Ask Mike show

Ask Mike

Summary: Need to sharpen your yearbook skills? Ask Mike! In season one of this podcast from the Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network (WYPN), Mike Taylor explores what it takes to tell a great story with your yearbook, with a few laughs along the way. Mike enhances his already immense yearbook knowledge through interviews with yearbook advisers across the country, and helps advisers and staffs create their amazing yearbooks. Do you have a burning yearbook question you’d like to ask Mike? Send it to podcasts@walsworth.com.

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Podcasts:

 How Do I Make a Yearbook During COVID-19? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 49:32

In this episode, host Mike Taylor speaks with two schools in the northeast part of the country, one from New Hampshire and one from Pennsylvania. The adviser and Editor-in-chief from St, Augustine share how they're using this opportunity to make a yearbook different from anything they've done before. Two editors from Eastern Lebanon County High School share how they're organizing and getting the book done, even though they aren't in the building together. 

 The East Coast/West Coast Slide | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 59:51

Host Mike Taylor, CJE, begins the new season by interviewing two editors-in-chief as they start their new year. As you may have guessed from the episode title, one resides on the east coast and the other on the west coast. Neri Verniani, from Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Florida, and David Dablo from El Camino Real Charter School in Los Angeles, California, share how they're guiding their yearbook staff to create the 2021 yearbook under extraordinary conditions. 

 Level Up Update: Visiting Meridian High School | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 31:52

Think back to early March. It may seem a lifetime ago, though in reality it was only a couple of weeks. School was still in session. There was no quarantine. No one thought to wear facemasks, and toilet paper could be easily found on the well-stocked shelves of your nearest supermarket. It was during this time that Mike Taylor, CJE, went to visit our Level Up winner, Meridian High School, for their first in-person visit on a cold Thursday afternoon.

 Why Do You Love Yearbook? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 41:00

Happy Valentine’s Day! This is the time of year when the Walsworth Yearbooks Podcast Network celebrates love in all its forms – especially the love of yearbook! In this episode, host Mike Taylor, CJE, interviewed four yearbook staffs about why they love yearbook. He spoke to the staffs of Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida; Liberty North High School in Liberty, Missouri; Kearney High School in Kearney, Missouri; and Lee’s Summit High School in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

 What are some cool things middle school yearbooks are doing? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 48:36

Some of the work being done by middle school and junior high yearbook staffs is absolutely amazing. That’s why host Mike Taylor sat down with the yearbook staffs of Carl Albert Middle School and Cactus Canyon Junior High to discuss what they’re doing right, what they’re working on, and what will happen when they move on to high school.

 How to I Reach the "Aha!" Moment? An Interview with Colonial Forge | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 47:49

When the yearbook editors of Colonial Forge High School in Stafford, Virginia, attended an Elite Weekend at the beginning of the year, their stress was evident to Mike Taylor. Now, several months later, they've come a long way. Mike sat down with adviser Tiffany Kopcak and two editors to discuss how they reached their "Aha!" moment. 

 How can I Improve my Yearbook Photography? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 36:26

Mitchell Franz, of Yoakum, Texas, is a photographer. He started out as a scholastic journalism student and now, at 29 years old, he makes his living from his photography. In this episode, Mitchell and host Mike Taylor discuss the ways yearbook staffs can make their photography better. Plus, they challenge photographers to take great academic photos. Listen to the episode for details on how to win a $50 gift card from Mike and Mitchell.

 How do I stop my staff from writing bad stories? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 52:15

A great story starts with a great interview. In this episode, host Mike Taylor, CJE, interviews the staffs of Marjory Stoneman Douglas and Eastern Lebanon County High Schools about creating great stories and great spreads. They shared their advice for getting great stories into the yearbook – from checking in with writers to the basics of a good interview. They talk about writing stories about the whole school, the benefit of being nosy, and teaching newbies to write stories that matter.

 How can I level up my yearbook? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 01:05:46

In this special WYPN crossover episode, host Mike Taylor teams up with Jim Jordan, of Yearbook Chat with Jim, to talk about leveling up your yearbook! They bring in yearbook experts do discuss the possibilities and ways yearbook staffs can make improvements. They also speak to advisers and staffs about the ways they want to Level Up their yearbooks for 2020!   Get some help achieving your goals. Enter the Level Up contest at walsworthyearbooks.com/level-up and you could win a visit from Mike and Jim!

 Always be Selling | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 32:45

Creating a yearbook is fun, but most staffs can't accomplish that without the funds raised from sales! In this episode, host Mike Taylor speaks to students at several different schools about how they sell and market their yearbooks.  Find Ask Mike on Twitter, @yrbkmiketaylor and don't forget to use #AskMike. 

 The Bicoastal Episode | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 55:02

Host Mike Taylor spends a lot of time traveling from yearbook workshop to yearbook workshop all over the United States. At two recent workshops, one in California and one in Florida, he was especially impressed with the editors at Saugus High School and Freedom High School. So he interviewed them! These students already have impressive yearbook careers. They shared their experiences and their expectations for their 2020 yearbook. 

 From the El Paso Summer Yearbook Workshop | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 50:24

Ask Mike is back and ready to talk about yearbooks! Host Mike Taylor, CJE, kicks off season three with interviews done at the summer yearbook workshop in El Paso, Texas.  In this episode, Mike interviews a great group of students about their yearbook hopes, dreams and fears for the 2020 school year. 

 What’s in a theme? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 55:19

What makes a great theme? In this episode Mike Taylor, CJE, answers the questions and walks you through how to find a great theme for your 2020 book. Taylor explains his theme-finding exercise that’s broken down into seven-minute increments. You can get a powerpoint presentation with even more inspiration. Just ask him! Email Mike at mike.taylor@walsworth.com or find him on Twitter, @yrbkmiketaylor. Plus, Mike explains what “What’s the T?” really means (check it out at the 34 minute mark).

 Live From Anaheim | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 39:26

Recorded live at the JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention in Anaheim on April 26, 2019. Host Mike Taylor's session from the conference floor.  Featuring 12 "micro-interviews" with yearbook advisers and staffs, Mike asked the all-important question, "How has journalism helped you?"

 What Sets These Yearbooks Apart from the Crowd? | File Type: audio/mpeg | Duration: 39:09

Some yearbook staffs impress year after year, despite staff changes or a new adviser. So how do they do it? Mike Taylor answers the question in this episode! He sat down with staff members from three Florida schools that are frequent award winners: Hagerty, J.W. Mitchell and Palm Harbor University High School. The eight yearbook editors in this podcast share their methods for creating excellent yearbooks and ensuring next year’s will be even better, even if they won’t be there next year!

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