Stag Symposium

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 6. Publication date 11/17/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Dafydd Evans, former soccer coach and business teacher at DeMatha. Daf discusses his career and the impact that DeMatha had on him. He shares great stories about his teams and assistant coaches and the importance of building trust and community. Daf talks about the National Championship team and the way that coaches adapt their strategy to certain players while retaining a particular philosophical outlook.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 5. Publication date 11/03/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest is Jim Turk, Director of Vocal Music. Jim talks teaching, music, his journey to DeMatha and shares some of his favorite stories. Jim also talks about his The Ohio State University experience and his composition of DeMatha’s school song. He might teach Mike and Dan to sing. 

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 4. Publication date 10/20/2025

Stag Symposium talks with Mingming Hao about her journey to DeMatha and her love of the Chinese language and culture. She explains how she arranged a trip to China for students this past summer and why she is excited to be teaching a History of China class for those not studying the language. Mingming is DeMatha’s Novice Teacher of the Year and will receive her award at the High School Principals Professional Development Day on Friday, October 24. 

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year of teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 3. Publication date 10/06/2025

Stag Symposium talks with Brendan Shea about his three different times at DeMatha and his journey from student to teacher to admissions director. Brendan tells how he first invented a House System for his classes and he talks about what he learned from other charisms when he worked for the Xaverian brothers in Boston and the Christian Brothers at St. John’s where he was the English Department Chair.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 2. Publication date 09/23/2025

Stag Symposium talks with Fr. Albert about his three different times at DeMatha and the history and mission of the Trinitarians. He tells us what he misses most as he transitioned to President and what he likes best about being President.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

The thumbnail icon was designed by Rob Landini ‘00.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 3, Episode 1. Publication date 09/09/2025

Stag Symposium looks back at the summer events and discusses academic plans for the year and podcast plans. Mike makes a bold promise to have Fr. Albert on! 

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 21st year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 45th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76. 

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 2, Episode 21. Publication date 6/30/2025

Stag Symposium wrap up of season 2, summer plans, and ideas for next year.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 20th year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 44th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.Stag Symposium ([email protected])

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 2, Episode 20. Publication date 6/16/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest this episode is senior Dr. Michael Gatti. Mike Gatti began at DeMatha as a private teacher in percussion and then was hired 23 years ago. His expertise allows us to have two percussion ensembles and to give much more individual attention to the percussionists in all of the other bands. Mike talks about his work as a teacher and a working musician and he tells us about how he came to his calling in music. 

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 20th year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 44th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.Stag Symposium ([email protected])

Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 2, Episode 19. Publication date 6/2/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest this episode is Distinguished Alum, currently professor at Baylor, Dr. Thomas Hibbs ‘78. Dr. Hibbs is the author of 8 books. He is the J. Newton Rayzor Sr. Professor of Philosophy and Dean Emeritus at Baylor University. We talk with Tom about his career at DeMatha, his academic interests and his interest in popular culture and what it is like teaching a class on friendship with his wife.

Music: Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” as played by the DeMatha Wind Ensemble.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 20th year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 44th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.Stag Symposium ([email protected]) Stag Symposium ([email protected]) 

Show Notes Season 2, Episode 18. Publication date 5/19/2025

Stag Symposium’s guest this episode is faculty member and fellow alum Martin Hager. Marty’s family has deep roots in DeMatha: his mom worked in the library for years, his three sons graduated from DeMatha, and his brothers did too. Marty has taught virtually everything in the Science Department curriculum and his work with the Ecology Club and the Recycling Club has been instrumental in making DeMatha a “greener” space. A podcast of several hours couldn’t completely account for his influence at DeMatha. Marty will be retiring at the end of the school year–and he will be missed.

Host Biographies: Mr. Michael Ptomey is in his 20th year teaching. A DeMatha grad, class of ’98, he has taught English, Social Studies, and is currently the Chair of the Theology department. Mike has coached lacrosse and moderated clubs; he has won numerous awards for his teaching.

Dr. Daniel McMahon is in his 44th year of teaching and serves as principal at DeMatha. Dan teaches World Literature and has coached basketball and softball and has moderated numerous clubs. He is a DeMatha grad, class of ’76.Stag Symposium ([email protected])