Dorm Disorder

This week on Dorm Disorder, we prove that Girard College was less "boarding school" and more "supervised chaos with a curfew." Alumni Rosilyn Munoz and Mike Coley join host Dan and Mike to explain how they went from schoolmates to a Zoom-era pandemic romance — because nothing says "rekindled love" like reconnecting during lockdown. Mike confesses to a career of vending machine larceny and expert-l...

In Part 2, Mike and Dan dive into the brutal world of wrestling weight cuts — including the legendary tale of a Bristol High wrestler who pulled out his dentures just to make weight. Then Dan comes clean about a soccer game against a school for the deaf, where he faked a ref's whistle to wave off a goal before it could count. Mike closes things out with the story of a talent show shadow-dance act...

We're dusting off a lost Dorm Disorder episode from the vault. Dan and Mike sit down for a raw, unfiltered trip back to Girard College — the boarding school in North Philadelphia that shaped them more than they probably realized at the time. They break down their favorite buildings on campus, relive the glory days of Girard basketball in the legendary Terror Dome (shoutout Public Enemy), and talk...

We're back with Kharma Hicks and Chianta Gray — two of the first women to graduate from Girard College in 1993 — and things only get better from here. In Part 2, we get into the early girls' sports era, including the 8th grade basketball team where Chianta scored on the wrong basket and couldn't figure out why nobody was guarding her. (Now she knows.) We also revisit the co-ed 8th grade soccer tea...

This week on Dorm Disorder, we sit down with two trailblazers — Kharma Hicks and Chianta Gray — among the first women to ever graduate from Girard College, the legendary free 1-12 boarding school in North Philadelphia. Girard had been a boys-only institution for over 150 years, and these two were part of the class that changed everything. We get into how they each ended up at Girard in the first p...

In Part 2, Ned Jenkins ('78) and Owen Gowans ('79) bring the laughs and the memories. Owen gets benched by Mr. McKay with zero explanation — so he walks out. Then Mr. McKay walks out. Then Ned appoints himself head coach. We also get into the social realities of life at an all-male boarding school, the highly anticipated dances with Ellis School girls, and what it actually meant to be stuck on cam...

This week we sat down with two legends — Rev. Owen Gowans (Class of '79) and Ned Jenkins (Class of '78) — who came up together at Girard College, a boarding school for students from single- and no-parent homes. Owen was one of the first four Black students to walk through Girard's gates back in 1968, with Ned following just a few months later in January of '69. And let's just say... they made the...

This week is part two of our conversation with, John Martino — a former Girard teacher who coached women's basketball and track from the 1992 until 1996. We talk about the friendships he built with fellow teachers, the students who became lifelong family, and what it meant to walk one of them down the aisle decades later. A reminder that the best teachers never really clock out.

This week, we're joined by John Martino — a former Girard teacher who coached women's basketball and track from the early '90s until 1996. We talk about the friendships he built with fellow teachers, the students who became lifelong family, and what it meant to walk one of them down the aisle decades later. A reminder that the best teachers never really clock out.

In our season one finale, Rasool Berry (GC '95) reflects on life after Girard and the journey that led him to storytelling through film. From his early days navigating identity and purpose to becoming a documentary filmmaker, Rasool shares how his latest project, The Return, explores themes of belonging, history, and homecoming. It’s a conversation about legacy, creativity, and the power of reclai...

In the first half of our season one finale, we welcome Girard College alum Rasool Berry (Class of ’95), writer, speaker, and host of the acclaimed documentary Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom. Rasool dives into the archives with us, revisiting wild tales from past episodes and shedding new light on legendary mysteries—like what really happened to the Class of ’95’s beloved mascot, Russ.  We reexami...

In Part Two of our chat with Alexandra Cruz, things take a turn — and not just down memory lane. We dig deeper into the quirks of boarding school life, from surprise dorm traditions to the legendary tales that still echo through alumni halls.  And yes… we finally get to that story. What happens when a kid gets their hands on a bottle of whiskey and hijacks a meal truck? Oh, and did we mention the...

