Shows
Museum BuzzFuture-Proofing Cultural InstitutionsMuseums often talk about going beyond the walls to reach audiences—but what if the museum has no walls at all? After the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art closed its doors in 2024, it has engaged more audiences than ever through "trans-mediated experiences" spanning exhibitions, digital platforms, and partnerships. Kimon Keramidas, Head of Digital Content and Strategy at the Rubin, demonstrates how this deliberate approach can help museums serve as bastions of critical thinking and future-proof our sector against whatever the next hype cycle brings. Plus, Kimon designs his dream museum studies degree program in our game!
2025-09-3023 minMuseum BuzzMuseums Unlock Their Greatest Asset (Hint: Not Objects)Museums don’t run without people. Yet workforce development remains underfunded and undervalued despite being critical to everything museums do. It cultivates community, increases retention, leads to employee happiness, and it’s a way to future-proof the sector. Tamsin Russell, Workforce Development Lead at the Museums Association, creates multiple opportunities for its 13,000 members to grow. In this episode she shares her overall approach to developing these programs - ensuring they are relevant and even slightly provocative - while diving deep into their online learning offering. Plus, a game that ties together hot dog vendors, nuclear engineers on a sub...
2025-09-2230 minMuseum BuzzBalancing Purpose and Profit in Museum LearningSocial enterprise—using business strategies to achieve social goals—is common in the nonprofit world but newer to museums. Ian Ellard, Head of the V&A Academy at the Victoria and Albert Museum, sees an opportunity for museums to break free of old models with this approach. We dive deep into what social enterprise actually means, what it looks like in a museum context, and explore the nuances of using business strategies and financial success to support the public value of a museum. Plus, hear how ancient Greek wisdom can help solve modern online learning challenges. ...
2025-09-1529 minMuseum BuzzSmarter Evaluation for Online LearningEvaluating online learning often flummoxes museum educators, but it doesn’t have to. Jeanine Ancelet, Principal at Audience Focus, helps bust that myth with smart, doable strategies for making evaluation meaningful and manageable. Hear practical tips for measuring on-demand resources, interpreting YouTube metrics, and designing inclusive evaluations across ages. And, find out why you might already be sitting on a gold mine of data. Jeanine also shares the guiding philosophy behind her 18 years of evaluation work. Plus, how do her skills as a trained Master Naturalist shape the way she visits museums? Stay tuned to th...
2025-09-0825 minMuseum BuzzEmpathy, Equity, and the Ocean: Redefining Social Impact“How much social impact do we get for a dollar?" That's the question Katy Scott, Director of Education Program Strategy at Monterey Bay Aquarium, is asking as her team explores what social impact actually means in practice, especially when it comes to online learning. Social impact has become a buzzword in museums, but Katy shares how her team is defining it through the intersection of environmental education, maker education, and equity education. While they don't have a formal definition yet, discover how online learning can create "hyperlocal" impact at global scale. Katy reveals why the future of me...
2025-09-0220 minMuseum BuzzHow Communities of Practice Disrupt the AI Doom LoopAre we stuck in a doom loop of bland, poorly designed online learning, especially as AI plays a larger role in developing digital content? Mark Otter, CEO and Founder of Participate, shares why communities of practice, grounded in peer-to-peer learning and shared purpose, may be our best way out. We dig into how these communities fuel meaningful engagement and powerful learning. Plus, what does a hawaiian shirt, rubber band ball, and office key card have to do with a community of practice? Stay tuned to the end to find out! Participate: https://www.participate.com/
2025-08-2526 min
Why Distance Learning?#24 How Museums Can Thrive Online with Emily KoteckiThis episode's guest is Emily Kotecki, the principal and founder of High Beam Strategies. With a wealth of experience in online learning, including crafting audio tours and developing apps for museums, Emily shares her expertise in creating compelling digital learning experiences. Drawing from her work with clients and her publication The Distance Learning Workbook, she emphasizes the importance of building a robust foundation for distance learning initiatives. Through a detailed discussion, Emily addresses the challenges and opportunities of engaging digital visitors, expanding museum audiences, and innovative revenue models through digital platforms. She underscores the significance of distance learning in e...
2024-02-0536 min
Impressions XchangeHer Imprint: Celebrating Women in Print: Emily Kotecki of Bradford & BigelowOn the sixth episode in our ongoing special Women's History Month podcast series, Editorial Director Denise Gustavson speaks with Emily Kotecki, marketing manager at Bradford & Bigelow.
