The Darlington Podcast

Welcome to Episode 155 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Professional Development Coordinator and head of Senior Ventures Rebekah Kinney talks with seniors David Edwards, Ava Belle Holcombe, Charlie May, and Isabella Spears about their year-long Senior Ventures projects and the valuable skills they’ve gained through this program as they prepare to graduate. Click here for...

Welcome to Episode 154 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Annual Giving Julia Thomas ('07, LD '15) talks with boarding alumnus David Sewell ('75) and his step-daughter Laura Guth ('19) about their family legacy at Darlington, their experiences as boarding students over four decades apart and more. Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 153 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Pre-K to 8 Hope Jones talks with sixth-grader Finley Laliberte, seventh-grader Walker Kines and eighth-grader Sterling Pollard about their week-long grade-level trips in February. The students share their favorite moments and excursions, while making connections between their experiences and Darling...

Welcome to Episode 152 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Head of School Brent Bell talks with English Department Head Melissa Smyly about what English education looks like at Darlington, her career journey and her extracurricular involvement on campus. This is the fourth in a series highlighting each of Darlington's department heads.  Click here for complet...

Welcome to Episode 151 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Content Manager Maddie Chastain talks with seniors Noelle Adams and Ivan Horvat, junior Kathleen Hwang, and sophomore Ava Ann Woods about  iPeriods  at Darlington, why they're an important part of the daily schedule, and how they have helped them develop their interests and passions. Click here for co...

Welcome to Episode 150 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, senior boarding student Mary Covington talks with varsity coaches Garvin Edwards (wrestling), Andrea Frazier (swim/dive), Melissa Smyly (basketball cheerleading), Mark Tunnell (girls basketball) and Nathan West (boys basketball) about the winter athletic season at Darlington. You'll hear a little bit about...

Welcome to Episode 149 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Chief Advancement Officer Julie Lucas ('97) talks with Banks Mattingly ('11) about his boarding experience at Darlington, his involvement in the arts both by the Lakeside and beyond, and how Darlington has impacted his life and career journey. Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 148 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this special Career Day episode, listen to  Dwight Hutchins ('82) , senior partner and managing director at The Boston Consulting Group, give his Career Day keynote address on Jan. 29. In it, he shares how his Darlington experience shaped the person and professional he has become. Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 147 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Theatre Director Shelley Daniel talks with seniors J.R. Johnson, Seidy Pichardo, Kathryn Wilson, Kimberly Johnston and Xiya Burton about the Darlington Players' upcoming winter musical production of  "Chicago: Teen Edition."  They give a behind-the-scenes look at the production process and what audien...

Welcome to Episode 146 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Annual Giving Julia Thomas talks with boarding alumnus Bill Gilliland ('76) about his Darlington story, from his favorite memories to his family's boarding legacy.  Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 145 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Upper School administrative assistant Terar Everhart ('13) talks with dorm students Aden Davis, Michael Kearns, Meritt Reed, Phoebe Wilson, and day students Jack Bell and Ava Belle Holcombe about their involvement in dorm life at Darlington and how important RUMPUS is to the Darlington Community.   Cl...

Welcome to Episode 144 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Upper School history teacher Heather Shores talks with seniors Noelle Adams, Jennifer Hughes, Eva Mosley, Seidy Pichardo, Taylor Zhang, and sophomore Rayna Lee about Service Beyond Self, the community service program, and their involvement.  Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 143 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Stefan Eady talks with Math Department Head Al Shorey about his transition from serving as a lieutenant colonel in the military to the teaching profession, his passion for math education and more. This is the third in a new series highlighting each of Darlington's d...

Welcome to Episode 142 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Head of School Brent Bell talks with Dean of Student Life Brant Evans, Director of Athletics Eddie Guth and Director of Fine Arts Kim Tunnell. Together, they recap the 2023 calendar year, sharing accomplishments within their departments, noteworthy moments and favorite memories from the year at Darlington.&nbsp...

Welcome to Episode 141 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Dean of Students for Global Education Tara Inman talks with Elika Lamtar Mohammadi ('24), Moa Berglund ('25), Kathleen Hwang ('25) and Sammy Lewis ('26) to talk about their holiday traditions from around the world in celebration of the holiday season. Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 140 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Mark Tunnell, associate director of day admission in grades 6-12, talks with fifth-grader Georgia Elrod, sixth-grader CJ Roper, freshman day student Cora Fannin and freshman boarding student Sara Beth Snider about their experiences at Darlington as new students.  Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 139 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Alumni Relations Vicki Vincent chats with Jennie Wright ('99, LD '16) about her family legacy at Darlington, her experience as a boarding student and her career journey that led her to her current role as chief counsel for the United States House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.  Click he...

Welcome to Episode 138 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Assistant Head of School for Academic Affairs Stefan Eady talks with World Languages Department Head Cristy Baldwin about her teaching background, what she loves about Darlington, her vision as department head and much more. This is the second in a new series highlighting each of Darlington's departme...

Welcome to Episode 137 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this special Thanksgiving episode, Upper School Administrative Assistant Terar Everhart ('13, LD '23) talks with boarding students Agatha Blocker ('25), Mina Zoroe ('25), John Courtnay ('26), Matthias Grasbon ('25) and Luis Weers ('25) about their Thanksgiving break plans and why they're thankful for the boarding community at Dar...

Welcome to Episode 136 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Alumni Relations Vicki Vincent chats with Katie (Flint) Smith ('09) about her experiences as a four-year boarding student at Darlington, her career path and how she stays connected. Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 135 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, senior boarding student Mary Covington talks with varsity coaches Brant Evans (cross country), Wayne Groves (football), Anna Harris (softball), Christina Kopp (volleyball) and Melissa Smyly (spirit and competition cheerleading) about the fall athletic season at Darlington. You'll hear a little bit about ea...

In this episode, Head of School Brent Bell talks with Science Department Head Owen Kinney about his history at Darlington, his goals as department head, and much more. This is the first in a new series highlighting each of Darlington's department heads.  This episode was recorded on Oct. 10.  Click here for complete show notes >>

Welcome to Episode 133 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Theatre Director Shelley Daniel talks with student designers of the fall play, Reese Bell ('26), sound; Mily James ('25), publicity; SK McQueen ('26), lighting; and Seidy Pichardo ('24), costuming. They discuss their creative processes and how their design elements came to fruition in this month's producti...

Welcome to Episode 132 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this episode, Director of Alumni Relations Vicki Vincent chats with Mac Gilliland ('08, LD '17), assistant professor of chemistry at Furman University. He shares about his experience as a boarding student at Darlington, his recent 15-year class reunion at Alumni Weekend and his career journey.  Click here for complete show n...

Welcome to Episode 131 of The Darlington Podcast!  In this special episode, listen to Dr. Bob Hortman ('72) give his address as the recipient of the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award on Oct. 6. Hortman reflects on his life and Darlington experience and offers words of wisdom for Upper School students as they navigate their own journeys.  Click here for complete show no...