About Beyond the Nest: A Georgia Southern Family Programs Podcast
Beyond the Nest: A Georgia Southern Family Program Podcast is the official podcast of the Georgia Southern University New Student and Family Programs team, created to keep families informed, connected, and engaged throughout their student’s college journey.
Each episode dives into hot topics, upcoming events, and the resources that support your student, including academic success, campus involvement, wellness, safety, and career readiness. Through conversations with campus leaders, staff experts, and occasionally parents themselves, Beyond the Nest provides practical guidance, timely updates,
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by Blake Mercer, Director of Enrollment Services and Financial Aid Customer Relations, to discuss the recent opening of the 2027–2028 FAFSA. Blake reviews what the FAFSA is, why it is important for families to complete it, and what you need to prepare when filling out the application for the upcoming academic year.
There is LOTS of useful information in this week's mailbag segment. Peter and Mike recap Fall Family Weekend and provide a sneak peek and save-the-date for Spring Family Weekend. They also review the Fall semester calendar as students prepare to wrap up the term, and they discuss the upcoming launch of SOAR and housing registration for any incoming Fall 2027 families who may be listening.
This episode is packed with information! We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
1 Oct 2026
Episode 15- "Fall Family Weekend Overview"
Welcome back to Beyond the Nest! In this episode, Peter and Mike talk all things Fall Family Weekend. They run through the full schedule of weekend activities, announce the kickoff time for the football game, and discuss all the logistics attendees need to know before arriving on campus.
Ticket packages for Family Weekend are no longer available, but Peter and Mike discuss options for families who may have missed out on event registration.
The mailbag segment is dedicated entirely to Fall Family Weekend, as Peter and Mike tackle the FAQs that typically come up prior to and throughout the weekend.
Sit back and enjoy our latest episode of Beyond the Nest!
28 Sept 2026
Episode 14: "Staying Active with Campus Recreation and Intramurals"
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by Connor Rentz from Campus Recreation and Intramurals. They discuss all of the recreational opportunities available to students and their guests on each of our campuses. These opportunities include recreation, intramurals, fitness, shooting sports, golf, and so much more!
There is no mailbag segment in this shorter episode but stay tuned for another episode launching later this week with all of your Fall Family Weekend updates!
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
23 Sept 2026
Episode 13- "SOARing Beyond the Classroom: Getting Involved With Student Activities"
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by Cat Hoopaugh and Sam Peebles from the Office of Student Activities to learn about all the many ways students can get involved at Georgia Southern.
Cat and Sam discuss how to join student organizations, how to find campus events, and provide an overview of Homecoming activities.
In the Mailbag segment, Peter and Mike discuss some important upcoming Fall semester dates, updates on Family Weekend, and information on our December Commencement ceremonies.
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
**We did experience some technical difficulties during the recording, please excuse those during this episode.**
27 Aug 2026
Episode 12- "Fall Sports Preview With Eagle Athletics"
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by Dan Adams, Associate Athletics Director for Marketing and Fan Experience, to preview the upcoming athletics season. We dive into what our students and families can expect this season, including some of the exciting “theme” nights offered throughout the year. Dan also shares some really cool information about the history of Georgia Southern Athletics, as well as many of the fun Georgia Southern traditions that are still present today.
For our first-time families who may not have experienced Georgia Southern Athletics in the past, Dan shares some of his “can’t-miss” opportunities for first-time guests. We also talk a little bit about how Eagle Athletics plays a large role in the overall student experience and how you, as families, can encourage your student to attend sporting events throughout the year. Whether you are an athletics fan or not, this episode is worth a listen!
In the Mailbag segment, Peter and Mike discuss some important start-of-term dates to be aware of, a few updates on Family Weekend, and some great information for our Parent and Family Association members on how to renew their memberships.
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by several of our current students who served as SOAR Leaders this summer. They share their favorite things about Georgia Southern, their experiences welcoming our new students to campus this summer, and ways to get involved and connected as a Georgia Southern student.
In the Mailbag segment, Peter and Mike discuss PFA scholarships, Family Weekend, and housing.
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
22 Jul 2026
Episode 10- "Fall Family Weekend Registration Launch"
In this episode, Peter and Mike share important information about the opening of Fall Family Weekend registration. Fall Family Weekend is one of the highlights of the year for many Georgia Southern families. In this episode, they review the registration process, explain the ticket options, and provide a general overview of what families can expect during Fall Family Weekend in October. If you plan to purchase tickets and attend Fall Family Weekend, we highly encourage you to listen to this episode before registering.
In the Mailbag segment, Peter and Mike discuss housing capacities and share important information for students who are still waiting to sign up for SOAR and register for classes.
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest!
15 Jul 2026
Episode 9- "New Student Transitions and the Eagle Experience"
In this episode, Peter is joined by the three co-chairs of the Eagle Experience Committee here at Georgia Southern. Eagle Experience is our award-winning transition programming for new students. Your student may have gone through SOAR, but there is more to getting acclimated and transitioning into college life here at Southern. In this episde, the Eagle Experience team will share insight on what "Eagle Experience" actually is, why it is important, and what events students need to be aware before or shortly after classes begin.
