Stories from the Ridge, The McCallie Podcast

How does McCallie encourage boys to read fiction in a timein which boys nationally are reading less and less? Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie hosts this lively discussion with three stalwarts of the English Department – Department Head Sam Currin ’03, longtime literature teacher Bill Jamieson, and teacher and dorm Head Stuart King ’10. They discuss how McCallie boys are taught and e...

In a wonderfully uplifting conversation with Head of School Lee Burns, Craig Ingvalson ’77, displays the dignity and pride that defined his 25-year career as a leader of McCallie’s Advancement Team. This conversation was recorded on April 30, 2026, Mr. Ingvalson’s final day of work prior to heading to awell-deserved retirement. (He also makes a final appeal for donors to support McCallie, so be su...

This episode of Stories from the Ridge provides an in-depth examination of one of McCallie's newest programs in which alumni are paired with upper school students to help them navigate through their last years on the Ridge and on to college and careers. Head of School Lee Burns is joined by administrators, alumni mentors and student mentees as they share perspectives of the mentorship program....

In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Allen Morris, Class of 1970, recipient of the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award, discusses his time on the Ridge and how it shaped his life and career as one of the South’s leading real estate developers, inspirational author, and motivational speaker. His highly acclaimed book,  All In: How to Risk Everything for Everything That Matters,  is available fro...

While many in academia are shying from AI, fearful of its dark side, McCallie is embracing the positive features of it. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns, Upper School Principal Hank Hopping, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum Sumner McCallie, Dean of Student Academics Chris Carpenter, discuss the positive, promising aspects of AI and how McCallie, as Mr. Burns says,...

In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns '87, Middle School Principal Scotty Jones, and Upper School Principal Hank Hopping visited the Podcast Studio on Sept. 9 to discuss the opening of the school year and the many behind-the-scenes details that make it like all McCallie School years -- highly successful.

In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Sumner McCallie, Dean of Faculty and Curriculum, Chris Carpenter, Dean of Student Academics, and Tammy Barber, Middle School Assistant Principal for Academics, talk about McCallieSchool’s renewed emphasis on understanding how individual boys learn – and how teachers can apply new teaching strategies by understanding more deeply the intricacies of these le...

“We’ve been given so much more than we’ve given” is the way Kathaleen Hughes describes the 57 combined years that she and her husband, David, have spent at McCallie. To mark their retirement, the Hughes sat down in the podcast studio with Head of School Lee Burns and shared memories and fun stories of their time on the Ridge.

Steve Hearn '74 jokes that he has been associated with McCallie School in some capacity for more than seven decades. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Mr. Hearn, Senior Vice President for Advancement and longtime Director of Admissions, talks with Head of School Lee Burns about his time at McCallie, shares fun and touching stories, and discusses his plans for retirement in Sweetwater,...

This edition of Stories from the Ridge features a livelyroundtable discussion hosted by Executive Athletic Director Kenny Sholl. He is joined by Senior Associate Athletic Director Jeff Romero and Communications Writer Mark Wiedmer ’76 as they chatt about the latest TSSAA transfer rules, the success and challenges in the spring sports lineup, and the upcoming Spring Fling, the state athletic champi...

McCallie School’s international travel opportunities have expanded significantly over the past few years, with the goal of making at least one travel venture a part of every student’s McCallie experience. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, students Alex Hyde ’25 and Asa Hedrick ’27, discuss withteachers and tour leaders Frank Watkins and Will Honeycutt recent trips they took and how those...

Over the past year, as McCallie School begins to examine itsneed for new academic space on campus, a group of teachers visited schools throughout the nation to see how they design and use academic and common spaces. In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Drew Read, Chief Development Officer, Dean of Faculty of Curriculum Sumner McCallie, Dean of Student Academics Chris Carpenter, Mathematics D...

A program that is “transformational for McCallie boys andthe broader McCallie community,” is slowly being rolled out to students and alumni on the high plains of Montana. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Carter Newbold, Director of Board Relations and Strategy, talks with teachers Duke Richey and Bart Wallin, as well as students William McDowell andElijah Cooper, about their experiences...

