Shows / The MADness Podcast
The MADness Podcast
The MADness Podcast brings you the top stories, insights, and best practice from leaders across the world of K12 marketing and admissions. It’s hosted by education and marketing bods (and brothers), Nik and James Higgins. Expect brilliant anecdotes, the lowdown on the latest tech, and the inside track on what really works when it comes to effectively engaging today's families. The MADness Podcast is brought to you by doris: the school discovery platform for parents. Find your school on doris…
Episodes
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] How to get the most out of your agent and consultant networks ft. Stefan Tueger
Hong Kong's international school market is so competitive that families who "spray and pray" their own applications usually fail, and increasingly turn to…
- The MADness Podcast
HAI, AI ft. Anna ('AI') Iveson
Most schools are still optimising for Google. Anna Iveson is already ranking on ChatGPT. In this MADness Podcast episode, James and Nik chat to Anna Iveson…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] Taking enquiries from transaction to conversation ft. Carly Puncher
One in four parents who enquire with a school never get a reply - and the schools have no idea it's happening. In this MAD LABZ episode, James and Nik chat to…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] The big things schools are getting wrong with paid social ft. Kerwyn Salmons
Most schools are leaving high-value leads on the table in paid social - and don't know it. In this MAD LABZ episode, James and Nik chat to digital marketing…
- The MADness Podcast
A Hall lot of love (for Marketing and Admissions) ft. Matt Hall
Matt Hall, Director of Marketing and Admissions @ Nexus International School (Singapore), chats to James and Nik about: How changing EP thresholds, living…
- The MADness Podcast
Keithing it real ft. Julian Keith
Julian Keith, Director of Admissions and School Communications at XCL World Academy (and previously Director of Admissions and Marketing at GESS), chats with…
- The MADness Podcast
Seeking a slapshot in South Korea - Ft Adriana Mourgelas
The uniquely competitive international school scene on the South Korean island of Jeju is the focus of this episode with Adriana Mourgelas, the Director of…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] Commercial sales techniques for independent and international schools ft. Nicola Lutz
Nik chats to Nicola Lutz from No Fluff about how schools can implement more rigorous and effective sales techniques, and how her No Fluff Fest is the event she…
- The MADness Podcast
The problem of plenty in New Delhi ft Navneet Kaur
Navneet Kaur, Head of Communications at The British School in New Delhi, explains how she created a comms team from scratch, discusses brand positioning, and…
- The MADness Podcast
TASIS a lot of travelling ft. Sarah Travis
Sarah Travis, Senior Associate Director at TASIS England, chats with James & Nik about the change from Higher Ed to K12, what it's like to promote an American…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] Revenue Optimisation for international schools: using pricing and scholarship strategies ft. Edified
James and Nik are joined by pricing experts Sharyn Martin and Dr. Len Coote from Edified. They discuss how schools can remove the guesswork from their pricing…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] Using visual content to enhance your school's image and reputation ft. Noodle Photography
James and Nik are joined by Paul Chapman from Noodle photography, as they discuss what makes a winning school photo & video, being 'brave' when taking…
- The MADness Podcast
MAD Community Update: February 2025
Nik and James take a break from the normal recording schedule to bring you a short community update, covering upcoming guests, future LABZ episodes, and a…
- The MADness Podcast
An interesting Korea path ft. Cyrielle Bazin
Cyrielle Bazin, Director of Strategic Communication at Seoul Foreign School, chats with James & Nik about her path to SFS, how she keeps the school community…
The MADness Podcast[MAD LABZ] Experience Strategy - The Ikea hotdog effect ft. Yellow Car
James and Nik are joined by Dr David Willows and Suzette Parlevliet of Yellow Car, as they discuss experience strategy and it's emerging importance/influence…
- The MADness Podcast
Dubai or not Dubai, that is the question ft. Nikki Holman
Nikki Holman, Head of Admissions for UK Curriculum Schools at Taaleem UAE, chats with Nik about her journey from Singapore to Dubai, how she's raised the bar…
