The Monarch Experience Podcast

Kush and Max have some pretty hilarious, but life-changing moments during their time at Marlboro Memorial Middle School that helped shape them into the successful young men they are today. In the first of many more alumni episodes to come, Mr. Ancona talks with two former students, Max S and Kush C, who are set to graduate Biotech High School this Spring, about the initial transition to HS, balanc...

Are you not entertained?! Spring Break is approaching and with so much time already spent catching up on your favorite shows and video  games, we've got you covered if you're looking for suggestions! Join Yash, Aishika, Jordan, and Jason as we chat about books, graphic novels, TV shows, streaming series', video games, and movies to keep you occupied- and entertained!  Follow on Twitter @...

Virtual Learning definitely has both benefits and drawbacks, but in this very special, and very virtual, episode of The Monarch Experience, Mr. Ancona talks with Yash, Dhruva, and Rini about how they have been adjusting to life at home. Between trying to establish routines, picking up new hobbies, and trying not to get distracted, this conversation serves as a reminder as to how well students can...

Despite all sports being delayed indefinitely, Spencer, Brandon, and Mason break down the Houston Astros cheating scandal, discuss their thoughts on the controversial rule changes in baseball, talk Yankees and Mets expectations for the year, and make our picks for division winners. If you're missing baseball, or sports in general, this conversation will sure to be a much needed distraction. ...

Middle school leads to high school, high school leads to college, college leads to a good job, and a good job means you'll be happy. That's the message and pressure that a fair number of middle school students receive from an early age. In a raw and shocking conversation, 8th graders Madison and Sara talk about the pressures and the process of applying to high schools. They hold nothing back as th...

Sienna, Alana, and Angelina take over this episode!  Seemingly overnight, the once known Musical.ly app transformed into the global takeover, Tik Tok, and Sienna, Angelina, and Alana join this episode of The Monarch Experience to talk about their Tik Tok strategy for gaining authentic followers. They discuss some big 'no-no's' that are quite controversial when it comes to alienating your audi...

In the first installment of the mini "Monarch Moments" episodes, join 8th graders Sienna, Angelina, and Alana as they discuss their least favorite type of social media, why teens dislike Facebook, oversharing photos, and how dare you leave me on "opened". Plus, Mr. Ancona has a confession to make about the thing that irritates him the most about people on Snap Chat. Also, who's Karen?! Add on Snap...

It's an 8th grade tradition at Marlboro Memorial Middle School: Battle of the Quads! After the 4th annual Battle of the Quads at Memorial, 3 winners from quad N join Mr. Ancona to talk about everything BOTQ. Taylor, Michael, and Lola talk about their strategy with Coin Wars and Toys for Tots, how they planned an organized their winning dance, their team mentality and how positivity strengthened th...

If everyone gets an award, does that make everyone a winner, or does it make no one a winner? In the latest episode of The Monarch Experience, Mr. Ancona chats with Masha, Greg, and Danielle about whether or not trophy culture is ruining society or if it fosters encouragement and participation. Are there long-term detriments to handing out participation trophies? Do current generations get unfairl...

Think that having a pet is just having an animal roaming around the house? Think again! In this newest episode, Michelle, Jason, and Mr. Ancona explore how having a pet can help people with ADHD refocus themselves, people with diabetes regularly check their insulin levels, and how owning a pet can not only be beneficial physically, but emotionally as well, as pet owners tend to be less lonely and...

It's easy to get a bad reputation. And what's worse is once you get one, it's almost impossible to get rid of. Join Collin and Dominick as they explain how teenagers unfairly get bad reputations, what goes through one's mind when making a decision that will lead to a bad reputation, how adults think they are helping but their advice isn't as great as they think it is, and much more on this CAN'T M...

Think you know K-pop? Sara, Alice, Cassie, and Rebecca definitely do! Join them as they chat about what makes a K-pop idol different from American musicians, how K-pop became so popular in the US, how South Korea's politics play an enormous factor in the making of the music,  stereotypes, and how this plays a role in the recent passing of Sulli. Plus,  Mr. Ancona convinces himself he's a...

