Path to Follow Podcast

“I remember being compelled during [my first] visit [to Gilman] by things that we hear a lot today. Body, mind, spirit. Multi-sport athletes. Sharing athletes and how the coaches who might coach your primary sport are going to be the ones who push you to play another sport. I think that was true then, and that is true now. And that’s part of the legacy of the school that I hope to be able to help carry forward.” //

Russell Wrenn ‘96 is the co-Athletic Director at Gilman School, an Upper School English teacher, and an assistant baseball coach. He has spent time as a football and baseball coach at Westminster School, Dickinson College, and Johns Hopkins University. Russell is a graduate of Washington & Lee University, where he played football and baseball. //

On Episode #42 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Russell discuss managing athletic teams and schedules during the pandemic, staying eternally optimistic, Russell’s favorite part of being a student at Gilman, body~mind~spirit, the teachers and coaches who played a significant role in Russell’s development, Dan Christian and Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’, “Dante is everywhere,” deciding to study English and geology in college, questions to consider as a potential collegiate athlete, current trends worth discussing in the world of youth & high school sports, pros and cons of club sports, athletic specialization versus generalization, fond memories as a Gilman athlete, qualities Russell looks for in a coach, JHU baseball coach Bob Babb, growing up during COVID, and Russell’s book recommendation: 'Artificial Maturity' by Tim Elmore (2012). //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //​

Many, many thanks to the all-powerful Cesare Ciccanti for all of his efforts on podcast production. //

"I just got consumed by practice." //

A ton of fun on Episode #41 of the Path to Follow Podcast with Mac Ford '81. Mac is a full-time financial advisor at Morgan Stanley, UNC Tarheel '85, father of five, Head Girls' Lacrosse Coach at Notre Dame Prep, and one of the best attackmen to ever play the sport of lacrosse. //

On Episode #41, Jake and Mac discuss coaching girls' lacrosse, the difference between the men's and women's games today, attending Gilman School, the first time Mac ever picked up a lacrosse stick, leadership skills developed through playing JV lacrosse, Eamon McEneaney, Mike French, and Bob Grebe, getting recruited to play at the University of North Carolina, winning a National Championship in 1982, expecting victory, Coach Willie Scroggs, memorable games at Gilman, Chip Tompkins and mastering algebra, playing football for Coach Alex Sotir, when practice becomes a game, "everybody's a salesman," and Mac's book recommendation, the "greatest people skills book of all time": 'How to Win Friends & Influence People' by Dale Carnegie (1936). //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //

Many, many thanks to the all-powerful Cesare Ciccanti for all of his efforts on production. //

"I would say during those years, if you are going to win the championships for track & field in the MIAA, you gotta come through Gilman." //

Johnnie Foreman joined the Gilman faculty in 1984 to teach middle school science and coach varsity football. In 1988, he took over and built up the varsity track & field team, which now holds several records and championships. He taught for years in the Upper School English Department, and serves currently as the Director of Community, Inclusion, and Equity. 

Johnnie is one of the foremost figures in Gilman School history; not only has he educated and mentored generations of young men, but he has helped Gilman become a welcoming and inclusive institution for all. //

In Episode #40 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Johnnie discuss the first time Johnnie stepped on Gilman's campus, Sherm Bristow and Headmaster Redmond C.S. Finney, coaching track and football at Northern High School before coming to Gilman, physical education and track, teaching biology to future track athletes, lactic acid, the physiology of exercise, understanding the connectivity of the body, recovery after track meets, recruiting track athletes to build a team, the power of the arms in running, the mindset of a runner, Johnnie's fondest track & field memory, how Gilman has changed over time, diversity initiatives at Gilman, learning differences in the classroom, how to move academic institutions forward, trombone days, the Sound Experience and "Don't Fight the Feeling," and Johnnie's book recommendation: 'Not in My Neighborhood' (2010) by Antero Pietila. //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //

Many, many thanks to the all-powerful Cesare Ciccanti for all of his efforts on production. //

