High School Matters

The punch was only the beginning.

In Part 1 of The Kid Who Got Expelled, you heard Sam tell the story of the events leading up to the punch that changed two lives—and became a defining moment at Great Neck North.

Now, in Part 2, we hear what happened next.

Sam opens up about the consequences that followed, how being arrested and expelled changed the direction of his life, and where he went from there. He also looks back on everything that happened with the perspective he has today—what he thinks about the person he was then, the choices he made, and what he has learned from it all.

As always, Sam is remarkably candid, offering an honest and vulnerable look inside the mind of the kid at the center of a story so many people remember.

You've heard about the punch.

Now hear what happened to the kid who threw it.

(This episode is part of a larger series exploring the people and events surrounding that punch. To hear the story from every angle, listen to The Guy Who Couldn't Be Converted, Parts 1 and 2; The Guy Who (Sort of) Remembers Freshman Friday; and The Kid Who Got Expelled - The Extended Cut - Part 1.)

Most people remember the punch.

Very few know what happened to the person who threw it.

In this episode of High School Matters, Randy sits down with Sam, the former Great Neck North student whose single punch became a defining moment not only in another student's life, but in his own. Sam was arrested, expelled from school, and sent down a path he never expected.

Now, with Sam's permission, this conversation is being released in its entirety for the first time.

Sam speaks candidly about fear, fighting, consequences, education, and the way he experiences the world. The result is a remarkably open and vulnerable conversation that goes far beyond the incident itself and raises a bigger question: How much can one moment change the course of a person's life?

You've heard the story of the punch.

Now hear it from the person who threw it.

In this episode of High School Matters, I sit down with Kevin Nassimi, a student who has become connected to this podcast in some unexpected ways. Kevin reflects on friendships, high school drama, and the events surrounding one of the school's most talked-about moments. Along the way, he shares hilarious stories, memorable moments, and plenty of insight about growing up and looking back. Honest, funny, and full of classic high school stories, this is an episode you won't want to miss—especially if you've ever spent time in a high school library.

In this powerful two-part episode of High School Matters, Randy Appell sits down with former student Mat Shurka for a conversation years in the making.

Mat was a student in Randy's biology class in 2002. What Randy didn't know then was that Mat was carrying a secret shaped by trauma, fear, and survival. In high school, Mat was brutally beaten in an attack that would permanently alter the course of his life. The aftermath of that violence eventually led Mat to come out to his father as gay — and to a devastating response: his parents sent him to gay conversion therapy.

In this raw and deeply emotional conversation, Mat shares his story in full detail for the first time on a podcast. He speaks about the assault, the silence that followed, the psychological damage of conversion therapy, and the long road toward reclaiming his identity.

Mat's story has since reached more than a million viewers on YouTube, helped spark national conversations, and contributed to thousands of pages of legislation aimed at banning conversion therapy. Today, Mat is channeling his experience into public service and is running for Congress in the 2026 election.

This is not just a story about trauma. It's a story about resilience, truth, and what can happen when someone refuses to let their worst moment define their final chapter.

In this powerful two-part episode of High School Matters, Randy Appell sits down with former student Mat Shurka for a conversation years in the making.

Mat was a student in Randy's biology class in 2002. What Randy didn't know then was that Mat was carrying a secret shaped by trauma, fear, and survival. In high school, Mat was brutally beaten in an attack that would permanently alter the course of his life. The aftermath of that violence eventually led Mat to come out to his father as gay — and to a devastating response: his parents sent him to gay conversion therapy.

In this raw and deeply emotional conversation, Mat shares his story in full detail for the first time on a podcast. He speaks about the assault, the silence that followed, the psychological damage of conversion therapy, and the long road toward reclaiming his identity.

Mat's story has since reached more than a million viewers on YouTube, helped spark national conversations, and contributed to thousands of pages of legislation aimed at banning conversion therapy. Today, Mat is channeling his experience into public service and is running for Congress in the 2026 election.

This is not just a story about trauma. It's a story about resilience, truth, and what can happen when someone refuses to let their worst moment define their final chapter.

From high school strangers to unlikely reconnection—this episode explores how the past lingers, and how it can reshape the future.

Eric Relkin and I weren't friends in high school—he was the funny guy a year ahead of me, and that was about it. But one class, one teacher, and years later, one odd series of shared obsessions brought us back into conversation.

In our discussion, Eric opens up about the lessons he carried from Hewlett High, the sitcom wisdom he leans on to avoid repeating his parents' mistakes, and how the complicated world of high school shaped his life long after graduation.

What begins as a trip down memory lane turns into something deeper—a reflection on history, on learning from the past, and on the unexpected ways our childhood stays with us.

This is a story about memory, growth, and the choices that define who we become. You won't want to miss it

In a special departure from the usual format, Randy Appell sits down with Dr. Mark Mattson—a trailblazing neuroscientist, 20-year veteran of the National Institutes of Health, and one of the leading minds behind the science of intermittent fasting. His groundbreaking research not only reshaped how we think about nutrition and health but also sparked a movement that continues to captivate scientists and the Internet alike.

Why would a world-renowned researcher join a high school–themed podcast? The answer might surprise you. Together, Randy and Dr. Mattson explore the origins of intermittent fasting, the personal journey that fueled his discoveries, and the science behind why it works. But the conversation doesn't stop there—they also dive into the deeper question: is there a biological reason why high school truly matters in shaping who we are?

From cutting-edge dietary insights to thought-provoking reflections on memory, identity, and health, this episode offers more than just science—it's a lively and unexpected dialogue that pushes the boundaries of what "High School Matters" can be.

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In a full-circle twist, the mic flips. Host Randy Appell becomes the guest as executive producer Jon Fuss takes over to interview the voice behind High School Matters. What follows is a heartfelt, honest, and often hilarious conversation about Randy's life—his high school memories, the moments that shaped his teaching, and the inspiration behind the podcast itself. This episode peels back the curtain and lets you truly meet Randy: the teacher, the former student, and the man behind the mic.

Today's episode is a blast from the past with a twist! I'm joined by Scott Saltiel, who proudly claims the title of High School Matters' number one fan. Unlike many of my guests, Scott and I weren't friends back in high school—but over time, we've discovered we have way more in common than we ever imagined.

Scott is genuine and speaks openly about how much he loved high school, while also being refreshingly honest about the insecurities he's carried into adulthood—including feeling self-conscious about owning a boat because he worries it makes him look spoiled.

This conversation is full of laughter, surprises, and real talk. It's about discovering hidden connections, reflecting on who we were back then, and realizing how easily we might have crossed paths as friends if we'd just gotten to know each other better during those high school years.

So buckle up for some fun stories, candid confessions, and plenty of nostalgia as Scott and I dive into all things high school—and beyond!

In high school, Jon Shatzkamer (Shatz) was the all-American kid—well-liked, good-looking, kind, and seemingly coasting through life with ease. But years later, everything changed when Jon suffered a brain aneurysm that left him in a coma for weeks. His recovery was nothing short of a miracle. While he now faces some challenges with short-term memory, Jon holds onto incredibly vivid and detailed memories from his past—especially from high school. In this heartfelt episode, we talk about the journey he's been on, the struggles he's faced, and the surprising ways his past continues to stay present in his life.