- The MADness Podcast
Taking Centre Stage ft. Abi Evans
Abi Evans, Director of Admissions, Marketing and Communications at Bancroft's School, Essex, UK, discusses her decision to ditch print marketing collateral…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] How to harness PR activations and deliver memorable brand experiences ft. Dux Studio
Lucy and Gianna from Dux Studio chat to James and Nik about PR 'activations' and how to harness them to create memorable brand experiences that make your…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] The doris 101 ft. Nik Higgins
In this special episode Nik chats with James about doris, a new marketplace that matches families and international schools. He covers the 'why', how it works…
- The MADness Podcast
Getting Downe(house) with influencers in KSA ft. Sowmiya Muralidharan
Sowmiya Muralidharan, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Downe Hose Riyadh chats with James and Nik about relocating from Qatar to Saudi Arabia, how to…
- The MADness Podcast
The aFISHionado ft. Piers Matthews
Piers Matthews, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Dulwich College Singapore, speaks with James and Nik about his time in China, striking the right…
- The MADness Podcast
[MAD LABZ] Understanding parent satisfaction
Michael Kewley from Magnetic Communications shares his top tips on how to monitor and analyse parent satisfaction, and how school leaders can make practical…
- The MADness Podcast
(Shang)hai and hello from China ft. Angelo Noviello
Angelo Noviello, Director of Admissions and Marketing, at The British International School Shanghai, Puxi, chats to James and Nick about his journey from…
The MADness PodcastCope(enhagen)ing with the MADness ft. Catalina Gardescu
Catalina Gardescu, Director of Communications, Marketing and Admissions at Copenhagen International School, speaks to James and Nik about the Scandinavian…
The MADness PodcastNot VAT old thing ft. Remco Weeda
Remco Weeda, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Scarborough College talks with Nik and James about the looming VAT on school fees, how to put your school…
The MADness PodcastFrom Dublin to Vancouver ft. Kelsey Hayre
Kelsey Hayre, Assistant Director of Advancement at Stratford Hall School in Vancouver explains exactly what advancement means - and talks about the power of…
The MADness PodcastBreak(danc)ing the mould ft. Kyle Aldous
Kyle Aldous, Executive Director of Communications at Singapore American School, chats with James and Nik about his experience being part of an expat family…
The MADness PodcastWhatsapp-ening at Sedbergh ft. Davild Milner
David Milner, Director of Marketing and International Relations at Sedbergh School and Board Chair of AMCIS, speaks to James and Nik about 500 years of…
The MADness PodcastMAD Community Update: July 2024
Nik brings you a short update on what's new with the podcast, including a new episode format for Season 2 and our upcoming collaboration with The PIE.
The MADness PodcastA story about War(saw) ft. Nikita Vasyliev
Nikita Vasyliev, Communications & Marketing Manager at Pechersk School International, speaks to James and Nik about his experience of the war in Ukraine, how…
The MADness PodcastThe A-merry-go-round ft. Elizabeth Drake
Elizabeth Drake, VP Global Marketing at Amerigo Education, chats to James and Nik about the secondary system in the USA, selling the American dream, and why a…
The MADness PodcastForstering success in BKK ft. Jane Forster
Jane Forster, Director of Marketing and Admissions at Wellington College International Bangkok, talks about standing out in a competitive marketplace, why the…
The MADness PodcastXCL-ing in the MADness game ft. Irene Chung
Irene Chung, Group Chief Commercial Officer at XCL Education, talks about MAD strategies, the power of authentic storytelling, working in a strategic role…
- The MADness Podcast
Tackling the new Rugby ft. Anne Dickinson
We chat with Anne Dickinson (Director of Marketing and Admissions, Rugby School Japan) about building MAD processes at a start-up international school, how you…
- The MADness Podcast
CXey and I Know It ft. Jason Hoppner
We chat with Jason Hoppner (Director of Operations, German European School Singapore) about his journey into the international school sector, and get his take…
- The MADness Podcast
The Preview - Introducing our guests - and ourselves
James and Nik take to the virtual studio for the preview edition of The MADness Podcast. With a full roster of guests already lined up for Season One, they…