What started as a casual invite to past guests turned into an unscripted, heartwarming, and hilariously chaotic reunion of AV/IT voices from across higher ed. Ryan is joined by Adrian Doughty, Robyn Bryce, Jon Hamilton, and Evan Gray in this first of a two-part celebration. From the origins of the show’s three-digit numbering scheme to deep dives into wisdom vs. knowledge, mentorship, and the challenges of modern leadership—this episode captures the soul of what the podcast has always been about: curiosity, connection, and some good-natured chaos.
- 🐔 Jon Hamilton introduces the legendary “Yapa Valley Bull****” nickname for the pod
- 🎧 Adrian reflects on truth-telling, podcast feedback, and the born-good debate
- 💬 Robyn praises Ryan’s listening skills and candidly discusses prioritization struggles
- 🎤 Jon shares hard-earned leadership wisdom from “getting run over by the cement truck”
- 👨👦 Evan jumps in with insights on keeping student success at the center—and accidentally inspires a porch podcast spinoff
- 🧠 Group musings on the difference between knowledge and wisdom
- 🐓 A deep dive into the ethics and logistics of chicken poop roulette
- 🏀 A shoutout to Houston basketball, small-town charm, and Southern roots
- 🎉 And, of course, the joy of just talking with good people for no particular reason
Quotables:
- “Wisdom is applied knowledge.”
- “You’re not the one who can hurt my feelings—and that’s a compliment.”
- “We don’t have the Merv Griffin set, but we do have StreamYard.”
Connect with the Guests:
Adrian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrian-doughty-53a4a56/
Jon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-hamilton-37056124/
Robyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynbryce/
Evan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grayevan/
Connect with Ryan:
https://twitter.com/Ryan_A_Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
ryan@higheredav.com
Follow the Show:
http://higheredav.com/ryangray
Voiceovers by Chris Dechter:
https://twitter.com/cdechter
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdechter/
Please rate and review the show wherever you get your podcasts, feedback is very welcome and we look forward to hearing from you!
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