The QuadPod

This is our "best of" episode from the audio journalism elective at Baylor School, featuring some of the best student-produced audio projects from the 23-34 school year, along with some additional surprises. This episode includes pieces from Michael Iqbal ('24), Luke Thompson ('24), Reagan Edwards ('24), Charlie Pearman ('24), Cooper Keown ('24), and Alana Zavala ('24).

On this episode, we take a closer look at two Baylor programs that share more in common than you might think: mechanics club and biomedical research. These may seem an unlikely pair, but both fields involve taking a closer look at the fine details, diagnosing problems, and working towards solutions. For each story, we get an overview of the program with the faculty leader, and then hear perspectives on the experience from several of the students involved. First, we lift up the hood with Dr. Fazio and several members of the mechanics club. Senior Peter Fischer, who is also a member of the club, brings us this story. After, Mr. Kelly heads down to Weeks to discover what Dr. Antonio Herrera and four students from the biomedical research program have been exploring. Finally, we wrap up the episode with a special vox pop from Caroline Cliatt, a member of the graduating class, about where her fellow seniors are attending college next year and what they are looking forward to the most. This episode is hosted by seniors Alana Zavala and Anya Wiisanen.

The hill is alive with the sound of music! On this episode, we are featuring some of Baylor's most fluent speakers of "the universal language." First, senior Vincent McClure sits down with Vic Oaks, director of Baylor's choral program and the chair of fine arts here at Baylor, to get an overview of the value of an arts and music education. Next, senior Alana Zavala brings us the story of Mae Bender ('24), a Baylor student taking singing to operatic heights. Then, Tate Harrison ('25) speaks with freshman Shepherd Sewell, one of the top young cellists in the state, about his path to mastery. And finally, Mr. Kelly talks all things banjo with director of the learning center, Jennifer Averbeck. This episode is hosted by seniors Alana Zavala and Anya Wiisanen.

Travel to San Francisco with 11 Baylor students for the Harvard Model Congress Conference, a prestigious government simulation conference in the city by the bay. Hear students debate the most pressing issues facing our country today, led by their fearless leader, Baylor faculty member, Mary Beth Hopping. This episode is hosted by Mike Kelly, QuadPod "coach" and chaperone on the trip. Student voices include sophomore Shanina Dong, and juniors Benjamin Daniel, Eric Zheng, Tate Harrison, Grace Simmons, Finn Ryan, Julia Gardner, Ella Grace Lazenby, Alisha Chandra, Luci Hemphill, and Harper Kelly.

On this episode, we climb inside the world of the middle school production of "James and the Giant Peach." First, freshman Ivan Zheng speaks with the show’s director, Allison Lamb, about some of the unique challenges of this production. Next, senior Alana Zavala sits down with Elizabeth Agner, class of 2028, to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to be the stage manager in a multifaceted production like this. Then, senior Anya Wiisanen talks theatre costuming and fashion with junior Harper Kelly. Finally, if stepping into Dahl’s imaginary world isn’t enough to help you beat the winter doldrums, senior Dawson Bower gets some ideas from student activities coordinator, Daxton Bacalman, about ways to get involved and have fun off campus this season, and what we have to look forward to just around the corner.

On this episode we are featuring four solid interviews that students in the audio journalism elective conducted for their final projects in the class.  These four are not only all strong pieces, but they go together because they all share something in common: each student is a future college athlete who chose to sit down with a coach they admire to learn more about them, the game they have devoted their lives to, and to share stories about the sport they both love.  Each student handled all aspects of the production, from crafting the questions, running the tech, and finally editing the interview tape down to a 5-8 minute running time.  First, we’ll join senior Tomas Valincus and head coach Mike Kinney to talk baseball, then we’ll hear senior Riley Oleksik relive the historic sweet sixteen run that head Baylor girls' basketball coach John Gibson took with the 1997 UTC men’s basketball team while serving as an assistant coach.  We’ll stick with basketball for our next piece, as senior Nyziah Waley gives us a preview of the boys' basketball season with Baylor head coach and athletic director Mark Price.  Finally, we’ll hear senior Jack Murdock and head boys' lacrosse coach Tyler White talk about the game they both love.  Each of these students is a gifted athlete heading on to play at the next level and credit their esteemed coaches at Baylor for making that a possibility.

