In this special Higher Ed AV Podcast live stream, Joe Way is joined by Shure’s Yuri and Ryan for an in-depth look at the new SLXD+ wireless platform and what it means for higher education AV teams. Broadcasting with HETMA and packed with live audience questions, this episode explores how Shure has expanded SLXD+ into a more powerful, enterprise-ready option for classrooms, lecture halls, event spaces, and campus-wide deployments.

Yuri breaks down the biggest upgrades to SLXD+, including wideband tuning, ShowLink Ease transmitter control, Dante-enabled quad receivers, digital feedback reduction, encryption, audio summing, and expanded cascading capabilities. The conversation also tackles real-world higher ed concerns such as compatibility with legacy SLXD gear, Q-SYS integration, rechargeable transmitter options, wireless range expectations, firmware updates, and how SLXD+ compares with ULXD in larger campus environments.

This episode stands out because it is not just a product overview. It is a practical discussion about workflow, scalability, flexibility, and support for institutions that need reliable wireless systems without unnecessary complexity. The live Q&A format also gives listeners a direct look at the kinds of questions higher ed technology leaders are asking right now as they evaluate next-generation classroom and event audio solutions.

What you will hear in this episode:

• An introduction to Shure SLXD+ and why it is a major leap forward from the original SLXD
• How wideband tuning simplifies deployment and inventory management
• What ShowLink Ease does and how it enables remote transmitter control
• How automatic frequency mitigation works during interference events
• New DSP capabilities including feedback reduction and audio summing
• Dante support and cascading improvements for larger multi-channel environments
• Compatibility with existing SLXD systems and third-party control platforms
• Practical insight into where SLXD+ fits in higher ed compared to ULXD
• Audience questions about range, battery reporting, demo opportunities, and more
• A reminder that higher ed AV is increasingly thinking at an enterprise scale, and manufacturers are responding accordingly

Guests:

Yuri Lysoivanov, Senior Solutions Engineer at Shure
Ryan Budvitis, Senior Solutions Engineer at Shure and liaison to HETMA

Why listen:

If you are responsible for classroom technology, live events, campus wireless strategy, or AV standardization, this episode offers a timely look at a product line designed to make professional wireless easier to deploy, manage, and scale across higher education environments.

Connect with Shure:

Ryan Budvitis: [email protected]
Shure Online: https://www.shure.com
Geer Tech Online: https://www.geertech.net
SLXD+ Info:: https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/wireless-systems/slxd-plus?variant=SLX-D%252B

353: From Grassroots to Gravity with BC Hatchett
Higher Ed AV Podcast with Joe Way

In episode two of this six-part series, Joe Way welcomes back HETMA cofounder BC Hatchett for an honest conversation about what happens when a grassroots movement grows into something much bigger. What started as a bold idea to advocate for higher education in the AV industry has become a real business with real responsibility, real expectations, and real consequences. Together, Joe and BC reflect on the successes, the missteps, the personal and professional weight of leadership, and the reality that building something meaningful often comes with pressure, scars, and lessons learned the hard way.

This episode dives into the evolution of HETMA from a passionate startup community into a recognized force within the AV industry. Joe and BC talk candidly about reputation, sponsorship accountability, the burden of representing an entire vertical, and the personal growth required when your role shifts from organizer to leader. It is a conversation about advocacy, intentionality, business maturity, and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes success requires hard pivots, difficult self-awareness, and the willingness to outgrow your own early identity.

The conversation also explores what it means to advocate for yourself, your community, and your profession. Joe and BC unpack the tension between being visible and being divisive, between being liked and being respected, and between having fun while building something serious. They close by encouraging listeners to step out, take risks, and understand that growth is rarely smooth, but it is often worth it.

Along the way, the episode includes a fun “Hot or Not” segment covering topics like BYOD in learning environments, AI in cameras and microphones, classroom standardization, USB-C over HDMI, hiring for attitude over skill, whether leaders need to be experts, and why respect matters more than popularity.

Guest:

BC Hatchett is the Director of Classroom Technology at Vanderbilt University and the co-founding partner alongside Joe Way in building HETMA. In this episode, he brings a grounded perspective on leadership, responsibility, and the challenges of turning vision into sustainable impact.

