The Late Start Show

In Episode 29 of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Coach Michael Perrino, University School’s new head varsity lacrosse coach and assistant to the athletic department. He takes us back to growing up in Solon, Ohio, in a deeply supportive family with his twin brother, and to the humbling first lacrosse practice where the ball flew straight up and hit him in the head. From there, we trace the rise of a multi-sport competitor whose love for the game was shaped by Northeast Ohio’s fierce lacrosse culture, early battles against US, and a trip with his dad to the 2006 national championship that made college lacrosse feel real. Coach Perrino reflects on the whirlwind of recruiting, the shock of the college game, and the path that took him from the College of Wooster to Roanoke and then Canisius, where injuries, transfers, and constant self-evaluation helped sharpen not just the player he was becoming, but the person too. From there, we follow a journey defined by persistence: open tryouts, surgeries, a spot with the Ohio Machine, and eventually a coaching career that stretched from John Carroll to Ohio Wesleyan, St. John Fisher, Baldwin Wallace, Robert Morris, and now back home to University School. Coach Perrino opens up about what actually builds a winning culture, not slogans, but hard work when no one’s watching, real closeness, high standards, and an attitude that lifts everyone around you. He talks about preparing students not just to win games, but to handle adversity, embrace discomfort, and see high school as a “40-year decision, not a four-year decision.” And at the center of it all is his why: relationships. More than wins, losses, or even lacrosse itself, Coach Perrino says the reason he coaches is to build lasting bonds with players and help them long after the final whistle.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 28 of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Danny Sullivan, senior diver on University School’s five-time straight state champion swimming and diving team, Anderson House prefect, golfer, skier, and musician. Danny reflects on growing up as a quiet kid who slowly grew into himself, arriving at US in seventh grade unsure of whether he belonged, and how that uncertainty quickly gave way to deep friendships, lasting traditions, and a genuine love for the school community. He looks back on some of the people and moments that shaped him most, from the handshake line and the friendships built in the halls to teachers like Mr. Richmond who helped him discover the value of persistence, confidence, and growth. From the fear and focus required on the diving board to the mental pressure of individual sports like golf, Danny opens up about learning how to trust his preparation, push through fear, and lead with consistency. He shares what it has meant to serve as a house prefect, the story behind his memorable senior speech performance at the piano, and why leadership, kindness, and community have become the values that matter most to him. Looking ahead to Middlebury and a future that may include economics, environmental studies, skiing, golf, and plenty of new interests, Danny talks about wanting a life centered on passion, friendship, and growth, and leaves listeners with a clear “why”: the people around him, the community he has built, and the chance to keep showing up for others while doing what he loves. Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 27 of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Adonis Wazni, senior, captain of the Public Forum debate team, president of the Student Investment Committee, and science researcher. Adonis reflects on growing up at University School as a lifer, what it’s been like finally sharing campus with his younger brother, and how joining debate in eighth grade helped him grow from an introvert into a confident speaker and leader. He also shares how he got involved in school spirit work behind the scenes and dives into his award-winning science research, including a biomimicry project inspired by penguins, sharks, water striders, and even golf balls to reduce noise pollution and wake from container ships. From navigating 13 different debate partners over four years to finally qualifying for both states and nationals, Adonis opens up about resilience, communication, and what it means to lead with consistency. He talks about how classes like stats, science, English, and economics shaped the way he thinks in debate, what he hopes to build in the Student Investment Committee by making sure every voice is heard, and why he sees college as a chance to keep learning before narrowing his focus. He also reflects on his powerful senior speech about names, identity, and assumptions, and closes with a “why” rooted in effort, gratitude, and growth: if he’s going to do something, he’s going to give it his best.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 26 of The Late Start Show, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down with David “Russ” Nobles, University School rapper, track athlete, and winner of the Sherman Prize Speaking Contest, for a funny, honest, and surprisingly deep conversation about identity, confidence, and chasing what you actually love. Starting with Russ shadowing Charlie back in 5th grade (and famously being most impressed by the buffet lunch), the episode traces how Russ found community at US, started rapping young, and learned to trust his voice, especially once classmates supported his first songs and beats instead of boxing him into stereotypes. Russ also breaks down what he wishes people understood about rap: that it’s not just “loud” or “vulgar,” but an art form tied to storytelling, social justice, and real change, shaped by artists he respects like J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, and more. The conversation