Shows
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedSecond Harvest - Purpose, Creativity, and the Power of Real ConnectionTracey is joined by Second Harvest’s Richard Banfield and Devon Warwick-McDonald for a candid conversation about what happens when the map of your life dissolves beneath your feet. From personal loss to career upheaval to the quiet ache of disconnection so many feel today, the trio travels through the terrain that leads people to seek change, and why traditional self-help rarely offers real transformation. Richard and Devon share how their retreats intentionally remove certainty, routine, and the old scripts of success to make room for vulnerability, creativity, and genuine human alliance. What emerges is surprising: strangers for...
2025-11-181h 14
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedScreens, Stocks, and Spoiling Your Kids (According to Fin)Tracey sits down with her 11-year-old son Fin for a wildly entertaining ride through the Gen Alpha brain. From the iPhone 17 to Apple Watches, YouTube, day trading, and the mysterious power of MrBeast, Fin breaks down modern life with the confidence of a tiny philosopher–economist. This episode mixes tech, culture, parenting, and branding in a way only a parent–kid conversation can. It’s funny, honest, and surprisingly insightful.
2025-11-1538 min
Higher Ed PulseTaste > AI ToolsIn this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, host Mallory Willsea sits down with Tracey Halvorsen of Adeo and Yianni Mathioudakis of Deeo to explore how top creative agencies are baking artificial intelligence (AI) into their workflows—not as shortcuts, but as accelerators of curiosity, strategy, and creative clarity. From mood boards to brand worlds, these leaders share how AI is being woven into agency culture, not just tech stacks, to amplify good taste and push bold ideas forward.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com...
2025-11-1043 min
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedCreative Thought in Action: Reimagining Skidmore's Story with Elizabeth StaudermanHow do you make creativity a strategic tool—not a luxury—when resources are limited and expectations are high? In this conversation, Skidmore College’s VP for Communications and Marketing, Elizabeth Stauderman, joins to unpack how she brought the school’s motto, Creative Thought Matters, to life through a full web and brand transformation. We explore why mission must drive strategy, how beauty can ease change, and why liberal-arts thinkers are built for the AI era. Insightful, pragmatic, and deeply relevant for anyone leading creative or communications work in higher education.
2025-11-031h 08Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedSarah Patterson - Tango with the Numbers: How Financial Clarity Fuels Creative FreedomIn this episode of Escape Velocity, I talk with Sarah Patterson, a Fractional CFO who somehow makes the numbers feel human. Sarah works with creative agencies and consulting firms to bring clarity, confidence, and calm to the financial side of things—the part most of us would rather avoid.We get into what really happens when you stop treating your financials like a necessary evil and start seeing them as a creative tool. We talk about trust, mindset, and how money mirrors the stories we tell ourselves as founders.And then there’s tango. Sarah’s also...
2025-10-081h 21
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedBuild the Stage: Mallory Willsea on Media, AI, and Escaping the Status QuoWhat does it take to break free from the gravitational pull of “business as usual” in higher ed marketing? In this episode of Escape Velocity, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Mallory Willsea—B2B media consultant, AI strategist, and award-winning host of Higher Ed Pulse.Mallory shares how she built and scaled media brands like Higher Ed Live and Enrollify, why she believes leaders should stop waiting for permission and start building their own stage, and what it really takes to adopt AI without falling for hype. Along the way, she and Tracey delve into the realities of tru...
2025-09-181h 04Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedChristina Melito - Designing for Tension: Creative Leadership in the Age of AIWhat does it really mean to lead creative work in a world being reshaped by AI, complexity, and constant change?In this episode, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Christina Melito, Creative Director at Fifteen4, for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about what creative leadership actually requires today — from managing stakeholders in regulated industries to operationalizing AI tools without losing your soul.They explore how tension can be a design tool, why client work is often a form of behavioral psychology, and how real change comes not from polishing pixels — but from shifting minds.
2025-09-081h 07
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedChristina Melito - Designing for Tension: Creative Leadership in the Age of AIWhat does it really mean to lead creative work in a world being reshaped by AI, complexity, and constant change?In this episode, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Christina Melito, Creative Director at Fifteen4, for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about what creative leadership actually requires today — from managing stakeholders in regulated industries to operationalizing AI tools without losing your soul.They explore how tension can be a design tool, why client work is often a form of behavioral psychology, and how real change comes not from polishing pixels — but from shifting minds.