2022-03-1018 min
Microsoft Libraries and Museums PodcastSeason Three Finale with Catherine DevineMicrosoft's Catherine Devine and host Emily Kotecki use the themes from Season Three to imagine the future of mixed reality and the metaverse for libraries and museums. Plus, this is the end of the Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast! All episodes are available wherever you listen to your podcasts. Thanks for tuning in from around the world! Episode Resources Interview Transcript: https://bit.ly/3FDNMoD
2022-01-1713 minMicrosoft Libraries and Museums PodcastWelcome to Season Three!Season three of the Microsoft Libraries and Museums podcast will share stories from around the world of how institutions are experimenting and innovating with mixed reality. As a field, we are continually pioneering new ways to make and strengthen those connections. With the power of augmented and virtual reality; immersive spaces and 360 video, we are elevating what a visitor experience can be and where it can happen.Join us this season as we explore new worlds, new realities, and new futures.Hosted by Emily Kotecki and produced by Microsoft's Catherine Devine. Fu...
2021-10-1802 minMuseum BuzzS3: Online Communities and Distance LearningDr. Lauren Vargas focuses a lot of her work with institutions on the strategy and design of their digital ecosystem -- including how to engage and build communities. This was increasingly important with the pivot to digital programs in the pandemic and our conversation explores best practices for engaging and empathizing with that community; how to remain relevant and grow; and how to create a community pact that creates norms and expectations for the members. Dr. Lauren Vargas, is owner of the consultancy, Your Digital Tattoo and a One-by-One research associate with the University of Leicester.
2021-09-2420 minMuseum BuzzS3: Accessibility & Distance LearningSina Bahram, President of Prime Access Consulting, provides insight into how to approach accessibility when designing a distance learning program. From platform providers to the learner experience, we dive into best practices, practical tips, and more. But most importantly, he advises, "start small and [don't] be overwhelmed by all of the things...check your websites for some accessibility best practices. Talk to persons with varying abilities in your evaluation methodologies...And understand that you will not get it right overnight. You just won't. But, you need to start and then build that momentum and inertia over time."
2021-09-1719 minMuseum BuzzS3: SEL & Distance LearningKristin Smith, Project Manager at the North Carolina Museum of Art, shares her experience of creating an online course for educators about social emotional learning (SEL), including the structure of the course; the benefits and challenges of teaching this content online; and why museums have a responsibility to create ways for visitors to learn about SEL.
2021-09-1018 min
Microsoft Libraries and Museums PodcastAnnouncing the Microsoft Libraries and Museums PodcastWelcome to the new Microsoft Libraries and Museums Podcast! This show is dedicated to exploring the journey of digital transformation in museums and libraries from around the world. These interviews will explore emerging trends and common pitfalls, as well as revealing critical truths about digital change. The show is hosted by Emily Kotecki and produced by Microsoft's Catherine Devine, Global Business Strategy Leader – Libraries and Museums.The first full episode launches December 14. New interviews will be posted every Monday and can be found wherever you listen to your podcasts.
2020-11-3002 minMuseum BuzzSeason Two Wrap UpEmily is joined by a special co-host to breakdown the big take aways from season two. Season Two interviewed museum leaders from around the world about how different departments interpreted the word ‘Distance’ in the COVID-era.
2020-11-1609 minMuseum BuzzA New Model for Caring in MuseumsEsme Ward, Director of the Manchester Museum, is setting out to create the most inclusive, imaginative, and caring museum in the world. In this conversation, we zero in on her efforts to care for her staff, audiences, and collections through embarking on a journey of repatriation. "God knows I'm passionate about museums, but you know, I do worry that we over rely on that passion.”
2020-10-1921 minMuseum BuzzMCN Chairs on Designing Virtual ConferencesIn this conversation, I speak with the four program co-chairs of the Museum Computer Network (MCN)conference about how they approached planning their virtual conference, what they’re worried about, and whether conferences in the future will be more or less virtual. MCN in November spans two weeks. Other virtual conferences are four weeks. One day. Live. Hybrid. Asynchronous. Conferences are experimenting and seemingly trying to lower as many barriers to entry as possible to still connect with their attendees.
2020-10-0520 minMuseum BuzzReopening Museums with “A Lens Toward Justice”Reopening is more than creating safe physical spaces for visitors and staff. It can be an opportunity to “reorient the place of museums” in society and how they engage with issues of white supremacy, white fragility, and social justice. Waqas Jawaid and Andy Chen, Co-Creators of Isometric Studio in Brooklyn, NY, created a Reopening Toolkit for Museums that included a preface called “A Lens Toward Justice.” Our conversation explores the toolkit and the larger ideas museums face as they reopen.
