The Woodberry Podcast

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Dr. Byron Hulsey welcomes Drew Collier ’03. A graduate of Woodberry Forest School and Wofford College, Drew returned to the Forest as a faculty member and has become a cornerstone of the Spanish department and the broader Woodberry community. Recently appointed chair of the department, Drew also leads several of the school’s international and abroad progr...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Dr. Byron Hulsey welcomes Julia Hixson, Associate Director of College Counseling and incoming Director of College Counseling at Woodberry Forest School. Julia brings a wealth of experience to her role, having led college advising at The Covenant School, her alma mater, and previously worked with students at the Miller School of Albemarle and Charleston Ca...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Dr. Byron Hulsey welcomes Jason Ramsden, host of This Empty Nest Life , for a thoughtful conversation about one of parenting’s most significant transitions. As children take their next big steps, heading off to college, boarding school, or into independence, parents are often left navigating a new and unfamiliar season. Byron and Jason explore the emotion...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey reconnects with Colin Gay ’93, Woodberry alumnus and longtime faculty member. After graduating from Woodberry, Colin returned to the Forest to teach, serving the school for 19 years before wrapping up his time on the faculty in 2022. He now works at GovSmart, Inc., while continuing to pursue meaningful challenges beyond his career....

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey is joined by Sean Harvey, founder of the Warrior Compassion Institute and a men’s engagement strategist whose work focuses on purpose, healing, and authentic connection. Byron and Sean explore how Sean’s work with men, helping them confront deeper questions of identity, meaning, and belonging, aligns closely with Woodberry Forest’s...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey sits down with renowned author and psychologist Dr. Michael C. Reichert to explore the development and education of boys in today’s world. Dr. Reichert is an applied and research psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with children, families, and schools across clinical, community, and educational settings. He serves...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey is joined by Janney Jay, mother of Morgan Jay ’25, for a conversation about one family's journey through a Woodberry education. Janney shares what led the Jay family to choose Woodberry Forest School and reflects on how the experience has shaped Morgan’s growth along the way. Byron and Janney also discuss the strength and reach of...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey welcomes Wil Brawley '92, entrepreneur, proud alumnus, and longtime friend of the school. As the co-owner of ScheduleFly, Wil has built a successful business rooted in service and relationships, values that trace back to his time at Woodberry. Byron and Wil reflect on Will’s journey from his early days as a Woodberry sports camper...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey welcomes Dr. Tiff Jones, founder and owner of X-Factor Performance Consulting and a Certified Mental Performance Coach. With more than two decades of experience working with professional, collegiate, and youth athletes, Dr. Tiff helps individuals and teams reach their highest potential, both in competition and in life. Byron and Dr...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey welcomes John Gulla, Executive Director of the Edward E. Ford Foundation, for a wide-ranging discussion on the forces shaping secondary education today. Together, Byron and John explore the broader trends influencing independent middle and high schools, from shifting demographics and financial models to questions of access, equity,...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey welcomes Harry Lavant, an Internationally Certified Gambling Counselor, for a timely discussion on the rapidly evolving world of sports gambling. Together, Byron and Harry explore how the expansion of legalized sports betting is shaping culture, the unique risks it poses for young people, and the challenges parents and educators fa...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey sits down with a very special guest, his daughter, Claire Hulsey. A rising senior at St. Andrew’s School in Delaware, Claire reflects on her own educational journey while sharing what it was like to grow up on the Woodberry campus as the daughter of a headmaster. Byron and Claire talk candidly about the unique perspective that come...

