I was born in Tennessee, but when my parents split I moved to Ohio. Forever after, I’ve found myself chasing that need to come back home. To belong to this land and to fit in with these people, my one true original community. And I’ve been blessed to be raised by so many wonderful women along the way: my mom, her sisters, my dad’s sisters and in-laws, grandmas, cousins. But there’s one iconic Tennessee woman whose voice will always sound like home: Dolly Parton.

As a kid in the 80s, I watched the movie adaptation of Robert Harlan’s play, Steel Magnolias. It was a movie filled with people I knew, voices I craved, and a Southern community I missed so much it hurt. And even though I wasn’t a woman, I grew up among these women. I gained an ear for their joys, their sorrows, their gossip, their wisdom, for their delicacy and their grit. I’m surrounded by them still: in the jobs I’ve worked, in the classes I teach, in my friend groups, in my church.

But America now is not the America I knew growing up. Steel Magnolias matters in an America that has grown to reject women. We vote them down not because of policies but because “her laugh is silly” or “she’s a liar, lock her up.” We watch a man who famously exploited women get elected to high office, who publicly shouts at a woman reporter, “Quiet! Piggy!” We demonize the word “feminism.”

While America seems quicker than ever to belittle, silence, or distrust the very women who build our families and communities, Steel Magnolias stands like a nostalgic 1980s look back at an easier time. It reminds us how much we owe to the women who lift us, who mother us, who teach us, who keep us together.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find With Honors and our new show, Second Stage, on platforms like

Spotify:

on Apple Podcasts

and on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at

and Apple Podcasts

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at

This episode features “Groove Delight” by Musinova and “Sipping on Jazz” by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this special (and belated!) Halloween installment, I get to sit with one of my brand-new, sharp-witted sophs in a deep-dive through the haunted heart of 1980s song lyrics. With the classroom bathed in eerie orange lights and spectral figures of legendary singers drifting behind us, Jackson leads me through his TPCASTT analysis of the lyrics to uncover how these singers reveal what haunts them: fear, longing, and obsession. Jackson’s lively banter, sharp insights, glowing enthusiasm, and sudden bursts of singing turn this spooky literary analysis into a thrilling ride through nostalgia, music, and meaning. It was perfect for Halloween and lovers of close reading alike.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find this show alongside our other podcast, Second Stage, on major platforms like

Spotify:

Apple Podcasts:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at

and Apple Podcasts:

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at

This episode also features scary horror creepy music by HitsLab, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Halloween is finally here! My favorite holiday of the season. The pinnacle of my time of year. I wait eleven long months to finally embrace October. It’s the month my wife and I got married, the month our first son was born, the month for leaves changing and cooler temps bringing a relief from oppressive summer, the month for foggy mists and woodsmoke hanging above the eaves. There is no scent quite as wonderful as the loam of leaves, or the pungent tingle of trick-or-treat candy inside a plastic jack-o-lantern, or the carved shell of a healthy pumpkin.

Today, I’m sitting with two of my AP students to reflect on what high school seniors love about this time of year, too. If you could only have a Top 10, what would you include?

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find this show alongside our other podcast, Second Stage, on major platforms like

Spotify:

Apple Podcasts:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at

and Apple Podcasts:

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at

This episode also features scary horror creepy music by HitsLab, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

This week, two of my favorite students sat down to dish about their favorite book: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

(Barf.)

I mean, not “barf.” I just never wanted to read the book. I know, I know, I’m being a stereotype right now probably, but it was never my scene to read Jane Austen. I’ve tried her work before, and I just didn’t like it. But I really like Summer and Ainslee’s work, their good hearts, and their dedication, so maybe I can give it a whirl. Even an irritable 40-something man might find a little Pride and Prejudice waiting.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find this show alongside our other podcast, Second Stage, on major platforms like

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=b510a0cd363a4320

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=a23d92c90128476e

and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=d15c2539fadd40fc

This episode features an excerpt of "Dawn" from the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack, as well as “Groove Delight” by Musinova and inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

