The Late Start Show

In Episode 13 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sit down with Mr. Kevin O’Brien, English teacher, coach, and mindfulness advocate at University School. He takes us from a Cleveland childhood fueled by library stacks and elementary-school talent shows to a life-changing scholarship at Phillips Academy Andover, where mentors and coaches sharpened his love of literature, leadership, and team...

In Episode 12 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sit down with Will Allen, senior, head varsity debate captain, and US baseball player. He takes us from transferring in from Chagrin Falls and finding his footing to the upperclassman mentors who brought him in and why microeconomics with Mr. Heath became a turning point. On the baseball field, Will relives last year’s historic run to the sta...

In Episode 11 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sit down with Ben Malbasa, head varsity football coach, English teacher, and US ’96 alum. He takes us from the Lower School’s early days of theme learning (and the teachers who shaped him) to being “cut” from basketball and welcomed onto the bench as an assistant, his doorway into coaching. We trace his path from Ohio State to John Carroll, w...

In Episode 10 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with senior Chase Takaoka, pep rally mastermind, Prep Squad spirit leader, and award-winning street photographer. Chase talks about his family (including trips to visit his grandparents in Japan), how travel turned into a love for immersive food hunts and candid street shots, and the classroom spark that pushed him from “landscapes” t...

In Episode 9 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sit down with Mr. Bo Montanye, middle school science teacher, head of the House system at the Shaker Campus, and longtime soccer coach. Growing up where New York, Massachusetts, and Vermont meet, Mr. Montanye recalls life at a tiny boarding school, captaining three sports, and as the “weird kid who wanted to know everything.” He traces his pat...

In Episode 8 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sit down with Joe Brown ’85, lifelong flyer, community-builder, and former president/chairman of Hartzell Propeller. Growing up in Shaker Heights and arriving at US in seventh grade, Joe talks about middle and high school and its fake courts, and shop teachers who mentored him, and teachers who kept him going even when classes were challenging...

In Episode 7 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sat down with Griff Koch, a Sanders House prefect, varsity football captain, and Columbia Football commit. A US lifer who grew up minutes from the Shaker campus, Griff reminisces about castle-marshmallow launches, eighth-grade current-events classes that sparked a love of history, and the lower-school coaches who first showed him what great tea...

In Episode 6 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , we sat down with Nico and Matteo Morelli, University School brothers, varsity football standouts, and proud members of McKinley House. From first days at US and finding their footing in the weight room to a great moment when Nico’s first varsity touchdown sprung loose behind Matteo’s block, the Morelli brothers unpack how sibling synergy, locker-...

In Episode 5 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Anthony Doerr, University School Class of 1991 alum, New York Times bestselling author, and Pulitzer Prize winner. From library runs and Outdoor Projects days with Mr. Terry Harmon to a home that celebrated curiosity, Doerr reflects on how his Cleveland roots, US education, and early obsessions with st...

In Episode 4 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Mrs. Ullery, Assistant Director of College Counseling, sophomore class dean, former Director of IT, and longtime librarian at University School, to trace a career defined by curiosity, care, and community-building. The conversation spans her Summit County roots with a twin and two teacher parents; a Sp...

In Episode 3 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Jordan Barham, University School Class of 2012 alum and professional basketball player. From backyard battles and multi-sport seasons at US to becoming the program’s all-time leading scorer, Jordan reflects on how family sacrifice, tough coaching, and a tight brotherhood forged his edge. The conversati...

In Episode 2 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Travis Phillips, a senior, Peters House prefect, and standout double bassist at University School. From arriving at US in first grade to balancing AP rigor, varsity football, and conservatory-level practice, Travis shares how discipline, great coaching, and community shaped his pursuit of excellence. T...

In Episode 1 of Season Two of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Mr. Patrick Gallagher, Head of School at University School. From growing up in Strongsville as the youngest of five to leading US through a period of renewal and growth, Mr. Gallagher shares his journey through teaching, mentorship, and mission-driven leadership. The conversation traces his path from S...

In Episode 36 of Th e Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Mr. Krystopher Perry Spanish teacher and Upper School Director at University School. From growing up in Venezuela and Alabama to leading US through a pandemic, Mr. Perry shares his journey through language, leadership, and the values that have defined his life. The conversation follows Mr. Perry’s story from his e...

In Episode 35 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Fletcher Rollinson, world record holder, future Tufts student, and cancer survivor. Fletcher opens up about his extraordinary journey, from receiving a rare brain cancer diagnosis at age 11 to returning stronger than ever with a commitment to kindness, medicine, and making a difference. The conversation traces Flet...

In Episode 34 of The Late Start Show, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Class of 2021 alum Toussaint Miller—musician, neuroscience major, and civic leader. Toussaint shares his journey from a bright kid in Cleveland to a soon-to-be Harvard graduate heading to Oxford for his master’s in the history of science and medicine. He opens up about his deep-rooted passions for music and medicine...

In Episode 33 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with the warm and welcoming face of University School, Ms. Fornaro. Known for her kindness, Mrs. Fornaro shares her journey from growing up in Mayfield Village to working in floral design, and eventually finding her calling in school offices across Northeast Ohio. She recounts memorable moments—from navigating chaotic C...

In Episode 32 of The Late Start Show, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with beloved history teacher, basketball coach, and published scholar Dr. Tyler Yoder. From the basketball court to the humanities classroom, Dr. Yoder shares his extraordinary journey, from defending his undergraduate thesis under his father’s sharp questions to earning a PhD in ancient languages and translating cuneifo...

In Episode 31 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with legendary math and law teacher, swim coach, and University School alum Mr. Perry—joined by his son, senior swim captain and theater tech standout Brad Perry. From coaching summer rec teams to winning ten state championships, Mr. Perry shares his remarkable path from civil litigation to inspiring generations of US s...

In Episode 30 of The Late Start Show, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Bill Oberndorf, US Class of 1971 alum, visionary investor, and longtime advocate for education reform. A distinguished philanthropist and co-founder of SPO Partners, Mr. Obendorf shares the remarkable journey that took him from the halls of US to the forefront of the value investing world. In this great conversation...

In Episode 29 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with beloved science teacher, cross country coach, and outdoor education enthusiast Dr. Carlson—better known to students as Dr. C. From his adventurous upbringing across the U.S. as a Navy kid to earning a Ph. D. in botany and ecology, Dr. Carlson shares an inspiring journey built on curiosity, perseverance, and a passi...

In Episode 28 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with senior and football linebacker Gianni Fedeli. Gianni shares his journey at University School, from starting in first grade to playing four years of football and overcoming a season-ending ACL injury. He discusses the lessons of discipline, brotherhood, and resilience that football taught him, as well as his transit...

In Episode 27 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Rob Markey, a University School alum, author, speaker, podcast host, and management consultant at Bain & Company. Mr. Markey reflects on his journey from US to Brown University to Harvard Business and into the world of consulting, where he helped develop the Net Promoter System, a widely used customer loyalty m...

In Episode 26 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Hugh Kopittke, Goodwillie Prefect, Track Captain, and Emory University track commit. Hugh shares his journey from transferring to University School in high school to becoming a leader in academics, athletics, and student life. He discusses his transition to US, the challenges of stepping into leadership roles, and...

In Episode 25 of The Late Start Show , Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with Lee Kravitz, former editorial director of Scholastic, former editor-in-chief of Parade Magazine, and author of Unfinished Business. A proud University School alumnus, Lee shares his journey from his early days at US to becoming a leader in the publishing world. In this insightful conversation, Lee reflects on his t...