2025-09-081h 07
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedChristina Melito - Designing for Tension: Creative Leadership in the Age of AIWhat does it really mean to lead creative work in a world being reshaped by AI, complexity, and constant change?In this episode, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Christina Melito, Creative Director at Fifteen4, for an honest, funny, and deeply insightful conversation about what creative leadership actually requires today — from managing stakeholders in regulated industries to operationalizing AI tools without losing your soul.They explore how tension can be a design tool, why client work is often a form of behavioral psychology, and how real change comes not from polishing pixels — but from shifting minds.
2025-09-011h 07
Founders FutureWhy Growth for Growth’s Sake Doesn’t Work – Lessons from Adeo’s FounderIn this episode of Founders Future, with host Ammar Elm, Tracey Halvorsen, founder and CEO of Adeo, shares her journey from a painter to a digital innovator and agency leader. She discusses the evolution of her first agency, Fastspot, over two decades, her intentional exit, and how she built Adeo as a purpose-driven creative consultancy focused on transformational partnerships rather than transactional projects. Tracey emphasizes the importance of aligning values with clients, fostering long-term relationships, and empowering organizations through authentic storytelling and digital experiences. Tracey also dives into her philosophy of sustainable growth, prioritizing meaningful w...
2025-08-0525 min
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedTraci Barrett - Navigating the JourneyIn this episode of Escape Velocity, Tracey Halvorsen is joined by Traci Barrett—founder of Navigate the Journey, executive coach, former HGTV founding team member, and author of What If There’s More?. Together, they explore what it means to lead with clarity, navigate burnout, and make brave choices in business and life. From surviving betrayal and recalibrating after setbacks to building teams rooted in honesty and shared values, Traci shares deep wisdom on fear, identity, hope, and finding significance beyond traditional markers of success. This is a must-listen for anyone feeling overwhelmed, off-course, or hungry to realign their ambi...
2025-06-2758 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedBrigid Lawler - Rethinking Enrollment in an Age of DisruptionIn this episode of Escape Velocity, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Brigid Lawler, a seasoned enrollment strategist with decades of experience navigating the shifting landscape of higher education. From small liberal arts colleges to state institutions, Brigid shares candid insights on what’s broken in traditional recruitment, how schools can tap into their true identity, and why the admissions funnel might need to be flipped on its head.Together, they unpack the myth of one-size-fits-all marketing, explore the real reason students (and their parents) make decisions, and reflect on how small teams can punch above their weight wi...
2025-06-2459 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedReal Talk with Gen Z: What Today's Students Actually Want from Colleges – RomyIn this episode, Tracey sits down with her 17-year-old niece Romy, a rising senior deep in the college search process. From TikTok dorm tours to admissions anxiety, Romy offers a refreshingly honest Gen Z perspective on what matters (and what doesn’t) when evaluating colleges. If you work in higher ed—or just want to understand how this generation thinks—you’ll want to hear this.
2025-06-0538 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedPete Mackey on Why Listening Is the Real Strategy—and Why Higher Ed Needs More Courage to ChangeIn this episode of Escape Velocity, I’m joined by someone I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with on some of the most meaningful projects of my career—Pete Mackey.Pete is the founder of Mackey Strategies, where he helps colleges, universities, and nonprofits find their voice, sharpen their story, and face the future with clarity and confidence. With more than 30 years of experience leading communications for institutions like Amherst College, Bucknell University, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and Science Foundation Ireland, Pete brings a rare combination of strategic leadership, creative insight, and on-the-ground experience building teams...
2025-05-1236 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedRichard Banfield - The Art of Being HumanIn this deeply personal and philosophical conversation, Tracey Halvorsen is joined by Richard Banfield—artist, writer, former CEO, widower, parent, and all-around human compass—for a wide-ranging discussion about identity, agency, grief, creativity, and what it means to truly be present in our lives.From confronting midlife reinvention and letting go of society’s need to label and define, to embracing vulnerability and the healing power of art, Richard offers an honest and expansive take on what it means to be a whole human navigating an increasingly complex world. The two discuss the myth of productivity, the seduct...
2025-04-151h 09Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedTracy Gosson - Stage Four and ForwardBefore she was a stage 4 ovarian cancer survivor, Tracy Gosson was already a force.As the founding executive director of Live Baltimore, Tracy helped rebrand city living and sparked a movement to bring people back into Baltimore neighborhoods. She later launched Sagesse, Inc., a boutique consultancy that’s helped cities and developers across the country reimagine how place, story, and investment intersect.Then, in 2019, everything stopped. Tracy was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer—and suddenly, the only thing on the agenda was survival.In this deeply personal episode of Escape Velocity, Tracy shares what...