In the mailbag segment, Peter and Mike provide information on housing assignments as well as tuition bills. There are also some important updates on Fall Family Weekend and Parent and Family Association Scholarships.
We hope you enjoy this episode of Beyond the Nest.
29 Jun 2026
Episode 8- "Dining and Parking On Campus"
In this episode, Peter and Shauna are joined by Michael Murphy from our Dining team and Miles Hamilton from our Parking and Transportation team. They share some useful tips from their departments as well as different ways they impact your student and the greater Georgia Southern Community.
Peter and Shauna also dive into the mailbag segment and cover topics ranging from SMS Messaging inside the Eagle Family Portal, when to expect your student's final bill to be applied, as well as where to find the Parent & Family Association Scholarship Applications.This episode is packed with important information — we hope you enjoy it!
15 Jun 2026
Episode 7: "Operation Move In With University Housing"
In this episode, Peter and our guest Co-Host Shauna are joined by returning guests Jenni and Katie, from the Housing Department, to discuss everything related to Operation Move-In! If you are supporting a new incoming student, you don't want to miss this episode! We discuss move in does and don'ts, protocol for receiving a move-in time, day of logistics, and so much more.
In the mailbag segment, Shauna and Peter recap the first few sessions of SOAR and cover some trending questions and points of interest for those who have not yet attended SOAR.
This episode is packed with important information — we hope you enjoy it!
11 May 2026
Episode 6- "What to Expect at SOAR"
Welcome back, everyone! In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by members of the New Student and Family Programs team to discuss everything related to SOAR (Southern’s Orientation, Advisement, and Registration). If you are supporting a new incoming student, SOAR is a required part of your student’s transition to Georgia Southern. This episode previews what students and supporters can expect during a SOAR session. We also discuss how to register for SOAR, change session dates, and steps to complete before attending.
Mike and Peter also recap the Spring Regional Social events and share details about the upcoming Parent and Family Association Scholarship application process during the mailbag segment.
This episode is packed with important information — we hope you enjoy it!
5 May 2026
Episode 5: "Applying and Next Steps with Undergraduate Admissions"
Welcome back to Beyond the Nest! In this episode, we are joined by our good friend Joey Hughes, Director of Undergraduate Admissions Recruitment at Georgia Southern. Joey shares insights into his path into higher education and how his experience may relate to many of our students. He also highlights what makes Georgia Southern a unique and special place for prospective students. Additionally, Joey walks through next steps for those who are still deciding on a college, as well as for those who have already chosen Georgia Southern. This episode is a great listen for any incoming family considering the university.
In this week’s mailbag segment, Peter and Mike review important upcoming dates, including commencement. They also provide brief updates on Family Weekend and FERPA, specifically how to ensure you have access to your student’s final semester grades.
20 Apr 2026
Episode 4- "Operation Move-Out with University Housing"
On this episode of Beyond the Nest, we are joined by members of the University Housing staff to discuss the details of Operation Move-Out. If you have a student living on campus, this episode is for you—we’ll share important information about the process of moving out for the summer.
As always, we’ll continue with our mailbag segment, which includes general information about Operation Move-In. We’ll also provide a few updates on Fall Family Weekend and upcoming Regional Social events.
On this episode of Beyond the Nest, we are joined by members of the University Housing staff to discuss the details of Operation Move-Out. If you have a student living on campus, this episode is for you—we’ll share important information about the process of moving out for the summer.
As always, we’ll continue with our mailbag segment, which includes general information about Operation Move-In. We’ll also provide a few updates on Fall Family Weekend and upcoming Regional Social events.
6 Apr 2026
Episode 3- "Preparing for Final Exams"
In this episode, Peter and Mike are joined by Aaron Wortham and Maleek Jones from the Academic Success Center. They share great tips and strategies to help students prepare for upcoming final exams. Aaron and Maleek also highlight services their office offers for those who may need last-minute support before the end of the term.
We also return to our mailbag segment with a major update on Fall Family that you won’t want to miss.
This episode is jam-packed and definitely worth a listen for both supporters and students.
24 Mar 2026
Episode 2: "Enrollment, Consolidation, and the Student Experience: A Conversation with Scott Taylor"
In this episode, we welcome our first official guest to the podcast. Scott Taylor, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Experience, joins us to discuss a variety of topics, including consolidation updates, Destination Eagle Nation, student success resources, and student experience initiatives.
Our mailbag segment also returns, featuring updates on Fall Family Weekend, SOAR registration, and our regional Parent and Family Association social events.
9 Mar 2026
Episode 1 -"Pilot and Upcoming Spring Events"
Welcome to the pilot episode of Beyond the Nest! In this inaugural episode, we recap the highlights from Spring Family Weekend and share exciting details about upcoming Spring Regional Social Events. We also take a look at some of the trending conversations happening on the Eagle Family Portal discussion boards.
In addition, we’ll provide important updates on plans for Fall Family Weekend and share key information about the upcoming Spring Commencement ceremonies. Whether you’re a new Eagle family member or a returning one, this episode will help keep you informed and connected to everything happening in the Georgia Southern community.
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5.0 / 5
1 ratings
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