Connect with BC Hatchett:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bc-hatchett-88746312/
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/bchatchett

Connect with Joe Way:

Web: https://www.josiahway.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josiahway
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/josiahway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahway
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@josiahway
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@josiahway

In this episode of the Higher Ed AV Podcast, Joe Way launches the first installment of a six-part series focused on failure, reinvention, leadership, and personal brand building. Joined by longtime friend Raul Cabrera, president of Miguel Studios in Fort Worth, Texas, Joe goes back to his early Texas days to reflect on a business venture that did not go as planned and the lessons that came from it. What unfolds is an honest conversation about risk, entrepreneurship, accountability, resilience, and how some of life’s hardest setbacks become the very things that shape future success.

Joe and Raul revisit how they first met through dance lessons, how that relationship evolved into a business opportunity, and what it was like to be part of an ambitious concept that was simply ahead of its time. From there, the conversation moves into the realities of leadership, including the weight of making decisions that affect other people’s lives, the importance of transparency during difficult times, and the growth that comes from owning your mistakes instead of hiding them. Raul also shares how his own path through ministry, marketing, and entrepreneurship led him to content creation and digital strategy, offering practical insight for anyone looking to build a brand and tell their story more effectively.

This episode is both deeply personal and highly practical. It is a conversation about what happens when your biggest failures become your greatest teachers, and why leaders who are willing to own their shortcomings often earn the deepest trust. It also sets the tone for the rest of the series, which will continue exploring Joe’s journey, the people who shaped it, and the lessons that can help others step into advocacy, confidence, and platform-building for themselves. 

In this episode: 

• Joe kicks off a new six-part series centered on failure, growth, and self-advocacy
• Raul Cabrera joins the show to reflect on Joe’s early Texas chapter 
• A look back at an ambitious business concept that failed, and why 
• Lessons on leadership, risk tolerance, and the cost of hiding hard truths 
• Why accountability in the moment can strengthen trust and team culture
• Reflections on ministry, calling, burnout, and life transitions
• Raul’s journey into digital marketing, social media strategy, and content creation
• Why YouTube and TikTok matter for personal brand building
• A fun rapid round featuring college traditions, food, In-N-Out, and social media advice 

About the guest:

Raul Cabrera is the president of Miguel Studios in Fort Worth, Texas, a content studio and digital marketing company that helps organizations with content creation, social media management, and digital strategy. His career path has spanned hospitality, ministry, marketing, and entrepreneurship, giving him a unique perspective on leadership, communication, and building something from the ground up.

Connect with Raul Cabrera and Miguel Studios:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raulmiguelcabrera/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_raul_cab/
Miguel Studios Web: https://miguelstudios.com
Miguel Studios Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miguelstudiosfw/

Connect with Joe Way:

Web: https://www.josiahway.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/josiahway
X (Formerly Twitter): https://www.x.com/josiahway
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiahway

Joe explains that being a qualified buyer is not about exclusivity or being part of a large, well-funded institution. It is about being educated, having a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve, knowing your deliverables, and entering conversations with enough clarity to help solution partners actually respond in a useful way. He also shares why this mindset creates better relationships, better decisions, and better long-term success for everyone involved.

Since Higher Ed AV Awards nominations are now open (https://HigherEdAVAwards.com), Joe uses this episode to pull back the curtain on what actually makes an award nomination stand out. Drawing from his unique experience as a nominee, winner, judge, and awards organizer, he explains why strong nominations matter more than reputation, marketing language, or assumptions that an entry alone should guarantee a trophy. He breaks down the different types of industry awards, from public voting and panel-judged honors to editorial recognitions, and explains how the strongest entries consistently focus on impact, specificity, audience awareness, and meaningful proof.

Joe walks listeners through what judges are really looking for, especially in the Higher Ed AV Awards. He explains why nominees need to fully answer every section, maximize every character allowed, provide measurable results, include strong references, and avoid vague marketing language. He also emphasizes that judges can only score what is actually included in the submission, not what they may already know about a person, company, or product. The episode is both a practical guide and a candid reality check for anyone hoping to improve their chances of winning.

