PILLARS PODCAST 🎙

Luke is a stud.  Luke attended Mater Dei, Gonzaga, Brown.   From a boy and before that perhaps from his father, Luke's number one love was football.  From MapleWood to MD to Gonzaga -- Luke played football and lacrosse and excelled in the classroom.  And by the end of his time on Eye Street Luke was pointed north for Brown University to play lacrosse and study among the nation's elite. ...

Jose is a rising senior at Georgetown Prep who is a phenomenal young man who happens to be very good at soccer.  Jose recently committed to attend Duke University as a student-athlete, but before that Mater Dei helped Jose form a rock-solid foundation.  With family, faith, school -- you can go anywhere.   Jose, it was a treat to talk with you about family, school, training, mental toughness, milit...

Alex Thomas recently married Maggie Davis who happens to be the sister of my beautiful fiance, Debbie!!!  Alex has become a fast friend because we both enjoy literature (we talk Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Melville, Tim O'Brien), Philosophy, Coke & a smile, sobriety, baths v. showers, movies, truth in history(??), fatherhood, and more!!! Alex and I could have rapped for hours and we will for yea...

Terry went to Mater Dei, Prep, Duke, where he played lacrosse and captained the team -- sounds like a familiar path, but what is more is that at the end of Independence Month he is off to Coronado, CA for the first step toward become a Navy Seal.  Becoming a seal is Terry's goal, and this is one of the loftiest goals that man can pursue.  However, having known Terry for much of his life and a...

Monsignor John Ensler has always preferred Father John.  He says there have been so many good priests who have not been given this title, and I believe this to be true.  But I have also had the thought that is it because Father John is a father at heart because he has the heart of a child.  Whenever Father John says mass and there are kids in the pews, he speaks to them -- the mass is geared towar...

Alyssa sold me my house and has help sell many of my neighbors their homes.  Alyssa lives a street over here in the mean-streets of the "Hamlet" -- my home since high school, and has earned herself quite the prominent status in Washington Fine Properties as a hustler with a heart. Alyssa and I sit down to talk this crazy market, the future of the craze, growing up, why real estate, being...

John is a Mater Dei Griffin,  Georgetown Prep Hoya, and Loyola Greyhound, and he recent has placed the stick and cleats in the closet, but not before helping lead the 'Hounds into the quarterfinals of the NCAA lacrosse tournament, and a goal short of the final four!!  John, once the administer of pain on the defensive end of the field, now trades his destructive force for healing powers.  Joh...

Matty Thompson is tearing it up on the lacrosse field of High Point University -- but a little differently than you may think.  There is a story about a UNC football player who was about to hang up the cleats mid-career when his coaches and teammates begged him to stay on the team as the 12th man on the field, in the locker room, sidelines -- on and off the field.  He was the ambassador of moral,...

I taught Will Giblin 1st grade PE and 8th grade history -- not in the same year -- and Will says that was the only class he says that he fell asleep in -- not in the PE!!!  Other than the nap, Will and I have always got along great -- maybe because Will is a Giblin.   Will, I had a wonderful time chatting with you about West Virginia, hopping fences, embellishment, living at home, making money, ga...

I have known Gail as long as I have known Henry.  I have known Henry as long as he has known Linda.  And I have truly known my sister as long as Henry and Linda have been in love -- and that has been a finger-licking long and good time.   Henry is my brother-in-law and his mother is Gail.  Gail was born in England, spent time in India and the south of France, before she took a job with her home co...

FENELLA is founder and leading principle of Fenella's Finds -- which is an online, instagram-based consignment marketplace.  As FaceBook Marketplace has grown too large, Fenella steps in and offers you a more intimate, genuine, and reliable service.  In Fenella's words: • Thrifty • Treasures • Decor • Design • Staging • For You• plus possible shipping outside of DC MD VA For style with a...

Marshall was a great Griffin at MD and he is a senior at the brink of graduation from the school of Eye Street -- GONZAGA!!!  Marshall picked up lacrosse quite young, and it was in his seventh grade year that he felt a pull toward another sport. . . . we talk lacrosse, Gonzaga, family, Mater Dei, and . . . .  golf. Marshall is quite an impressive young man!!! Go DEMON DECONS!!!