then dives into the Sherman Prize journey: what the contest is, how he chose a message “only he could tell,” why he had to rap on that stage, and the behind-the-scenes grind of making every line land out loud. Russ relives the nerves right before he went on (“don’t mess it up”), the surreal moment his name got called as the winner, and the bigger takeaway he hopes people remember, your dream isn’t “less important” just because it doesn’t fit the typical path. Along the way, he shouts out the teachers who’ve had his back (especially Dr. Matthew Foulds), shares what track taught him about resilience and “quick memory,” and looks ahead to what’s next musically, songs in the vault, visuals, and a dream of rapping on a Tyler, the Creator beat. The episode closes with Russ’s “why”: showing up for the kids who feel like outcasts, and proving that being unapologetically yourself is more than a vibe, it’s the whole point.Credits to Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 22 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Mr. Terry Lipford ’98, University School alum, middle school teacher, basketball coach, and Director of the REACH Program. Growing up on Cleveland’s east side in a family of educators, Mr. Lipford reflects on the early influences that shaped his values, community, discipline, and pride in identity. He shares what it was like arriving at US in seventh grade, finding his footing through football and basketball, and forming lasting connections through teams, mentors, and the school’s Black student community. From high-stakes basketball moments to the teachers and coaches who pushed him to grow, he explains why US became a place that helped him see both who he was and who he could become.From there, Mr. Lipford walks us through his path after graduation: choosing John Carroll University, studying business, spending time in the corporate world, and ultimately realizing his calling was in education. We dive deep into the REACH Program, its origins, mission, and impact as a three-summer academic and identity-affirming experience for African American middle school boys, and what sets it apart from traditional enrichment or admissions pipelines. Mr. Lipford breaks down how REACH measures success, why brotherhood and belonging matter as much as grades, and what it means to see alumni return as mentors and leaders. He closes by reflecting on legacy, service, and his “why”: family, responsibility, and giving back to the community that helped shape him.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 21 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Russell Breuer ’98, University School alum and the founder and CEO of Spot & Tango, the fresh pet food company shaking up how we think about pet health. Growing up in Shaker Heights, and later commuting from Aurora after his family moved, Mr. Breuer reflects on his path through US and the teachers, trips, and community that stuck with him. He shares why the “do everything” spirit of US mattered: playing soccer and tennis, becoming editor-in-chief of The Mabian, and learning the kind of structured, first-principles problem solving he still leans on as a CEO. From there, Mr. Breuer walks us through Emory, studying Spanish and international studies (inspired in part by his family’s Venezuelan roots), and how that global focus turned into a consulting career that started in Washington, DC (Kaiser Associates) and unexpectedly became eight years in London, passport and all. We dive into the origin story of Spot & Tango: his wife cooking fresh meals for their mini goldendoodle, late nights in a Queens incubator kitchen, and the “dark times” grind (apron, hair net, and bike-messenger deliveries) that eventually pushed him to go all-in in April 2018. We unpack what “personalized” pet nutrition really means, the idea behind UnKibble (freeze-dried, shelf-stable, and designed to cut cold-chain cost), and the scaling moments, like selling out in three days after launching in April 2020 and building real-world manufacturing muscle in Allentown. Mr. Breuer also breaks down the rebrand to “Spot & Tango,” the launch of Pup Gum, what’s next (including a Canada move on March 1 and brick-and-mortar on the roadmap), and closes with the legacy he wants to leave, giving back, and his “why”: grit. Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 20 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Tony Peebles ’81, veteran banker and finance leader, longtime civic fundraiser, Baldwin Wallace University’s Alumni Engagement Director, and a current University School board member. Growing up in Cleveland’s Lee-Harvard neighborhood with two educator parents (a PE teacher mom and a shop-teacher dad), Tony reflects on being an introverted kid who found his voice through music (he started guitar at age seven) and the mentors who pushed him to work hard. He shares how CCIS-era recruiting and a “Major Works” cohort from Gracemont brought him to US in seventh grade, and how Western Civ, public speaking, and the jazz band (including a Boston tour by Amtrak) helped shape his confidence, humility, and love of teamwork. From there, Tony traces his path to Duke, from a Stanford dream vetoed by his mom to a campus visit made powerful by the reality that Duke would’ve been segregated for his father and grandfather. He tells stories of ACC basketball energy (and seeing legends up close) before unpacking the relationship-driven breaks that built his career: an Ameritrust summer internship arranged through US connections that turned into a full-time management trainee role and, eventually, a decades-long run in financial services, including major responsibility at Fifth Third and an MBA earned while working full-time. We dive into what alumni engagement really means, “time, talent, and treasure”, and why Tony believes staying involved is one of the most underrated leadership skills. He closes with the legacy he hopes to leave at US (keeping doors open for talented students from every background) and his “why”: giving back, guided by his father’s rules about faith, family, and leading with integrity.