Along the way, Joe also shares details about this year’s Higher Ed AV Awards, including entry timing, category structure, Hall of Fame distinctions, the new People’s Choice Awards, and what attendees can expect during Higher Ed Week at InfoComm. It is part awards masterclass, part industry pep talk, and part preview of the bigger conversations still to come on the podcast. In this episode:

• Why awards matter and how different award programs are judged
• The three main types of AV industry awards: public vote, judging panels, and editorial picks
• Why the quality of the nomination matters more than name recognition
• What judges actually score and why incomplete entries lose points
• How to write stronger executive summaries, detailed overviews, and impact statements
• Why references, testimonials, quotes, and supporting documentation matter
• Common mistakes manufacturers, marketers, and nominees make when entering awards
• How Higher Ed AV Awards scoring works for products, projects, and people
• Why Hall of Fame is not the same as a lifetime achievement award
• A preview of the new People’s Choice Award categories
• Key dates and details for this year’s Higher Ed AV Awards and Higher Ed Week at InfoComm

Key takeaway:
Great work does not automatically win awards. Great nominations do. The strongest submissions tell a clear story, prove impact, speak to the right audience, and make it easy for judges to understand exactly why that person, product, or project deserves recognition.

Mentioned in this episode:
Higher Ed AV Awards
HETMA Higher Ed Summit at InfoComm
Higher Ed Week at InfoComm
Hall of Fame nominations
People’s Choice Awards
AV Awards
AV Nation
rAVe
SCN Hall of Fame
Commercial Integrator 40 Under 40

Call to action:
Nominations for the Higher Ed AV Awards are open now. Get your entries in early, take the time to do them well, and join the community in celebrating the people, products, and projects making a difference across higher education AV. Visit https://HigherEdAVAwards.com.

This special double episode of the podcast brings you straight to Enterprise Connect 2026 in two parts. First, Joe goes live from the show floor, walking the event, taking in the energy of the conference, and sharing real-time conversations and insights from one of the industry’s biggest and best UC gatherings. Then the episode shifts to a featured higher ed panel session moderated by Joe Way, bringing together James King, Chi Hang Lo, Kerlin Cisneros, and Rodrigo Ceballos for a thoughtful discussion on the role of communications, collaboration, and technology in higher education. Together, the two parts capture both the excitement of the event floor and the depth of conversation shaping the future of higher ed technology.

In this interestingly off-the-wall and completely impromptu episode of the Higher Ed AV livestream, Joe goes live from the Sony AV Tech Expo in San Diego, bringing viewers along for a spontaneous walk through the show floor. With his signature energy and curiosity, he dives into the action in real time, jumping into conversations, catching up with attendees, and offering an unfiltered look at the people, technology, and moments that make events like this so engaging. The result is a fun, candid, and immersive experience that feels less like a formal broadcast and more like being right there with him in the middle of it all.

In this short solo episode, Joe Way gives less of a preview and rather a reminder to log in for the HETMA Virtual Conference, emphasizing that it is free, easy to access, and built to fit into a normal work week. He explains that all you need to do is create a free account on the HETMA community site, go to the Events and Replays area, open the Virtual Conference listing, and click the Zoom link to join, with the schedule and recordings also available through the community.

From there, he reflects on why the virtual conference matters to the organization’s identity, because it was how HETMA began and how its “by us and for us” approach came to life, with the community choosing what it wanted to learn and bringing in the right experts rather than relying on a generic call for sessions. He notes that the virtual conference became an important platform for higher education voices, especially during the COVID era, and that it helped accelerate the organization’s growth, leadership development, and initiatives, including moments where honest feedback from attendees shaped meaningful action.

Joe highlights the unique community effect of the event, where people can join quietly, participate in chat, and still build relationships that later turn into deeper involvement and leadership within HETMA. This year’s conference runs for three days, with morning kickoffs, sessions throughout the day, and a daily happy hour to keep the community connection strong, and Joe repeatedly gives permission to attend in the most realistic way possible by putting it on in the background, jumping in between meetings, and treating it as a flexible shared experience rather than something that requires stepping away from work. He closes by reinforcing that this free conference is especially valuable when budgets and travel are limited, because it still provides three days of learning, networking, and shared problem solving with the higher ed AV community, plus the ability to catch replays afterward if you cannot attend everything live.

Visit the community page: https://community.hetma.org/posts/80675845.

Integrated Systems Europe was bigger and better than ever before. Listen as Joe and the HETMA team break down the Best of #ISE2026!

HETMA hosted two simultaneous booths at #ISE2026 and the #EdTech2026 Congress in Barcelona. Joe and crew stream and record between the shows. Watch and listen to what will be one of the most entertaining shows yet!