The Liminal Podcast
The Liminal Podcast
Podcast Description
Conversations about commencement. The Liminal explores the space between a student's last final and their first job. Join Chase Rigby and the team at Tassel to explore the world of graduation.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers topics such as the importance of name pronunciation in ceremonies, challenges faced by first-generation college graduates, innovative graduation planning strategies, and the modernization of cap and gown traditions. Specific episodes discuss AI-powered tools for name announcements, the value of inclusive ceremonies, and marketing opportunities for universities.
Conversations about commencement.
The Liminal explores the space between a student’s last final and their first job.
Join the team at Tassel to explore the world of graduation.
Episode 19 – AI @ Graduations: Straight From the Horse’s Mouth
In the middle of our largest spring season ever, AI at graduation has been making headlines – and not always for the right reasons.
Between the Glendale glitch, graduates booing speakers, and a broader wave of AI backlash, it’s easy for the real story to get lost. So instead of just talking about it ourselves, we’re sharing an interview with Peter Lafford, one of our longtime name readers who has been reading names at ASU for 30 years.
Peter has seen graduation from the front row for three decades. He knows the old way. He’s watched the technology evolve. And he has a grounded, human perspective on how AI is helping make one of the most important moments in a student’s life even better.
This episode is about names, dignity, student control, and why getting pronunciation right matters. AI is not replacing the humanity of graduation here – it is helping protect it.
Audio of KJZZ interview: https://youtu.be/8OziE7IYcb8?si=osp43IJcLORTyV2R&t=2118
Transcript of KJZZ interview: https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-05-21/hes-been-an-asu-graduation-reader-for-decades-now-an-ai-system-uses-his-voice-to-say-the-names
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit heytassel.substack.com
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