School Business Insider: "Thank You!" Episode Summary
Episode Title: Thank You!
Release Date: December 31, 2024
Host: John Brucato
Podcast: School Business Insider by ASBO International
Introduction and Purpose of the Episode
In the heartfelt final episode of 2024, host John Brucato takes a moment to reflect on the past year, express gratitude to listeners, and highlight the podcast's achievements and memorable moments. This special episode serves as both a celebration of the community built over the year and a preview of exciting plans for 2025.
Reflection on 2024
Growth and Milestones
John begins by acknowledging the podcast's humble beginnings in January 2024 and its remarkable journey over the year. He emphasizes the significant growth and the role listeners played in shaping the content through their suggestions and inspirations.
"It's pretty crazy that we started this in January of 24 and here we are in December, the very last episode of the year."
[00:02:30]
Most Popular Episodes
John highlights the podcast's most popular episodes, starting with "Choice and the Complex Reality for Public Schools," featuring John Wilson from Baldwin County Schools. This episode resonated deeply with listeners due to its exploration of the challenges surrounding school choice and the impact on public school funding.
"And I think that really resonated with our listeners because it just has been, as I said, a growing issue."
[00:07:45]
Another notable episode was the live session from the 2024 Annual Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. This episode stood out for featuring the most guests, providing diverse perspectives from attendees and vendors.
"That was our live episode from the 2024 Annual Conference and Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. And that was a whirlwind."
[00:10:15]
Live Episode from Annual Conference and Expo
John describes the vibrant atmosphere of the expo hall and the interactions he had while recording the live episode. He praises the ASBO International team, especially Lacy, for their unwavering support in producing and promoting the podcast.
"Lacy at ASBO International is really my go-to and who I've been working with hand in hand to make sure that each episode comes out seamlessly every week."
[00:04:50]
International Guests Highlights
The podcast's international reach is another point of pride. John mentions episodes featuring Stephen Morales from the UK and Mike McCarthy, who transitioned from the US to South Korea. These episodes underscored the global relevance of school business leadership.
"We had Stephen Morales... to really talk about operational excellence and everything that they're doing across the pond."
[00:12:30]
"Mike McCarthy... is now in South Korea. So that was a little fun."
[00:14:20]
Highlighted Episodes
John also discusses standout episodes like "Resilience and Hope in School Business" with Amanda VRBA, which delved into the emotional challenges faced by school business officials, and "Navigating the AI Opportunities for School Business Leaders" with Jim Spelos, focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence in school administration.
"Amanda brought a certain level of vulnerability that you don't often get... her level of optimism was incredibly inspiring."
[00:16:50]
"Jim... was able to really peel back the onion of all things artificial intelligence and really make it relatable to school business officials."
[00:19:10]
Listener Statistics and Achievements
John shares impressive statistics that highlight the podcast's success over the year:
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More than 1,600 listeners worldwide, with significant audiences in the United States, Canada, Germany, the UK, France, Kenya, and Afghanistan.
"We had over 1,600 listeners in 2024, which is absolutely incredible and far exceeded anything I could have imagined."
[00:20:30] -
Top 10 Ranking in US education podcasts on Apple Podcasts, consistently hovering around number seven.
"We've been consistently ranked in the top 10 of all United States education podcasts."
[00:21:15] -
Top 200 Podcasts in the United States, a notable achievement given the vast number of podcasts available.
"We did crack the top 200 of all podcasts in the United States. And there's millions of podcasts out there."
[00:21:50]
These accomplishments are attributed to the dedicated listenership and the quality of content delivered each week.
Looking Forward to 2025
Goals and Plans
John outlines the podcast's vision for the upcoming year, focusing on expanding international content and continuing to provide valuable professional development resources for school business officials.
"Into 2025 we're able to bring you even more international episodes and really lean into the ASBO International piece of the organization."
[00:23:40]
Future Content
Plans include:
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More International Guests: Emphasizing ASBO International's global network.
"We'll have more international episodes and really lean into the ASBO International piece."
[00:24:10] -
Live Recordings and Sessions: Bringing back the engaging format of face-to-face interactions at conferences.
"We'll always have those live recaps and live episodes from events like Leadership Forum and Annual Conference and Expo."
[00:25:05] -
Focused Miniseries: Developing hyper-focused content on specific subjects.
"We'll probably have some miniseries hyper-focused on certain subjects."
[00:25:50] -
Consistent Weekly Episodes: Maintaining the commitment to deliver new content every week as a professional development tool.
"You can count on us coming out with a new episode every week because... staying relevant is super important to us."
[00:26:30]
John also expresses enthusiasm for continuing to create a supportive community where listeners can share experiences and learn from each other.
Closing Remarks and Gratitude
In his closing statements, John extends his deepest thanks to the listeners for their support throughout 2024. He shares personal reflections on the meaningful connections formed and the collective journey of growth and learning.
"I am just so thankful for everybody tuning in. So we had a lot of great things go on in 2024."
[00:28:15]
He encourages listeners to incorporate the podcast into their professional development resources and to share it within their networks.
"Maybe share this podcast with your fellow school business officials or educators because I hope that there's a little bit of something for everyone."
[00:29:00]
John concludes by wishing everyone a happy New Year and expressing excitement for the adventures that 2025 will bring.
"It's been an amazing 2024, and I will see you in the new year."
[00:30:45]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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"It's pretty crazy that we started this in January of 24 and here we are in December, the very last episode of the year."
[00:02:30] -
"We had over 1,600 listeners in 2024, which is absolutely incredible and far exceeded anything I could have imagined."
[00:20:30] -
"We've been consistently ranked in the top 10 of all United States education podcasts."
[00:21:15] -
"Into 2025 we're able to bring you even more international episodes and really lean into the ASBO International piece of the organization."
[00:23:40] -
"I am just so thankful for everybody tuning in."
[00:28:15]
Conclusion
John Brucato's "Thank You!" episode serves as a comprehensive reflection on the successes and challenges faced by the School Business Insider podcast in 2024. Celebrating milestones, listener engagement, and the diverse range of topics covered, the episode underscores the podcast's commitment to supporting school business officials worldwide. As the podcast looks ahead to 2025, listeners can anticipate more international content, live recordings, and continuous professional development opportunities. This episode is a testament to the vibrant community built around School Business Insider and sets an optimistic tone for the future.