On this episode, we speak with three individuals who bring a unique set of life experiences to our community, experiences that further enrich our education here at Baylor. First, senior Vincent McClure sits down with Tony Easley, who coaches both boys' basketball and serves as Baylor’s strength and conditioning coach. Mr. Easley played professional basketball for 11 years on seven different teams in seven different countries. As a young aspiring player who didn’t even make his 9th-grade basketball team, this was a future that, as a young man, he never could have imagined. Next, senior Blake Bogo speaks with Baylor faculty member Jack Studer ('01). Mr. Studer is a successful entrepreneur who is sharing his knowledge and expertise about business start-ups and successes in the form of a new elective at Baylor. Finally, if you are a loyal listener of this program, you might recall that we had junior Tate Harrison kick off this season by describing his summer as an exchange student in South Africa. On this episode, we bring you part two of that story, where we turn the tables and Tate interviews Dylan Beukes, a young man from Tate’s host family in South Africa who spent six weeks here at Baylor as part of the same exchange program. This episode is hosted by seniors Anya Wiisanen and Karen Hori.

On this episode, in the spirit of this peak season, we’ll be highlighting some of the special events and transformational experiences happening on campus right now. First, senior Karen Hori sits down with the community service special events coordinator, Aashi Patel, to learn more about the program’s special Trunk or Treat night on campus. Just after, join Karen and senior Alana Zavala as they take you to the event itself to hear what the night means for the young scholars who get to attend. Next, senior Blake Bogo sits down with Baylor’s social media specialist Molly Glascock Smith ('12) to discuss the new face of Heywood stadium and how she’s helped bring a heightened awareness of campus life to the broader world through Baylor’s social media accounts. Then, senior Vincent McClure polls the student body on their favorite dress up themes at this season’s home football games. Next, senior Aly Johnston speaks with two peak performers of this year’s outstanding girl's soccer team, seniors Jada Cooper and Elizabeth Stophel, about how their leadership helped the team return to championship heights. And finally, we’ll join senior JahslynRose Bush and Baylor board member and alum, David Knox ('02), to hear about his transformational years at Baylor and how it propelled him towards a bright future. This episode is hosted by Tate Harrison ('25) and Anya Wiisanen ('24).

Baylor offers no shortage of travel opportunities for students and faculty alike. On this episode, we hear from members of our community who went abroad this summer, learning more about where they went and the new perspectives they brought back with them. First, freshman Ivan Zheng catches up with junior Tate Harrison to hear about his summer semester in South Africa. Tate is one of six students from Baylor who traveled overseas this summer as part of the global exchange program. Next, we take to the quad with senior Peyton Smith to find out which destinations other Baylor students and faculty are wanting to explore. Then, senior Blake Bogo gets the backstory on a once-of-a-lifetime trip that faculty member Kristin Vines took with the support of Baylor’s Barks-Guerry global grant. After, senior Vincent McClure gets the inside take from defensive coordinator Chris Brown on the football team’s recent excursion to Dublin, Ireland for a showcase game. Finally, senior Alana Zavala speaks with faculty member and trip chaperone Greta Mountain about the bi-annual Liz Aplin trip, where art takes center stage. This episode is hosted by seniors Aly Johnston and Anya Wiisanen.

For the final episode of the season, we are highlighting some of the year’s best work from students in the audio journalism elective here at Baylor. We have "personal projects" from Conleigh Brock ('23), Justin Todd ('23), Caleb Hampton ('23), Carilyne Wyke ('23), Addi Yates ('24), and Dawson Bowers ('24). Two of these projects feature Baylor people: Addi interviews Mohammed Wumpini ('23) and Dawson interviews Austin Clark. Sprinkled throughout the episode are shorter, creative pieces from Asher Skyles ('23), Emery Carico ('24), Bowen Allen ('23), Morgan Sharpe ('23), and Bella White ('23).