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 19 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, the second half of their fireside conversation, Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down once again with Mr. Harmon: legendary science teacher, storyteller, and the driving force behind University School’s Outdoor Projects. Mr. Harmon pulls back the curtain on how the “outdoors” at US is really a living science lab, connecting classroom concepts to real-world systems. He breaks down everything from calorimetry and the energy content of different woods to the trout hatchery’s year-round water system and the live plankton it provides for biology labs, to the physics (and chemistry) behind maple sugaring, photosynthesis, sap flow, osmotic pressure, and even freeze-thaw dynamics. Along the way, he reflects on the origins of Outdoor Projects (and the early Outward Bound–style challenges), why forest health matters more than ever, from invasive pests threatening beech trees to the overlooked importance of soil science, and what it means to protect the campus as a “trust,” not “land waiting for development.” The conversation closes with the show’s signature question, “What is your why?”, as Mr. Harmon shares a simple, powerful philosophy: be human, be charitable, and make decisions that help more than hurt. Happy Holidays, and have a great winter break. Stay tuned for more episodes as we keep capturing the stories (and wisdom) of the legends who make University School what it is. Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 18 of Season 2 of The Late Start Show (and the next year of The Harmon Holiday Special), Charlie Martin and Jack Nelson sit down by the fire with Mr. Terry Harmon, legendary science teacher and Outdoor Projects advisor at University School, to talk all things winter on campus. From the first real signs of the season to the magic of a frozen Lake Kilroy, Mr. Harmon breaks down how the school measures ice safety (and where not to step), then goes deep on what’s happening beneath the ice, why water behaves so strangely, why ice floats, and how big bodies of water shape weather (and even agriculture) around Lake Erie. Along the way, he revisits the unforgettable winter of 1977–78, connects the brook trout to the bigger story of wilderness and conservation, and shares the personal moments that sparked his love of trout, from childhood canoe trips in Canada to hatching eggs at home and helping launch the school’s trout hatchery decades ago. This episode is equal parts a science lesson, winter story time, and a love letter to the outdoors, perfect to listen to while it’s cold outside. Stay tuned for Part 2 as we rebuild the fire and keep the conversation going.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 17 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Mr. Dan Swander ’61, University School lifer, veteran consumer products executive, and co-founder of consulting firm Swander Pace & Company and private equity firm Swander Pace Capital. Growing up in the backyard of the Shaker Campus, Dan shares memories of walking across the fields to kindergarten, remembering every teacher from first grade through senior year, and having US at the center of his life. He reflects on the mentors who shaped him such as his coaches and teachers, the early days of sixth-grade football and undefeated varsity soccer, and what’s changed (and what hasn’t) as US evolved into a two-campus, more diverse, greater-Cleveland school community. He traces an “unplanned” career from Trinity College and Wharton to McKinsey, built around curiosity, a love of consumer products, and the occasional unconventional answer, like telling a McKinsey psychologist he’d come back as an otter.From turning around a struggling food company by taking office doors off their hinges to helping build large brands, Dan unpacks the leadership principles that have guided him: flipping the leadership chart upside down, betting on teams instead of lone geniuses, and focusing on real dollar margins instead of just percentages. He talks candidly about short attention span in modern entrepreneurship, how AI and automation will reshape work while opening doors in skilled trades, and what it was like to balance six kids with a demanding career. Now deeply involved in his church and Winter Nights Family Shelter, Dan reflects on legacy, service, and staying engaged, and shares his “why”: to stay curious, work hard, make mistakes, give back to his community, and wake up each day asking, “What can I do that matters today?”Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 16 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Carter Loeser, senior football linebacker, Jarvis Scholar, and student entrepreneur. Carter walks us through arriving at US as a freshman, what the Jarvis Scholarship has meant for his sense of purpose, and how stepping into a bigger academic and social world pushed him to grow in confidence and ambition. Along the way, he reflects on the importance of community, strong teacher support, and the people who helped turn a potentially overwhelming transition into a place that feels like home. From the toughness of football to the unexpected pivot of coaching JV basketball with his dad after a sophomore-year ACL injury, Carter shares how setbacks taught him resilience and how leadership can be earned through consistency and care. He also dives into theater, and the origin story of Good For You Smoothies and Not So Good For You Milkshakes, an Anderson Scholars business that became a school staple (and even landed a Cleveland Magazine feature). Looking ahead, Carter talks business, economics, and finance aspirations, potential college fits, and his hope to pass the smoothie torch to younger students. His “why” comes back to the same core theme: the people around him, family, teammates, friends, and a community worth giving his best to.