2025-04-011h 20Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedCarl Smith, The Bureau - Burnout, AI, and Bullsh*t: What Agency Leaders Need to HearCarl Smith is more than a leader—he’s a community builder, a mentor, and, as I call him, the “daddy of digital agencies.” In this episode, we dig into everything from the evolution of agency life to the promise and peril of AI, the value (and curse) of ego, and why trust and human connection matter more than ever. Carl shares candid stories from his time running an agency, building the Bureau of Digital, and navigating complex relationships in creative teams. It’s funny, heartfelt, and packed with hard-earned wisdom. If you’re building a business, leading a team, or try...
2025-03-271h 02Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedAshley Budd, Author of Mailed It! 💌 | Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University | Nonprofit Consultant | Keynote SpeakerIn this episode of Escape Velocity, host Tracey Halvorsen sits down with Ashley Budd, higher education marketing expert and co-author of Mailed It!, to discuss how email remains one of the most powerful communication tools—when done right.Ashley shares insights from her book, offering practical strategies and “hacks” for making email more effective in an era of overwhelming digital noise. From the importance of clear subject lines to the role of authenticity, empathy, and logic in building trust, Ashley breaks down the principles that help emails stand out and drive action.The conversation touches on the...
2025-03-0656 min
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedWhat it's Like to Be Gen AlphaIn this special episode of Escape Velocity, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with her 10-year-old to dive deep into what it means to be part of Gen Alpha. From rapid-fire fun questions to an in-depth breakdown of Gen Alpha slang, Fin offers an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly insightful take on his generation.With plenty of laughs, wild tangents, and deep Gen Alpha wisdom, this episode is an entertaining ride into the mind of a 10-year-old who knows what’s up.
2025-02-2133 min
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedEscape Velocity with Fin - What it's Like to Be a Gen AlphaIn this special episode of Escape Velocity, Tracey Halvorsen sits down with her 10-year-old bonus kid, Fin, to dive deep into what it means to be part of Gen Alpha. From rapid-fire fun questions to an in-depth breakdown of Gen Alpha slang, Fin offers an unfiltered, hilarious, and surprisingly insightful take on his generation.With plenty of laughs, wild tangents, and deep Gen Alpha wisdom, this episode is an entertaining ride into the mind of a 10-year-old who knows what’s up.
2025-02-1935 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedElizabeth Bawol Round 2, Creative Director of Brand and Strategy at Wide Eye CreativeIn this episode of Escape Velocity, I sit down with Elizabeth Bawol, Creative Director at Wide Eye, for a deep dive into the high-stakes world of political branding. We explore her experience leading creative efforts for the Harris campaign, her previous work with Planned Parenthood, and the challenges of branding within the constraints of political strategy and high-profile personalities.Elizabeth shares candid insights into:• The intensity of working on a political campaign: from sleepless nights to last-minute brand decisions.• The Harris campaign brand strategy: what worked, what didn’t, and the impact of rapid...
2025-02-181h 14Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedNancy Lyons, CEO at Clockwork and author of "Work Like a Boss"Tracey is joined by Nancy Lyons, CEO and co-founder of Clockwork, a digital transformation consultancy, and author of Work Like a Boss: A Kick-in-the-Pants Guide to Finding (and Using) Your Power at Work.Nancy is known for her bold leadership style, no-BS approach to business, and commitment to transforming workplace culture. She and Tracey dive into the future of work, the power of personal agency, leadership failures, and why trusting teams is essential for innovation. They also unpack the challenges of toxic workplace norms, the backlash against DEI efforts, and the cultural resistance to change, along with...
2025-02-0758 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedMiles Kemp, CEO & Design Innovator at Variate Tracey Halvorsen welcomes Miles Kemp, CEO and design innovator at Variate. With a background in architecture and experience leading digital transformation for brands like Marriott, Carnival, and Macy’s, Miles brings a unique perspective on the evolving relationship between technology, design, and human experience.The conversation explores:• Bridging Architecture and UX: How Miles transitioned from architecture to digital experience design, and how architectural thinking influences his work today.• Reimagining Customer Experience: Insights from Miles’ work redesigning Marriott’s digital ecosystem, touching over 900 million users worldwide.• Technology & Humanity: A deep dive into the importanc...