Justin came to Mater Dei in 6th grade and he was instantly liked and respected.  In competitive arenas, Justin excelled in the classroom and on the  athletic fields.  He went on to Georgetown Prep where he did just the same -- leading from the front in football and lacrosse.  Onward and college-bound, Justin matriculated to Villanova.  We talk on all these topics -- including why Villa-no-fun is n...

Coach Fegan was the football coach for Georgetown Prep from 1961 - 1996.  Coach was and still is a legend!!!  Whenever I run into the old ball coach, it is always pleasant -- whether it is on Prep campus, Annapolis, or the shores of Bethany Beach.  We sat down for a lovely conversation on football, kids, growing up in DC, Annapolis, the pandemic.  I hope you enjoy -- I sure did. Thank you, coach!!...

Matty Callahan is son of Tracy who was on the 'cast back in season one.  Matty and I bonded over philosophy and have become recent and fast friends.  We sit down and talk just that -- philosophy, books, fathers, football, golf, egg-salad, Irish spirts, the UBERMENCH -- and we go deep with the longest PILLARS yet -- a fitting conclusion for season 2!!! Thanks, Matty -- you are an interesting a...

Matthew is a later-in-life friend (don't know if that is a term but it is now) who has become a fast friend.  We go deep into topics of divorce, depression, keys to living your best life, kids, and more.  Tough topics are tough talks that toughen you up!!! One of the more enjoy 'casts of recent production.   Matthew Jaeger, ladies and gentlemen!!!

Austin and I go back to 2nd grade at Mater Dei School.  We were good friends in GriffinLand.  Austin went on to St. Alban's and then to Bowdoin College where he played lacrosse and went to Florence with his soon to be wife Maisie and his soon to be business partner.  In Italy there was a belt given to Austin from Maisie -- and an idea was born -- it was an idea that turned into a big business...

Matt Markoff is the one of three brothers who are responsible for the outdoor sensation which is Calleva and the insane creation which is The Haunted Forest!!  WE have been friends for 15 years -- when Mater Dei first signed up with the brothers for the first of many Outdoor Weeks."  His passion for the outdoors and love for the people of Calleva is a lifestyle that he lives daily.  I came ho...

Dave is a rock star -- literally -- he is one of the founding members of the Kentucky Avenue Band -- and they rock.  Their new album just debuted two weeks ago -- so this was perfect timing to sit down with Dave and talk music, the pandemic, the creative process, locks & keys, and their second and latest album: Ballad Of The Past by Kentucky Avenue Band Enjoy -- I sure am!!!

Susan and I go back to Ayden, her younger son, was in 1st grade PE.  In 1986 Susan began working for Ridgewells and 11 years later she bought it -- that kinda sums up this serious go-getter.   It was a treat to sit down with Susan on a beautiful but hot Thursday -- Landon day!!!  We talk the BIG GAME, Ridgewells, giving back to the community, hospitality, and the Prep Gala -- which is tomorrow, Ma...

Arch love movies; I love movies.  Arch knows a lot about knows -- I know something about something and a little about movies.  We have a conversation over ZOOM about MOVIES -- present and past.  I hope that you enjoy, for Arch is truly a local legend!!! Thank you, Arch!!! PS -- Sunset Blvd is the next up movie for me!!!

My #1 SIS and her favorite sibling like Tuesdays.  Tuesdays have become our day.  We sat down in the morning on a beautiful and was to become steamy Tuesday to talk the Rock, our weight-loss competition, Florida (of course), and movies.  It is always a treat, Linny -- love ya tons!!!! Next time Linny will be with me she will have a surprise guest with her and that will be Friday, May 7 (mom's...

I taught Tommy and Connor since first grade and not they are 8th graders set to graduate from Mater Dei -- but not without a month of fun!!!  We sat down to talk sports, the 'vid, Popeyes, LEDO, and all other things interesting and fun and tasty!!! Thanks, Tommy & Connor!!

Chris Carter goes by "Carter Rocks" because he rocks and it plays on Carderock which the google-machine labels as a PicNic ground, but it is a lot more than that -- and so is Mr. Carter.  Chris and I met on the mean streets of Bethesda and we ran the raucous roads of Dewey Beach.  Chris has worked in media for almost 20 years and he lends his experience to me and you and we have a ball d...

Greg is the "match-maker" at Columbia Country Club and has become an aficionado of The Masters.  On the heels of The Masters, Greg tells behind the lines tails of the most storied of golf tournaments and regales us with glories of golf and life.  You are the ambassador; you are the general -- salute!!!