Choose to be Curious Ep.#314: "Curiosity is the thing that drives you to figure out who you really are," with jimmy Hatch
Feb 12, 2026
Jimmy Hatch, a former Navy SEAL turned Yale teacher and founder of Spikes Canine Fund, reflects on curiosity, courage, and recovery. He talks about translating military lessons to academia, pushing students into discomfort, confronting ambiguity, and challenging institutional hubris. Playful metaphors like pickles and watercolors highlight the unpredictable work of exploring the unknown.
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Use Discomfort To Teach Courage
- Push people into uncomfortable situations to accelerate learning and moral clarity.
- Jimmy Hatch uses tough literature and frank classroom stories to force students to test their values and see their existing courage.
Yale Is More Like Special Operations Than You Think
- Academia and special operations share selection, commitment, and fear of offending but differ in expression.
- Hatch argues both groups are vetted, driven, and insecure, making cross‑learning between them useful.
The Wounded Photo That Sparks Moral Debate
- Hatch shows a wartime photo of himself wounded with a fentanyl lollipop and asks if it's courageous or stupid.
- He uses that visceral image to make students confront perspective, judgment, and the ambiguity of courage.