2025-02-0659 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedChris Gilbert, Creative DeveloperIn this episode, Tracey sits down with Chris Gilbert, a senior creative developer with over a decade of experience in building performant, interactive, and accessible websites and applications. Chris is a deep thinker on the evolution of AI in software development, the future of web design, and the shifting role of agencies in an AI-driven landscape.They discuss how AI-powered development tools like Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Windsurf are fundamentally changing how developers work, why custom GPTs and AI-driven workflows will be essential for agencies, and how AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) could reshape the entire knowledge economy.
2025-01-311h 00Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedKara Redman, Founder and Lead Strategist - BackroomIn this episode, Tracey speaks with Kara Redman, founder and lead strategist of Backroom, about the evolution of brand strategy, the power of personal branding, and why showing up authentically in public spaces (especially on LinkedIn) is both a risk and a powerful tool. Kara shares insights on how her personal brand has brought unexpected opportunities, her experiences in scaling and re-scaling Backroom, and the importance of building relationships over transactions in business.They discuss AI’s impact on branding and content, how to filter out the noise of bad advice, and why brands need to embrace in...
2025-01-2853 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedEdit Barry and Allison Le (E&A Collaborative) - Mission Driven Brand ConsultancyIn this episode, Tracey sits down with Edit Barry and Allison Le, co-founders of E&A Collaborative, an award-winning women-owned brand consultancy specializing in higher education and mission-driven branding. With nearly two decades of experience, Edit and Allison share their insights on the challenges facing higher education marketing, the growing trend of “Blanding” (branding becoming homogenized and generic), and how institutions can break free from the sameness to stand out in an increasingly competitive landscape.The conversation dives into topics like how students seek belonging rather than just prestige, the role of AI in branding, and why high...
2025-01-281h 01Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedElizabeth Bawol, Creative Director of Brand and Strategy at Wide Eye CreativeIn this episode, Tracey speaks with Elizabeth Bawol, Creative Director of Brand and Strategy at Wide Eye Creative. With a career spanning work at Planned Parenthood, AmeriCorps, and Wide Eye, Elizabeth shares her experiences shaping major campaigns, including the Democratic National Convention. She discusses the messy yet rewarding process of creative work, the importance of strategic storytelling, and how the best creative breakthroughs come from going through the hard parts rather than looking for shortcuts.The conversation covers the pitfalls of design by committee, how great creative gets watered down, the role of AI in design and...
2025-01-2357 min
You Can't Lose!Concept Cars & Black Tar HeroinThis week Joe and Richard discuss some tactical tricks of the trade as well as examples from the industry and from popular culture. What's the value of showing a client a glimpse into a far future state of their project as a concept car? How does casting the vision far ahead dramatically improve the client's ability to be attracted to novel ideas, rather than poke holes based on their constraints? Great examples of how practitioners like Tracey Halvorsen, Dan Mall, and Anthony Colangelo are detailed along with a couple of famous superheroes Ryan Reynolds and Henry Cavill. Get inspired...
2024-12-1355 min
You Can't Lose!Concept Cars & Black Tar HeroinThis week Joe and Richard discuss some tactical tricks of the trade as well as examples from the industry and from popular culture. What's the value of showing a client a glimpse into a far future state of their project as a concept car? How does casting the vision far ahead dramatically improve the client's ability to be attracted to novel ideas, rather than poke holes based on their constraints? Great examples of how practitioners like Tracey Halvorsen, Dan Mall, and Anthony Colangelo are detailed along with a couple of famous superheroes Ryan Reynolds and Henry Cavill. Get inspired and...
2024-12-1255 min
EdTech ConnectThe Art of Leadership and Creativity in HigherEd with Tracey HalvorsenIn this episode of EdTech Connect, Jeff Dillon engages with Tracy Halverson, the dynamic CEO of adeo, to unravel the unique blend of art and leadership.
Tracy dives deep into how artistic creativity can redefine leadership approaches, transforming the culture and strategies within organizations. She sheds light on the formidable challenges facing higher education, offering innovative solutions and emphasizing the role of strategic thinking in overcoming these obstacles.
Tracy shares her vision of technology as a catalyst for collaboration, breaking down barriers between departmental silos, and fostering an environment where experimentation and innovation can flourish...