Ever wonder what life is like at another boarding school? In this episode, we sit down with GC Alumni Association Director Alexandra Cruz, proud graduate of Milton Hershey School, Class of 2007 to compare notes!  From shared arrival stories to the wild differences (yes, basketball courts in the dorms!), Alex gives us the inside scoop. Who had the better food? More fun activities? Tougher chores? S...

Dorm Disorder Podcast – Episode Title: “Mommanagerglow: Bridging Generations at GC” We’re back with part two of our conversation with Mommanagerglow Gloria and our GC sister Sahara! This episode bridges the generational gap between our young GC sister and her older GC brothers, offering fresh insight into how the school has evolved—and what’s stayed the same.  Ever wonder how cell phones have chan...

We’ve heard the stories of Girard College’s past—but what’s happening now? In this episode, we’re joined by Mommanagerglow herself: Gloria, proud mom of current GC little sister Sahara. With over a decade of experience parenting through Girard’s evolving chapters, Gloria offers a rare first-person look at what it means to be a GC mom today.  From the attempted closure of the high school to Sahara’...

We’re back with the incomparable Atiyah Harmon for part two of our conversation—and trust us, it’s worth the wait. From pillow fights that escalate into shoe-throwing chaos, we dive into the hilarious differences between the girls’ and boys’ versions of dorm disorder at Girard. But beneath the laughs, Atiyah shares how Girard sparked her lifelong passion for education and community impact.  We exp...

We’re joined by Atiyah Harmon, Girard College Class of ’98 and founder of the educational nonprofit Black Girl Love Math. Atiyah brings a long-overdue perspective: the voices of the women of Girard.  She shares vivid memories of the transition as Girard’s historically male dorms opened to girls—and the strange, sometimes hilarious tales that came with it. From navigating new spaces to confronting...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rich Berry, the stories keep rolling and the nostalgia runs deep. We pick up where we left off, diving further into the rhythms and routines of dorm life at Girard in the early ’90s. Rich shares the moments that defined his GC experience—with plenty of laughs and a few curveballs along the way.  We explore the unspoken codes of student survival, the creative ways...

This week, we sit down with Rich Berry, Girard College Class of ’92, for an episode that starts with reflection and ends in pure dorm-room mayhem. We open with a heartfelt tribute to a classmate gone too soon—a moment of remembrance that grounds the conversation in the bonds that never fade.  But the mood shifts quickly as Rich dives into the wild side of GC life: dorm antics, teacher torment (all...

In Part 2 of our sit-down with senior class president Wardell Ringold, we wrap up with stories that hit harder than a dodgeball to the face. From fights en route to P.E. to the unspoken art of dodging bullies, Wardell breaks down the daily drama of Girard life with raw honesty and a few laughs.  We also follow a wide-eyed “Newbie” whose excitement for his first spaghetti dinner turns into a cautio...

Senior class president Wardell Ringold joins the crew to unpack a wild chapter of campus history—how the Hummers became the Cavaliers, and why that shift was more than just a name change. From student-run outreach to Akiba Academy to hip-hop culture echoing through the halls, Wardell breaks down the moments that defined a generation. Whether you were front row for the chaos or just heard the echoe...

In this follow-up episode, George dives even deeper into the memories that shaped his life full of unforgettable moments with students and staff at Girard College. With his signature humor and boundless charm, George reflects on the lessons, laughter, and lifelong friendships forged over 40 years. Whether it’s tales of classroom chaos or heartwarming milestones, George proves once again that some...

Retired house parent turned teacher George Karpyn joins the fellas to share hilarious and heartfelt stories from his days at boarding school in Ukraine and his four-decade career at Girard College. From 1974 to 2014, George’s tales span generations—filled with laughter, nostalgia, and the kind of gregarious energy that only he can deliver.

Joining us is Dan’s classmate, Ron Marrero, from the GC Class of ’94. Together, we dust off some classic memories from our Girard days—with laughter, reflections, and brotherhood at the heart of it all. And just when you think it’s all nostalgia, we take a left turn into the latest on that lingering Voldemort case.

In this inaugural episode, hosts Dan Knittel and Mike Noel pull back the curtain on their personal journeys to Girard College. Through stories that trace mom disappearing, family style meals, and issues with clothes, they share how two Philly kids found their way into a life of blazers, bunk beds, and bulletin boards. While the spotlight shines on their early years, the conversation sets the tone...