136: You Never Go Full Bald with Chris Kelly

About this episode

Chris Kelly returns to discuss Higher Ed AV Media strategy, neurodivergence, and the nuances of workplace communication.

Chris Kelly returns to The AV/IT Amplifier Podcast for week two with Ryan Gray, and the conversation picks up right where the first one left off: part Higher Ed AV Media strategy, part neurodivergent team therapy session, part comedy riff about baldness, gifts, and why some people should absolutely not be forced to sing an improvised jingle on command. Chris, Senior IT Support Specialist at Creighton University, HETMA Advisory Board Chair, and Managing Editor for Higher Ed AV Media, talks about his role supporting volunteer contributors, helping build consistency, and creating a structure that encourages people rather than making creative work feel like punishment. Ryan and Chris also get into the very real tension between spontaneity and planning, and why authentic collaboration often works best when people are not wired the same way. The conversation moves from HETMA and Higher Ed AV Media into broader reflections on workplace communication, neurodivergence, podcasting, and the vulnerability behind even simple questions like asking someone how they are doing. Along the way, Chris explains his state high point hiking project, Ryan tries to force a Higher Ed AV Media jingle into…

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Gray

Guest: Chris Kelly

Topics covered

• Higher Ed AV Media strategy
• neurodivergence
• workplace communication
• podcasting
• collaboration
• baldness

Keywords

• Higher Ed AV Media
• neurodivergence
• podcasting
• collaboration
• baldness
• workplace communication
• HETMA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Creighton University, HETMA, Higher Ed AV Media

More episodes of AV/IT Amplifier

• 138: I Don't Wanna Be The Cheesey Boy with Philipp Gude · June 10, 2026 · 35 min
• 137: Reliable as F*** with Philipp Gude · June 3, 2026 · 30 min
• 135: The Managing Editor with Chris Kelly · April 29, 2026 · 35 min
• 134: They Don't Sit in the Classroom Like I Do with Mike McHugh · April 1, 2026 · 32 min
• 133: It Might Just Be Future Mike with Mike McHugh · March 25, 2026 · 31 min
• Special: HETMA Presents... Live Keynote from the HETMA Virtual Conference · February 25, 2026 · 58 min