2024-11-0126 minEscape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedMonica Sanchez and Yianni Mathioudakis - cofounders of DEEOIn this episode, Tracey speaks with Monica Sanchez and Yianni Mathioudakis, co-founders of DEEO, a creative studio focused on digital design, strategy, and innovation. Having worked together for years in different capacities, Monica and Yianni share their experiences launching their own company, embracing risk, rejecting bad-fit clients, and fostering an environment of curiosity, exploration, and adaptability in their work.They discuss the importance of defining what you don’t want as much as what you do, why creative work requires breaking free from checklists, and how they balance process with innovation. The conversation also dives into AI in...
2024-10-2749 min
Escape Velocity - Where Strategy Meets the UnexpectedDave Look, CEO ChromaticIn this episode, Tracey speaks with Dave Look, CEO of Chromatic, about the pursuit of curiosity, the challenges of leadership, and the discipline of prioritization. From practicing Krav Maga to exploring lockpicking, Dave embodies the idea that developing diverse skills can enhance leadership, problem-solving, and creative thinking.The conversation covers ruthless prioritization, the philosophy of making time for what truly matters, and why businesses should embrace curiosity to drive innovation. They discuss books that have shaped their perspectives, the role of AI in creativity, and the art of navigating complex projects with clients.If you’re...
2024-10-2150 minYou Can't Lose!Tracey Halvorsen Back! Always Be HelpingSomehow we got Tracey Halvorsen to join the podcast again!
Tracey is the CEO at Adeo and shares her thoughts on a lifetime of client services experience, her thoughts on value pricing, the value of relationships, and the secret to a long and successful career: You gotta listen to learn more!
2024-06-201h 00
You Can't Lose!Tracey Halvorsen Back! Always Be HelpingSomehow we got Tracey Halvorsen to join the podcast again!
Tracey is the CEO at Adeo (https://helloadeo.com/) and shares her thoughts on a lifetime of client services experience, her thoughts on value pricing, the value of relationships, and the secret to a long and successful career: You gotta listen to learn more!
2024-06-201h 00You Can't Lose!Episode 028: Tracey Halvorsen on art, relationships, and kicking assWe’re joined this episode by badass Tracey Halvorsen!!!
Tracey is an artist, a people connector, and she’s sold and executed more amazing web and digital client services projects than you’ve ever imagined. Tracey unpacks some of her thoughts on how relationships inform and are reflected in client engagements. She zooms out and talks about life. She describes really interesting ways her perspective as a painter and artist informs her views on people and relationships.
There’s a dumb game Joe makes Richard and Tracey play guessing client b...
2024-02-2859 minYou Can't Lose!Episode 028: Tracey Halvorsen on art, relationships, and kicking assWe’re joined this episode by badass Tracey Halvorsen!!!
Tracey is an artist, a people connector, and she’s sold and executed more amazing web and digital client services projects than you’ve ever imagined. Tracey unpacks some of her thoughts on how relationships inform and are reflected in client engagements. She zooms out and talks about life. She describes really interesting ways her perspective as a painter and artist informs her views on people and relationships.
There’s a dumb game Joe makes Richard and Tracey play guessing client budgets.
Richard says “fack” at least once.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. It...
2024-02-2859 min
Sprints & MilestonesThe Grenade“There is so much growth and so many great things to experience when you go ahead and say ‘yes’ to change. You say yes to the universe. You say yes to the fear. You let go of all the things you've been holding on so tightly. It’s really okay. It's better than okay.” - Tracey HalvorsenListen to this episode to hear how Tracey took that grenade and used it to reshape how she lives and works, and came out the other side feeling stronger than ever. It's a deeply personal and life-changing story that comes with many...
2023-06-0225 min
WP-Tonic | WordPress | SaaS | Bootstrap SaaS | Startups216 Tracey Halvorsen From Fastspot Tracey Halvorsen is a consultant, designer, painter, author, and speaker. Her background in visual art and computer-based technology and her hands-on style of leadership has helped Fastspot consistently create award-winning and industry recognized websites, applications and marketing campaigns.
2017-08-0540 min
Design Edu Today019: The Night and Day Differences Between Print and Interactive Design With Tracey HalvorsenTracey Halvorsen President and Chief Visionary Officer at Fastspot joins Gary Rozanc to discuss the night and day differences between the finality of print design and ever evolving nature of interactive design. Tracey also shares her thoughts on what makes a good, and bad student portfolio. Finally the conversation goes into bringing the business side of graphic design back into the classroom.
2016-03-0100 min