I’m so lucky to be able to partner with Tennessee Tech University and be a mentor teacher to practicum students and student teachers. Student teachers stay the entire semester and are expected to take over as much responsibility as possible during their time. Practicum students, on the other hand, come by for a month or two during one class period, mostly to observe but also to get what hands-on experience they can. This year, we invited senior Miranda Boyd into our classroom. Today, she and I reflect on her practicum experience, what was successful and what was challenging, and where her experience is going to take her next.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find this show alongside our other podcast, Second Stage, on major platforms like

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=b510a0cd363a4320

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=a23d92c90128476e

and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=d15c2539fadd40fc

This episode also features “Groove Delight” by Musinova and inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Most families send their kids to school, hopefully see them that afternoon or evening, and hear something about the school day. It’s a rare treasure to be able to spend the entire day with your kids, though, working in the same school they attend. You’re here with them for pep rallies and standardized testing, for class changes and ceremonies, for lockdowns and fire drills, for hall duty and bake sales, for snow days and the long days. This year, I have numerous kids who share the day with a mom or dad or, as in Sadie’s case, her grandma.

This week is Mrs. B’s last at our school. And Sadie took this opportunity to share some fun memories they’ve had and talk with her “BB” about why family at school matters.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find this show alongside our other podcast, Second Stage, on major platforms like

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=b510a0cd363a4320

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman’s Books. He’s on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=a23d92c90128476e

and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=d15c2539fadd40fc

This episode also features “Groove Delight” by Musinova and inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this week’s episode, two of the sweetest, nicest, kindest Honors kids venture into a lawless wasteland, an outlaw territory where rules do not follow and where the all-seeing eye is forbidden from watching. High school bathrooms. But Summer and Andrew aren’t here to just bewail the state of high school bathrooms. They also want to remind us why we can all be a little better. We need to stay hydrated, get our eight hours of sleep, and try — just try!! — to not be a deviant when you go to the high school restrooms.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find With Honors

on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=1HS8tQGXRyOgn1h5bs2pTg

on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman's Books. He's on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=I5Tt07unQJWVhaFVsInP8A and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=b38ac16d08374671

This episode features "Groove Delight" by Musinova and "Sipping on Jazz" by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this week’s episode, Maddie and Maylee discuss their initial impressions of sophomore year as well as the summer reading. Maylee went with the assigned novel, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. Maddie asked to read the alternate assignment, Yann Martel’s classic Life of Pi. Here, the two friends discuss overlapping parallels between their books: the search for identity, the meaning of faith, and the changing personality of You.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find With Honors

on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=1HS8tQGXRyOgn1h5bs2pTg

on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman's Books. He's on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=I5Tt07unQJWVhaFVsInP8A and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=b38ac16d08374671

This episode features "Groove Delight" by Musinova and "Sipping on Jazz" by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Each week we’re showcasing one of the brilliant minds behind this season’s show. This feature gives them a shot at telling you what they care about, what their perspective on the world is, and where they’re going from here. This week we’re featuring another AP all-star. My first memory of her is when she and my daughter made a funny video their freshman year. And now, four years later, she’s grown in band, in her faith, in journalism, and in public relations. But recently she’s found out that reportage can sting, especially for those who don’t want to hear the truth.

This week, I want you to meet Aubrey.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. This episode features excerpts of music from “Heartbreaker” by Jahzzar and “Groove Delight” by Musinova, used here for educational non-profit purposes under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Ever fall in love with a book, get excited to see they’re making a movie out of it, and then get offended because they changed a character, or deleted a major detail, or added irrelevant material instead? No motion picture is ever going to live up to the hype you’ve generated in your own mind for a book you’ve spent weeks, months, or years with. But this week, three of the AP Lit girls walk us through their reactions to the adaptations for The Hunger Games trilogy, The Glass Castle, and the most recent version of Dune.

With Honors is a Free Zone Radio production. You can find With Honors

on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0881bUWWdgkBdGzHlPNToi?si=1HS8tQGXRyOgn1h5bs2pTg

on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/with-honors/id1797115480

on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

Also, throw some love at our brotherly podcast with Coach Haston, A Deadman's Books. He's on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=I5Tt07unQJWVhaFVsInP8A and Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-deadmans-books/id1795582942

as well as Haston Curation, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3O8GDUtqshbxFF7gU2FMwM?si=b38ac16d08374671

This episode features "Groove Delight" by Musinova and "Sipping on Jazz" by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.