Episode 62: Death of a Salesman Student Panel #1 Arthur Miller (1949) Running Time: 23:25 This Week's Guests: Jordan Harris Ariann Garner Holly Eldridge Ariana Darui Gianni Snidle In 1949, Arthur Miller set out to prove that "a small man can be just as exhausted as a great man," and he wrote the stage tragedy of a traveling salesman, Willy Loman, to illustrate exactly how this sort of thing can happen. Join Mr. Meehan and a crew of students from the Honors American Literature class as we go inside the everyday lives and lies of a working class American family. Death of a Salesman may not be the story of larger-than-life "leaders of men," but the "dime a dozen" characters who populate this drama are equally complicated, compelling, and timeless nonetheless.  Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 63: Death of a Salesman Student Panel #2 Arthur Miller (1949) Running Time: 26:46 This Week's Guests: Isabell Baltimore Leah Hammes LaDan Nemati Luis Ozuna Sophia Price Martha Stevens Last week's Death of a Salesman conversation was just so good that we simply had to dive right back into Arthur Miller's fanfare for the common man for a second Salesman podcast. Join Mr. Meehan and a second group of students from the Bishop O'Connell Honors American Literature class as we explore the lives, lies, and longings of the Loman family. Death of a Salesman is a poignant, humbling glimpse into the everyday faults and failures of the "low man" in society -- and this week's podcast group delves even deeper into the mind of the story's protagonist, forever doomed by the inescapable truth that "he had all the wrong dreams." Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 64: A Streetcar Named Desire Student Panel #1 Tennessee Williams (1947) Running Time: 26:46 This Week's Guests: Victoria Gordon Claire Griffen Mireya Lopez Lorena Meruvia Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning A Streetcar Named Desire opens with the rather unceremonious arrival of Blanche DuBois at the New Orleans home of her sister and brother-in-law, Stella and Stanley Kowalski. Tensions mount in the sweltering heat of the Louisiana summer, and long-held secrets threaten to destroy everything that this once-prominent Southern family holds to be true. This week, students from Mr. Meehan's Honors American Literature classes stop by the podcast studio to make sense of this explosive drama, so join us as we discuss Blanche, Stanley, and (of course!) STELLAAAAAA!!!! Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 65: A Streetcar Named Desire Student Panel #2 Tennessee Williams (1947) Running Time: 25:38 This Week's Guests: Cary Beam Alejandro Di Napoli Julie Ngyuen Che Nicholls Rose Sloate A Streetcar Named Desire is a pressure cooker of human drama, and Mr. Meehan's English classes have a LOT to sound off on about the subject! As Tennessee Williams pulls back the curtain on the personal lives of the Kowalski family, things are bound to get heated. So this week, we invited a second group of American Literature students into the podcast studio for another round of discussion regarding Blanche, Stanley, and (of course!) STELLAAAAAA!!!! (And yes, we made this same joke in last week's blurb). Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 66: Largesse 2016 is Here! Running Time: 15:00 The Bishop O'Connell High School literary magazine is hitting news stands next week, and we've got a full-color publication with 100 pages of student poetry, artwork, and creative writing to "Illuminate the Knight." This week, join Mr. Meehan, faculty moderator of the Largesse, for a sneak preview of what's in store for this year's publication. Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 67: Summer Reading 2016 (Grade 9) Running Time: 24:47 This Week's Guests: Ms. Ladas Mrs. WentzelThe end of the school year is almost here! And the DJO English department is podcasting all summer long to help steer you through some of the tricky spots and frequently asked questions regarding the summer reading assignments for each grade level. This week, two of O'Connell's freshman English teachers join Mr. Meehan to discuss the 9th grade summer curriculum. So join us for some helpful tips on what to keep your eyes peeled for as you enjoy the sun and fun of summer (and a little bit of reading, while you're at it). Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 69: Summer Reading 2016 (Grade 11) Running Time: 29:11 This Week's Guests: Ms. Gibeily Mrs. Jester Mr. Meehan Summer is almost here! And the DJO English department is podcasting to help steer you through some of the tricky spots and frequently asked questions regarding the summer reading assignments for each grade level. This week, we've got teachers from each of our junior-level classes (College Prep, Honors, and AP). So join us for some helpful tips on what to keep your eyes peeled for as you enjoy the sun and fun of summer (and a little bit of reading, while you're at it). Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 12: Summer Reading (Grade 12) Running Time: 24:14 This Week's Guests: Mrs. Cerniglia Mrs. O'Reilly Mr. MeehanSummer is here! And the DJO English department is podcasting to help steer you through some of the tricky spots and frequently asked questions regarding the summer reading assignments for each grade level. This week, we've got teachers from each of our senior-level classes (College Prep, Honors, and AP). So join us for some helpful tips on what to keep your eyes peeled for as you enjoy the sun and fun of summer (and a little bit of reading, while you're at it). Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 71: To Kill a Mockingbird (Summer Reading Strategies) Harper Lee (1960) Running Time: 11:03 This Week's Topics: Taking notes Close reading strategies Tips for re-reading Original Air Date: 6/15/15 Students are often told to "take notes" as they make their way through the summer reading, but sometimes it can be tricky to determine just what we should take notes on (and why!) in each new book. This week, Mr. Meehan puts a "Five Minute Focus" -- which is actually more like ten minutes -- on To Kill a Mockingbird. This episode is packed with sample note-taking strategies, close-reading techniques, and the types of questions to ask yourself as you read (or re-read) this classic of American literature. Pro-tip: listen to this podcast and the Freshmen Summer Reading episode before you start reading! These recordings are loaded with tips and strategies on how to make clearer sense of the book and boost your comprehension as you read. (It's like extra credit in advance!(It's like extra credit in advance!) Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.

Episode 72: The Hobbit (Summer Reading Strategies) J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) Running Time: 11:14 This Week's Topics: Taking notes Close reading strategies Tips for fantasy literature Original Air Date: 6/25/15 Students are often told to "take notes" as they make their way through the summer reading, but sometimes it can be tricky to determine just what we should take notes on (and why!) in each new book. This week, Mr. Meehan puts a "Five Minute Focus" -- which is actually more like ten minutes -- on The Hobbit. This episode is packed with sample note-taking strategies, close-reading techniques, and the types of questions to ask yourself as you make your way through this landmark work of fantasy literature (hint: there's a bunch of stuff in here that you won't see in the movies!).Pro-tip: listen to this podcast and the Freshmen Summer Reading episode before you start reading! These recordings are loaded with tips and strategies on how to make clearer sense of the book and boost your comprehension as you read. (It's like extra credit in advance!) Your browser does not support this audio Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes! And we'll see you again next week.