"Attack the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind!" //

John Harbaugh is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. He's a father, mentor, leader, and inspiration, and it was a pleasure to talk to him on Episode #39 of the Path to Follow Podcast. //

On Episode #39, Jake and Coach Harbaugh discuss the "lost art" of writing well, competition in the Harbaugh household, the teachers and coaches who encouraged Coach Harbaugh as a young man, "95-percenters," building a winning culture "in a nutshell," Ed Reed and shared vision, BIG TRUSS, trust as a pillar of any successful organization, liking AND loving your players, a great Arnold Palmer quote, how to define success, growth from failure, What’s Important Now, and 'Win the Day' by Mark Batterson (2020). //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //

Many, many thanks to the great Cesare Ciccanti for all his hard work on the technical end. //

"There's a difference between LEADERSHIP and LIKERSHIP." //

Rick Sowell has been a Division I Men's Lacrosse Coach for the past twenty years. He began his coaching career after graduating from Washington College in 1986, where he was a two-time All-American and the 1985 Division III National Midfielder of the Year. At the college level, Coach Sowell is one of only three coaches to lead three different programs - Dartmouth, Stony Brook, and Navy - to the NCAA lacrosse playoffs. //

On Episode #38, Coach Sowell and Jake talk about coaching lacrosse at Gilman School in 2020, developing young players, the path to coaching, Coach Moffit's influence, Washington College coach Terry Corcoran, discipline in the sport of lacrosse, what college coaches look for, communicating with college coaches as a high school player, recruiting Canadians at Stony Brook, fostering leadership at the Naval Academy, the decision to attend a service academy, the hardest worker Coach Sowell has ever coached, the difference between leadership and likership, and Coach Sowell's book recommendation: LEADERS EAT LAST by Simon Sinek (2014). //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! // 

Many, many thanks to Cesare Ciccanti for spittin' out these episodes like an absolute machine. //

"They may be athletes, but they're human beings first." //

Arman "Dr. T" Taghizadeh is a Johns Hopkins-trained, Board Certified Psychiatrist and sports psychiatrist. He grew up in Baltimore and attended Gilman School ('95), where he was an All-American wrestler. He also wrestled at James Madison University before receiving his M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. T is the host of "The Mindset Experience," a podcast about using the mind to overcome challenges and achieve success. //

In Episode #37 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Dr. T discuss David Goggins, the 40% Rule, epitomizing mental toughness, failure as inevitable, developing unshakable confidence as an athlete, attitude and gratitude, Jocko Willink, accepting ownership of your circumstances, the Daily Gratitude Challenge, little victories, coaching by tailoring and differentiating communication, preparing players for life, relational coaching, acknowledging and observing the "chatter" of anxiety and doubt, the "hot hand fallacy," the insane powers of visualization, how to visualize "the right way," the mind as "the source," and Dr. T's book recommendation: CAN'T HURT ME by David Goggins (2018). //

Visit Dr. T's website - http://mindsettraininginstitute.com/ //

Don't forget to check out Dr. T's "The Mindset Experience" - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mindset-experience/id1523956517 //

Purchase CAN'T HURT ME by David Goggins (2018) - https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Hurt-Me-Master-Your/dp/1544512287 //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //

PODCAST LINKS - All links: https://linktr.ee/Pathtofollowpod​​​​​​​

Many, many thanks to Cesare Ciccanti for all his hard work on the technical end. //

"Especially in the ancient world, everything is influencing each other so much that it sometimes seems unmanageable how much you would need to learn to really understand history and how things get passed down. But I think that's a good thing..." //

Sarah Miller is a philologist, Latin and Greek teacher at Gilman School, Colgate grad, native of Buffalo, NY, and passionate classicist. //

