Educational Archeology: Thriving in the Middle
by James Browder
Welcome. Believe it or not, I chose to spend the rest of my life in Middle School. After teaching for over 19 years, my goal can be boiled down into one task, developing human potential. My three favorite educational words are autonomy, agency, and authenticity. There is nothing more authentic than hearing about the realities of middle and high school life directly from the students who have lived through it. Whether you are a parent looking for perspective, a teacher trying to better understand your students, or a student looking for some guidance, this podcast has something for everyone.
Episodes
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EP 24: A Conversation w/Owen White, a 2026 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Owen White, a 2026 GHS graduate. We talked about his love for cooking, passion for trivia and aspirations to win Jeopardy, balance between STEM and the arts, path to playing varsity tennis, plan to go to space, journey to MIT, and so much...
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EP 23: A Conversation w/Owen Costa, a 2026 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Owen Costa, a 2026 GHS senior. We talked about being one of 6 siblings, being the student body president, acting on stage with the GHS drama department, finding "the thing", loving all things music, and so much more. Enjoy!
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EP 22: A Conversation w/Lily Kronk, a 2026 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Lily Kronk, a 2026 GHS senior. We talked about being the president of The National Honors Society, participating in the GES mentor program, helping with Women in STEM, running Cross Country, setting up the GRAD Grove, applying to The United...
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A Conversation w/Sam Hannig, a 2026 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Sam Hannig, a 2026 GHS senior. We talked about shaving his head to raise money for pediatric cancer research, loving to read when much of the world isn't taking the time, playing in a punk metal band, dealing with loss, playing different...
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A Conversation w/Anabelle Burt, a 2026 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Anabelle Burt, a 2026 GHS senior. We talked about being adopted, juggling two different cultures, volunteering with Foster Forward, applying to college with a gap year in mind, and so much more. Enjoy!
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A Conversation w/Miho Gillespie, a 2025 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Miho Gillespie, a 2025 GHS graduate. We talked about dealing with trauma at a young age, building meaningful relationships, exploring theatre in her senior year, taking AP environmental and the take action project that came with it, working...
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A Conversation w/Sarah Soliman, a 2025 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Sarah Soliman, a 2025 GHS graduate. We talked about her traveling to Egypt, being the GHS stage manager, playing the viola, becoming a Zonta's Women Leadership Award finalist, navigating life with a bi-cultural background, discovering her...
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A Conversation w/Alex Organ, a 2025 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Alex Organ, a 2025 GHS graduate. We talked about how a decision to join Lego Robotics in 5th grade started an interest and trajectory towards the sciences, his motivations for joining the golf and tennis teams, the independent study options…
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A Conversation w/Georgia Coffey, a 2025 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Georgia Coffey, a 2025 GHS graduate. We talked about dealing with alopecia, joining Young Life, learning from a car crash, being a big sister to five siblings, having a job, and so much more. Enjoy!
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A Conversation w/Carson Murphy, a 2025 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Carson Murphy, a 2025 GHS Senior and soon to be graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about what it was like growing up in a house full of sisters, the transition through COVID, his basketball journey, and so much more. Enjoy!
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A Conversation w/Jordyn York, a 2025 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Jordyn York, a 2025 GHS Senior and soon to be graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about her journey with competitive rock climbing, splitting time between two households, being an older sister, taking more challenging course work...
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A Conversation w/Chloe Thatcher, a 2025 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Chloe Thatcher, a 2025 GHS Senior and soon to be graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about finding your thing in a sea of options, taking advantage of independent study opportunities, navigating OCD, having incredible grandparents, and…
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A Conversation w/Beckett Long, a 2025 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Beckett Long, a 2025 GHS Senior and soon to be graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about managing life utilizing three buckets, running his Ruff Cuff vintage clothing hustle, living with a foreign exchange student, using athletics as a...
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A Conversation w/Sophia Shinka, a 2025 GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Sophia Shinka, a 2025 GHS Senior and soon to be graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about adjusting to new situations, knowing when it is time to give up and when you should double down, working with a college counseling consultant to...
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Happy Birthday to the Podcast: One Year Celebration Episode
The show has reached the one year mark. To celebrate, I went back to each episode and pulled the responses to the question that asked each guest to identify the one thing they would go back and tell their middle school self that would have made navigating middle and high school a little bit…
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A Conversation w/Noah Hausman, a 2024 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Noah Hausman, a 2024 GHS Graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about how Covid provided a pause and needed perspective, when to stick with something and when to let it go, the importance of teammates and partners, how to show up for…
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A Conversation w/Kate Miller, a 2024 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Kate Miller, a 2024 GHS Graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about confronting imposter syndrome, taking on big things while maintaining realistic expectations, realizing that leadership and learning happen during the messy times, seeing...
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A Conversation w/Dimi Martinez, A 2024 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Dimi Martinez, a 2024 GHS Graduate. We had the opportunity to talk about moving schools in the middle of a pandemic, finding your people, considering ROI when selecting a college, mental health, the importance of building relationships,...
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A Conversation w/Sydney Ley, a GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Sydney Ley, a 2024 GHS Senior. We had the opportunity to talk about selecting the right college, building strong relationships with teachers, the importance of communication, falling in love with the French culture, balancing school...
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A Conversation w/Kara Bergeron, a GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Kara Bergeron, a 2024 GHS Senior. We had the opportunity to talk about the Global Scholars Program, all things running, selecting a college, prioritizing sleep, normalizing struggle, coming to terms with not having it all figured out, and so...
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A Conversation w/Annabelle Ott, a GHS Senior
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with Annabelle Ott, a 2024 GHS Senior. We had the opportunity to talk about finding your place in the world, how moments in our life put us on our path, navigating life while splitting time between two homes, choosing C-TEC, and so much more. Enjoy!
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A Conversation w/Abby Sanders, a 2023 GHS Graduate
On this episode, I had the opportunity to catch up with 2023 GHS graduate, Abby Sanders. Abby was home for winter break following a successful first semester at the University of Maryland. In the episode, we talk about her trips to Israel, a high school study abroad opportunity, what sports teach...
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A Conversation w/Nora Carrington, a GHS Junior
In this episode we talk about taking a year off traditional school to travel, building a strong sense of self, finding confidence, using your voice, getting a job, dealing with depression, and so much more. *Episode note: Neither of us are professionals in the space of mental health or dealing…
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A Conversation w/Audrey Stankunas, a GHS Senior
On this episode, we had the opportunity to catch up with GHS senior, Audrey Stankunas. We talk about applying for college, managing a healthy extra-curricular life, embracing empathy, finding a voice, and a host of other topics. Enjoy!
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A Conversation w/Bjorn Ludwig, a 2019 GHS Graduate
In this episode, I of course cover our typical questions geared towards accessing great advice for thriving, not just surviving, in middles school. But, you will also get to hear our thoughts about Artificial Intelligence, herding sheep in New Zealand, and playing the violin. No matter where you...
About this show
Welcome. Believe it or not, I chose to spend the rest of my life in Middle School. After teaching for over 19 years, my goal can be boiled down into one task, developing human potential. My three favorite educational words are autonomy, agency, and authenticity. There is nothing more authentic than hearing about the realities of middle and high school life directly from the students who have lived through it. Whether you are a parent looking for perspective, a teacher trying to better understand your students, or a student looking for some guidance, this podcast has something for everyone.
Hosted by
James Browder
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