In this first “subset” edition of Stories from the Ridge,Executive Athletic Director Kenny Sholl discusses all things athletic at McCallie School. He is joined by Mark Wiedmer ’76 of the Communications and Marketing Department for a lively give-and-take discussion of issues within the TSSAA (Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association) as well as a review of the recent Dr. Pepper Classic and t...

In this edition of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, talks with new Head Basketball Coach Kenneth White ’97 about his “Mantra of Mayhem” approach to play by this year’s varsity team. Mr. White discusses this year’s team, its prospects, and his coaching style and philosophy. This interview was recorded on December 11, prior to the start of divisional play, but after a strong ser...

This episode of Stories from the Ridge features Head of School Lee Burns’ annual Christmas message to the student body, delivered December 11, 2024. Mr. Burns donned a ball cap from each of the 12 schools that recently made the college football playoffs and urged McCallie students to examine what hats they are wearing and what teams they are following in the game of life. More information on his t...

McCallie School’s annual Christmas musical performance known as Candlelight will celebrate its 40th year on the Ridge on Dec. 6 and 7, 2024. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Dr. James Harr, Director of Choral Programs and Director of Candlelight, sits down with Dr. Lew Cisto, retired Music Director who started Candlelight in 1985 when he first arrived on campus to teach music, and with B...

This episode of Stories from the Ridge features two McCallie alumni, John Harris, Class of ’08, and J.T. Wu, Class of ’12 – both of whom recently threw their hats in the ring to run for state political offices – talking about their approach to politics and public service. The two recently visited McCallie to talk with students about why they entered politics and how they tried to instill civility...

In early October, 2024, George Hazard Jr., Class of 1964, was named McCallie School’s 2024 Distinguished Alumnus, the highest award. McCallie bestows. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Mr. Hazard talks about his days as a McCallie student, teacher, and administrator – and about writing When We Came to the Ridge , the history of McCallie’s founding and early days. And he reflects on what m...

As Rivalry Week – the week of the annual football game between McCallie and crosstown rival Baylor School – got underway for 2024, Head of School Lee Burns ’87 sat down on Sept. 30 in the podcast studio with new Head Coach Joel Bradford ’07 to discuss the week and the upcoming game. The two not only discuss Coach Bradford’s coaching philosophy, but talk about how the hype and buildup over the week...

One of the most pressing and vexing issues facing McCallie administrators – and administrators of all schools – is the question of the usage and role of smart phones among students. In this episode of Stories from the Ridge, Head of School Lee Burns is joined by Upper School Principal Hank Hopping and Middle School Principal Scotty Jones as they discuss this challenging issue. They share personal...

On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, Head of School Lee Burns ’87, welcomed 999 students to the 120th school year of McCallie School. This episode of Stories From the Ridge features that talk, which was delivered in the Spencer McCallie III Quadrangle. A news story as well as a full video of the event can be found here: https://www.mccallie.org/news/news-details/~board/news-from-the-ridge/post/mccallie-...

In this episode of Stories From the Ridge, Mark Wiedmer '76 of the Communications Department is joined by Kenny Sholl, Executive Director of Athletics and Special Assistant to the Head of School, as they talk with Football Coach Joel Bradford, Cross Country Coach Rodney Stoker, Golf Coach Rob Riddle, Crew Coach Sean McCourt, and Mountain Biking Coach Jesse Teague. The coaches share their expec...

While the attention of the nation and the world is turning to Paris and the 2024 Olympics, we step back in time for some Gold Medal winning stories of the 1996 Olympics which were held in Atlanta, just down the road from McCallie’s Chattanooga campus. In this episode of Stories From the Ridge, Charles Battle ’60 shares insider stories – and some long-held secrets – about his critical role in Atlan...

History was brought to life this spring when McCallie sixth graders participated in the school’s first “Human Library” day. The brainchild of Middle School English teacher Weesie Cook and Middle School Learning Center Director Kelcey Watson, the “Human Library” brought community leaders in medicine, education, law, and race relations to campus to share their life stories with the students. In this...