In Episode #36 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Sarah talk about Sarah's archeological dig in Corinth, developing an interest for the classics, the first time in the classroom, academia and University of Virginia's Ph.D program, Cicero's letters and legacy, the Cataline Conspiracy, letter-writing in ancient Rome, Stoic philosophers, Ryan Holiday, Cicero's ego and reputation, the importance of slowing down while reading Latin and Greek, Ovid's METAMORPHOSES and its retellings, expanding your scope of history, and Sarah's book recommendation: THE SILK ROADS by Peter Frankopan (2015). // 

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! // 

Many, many thanks to Cesare Ciccanti for all his hard work. //

"Outside a window, against a tree, a man named Jim leaned into heavy sleep. Though he was a powerful man of great reach, his body bore baggy rags that made him look raggedy. Drool dripped through his beard and turned to mud as it mingled with the dust of day and the crusted muck of a meal of mush." - JIM HUCKLEBERRY //

Michael Otieno Molina is the Head of School at the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys in Washington D.C. He taught English at Gilman School from 2016-20 and recently published a book called JIM HUCKLEBERRY - "an antidote to the dehumanizing portrayal of Jim that stains Twain's most famous work." Mike is also a spoken word poet, Yale Law School graduate, and native of New Orleans, LA. //

In Episode #35 of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake and Mike discuss Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys, the unique character of Gilman School, becoming multi-dimensional, pursuing a career in education, teaching Mark Twain's HUCKLEBERRY FINN "the right way," writing JIM HUCKLEBERRY, the complexities and contradictions of Mark Twain, Toni Morrison's literary criticism and BELOVED, Benjamin Arthur Quarles, identifying satire, George Washington Cable, spoken word poetry, Van Jones and the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, how Mike found Gilman, inspiring others, bus rides post-Hurricane Katrina, Mike's creative writing process, contagious intellectual curiosity, and overcoming tech difficulties (cheers, Cesare). //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More great ones to come! //

Many, many thanks to Cesare Ciccanti for working technical wonders. //

In Episode #3 of the Special Topics Series of the Path to Follow Podcast, Jake discusses MEDITATION & KORU MINDFULNESS with directors of the Koru Mindfulness program at Gilman School, Cheryl Nkeba and Sarah Ross. //

Koru Mindfulness is an evidence-based meditation and mindfulness program for college-aged students and other young adults. The program was developed by two physicians at Duke University, and has become very popular in recent years. //

Cheryl Nkeba is the Upper School Music Coordinator and co-director of Koru Mindfulness at Gilman School. //

Sarah Ross is a college counselor and co-director of Koru Mindfulness at Gilman School. //

Enjoy the episode? Please follow the Path to Follow Podcast on all platforms: https://linktr.ee/Pathtofollowpod​​ //

Many thanks to the producer of the Path to Follow Podcast, Cesare Ciccanti. //

"I think the most important advice that I'd give Carter is not to rush. There's plenty of time ahead of you...Take your time. Enjoy all of it as it comes to you." //

Jared Spahn '91 is a father, proud Gilman alum, real estate developer, and founder of Old Town Construction in Ellicott City, Maryland. Carter Spahn '21 is a senior at Gilman, aspiring politician, computer technician, and founder of the Gilman Investment Society. //

Such an honor hosting the first father-son dynamic duo on Episode #34 of the Path to Follow Podcast. We discuss different forms of service to country, Jared's long-time interest in politics, teaching history in South Carolina, financial literacy and the ambitious origins of the Gilman Investment Society, fond memories of Headmaster Redmond C.S. Finney, James K. Polk's presidency, teachers who made a lasting impact on Jared and Carter, plans to update the Constitution, real estate development and Old Town Construction, green building, valuable graduation advice, education through travel, what Carter will miss most about Gilman, Carter's book recommendation "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein (1964), and Jared's book recommendation "Better Places, Better Lives: A Biography of James Rouse" (2019) by Joshua Olsen. //

Enjoy the episode? Please spread the word and follow @pathtofollowpod on all platforms. More to come! //

Many thanks to Cesare Ciccanti for his production magic. //