Sometimes Middle School is rough, and sometimes being a Middle School student is even harder! In this episode, Madison (she's back!), Suhani, and Prisha break down how they are managing to survive middle school and how they made it through the ever difficult transition of starting 6th grade. You're not alone; they discuss hilarious failures of theirs, what their first impressions were, and if the...

Want to be awesome? Want to be able to overcome anxious thoughts and fears of failure? If you feel like negativity surrounds you, this is the episode you MUST listen to. In the season premiere, Michelle, Disha, and Mehreen break down the contagious nature of being positive, how it can help you visualize and achieve your dreams, and how affirmation statements can help boost your self-esteem and out...

As Graduation nears, Angelina, Marina, and Chloe reflect on their time in Middle School, what they anticipate High School to be like, and why they think some friendships tend to fade once they enter High School. And after 3 years of being presented with information about drugs, alcohol, and other influences , they talk openly and honestly about how teens can easily succumb to negative influences i...

Join us as a returning Harry and Victoria bring Eleni along for an honest review of Netflix's hit series, The Umbrella Academy. We pull no punches as we review the series, discuss the character arcs, the never-ending bizarre relationships, the writing of the show, the popular and crazy fan theories, and what we think will happen next season. Is Reginald an alien? Did Klaus have enough of a redempt...

Did you hear? The guests on The Monarch Experience's most downloaded episode ever are back! And this time they are talking about why people are so drawn to gossip, how it could be a bonding experience for people, how to avoid rumors, and how teens and adults can stop gossip from spreading.  Add The Monarch Experience Podcast on SnapChat. Follow The Monarch Experience on Twitter @TheMonarchXP...

They experienced having the winning team in 2018 celebrate on their home court, only to return the favor the following year. Join 8th graders Luke and Ryan as they detail their experience with heartbreak after going so far, only to end up losing the championship last year, to the wild ride of a season they had this year leading up to the championship win defined by their team's aggressiveness, loo...

There's possibly no bigger generational gap than teens that play and stream online games and the parents that don't understand the power of it. Join Brandon (Brandonbest555), Kimberly (CookieCaffine), and Evan (SoundWave328) as they explain the impact of streaming various types of gaming on multiple platforms and how teens can actually make money off of it! If you are a gamer, online streamer...

In one of our best episodes yet, Nihal, Haaniah, Sayuri, and Roman talk about their experiences coming from another country and the challenges they faced assimilating to American schools. Experience Haaniah's shock when she saw American malls and how casual people dressed; you'll be sure to second guess what clothing you wear next time you go to the mall. Also, Nihal holds nothing back as he expla...

Do you think homework is useless? Does homework reinforce skills learned in class? Harry, Alice, and Jason break down whether or not homework belongs in schools anymore, how it affects students' time and personal lives, the 'types' of teachers that assign homework, and more!  Follow on Twitter: @TheMonarchXp Add on Snapchat: The Monarch Experience Podcast

Want to learn how to be popular? This episode may - or may not - have all of the answers as 8th graders Sika, Marco, and Janel explore why people have the need to be popular, how it affects teens growing up, what long term effects it has, social media's impact, and much more in our 3rd episode! Plus, an opportunity to win free money by listening!  Follow on Twitter: @TheMonarchXp Add on Snapc...

Feeling stressed?! Well, Sid, Fadilah, Mehreen, and Disha have got you covered as they break down the stresses of being a teenager both in and out of school, how to deal with these stresses, and why parents and teachers mean well, but often don't help matters.  Follow on Twitter: @TheMonarchXp Add on Snapchat: The Monarch Experience Podcast

In the very first episode of The Monarch Experience, Sammi, Madison, and Victoria break down the importance (or lack thereof) of standardized tests such as the Common Assessment and PARCC.  Plus, they address ways schools can make taking these tests more tolerable.  Follow on Twitter: @TheMonarchXp Add on Snapchat: The Monarch Experience Podcast