Stories from the Ridge, The McCallie Podcast

After earning his degree from George Washington University and working as a teacher for Teach for America, Hardy Farrow, a member of the class of 2009, founded the Let’s Innovate through Education program in Memphis. LITE helps Memphis-area minority and low-income students identify their skills and improve their city through entrepreneurial opportunities. Hardy’s work with LITE resulted in his being named to the Forbes magazine 30 Under 30 list in 2017. In this episode, Hardy speaks with Ricky Thomas, McCallie’s Dean of Community and Brotherhood, as they discuss what it takes to help students from all backgrounds learn and succeed.

Sam Sims was a day student at McCallie and a member of the Class of 1980. He began performing music at McCallie and as a student at Morehouse College before making the move to build a career in music. Sam has performed for over 20 years with major artists such as Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, the Backstreet Boys, Janet Jackson, Boney James, George Duke and many more. In this episode, Sam and McCallie Director or Instrumental Music Brent Alverson discuss what it takes to build a career in music as well as Sam’s memories of making music at McCallie and throughout his career.

Patrick Sholl, member of the Class of 2004, and John Brock, member of the class of 2009 were both part of the Blue Tornado’s epic 11-game winning streak over Baylor, and they will share their memories of that amazing run of success playing for coach Ralph Potter in a conversation with Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Three members of the Class of 1984, John Green, Peter Hunt and Greg McGuire recall one of best Blue Tornado teams ever to take the field for legendary coach Pete Potter, in a fun conversation with Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

The McCallie-Baylor football game is a rivalry with more than a century of history and the highlight of Reunion weekend each fall. In this episode we feature alumni Mark Brock, Ellis Gardner and George Robinson, three former football players from the Class of 1979 as they share their memories of Blue Tornado football and stories from this big rivalry. Mark Wiedmer, member of the Class of 1976 and a sports columnist for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, leads this conversation as these men recall the fun, tradition and lessons learned playing football on the Ridge.

McCallie School Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie talks with his uncle, former Headmaster Spencer McCallie III '55, about his time leading McCallie and his memories of life on the Ridge.

Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie and Librarian Margaret Wadley discuss the 2019 Summer Reading program for McCallie students. Sumner and Margaret put particular emphasis on the all-Middle School book, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba, and the Upper-School book, "Educated: A Memoir" by Tara Westover.

2019 Graduate Jesse Felker is joined by Middle School Principal Scotty Jones as they talk music education, performance, and even play a little music for us. 

Join Emory University history professor and author Joseph Crespino '90 and McCallie English teacher Bill Jamieson as they discuss Atticus FInch, the topic of Crespino's book "Atticus Finch: The Biography" about Harper Lee's famous character from "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "Go Set a Watchman." 

McCallie's own Caldwell Chair of Christian Ethics, Jim Suddath, talks with Senior (and student broadcaster) Patrick Warren about his time playing basketball at Duke University. Jim played (and scored in) a Final Four and a Championship game, and was part of Coach K's first team at Duke. Get in the March Madness spirit by listening to Jim and Patrick's conversation - complete with some NCAA Tournament predictions! 

Join McCallie Director of College Counseling Jeff Kurtzman as he talks with Georgia Tech Director of Undergraduate Admission (and former McCallie Admissions team member) Rick Clark. Together, they'll talk about how to successfully navigate college admissions - sharing some truths and debunking some myths. 

National Center for the Development of Boys Executive Director Troy Kemp and NCDB board member Alison Lebovitz discuss the importance of teaching empathy to teenage boys and the ways that the NCDB is working to spread that message.   

Join Civil War history buffs Assistant Headmaster Kenny Sholl and Research Coordinator Patrice Glass as they talk about The Battle of Missionary Ridge and how the historic events that happened on McCallie's campus helped shape the lives young men - from 1863 until today.

Upper School Chaplain Josh Deitrick and Director of Counseling Joel Coffman discuss wellness and the ways that the Counseling Center at McCallie approaches wellness with our students and faculty.  

Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie and Sen. Howard Baker '43 Chair of American History Dr. Duke Richey '86 discuss teaching history through examining character, using 1917 McCallie alumnus Ralph McGill as an example. Hear from Dr. Richey about teaching AP US History at McCallie. Many thanks to the Landon Lecture Series at Kansas State University for the use of the recording of Ralph McGill from the 1967 lecture he gave as part of the series. For more information about the Landon Lecture Series, please visit https://www.k-state.edu/landon/.