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 15 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Mr. Bill Conway ’45, University School alum, Yale football captain, mining entrepreneur, golf-course founder, and cornerstone of Cleveland philanthropy. He takes us back to a Cleveland childhood as the seventh of thirteen children, growing up in the shadow of the Great Depression and World War II while his father rose through Fisher Foods and moved the family to a house just behind US so “all those boys” could attend. We trace his days sprinting across the Shaker campus fields to chapel, marching in wartime drills under Teacher Major Gunn, and learning from demanding, formative teachers and coaches, all while absorbing family mottos like “be a giver, not a taker.” From there, Mr. Conway walks us through Yale in the final days of WWII, a pivot from chemical to industrial engineering, and a hard-hitting Ivy League football career that led to a brief stint as an assistant coach before he headed north to the iron-ore pits of Minnesota and then halfway across the world to open a mine in Australia. Mr. Conway reflects on five decades of building people-centered companies, from buying a sand quarry in Chardon and treating miners as true partners, to joining forces with Chuck Fowler to create Fairmount Minerals, an industrial sand powerhouse grounded in the mantra “do good, do well.” Along the way, we talk about what it meant to see Fairmount listed on the New York Stock Exchange, him making a golf course, and his deep support for institutions like University School. At 98, his advice is simple: listen more than you talk, look for the positive, be grateful, and use each day to make things a little better for your family, your community, and the wider world, because his “why” is, and always has been, to honor the gifts he was given by giving generously in return.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

In Episode 14 of Season Two of The Late Start Show, we sit down with Z Cimoroni, senior, hockey and lacrosse player, award-winning percussionist, and Sherman Price Speaking Contest finalist. He takes us back to growing up in Shaker Heights, finding his way to US when Shaker dropped its honors classes, and walking the track during ILT with the friends who became his core group. Z opens up about what it was like to start here in the middle of COVID, how the brotherhood and incredible teachers pulled him into the community, and why having his younger brother John at US has made his own experience feel even more meaningful. From packed student sections at “the Bart” to the noise of the locker room, Z reflects on the culture behind US hockey’s success, navigating injury and time away from the game, and how sports have sharpened his leadership and mental approach. In the classroom and beyond, he shares how Anderson Scholars in Entrepreneurship, Spanish Honor Society, and jazz ensemble helped him find a passion for business and economics, and what it took to deliver his Sherman “Demons in Our Pockets” speech on phones and social media without freezing on stage. Looking ahead to a high-spirit, high-academic college where he can study business or economics, Z talks about family-led college tours, being remembered as someone who worked hard and was kind, and his “why”: a genuine love for hockey, drums, and lacrosse, a willingness to “embrace the suck” in the hard moments, and a daily drive to make “tomorrow you better than today.”Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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 state finals and relentless summer work that forged US Baseball’s culture. In the classroom and beyond, he shares why he jumped into orchestra and how he manages a schedule that swings from practice to tournaments to late-night homework.From captaining one of Ohio’s top Public Forum squads to serving as treasurer on the Student Investment, Will opens up about leadership, goal setting, and what’s next, an economics track in college, a possible finance or data angle, and a dream of bringing home a debate state title while chasing another deep baseball playoff run. What does US mean to him now? Waking up excited to come to school, and to the work after the bell. His “why”? To be “a little bit better at everything you do every day”, to keep showing up, keep improving, and keep building something bigger with the people around him.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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, why he sees law as a true liberal art, and the years building programs at Elyria Catholic, Benedictine, and NDCL before returning home to US in 2015 with the encouragement of Jim Stephens and Bill O’Neill. Coach Malbasa reflects on US’s identity as an early spread-offense adopter, the brotherhood born from 6:30 a.m. summer lifts, and the “flow” that happens when leaders lead leaders. He relives a rough Week 5 loss, the best week of practice he’s ever seen, and a rivalry win that reset the season, plus the electric Friday-night game under the lights at the Shaker campus that pulled the whole community together this year. From goals to what legacy really means, Coach shares the message he keeps close to him: “This will not be the best thing you do; it will be a sign.” We talk about the humor and humility that define US, his pitch to student-athletes and what it’s meant to share the school with his own family. He breaks down why English class matters, why Shakespeare’s St. Crispin’s Day speech is the blueprint for nearly every pregame talk, and why great literature, from Macbeth to Gatsby, survives. His “why”? An “irrational belief in the importance” of teaching, coaching, and helping young people pursue big goals together, and the conviction that there’s always a next big thing.