2020-09-2120 minMuseum BuzzA Journey into Distance LearningIan Ellard, Head of the V&A Academy at the V&A in London, shares his experience of rapidly switching to distance learning as a result of COVID-19. Ellard was about to launch a new, cohesive adult learning program: the brochure was ready to print, the new logo was approved, all they had to do was hit ‘send’. “But public health had other plans.” Listen to our conversation as we explore their journey into distance learning.
2020-09-0719 minMuseum Buzz#MuseumFromHomeKat Harding, PR and Social Media Manager at the North Carolina Museum of Art, shares a deep dive into their approach to #MuseumFromHome. This popular initiative by museums from around the world has allowed visitors to stay in touch with the institutions they love - and access new collections - during the pandemic.
2020-08-2416 minMuseum BuzzHow to Build a Resilient InstitutionIn the wake of the shutdown, Scott Stulen, CEO and President of the Philbrook Museum of Art, had to act quickly. Projects that would take months, took hours. A new idea presented in the morning was up and running by the afternoon. In this conversation, Scott reflects on the role of museum leadership during these tumultuous times. From collaboration to garden cats to victory gardens, the Philbrook has run over 250 programs since they initially shut down and it doesn’t seem like they’re slowing down anytime soon.
2020-08-1722 minMuseum BuzzReopening MuseumsErika Sanger, Executive Director of the Museum Association of New York (MANY), is balancing the desire and need to re-open with the reality of a national health crisis. In this conversation, we talk about how she’s led museums to navigate this difficult time by offering information, resources, and virtual meet ups. We also cover the economic realities that museums face: in New York state, museum’s are losing $3.5 million a day. More reopening resources are available on my website: http://emily-kotecki.com/podcast.
2020-08-1021 minMuseum BuzzRethinking the Visitor ExperienceHow have museums responded to the “COVID Moment”? In this episode, Josh Goldblum, CEO of BlueCadet, talks about how museums are having to rethink the visitor experience. With museums closed and faced with re-opening, Goldblum believes museums can evolve their thinking by looking to other industries such as journalism, or companies such as Disney and Whole Foods. Plus, what all museums may be wondering: what happens to all the touch screens?!
2020-08-0326 min
Museum BuzzMuseum Buzz Season Two TrailerMuseum Buzz is back with Season Two! In this season Emily interviews guests from around the world to unpack one buzzword from different perspectives. That buzzword is "Distance." We'll look at it through the lens of interpretation, re-opening, exhibition design. But also a little more abstractly: Can museums afford to distance themselves from the present? How do you shrink the distance between a visitor and an object in a world of social distance? The podcast will be posting weekly beginning Sunday August 2. As always there will be a game at the end of e...
2020-07-2701 minMuseum Buzz‘Buzzwords’ with Jim Fishwick and Tilly Boleyn“What we really represent is an awareness raising campaign against lazy language.” Balancing serious commentary and tongue-and-cheek humor, the season finale of Museum Buzz ends with a conversation about...buzzwords! Together with Jim Fishwick from the Australian Centre for the Moving Image and Tilly Boleyn from the Science Gallery Melbourne, we reflect on the notion of buzzwords: what they really communicate, why we use them, and how they evolve. I wanted to reach out to Jim and Tilly after reading their 2016 Medium.com article ‘Six Museum Words to Make You Vomit,’ where they coined a new buzz...
2019-09-2321 minMuseum Buzz'Next' with MuseumNext's Jim Richardson“It’s easy to make assumptions, and that’s how we end up with museums that aren’t relevant to their public.” The future of museums is relevancy and Jim Richardson, founder of the MuseumNext conference and museum news website, identifies the top priority museums should invest in to stay relevant. Tune in as we discuss audience research, digital trends and the role of leadership in impacting change. Plus, a new game where we “predict” what museums will be like in the not-so-far-off-future!
2019-09-1015 minMuseum Buzz'Hospitality' with Nasher Museum of Art's Myra Weise“People don’t want to feel dumb. They don’t want to feel like they’ve done something wrong.” Myra Weise brings a human-centered approach to creating more hospitable museum spaces. This interview is from our first live podcast event at the North Carolina Museum of Art as part of a month-long training for frontline staff about hospitality. Weise, Manager of Museum Services at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, shared her specific training methodology and bigger vision about how to create a welcoming environment for visitors, including how to balance the inherent tension between hospitality...