In this special episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey welcomes Dylan Walmsley ’19 and his mother, Kathy Walmsley, for a heartfelt conversation about the impact of a Woodberry education on both students and their families. Kathy shares an honest and thoughtful perspective on what it was like to send both of her sons to boarding school, the hopes and hesitations that came with t...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Dr. Byron Hulsey sits down with Morgan Jay, a standout member of the Class of 2025 from Alexandria, Virginia. A prefect, cross country runner, and all-around contributor to campus life, Morgan reflects on his time at Woodberry and the moments that shaped his growth, both as a student and a young man. As he looks ahead to Harvard, Morgan shares insights in...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey sits down with Dr. Jeffrey R. Quebec, an experienced educator and founder of the Pre-Prep Showcase. With decades of leadership in independent school education, Dr. Quebec offers unique insight into the evolving landscape of boarding schools. Byron and Jeff dive into the current trends shaping the boarding school world, from shiftin...

Wright Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN and a contributing writer to The Atlantic. He formerly worked at The Kansas City Star and the Times-Picayune in New Orleans. Thompson's topics have covered a wide range of sports issues, from golf, football, basketball, and baseball, to car racing, sports history, and bullfighting. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Pappyland and The Cost of...

Paul Cumbo is an educator, author, and entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience teaching English at Jesuit high schools for boys. He was a rowing coach for much of that time, and he has also served as a swimming coach, retreat director, and service-learning coordinator. He currently teaches part-time at Canisius High School in downtown Buffalo, NY. Paul is the author of five books, in...

In this episode of The Woodberry Podcast , Headmaster Byron Hulsey sits down with Larry Washington, a valued member of Woodberry’s transportation department. With an extensive and fascinating career history, Larry brings a unique perspective to life at Woodberry, both on and off the road. Byron and Larry talk about his wide-ranging professional journey, what drew him to Woodberry, and the meaningf...

Tom Batty is the executive director of the International Boys School Coalition. Tom has spent thirty-two years working in boys schools as both a math teacher (at schools such as Eton College in the UK and Waverley College in Australia) and principal of Scotch College in Melbourne. Tom joined the board of IBSC in 2012, and served as chair from 2018-2021, before being named executive director in 202...

Ben Hulsey ’22 is the son of Headmaster Byron Hulsey ’86. Currently a junior at Washington & Lee University, Ben was the senior prefect at Woodberry, where he was also on the track and cross country teams, served on the Oracle staff, and participated in the Woodberry-in-Spain trip. Ben spent several summers working on the Woodberry maintenance crew and is serving as a class volunteer.

Tom Darden '73 is the founder and chief executive officer of Cherokee, a Raleigh-based company that builds environmental technology businesses and remediates environmentally contaminated real estate. Tom began his career with Bain & Company in Boston, working with Bain from 1981 to 1984. Beginning in 1984, he served for 16 years as the chairman of Cherokee Sanford Group, the largest private br...

Danielle Coon is the manager of Woodberry's school store, a position she has held since 2022. She has more than seventeen years of progressive experience with retailer American Eagle Outfitters, where she was an award-winning lead store manager. Danielle has extensive expertise in brick and mortar stores, online sales, and visual directives.

Ted Blain came to Woodberry Forest in 1982, where five years later he became chairman of the English Department, a position that he held for more than 30 years. During his tenure at Woodberry, he held the Rufus W. Higginbotham Mastership, 1984-87; the James C. Ambler Chair of English, 1987-2020; and won the George O'Connor Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 1990, 2002, and 2011. Ted is a graduate...

Dr. John P.N. Austin became Deerfield Academy’s 56th Head of School in July of 2019. Prior to Deerfield, Dr. Austin served as Headmaster at King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan, and before that as Academic Dean at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware, where he joined the faculty in 1987. A graduate of Williams College, Dr. Austin holds a Master of Arts, Master of Philosophy, and Doctoral degree...

Frazier Stowers ’04 serves as the co-dean of students for the 3rd and 4th forms and director of Woodberry Forest Sports Camp. Frazier has a long-standing relationship with the Sports Camp, having attended as a boy in the late ’90s, later serving as a counselor and assistant director from 2005 to 2015, and then co-director in 2017 when the camp celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Frazier’s appoint...