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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” to storytelling with strangers. He contrasts the quietness of Tokyo with Cleveland game-day chaos, remembers the neon-out under the lights at Shaker, and explains why real school spirit means showing up loud and together.From freshman-year to becoming senior, Chase opens up about growth, a tough leg surgery and recovery, and the moments that made this year feel different. He shares the story behind his national Silver Medal in the 2025 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, a striking shot outside a public smoking box in Ikebukuro, and introduces his new nonprofit, the Backstage Pass Project, bringing instruments, lessons, and music therapy access to kids who need it. We talk whiteouts with baby powder, packing the stands for hockey, and what it means to leave a legacy that makes US feel big: civil, rowdy, and proud. Chase sums up his “why” simply, friends, family, and the drive to show up, be better, and help the community do the same.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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 path to Colgate, where a Geology class rerouted him from astrophysics to rocks and isotopes where along the way he double majored in Classical Studies, discovered intramural sports, and via ballroom dance and Dancefest, met his future wife. He shares beloved Colgate traditions like “Geo Pizza,”. From lake muds to middle school labs, Mr. Montanye walks us through grad work at the University of Akron (reconstructing 400 years of ecological change in Lake Tanganyika, a three-week ocean research cruise off Costa Rica, and the infamous acid-hood mishap that took away his sense of smell), then opens the door to his classroom: the splashy Archimedes density lab, film-can rocket investigations, and geologic time projects that turn billion-year scales into baseball fields and world-spanning strings. We talk coaching A-team soccer, why House Cup traditions build real brotherhood, how student leaders learn by carving pumpkins and planning assemblies, and what it means to enroll his own son at US. A huge Pokémon fan who still chases tournaments, Montanye dreams of visiting every active lava lake on Earth, from Hawai‘i to Antarctica to the Congo, and sums up his “why” with a line from a certain 90s theme song: to be a little better every day, helping kids stay curious, hands-on, and excited to learn.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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. He shares his favorite US memories and then traces his path to Middlebury College, where his professor’s response to his first paper reframed his thinking of what school was, and set the tone for a career built on curiosity and craft. From the plant floor to the corner office, Joe talks about discipline, his love of flight, and a family mantra, “Let’s go be somebody”, that shaped decades at Hartzell and later Tailwind Technologies. He talks about the company’s slogan, “Built on Honor,” its Wright Brothers roots, flying 500 hours a year to meet customers, and hard calls like selling Hartzell Aviation in 2023. We dive into Yellow House, the residential community he co-founded in Vermont for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and what he’s learned from his daughter’s joyful empathy. Joe reflects on US brotherhood that became a lifelong network, and why our generation must be the “restoration generation”. He closes with his “why”: to pay it back and pay it forward, showing up for his kids and new grandchild, and pouring gratitude into purposeful work every day.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news

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 teams feel like. He traces his path from multi-sport kid to the varsity O-line, through an ACL setback and back again, and credits his older captains and teachers for pulling him in and showing him how to lead.The conversation spans recruiting highs and hard lessons like gaining 50 pounds the right way, turning “I’m nervous” into “I’m excited,” dimmer-switch game-day prep, and why Twitter and persistence finally put his film in front of the right coaches. Griff opens up about choosing Columbia, loving the staff’s intensity, and a program on the rise, plus his academic curiosity that ranges from biology to economics. He reflects on prefect duties, house culture, and what he’ll miss most about US. He closes with his “why”: to honor the sacrifices of family, classmates, and teachers by chasing excellence every day, so that his effort matches what others have poured into him.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.

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-room culture, and mentors shaped their grit and leadership.The conversation spans recruiting highs and lows, including Matteo’s summer hamstring setback and the resilience that followed, Nico’s early camp reps and film-first mindset, and the daily discipline that comes from planners, late-night film, and teachers who change your trajectory. They salute past coaches, celebrate their mom’s cooking business at home, and talk house pride, and paying it forward to younger teammates. The brothers close with their “why”: to be great, leave a legacy of effort, and honor their family’s work ethic, so that when people hear “Morelli,” they think of a standard to live up to.Credits to Theo Walter for Production and Editing, Russ Nobles for the Intro and Outro songs, Mr. Wickboldt for being our advisor, and you for listening to our podcast and keeping up with the latest US news.