123: The Dude with BC Hatchett

BC Hatchett returns for week two with a laid-back, life-and-leadership conversation that ranges from higher-ed purpose to… blacksmithing. We kick off with Halloween costumes (the Dude abides), detour through first jobs and Louisville summers on a greenskeeping cart, and land on why twenty years at Vanderbilt still feels mission-right. BC talks candidly about what keeps him in higher ed: watching students arrive, grow, and cross the stage — and the joy of playing even a small role in that arc.

From alternate careers (blacksmith or welder) to travel dreams (three months of go-where-the-dart-lands), BC keeps it human and funny. We geek out on Fallout 4 as a brain-cooler, swap Lebowski quotes, and close on BC’s signature sign-off. If you needed a reminder that community, craft, and curiosity still matter in our work — this one’s it.

Topics Discussed

• Dream “money-no-object” Halloween costume (movie-accurate Big Lebowski Dude)
• Why Lebowski hits at a “slice-of-life” level; favorite quotes for any situation
• First job: golf-course greenskeeping; Louisville roots; $2.15/hour and all the golf you can play
• Twenty years at Vanderbilt: why higher ed’s mission still wins
• Alternate-universe careers: blacksmith or welder; satisfaction of tangible builds
• Travel snafus and rituals en route to ISE; the “watch-the-plane-turn-around” story
• Pride without boasting: how HETMA grew up — and why it matters
• “Heaven question” à la Inside the Actors Studio: BC’s perfect greeting at the gates
• Small mindset flips: deciding eggs aren’t gross; the omelet-perfection quest
• Winding down with video games: Fallout 4, branching choices, and settlement building

Connect with BC
[e-mail]
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bc-hatchett-88746312/
https://x.com/bchatchett

Connect with Ryan
@Ryan_A_Gray
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanagray/
[e-mail]

Show Links 
HETMA Community: https://community.hetma.org
HETMA Roadshow – Vanderbilt (Oct 27): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nashville-roadshow-at-vanderbilt-university-tickets-1467308913459
EDUCAUSE Annual Conference: https://events.educause.edu/annual-conference

Voiceover by Chris Dechter

Have feedback or guest ideas? Let us know!

This show is a production of Higher Ed AV Media. Visit www.HigherEdAV.com for fresh content every day!