With Honors

Get your opinions ready and your feelings slightly bruised, because Bella, Miya, and Ily are loaded with hot takes in this week’s episode of With Honors. The trio makes its debut on the pod by lighting the match on the class's attitudes toward books, names, music, whatever.

First on the chopping block? Fahrenheit 451 and that ending everyone either loves or pretends to understand. Then it’s onto the summer reading: was the book actually that deep, or did we all just say that because it had short chapters and sounded smart? And in the most diabolical twist of all, the girls attempt to decode which Taylor Swift song fits their teacher’s vibe. Let’s just say… there’s a message in a bottle, and it causes ripples among the three weird sisters.

It’s part literary roast, part cultural critique, and all delivered with the energy of three sophomores who’ve earned the right to speak freely... and a little sassily. Buckle up.

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

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

Zoe and Callie crack open the emotional and ironic heart of Kate Chopin’s "Story of an Hour" in this week’s episode of With Honors. Chopin's story is used every year in ELA classrooms. It’s one of those tales that hides a whole thunderstorm of truth in a single moment: about the rules of marriage, social expectations, freedom, and the things we assume about the people closest to us. The girls take that apart with a kind of honesty and empathy, connecting Chopin’s 19th-century widow to the invisible pressure points of teen life today. What does it mean to want space? To feel trapped by expectations? To be misunderstood even when everyone sitting beside you in class means well? They don’t dodge the hard stuff. Instead, they lean into it, showing how a 600-word story can still spark big realizations about the way we live, love, and see each other (or fail to). Bonus points if you can catch the series of bells, voices, and intercom announcements from the end-of-day school chaos that threatened to steal the mic. It's the honest sound of a regular school day, but Zoe and Callie stay locked in, like pros, proving that when a story lands, nothing can really drown it out.

You can find With Honors on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

This week, on a very special episode of With Honors and A Deadman's Books...

Two teachers. One timeless novel. And a live studio audience of thirty-six teenagers who may or may not be paying attention (but definitely are).

Mr. Crockett and Mr. Haston join forces in a once-in-a-century classroom crossover celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Great Gatsby. Part podcast masterclass, part literary love letter, and part witty dad hangout, this episode brings the heat from the Valley of Ashes straight to the front of our classroom.

Why does Gatsby still resonate in the world of 2025? Is Nick Carraway at all sympathetic? Why should people quit saying "I wish we had a Gatsby-themed wedding"? And is the American Dream just a really shiny illusion with jazz hands?

Stick around for the final act, when brave students step up to the mic to ask the wise men their burning questions and get answers they’ll never forget (or at least answers with great vocabulary).

Don’t miss this special crossover event! And be sure to check out Coach Haston's work on his podcast, A Deadman’s Books, on Spotify! Find him at https://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=79dc55afad0e42f1

Testing season is upon us, and things are getting hectic around here, but that’s not stopping the students from rolling out some of the best episodes yet. In this teaser, I wanted to give a heads up to what’s coming to With Honors as we wind down the school year and rev up the podcast.

First up? A major crossover event: our next full episode features a live, in-class recording with Mr. Drew Haston of A Deadman’s Books as we dig into The Great Gatsby in front of a live student audience. Coach Haston was a senior here when I started teaching, and now he teaches freshman English and journalism for my department. I've grown pretty close to him these last few years, and the class podcast wouldn’t even be here if it weren't for his influence. This episode was a neat trick to record. It’s got everything: literary insights, baseball metaphors, marriage stories, dad jokes, and even student questions at the mic. It was one of those singular moments of my school year, the kind you know you’ll never forget.

You’ll also hear previews of what’s ahead: episodes from Solomon and Hunter as they tackle censorship, propaganda, and Fahrenheit 451 (and somehow deliver one of the funniest episodes yet). Also, Alondra teams up with Coach Haston, who was her freshman English teacher, for a co-hosted conversation that’s relaxed, smart, and full of heart (with a little caffeine-fueled pep, too). These aren’t just assignments. They’re honest, reflective, thoughtful conversations that mean something.

We’re planning to release multiple episodes a week until summer break, capturing as many student voices as we can before the school year ends. You’ll also hear some bonus episodes with former students looking back on their time in class and how it shaped where they are now, plus a few summer surprises, if Coach Haston keeps jogging and continues getting genius ideas.

