Off the Rails Episode 125: We’re not allowed to speak in meetings

Written By AVSF

Recorded Oct 8, 2025

In this episode, the crew tackles the realities of higher ed AV projects that just don’t go according to plan. 

When timelines slip, budgets tighten, or rooms are handed over mid-flight, how do campus tech teams adapt and deliver before classes start? Chris, Marc, Larry, Jamie, Justin, and special guest Chris Gaut exchange tales about project rescues, impossible deadlines, and those “we don’t need you… until we do” moments, whether it’s taking over a half-finished install, fixing someone else’s mistakes, or deciding when to step in (and when to let it burn). 

Later, the discussion turns to mixed-use spaces and the eternal debate over surround sound in classrooms and auditoriums: what customers say they want versus what they really need.

In the news, Zoom wants to be your video content management platform, taking on Kaltura, Yuja, Panopto, etc. Good.

News: https://www.zoom.com/en/products/video-management/

Connect with our guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-gaut-430607174/

AI-generated alternate show titles:

  • We Didn’t Start the Fire (But Facilities Did)

  • Let It Burn: A Project Management Love Story

  • Scope, Schedule, and Smoke Damage

  • The Great Handoff Heist

  • Pumpkin Spice and Panic Season

  • Who Signed Off on This?

  • Surround Sound in the Storage Closet

  • AV Triage: Do No Harm, Fix Everything

  • Hot Mics and Hotter Deadlines

  • Off the Rails: Now with 30% More Fire

Far superior human created alternate show titles:

  • Am I paying for this bill?

  • It might not be a… synchronous course

  • It’s not that I’m not positive on AI…

  • Buy low, sell high

  • You have steak in the game

  • Two people in one rack

  • I want some pain to be felt

  • Owner Found Equipment

  • If you’ve got a PM who’s going through a bumpy divorce

  • This is oddly specific

  • We’re outside their sphere of control

  • Justin and his crazy ass hairbrained AV shit

  • There’s no submittals for lighting control…

  • Malicious compliance

  • This is my cousin Shmustin

  • I’m picturing Justin in tear-away cargo pants

  • We call that surrounded by sound

  • That’s why you do mono everywhere

  • They both like high quality projection

  • I’m not doing it, that’s stupid

  • Choose your own adventure

  • No, because I lied to them

  • Mano-a-mono

  • Math that out

We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com 

▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀

► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com

► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends

► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends

► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends

► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social

► Email: mailbag@avsuperfriends.com

► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss

Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

AVSF
Next

Off the Rails Episode 124: Talking Things About Stuff