2019-08-2618 minMuseum Buzz'Access' with Seattle Art Museum's Regan Pro“If your building is totally accessible, or your website is totally accessible, but then, when people come to the space [and] the interactions they’re having with the staff don’t feel welcome, and they’re feeling microaggression’s and they’re feeling bias... then that negates all that work.” While museums have been investing in access programs for decades, the buzzword is getting new life as it becomes part of conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Regan Pro, the Kayla Skinner Deputy Director for Education & Public Engagement at the Seattle Art Museum, talks about their long-sta...
2019-08-1215 minMuseum Buzz'Diversity' with Dr. Porchia Moore“Diversity does not speak to racism. It does not speak to structural inequality. It does not speak to all of these societal ills that still play out in these codified ways.” Think you know what diversity means? Think again. Dr. Porchia Moore - Johns Hopkins University professor, co-creator of the Visitors of Color Project and the Incluseum, and consultant - challenges the very notions of these words. We discuss how museums can try to represent the multiple lived experiences of visitors, how it can be frustrating and surprising to still be needing these conversations, and yet why she...
2019-07-2917 minMuseum Buzz'Collaboration' with The Morton Arboretum's Carissa Dougherty"[Collaboration needs] really strong vision from the top about what we’re trying to accomplish together. So it’s not marketing’s goal and curatorial’s goal and development’s goal. It’s our goal that curatorial, marketing, and development are working on, together. And it’s hard to lose that deeply ingrained turfiness in the way that we’re set up.” How do museums move away from “deeply ingrained turfiness” that are part of museum structures and ways of operating? Carissa Dougherty, Head of Knowledge Management at The Morton Arboretum, shares her expertise on how to shift museums in...
2019-07-1517 minMuseum Buzz'Equity' with Cecile Shellman“In a perfect world we would have equity. We could celebrate and recognize that we all have differences, and are diverse, in how we come to the world and move through our spaces…And if I’m coming to come down from the clouds and be less Polly Anna-ish, I would say that the reason it’s on museums is, you know what, we’re really late. We’re late to this work. There was never a Brown v Board for museums. Educators had to be forced into this in 1954. This is 2019. ” Cecile Shellman is a Diversity, Equity, Access...
2019-07-0121 minMuseum Buzz'Content' with Smithsonian Lunder Conservation Center's Laura Hoffman"Content is king. It is what we have in our pockets as museums. [And it’s important] to keep that in mind, that power. But, also think about the audiences and why we still exist and why that content remains powerful.” Content is still king. It’s what museums put out on social media, it’s the labels on the walls, and it’s the object behind glass. But how can we harness the uniqueness of content in museums to more deeply engage audiences? Laura Hoffman from the Smithsonian Lunder Conservation Center shares her background in managing a diversit...
2019-06-1715 minMuseum Buzz'Immersive' with Brilliant Idea Studio's Seema Rao“Immersive is a word that feels like something. You get what immersive means, palpably, when you hear that word…we crave magic. We crave experience. We crave things that feel different.” Seema Rao of Brilliant Idea Studio immerses us in the buzzword ‘immersive.’ You might be surprised at the breadth of her definition, but not at the depth of her thinking around this word. In this conversation we also explore questions such as: How do museums respond to the consumer appetite for immersion? What’s the tension between immersive art and immersive interpretive/educational experiences? And, is immersion wo...
2019-06-0321 minMuseum Buzz'Inclusion' with Museum Computer Network's Desi Gonzalez"This idea that museum attendance is falling and we just can't bring people in...I think that's a myth and something we say to stop ourselves from doing that hard work about how can we make our spaces more inclusive." Tune in to hear this and more as we try to define inclusion, identify three starting points for museums wanting to create inclusive environments, and what's the disconnect between creating welcoming spaces for audiences versus museum staff.
2019-05-2016 minMuseum BuzzTrailerWelcome to a brand new podcast about buzzwords in museums! The podcast will unpack trendy words in the field and their meaning. We'll also play a game at the end of each episode. Stay tuned for the first episode.
2019-05-0800 min
Kotecki On TechHumans Are A Tricky Thing | 15Five’s Emily DiazMeeting one on one with your boss might sound as pleasant as a root canal. But what if technology could change that? Emily Diaz is the Director of Customer Onboarding at 15Five, a tool that helps managers sync up with their employees. Could software be the key to human fulfillment at work? Or are we letting software eat something that we really should be biting off ourselves? * * * Thanks for listening. Please tell the algorithms how you feel with a 5-star rating and a nice review. Subscribe for email updates about new episodes.
2018-06-0514 min
2013-03-0515 min