Season 1 has been all about finding our sound, our rhythm, and our purpose. These episodes are full of voice, vulnerability, humor, and wisdom, and we’re so glad you’ve come along for the ride.

Stick around. It’s about to get even better.

Follow A Deadman’s Books on Spotify at http://open.spotify.com/show/4HtulwbO10pOjV5hbdWOty?si=6b05d146fff94c84

Get ready to turn the volume up! Liv and Tori have a lot to say (and play) in this episode of With Honors. From their favorite study tunes to the songs they swear belong on a Great Gatsby playlist, these two bring energy, insight, and more than a few strong opinions. They talk through how music shapes their focus during classwork, why certain lyrics feel tailor-made for Gatsby’s world, and how personal anthems help define who they are. Along the way, they connect attitudes of beauty and romance from Fitzgerald’s novel to the music that moves them most. It’s a smart, spirited conversation that blends literary analysis with genuine personality, exactly what the kids on With Honors do best.

You can find With Honors on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license. We also reference pieces by some pretty famous artists: “Party 4 U” by Charlie XCX; “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey; “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” by Fergie, GoonRock, and Q-Tip; “Shut Up My Moms Calling” by Hotel Ugly; “Lost” by Frank Ocean; and “More Than a Feeling” by Boston.

This week on With Honors, Amberlynn and Katie take the mic for a patient, and at times delightfully unexpected, exploration of symbolism in literature. Starting again with Remarkably Bright Creatures, they unpack the deeper meanings behind characters like Tova and Marcellus and explore how age can be a symbolic season of life. From there, the discussion takes a darker turn into Edgar Allan Poe’s cautionary tale "The Masque of the Red Death." They balance Prince Prospero's symbolic role as a corrupt elite celebrity against similar corrupt celebrity figures of today. We discuss how isolation (especially that of the 2020 pandemic) feels eerily relevant to the world today. As students eventually do, they entertain the idea of a class pet. Since one girl is an FFA member working in a vet’s office and the other has experience raising exotic animals for fairs, finding the right symbolic class pet is right in their wheelhouse.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

You can find With Honors on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or our channel on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweufFHJbylu4tR598SDj5w

In this episode of With Honors, Halle, Maddie, and Riley dive into Shelby Van Pelt’s 2020 novel Remarkably Bright Creatures, the summer read that kicked off their journey into Honors English. They share their reactions to the novel’s remarkable characters, discuss how it compares to other bright works from the class, and reflect on the themes that stuck with these creatures. Along the way, they offer pro-tips for next year’s Honors students, like what to expect, how to approach the summer read, and why it’s more than just another assignment.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, Rhaleigh, Addison, and Taegan open up about the unique challenges of being students balancing Honors English with basketball season. Taegan shares what it's like to juggle intense practices, games, and coursework, while Rhaleigh and Addison reflect on their roles as managers supporting the team while managing school, work, and home responsibilities. The girls get real about handling pressure, mental health struggles, and the value of finding balance. They also share their excitement about the upcoming playoffs, their gratitude for a guidance counselor who feels like family, and their appreciation for teachers who show up to support them outside the classroom. Plus, they have some fun unpacking Gen Z slang — all after powering through an unexpected fire drill.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, Wyatt and Zane join the quest to face down the ultimate literary beast: the dragon. Armed with our knowledge of symbolism, our pop culture expertise, and our love for all things fantasy, we charge headfirst into the legends to unravel why these creatures have captivated us for centuries. From the fire-breathing terrors of Western myths to the wise, celestial beings of Eastern tradition, we battle through layers of symbolism, Biblical lore, character depictions, movie references, and archetypal meaning. In this clash with the great wyrm of literary analysis, we try to uncover what dragons reveal about our fears, our ambitions, and the stories that define us.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.

In this episode of With Honors, sophs Kylie and Hayley break down their top 10 tips for approaching Honors 10 English. From the reality of Crockett's "half-sheet-of-paper" quizzes to the best strategies for reading and annotating novels outside of class, they share what they’ve learned along the way. Kylie discusses her perspective on balancing classwork against procrastination, while Hayley offers insight into adjusting to a new school and a new Honors arena. Together, they unpack what they wish they had known from day one, offering advice, anecdotes, and a few laughs along the way.

This episode features inspiring piano music by BlackTrendMusic, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial license.