons: Work Like a Boss](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/8-nancy-lyons-work-like-a-boss/) — Nancy Lyons (CEO & Co-founder, Clockwork · Author), Feb 7, 2025
- Episode 7: [Miles Kemp: CEO at Variate](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/7-miles-kemp-ceo-at-variate/) — Miles Kemp (CEO, Variate), Feb 6, 2025
- Episode 6: [Chris Gilbert: Creative Developer](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/6-chris-gilbert-creative-developer/) — Chris Gilbert (Senior Creative Developer), Jan 31, 2025
- Episode 5: [Kara Redman: Showing Up Authentically](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/5-kara-redman-showing-up-authentically/) — Kara Redman (Founder & Lead Strategist, Backroom), Jan 28, 2025
- Episode 4: [Edit Barry & Allison Le: E&A Collaborative](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/4-edit-barry-allison-le-e-a-collaborative/) — Edit Barry & Allison Le (Co-founders, E&A Collaborative), Jan 28, 2025
- Episode 3: [Elizabeth Bawol: Senior Brand + Creative Director](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/3-elizabeth-bawol-senior-brand-creative-director/) — Elizabeth Bawol (Creative Director, Wide Eye Creative), Jan 23, 2025
- Episode 2: [Yianni Mathioudakis and Monica Sanchez: DEEO](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/2-yianni-mathioudakis-and-monica-sanchez-deeo/) — Yianni Mathioudakis & Monica Sanchez (Co-founders, DEEO), Oct 27, 2024
- Episode 1: [Dave Look: Chromatic](https://escapevelocitypodcast.com/episodes/1-dave-look-chromatic/) — Dave Look (CEO, Chromatic), Oct 21, 2024

## Contact

Guest pitches and inquiries: halvorsen@createvelocity.com