The QuadPod

October is peak in every way! On this episode, we take advantage of the seemingly endless stream of perfect weather days and venture out of the studio for some Halloween-themed fun on campus. Seniors Miller Brock and Ward Bickerstaff bring you a special zombie-inspired vox pop from the quad, and senior Smith Kibbe gets boots on the ground at the annual "trunk or treat" sponsored by Baylor's community service program. In addition to these two features, Reese Finlay ('27) interviews Ella Metzner ('27) about her history-making season with the Baylor football team. This episode is hosted by Smith Kibbe ('27) and Evan Chacon ('27). See the video version at the following link: youtu.be/FEB8l7i6Xsk

Want to watch this episode? We now have a video version of the podcast! Find us here: http://www.youtube.com/@QuadPodBaylorSchool

On this episode, we look back on a summer of impressive feats. First, Hollyn Blair ('27) and her father, Curtis Blair, director of soccer at Baylor, reflect on just how magical it was to host the Spanish national football team on Baylor's campus this past June. Both had a front row seat to the daily training sessions, and discuss the role that Baylor (and Chattanooga at large) got to play in their historic run to the world cup title. Next, Blakely Richardson ('27) speaks with Emma Kate McAnnally about the inspiration behind, "Just Mia," a novel she published last spring, and how she spent her summer writing & editing over 100,000 thousand words while working on a second major project. "Just Mia" can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Just-Mia-Emma-Kate-McAnnally/dp/B0GX3JBK7D. Finally, Baylor cross country and track legend Hannah Jumper Wilson ('11) gets the scoop on sophomore running star Addy Cotter's big summer on the national stage. In the span of just over three weeks in June, Addy competed in several major races including the Hoka Festival of Miles (St. Louis, MO), Brooks PR Invitational (Seattle, WA), and the Nike Outdoor Nationals (Eugene, OR). Squeezed in there, co-hosts for this episode, Smith Kibbe ('27) and Evan Chacon ('27), hit the quad to ask you: what's the most interesting thing you did this summer?

Get a front row seat to Elvis mania, tiptoe through the halls of a haunted house, and learn what it takes to make the big time...We've got a little something for everyone on this final episode of the season. This is your "best of" episode from the spring semester of audio journalism. These three final projects--from seniors Vivian Arnold, Marley Degenhardt, and Mantas Paldauskas--represent the craft of audio storytelling at its best.

On this episode, co-hosts Mason Finlay ('26) and B Newell ('26) bring us three interviews with Baylor alumni, spanning the recently graduated (Justin Todd class of '23), to the recently graduated from college (Megha Chanamolu class of '21), to the "decade out in the wild" (Jazmin Simpkins class of '16). Hear how each has taken the Baylor experience to heart and is actively "paying it forward" in their lives. Interviews are conducted by Mr. Kelly, Rae Karimian ('26), and Taryn Harris ('26). As seniors will soon be out in the wild themselves (i.e. senior trip), this is likely the last episode for our senior QuadPod staff, whom Mr. Kelly can't thank enough! We'll have one more episode in May ( a "best of" episode), where these hardworking seniors will get a proper shoutout. Until then, enjoy this episode!

On this episode we are honoring all of the great moms out there! Featuring three great conversations between Baylor students and their mothers, this is one that will leave you inspired. Each audio story served as the student's final project in audio journalism and includes pieces by Petra Lund ('26), Olive Smith ('25), and Quinn Bakker ('26). This episode is hosted by Mike Kelly.

On this episode, you will hear from three Baylor voices on "that thing" they love doing so much that time just seems to disappear when they are engaged with it. Senior B Newell interviews Baylor faculty member, Chris Elsey, on Barbershop singing, senior Taryn Harris interviews Baylor faculty member, Greta Mountain, on rock climbing, and senior Madeline Claire Stefaniuk interviews her father, Dan Stefaniuk, on photography. We begin the episode with a special vox pop, where you tell us what "that thing" is for you!

Step onto campus, and one thing that becomes quickly evident is Baylor’s focus on the whole child. That focus means not only providing students with support academically, but also providing them with support mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. In this episode, we speak with some of the people behind support programs devoted to the whole child and how they help students navigate the many challenges that come with growth.  Beginning in the middle school, Mike Kelly sits down with Lizzy Gendimenico ('06), a guidance counselor, and Christy Tomisek, middle school assistant head for academics, to learn more about how life lessons, by design, reside in virtually every facet of the student experience at Baylor.  Next, Taryn Harris ('26) speaks with John Gibson, varsity girls basketball coach and member of the learning center, about ASSIST, an early intervention program aimed at educating students on the dangers of substance abuse.  Finally, Mason Finlay ('26) sits with Brice Johnson, director of sports performance, to discuss the evolving field of sports science and how Baylor's program equips students for success not only on the playing fields but in life.  This episode is hosted by B Newell ('26) and Mason Finlay ('26).

On this episode, we’ll hear from members of Baylor's 2025 state championship teams (Fall) and take a quick look back at their seasons before turning the page to 2026. First, we join head football coach Erik Kimrey, senior quarterback Briggs Cherry and senior wide receiver and defensive back Jamyan Theodore to discuss their historic undefeated season and run to the state title. Next, we sit down with four senior members of the girls' soccer team—Hadley Griffith, Lilly Catalanotto, Zoe Misenhimer, & Alison Noland—to discuss the road to their threepeat, as the team won their third straight championship this year. And finally, we’ll end with two members of the girls’ golf team, Carlee Rogers and Katie Grace Tudor—who led their team to the program’s 21st championship overall.

On this episode, take a deep dive into two cutting-edge programs on Baylor's campus: Robotics and Moonshot Design.  Hear how students are combining mechanical engineering, software programming, design, public speaking, creative thinking, and more in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.  This episode features the following students: Avery Levin ('27), Henry Rolleston ('26), Owen McKenna ('27), Alli McCroskey ('28), Brandon Oakes ('26), Lana Mitchell ('27), Chase Mansfield ('28), Tvesha Patel ('28), Grace Tang ('28), and Katelyn Steele ('28).  Providing an overview of each program are faculty members Dr. Louie Elliott (Robotics) and Dr. Antonio Herrera (Moonshot Design).

On this episode, reach into your goodie bag for some delectable sonic sweets! First, we travel back in time with Jim Frierson ('67) to learn about Baylor's Glee Club, which reached some incredible heights during the 50s and 60s under the direction of Dr. Vernon Kellett, including recording an album in Nashville with Columbia records. You'll get to hear some tracks from this amazing album before traveling back to the present with Mason Finlay ('26) to hear how the choir, under the direction of Vic Oaks, is keeping the spirit alive today. Then, B Newell ('26) sits down with assistant head of school, Shaw Wilson ('84), to hear about his recent community time/history time lecture on the evolution of music consumption. Both cover their own personal listening histories and habits, while sharing some of their favorite songs along the way. Next, we turn to Rike Field with Mattson Lewis ('74) for a brief recap of how it functioned as Baylor's primary athletic field for a number of decades, before joining Taryn Harris ('26) and head of school, Chris Angel ('89), to learn about an exciting new chapter for Rike. Finally, we cap off the episode with a special Halloween vox pop to prime that sweet tooth. This episode is hosted by Mason Finlay ('26) and B Newell ('26).