The Quarterdeck: A Camp Sea Gull Podcast

Camp Sea Gull & Camp Seafarer
  • 5.0 (17)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Ever wonder why so many Camp Sea Gull counselors become successful, and why they’re so devoted to Camp and their fellow counselors? Set sail with Staffing Director, Bear Bashford, as he catches up with former Camp Sea Gull counselors making waves in a wide variety of careers. Counselor Alumni will share inspiring perspectives on their careers and reveal the hidden connections between becoming a Camp Counselor at Sea Gull and a lifetime of personal - and professional - success.

Episodes

  1. FEB 4

    Kurt Newman, MD

    Dr. Kurt Newman, longtime Camp Volunteer Doctor, talks with Bear from his home in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Newman is a recognized leader in pediatrics, having served as a surgeon and later Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Newman was the CEO of Children’s from 2011-2025 and is the author of Healing Children: A Surgeon’s Stories from the Frontiers of Pediatric Medicine. He and his family started an endowment at Sea Gull and Seafarer, creating the Newman Scholarship to provide mentorship and experience for counselors interested in the healthcare field.

    50 min

  2. JAN 9

    Captain Grant Thomas: U.S. Coast Guard

    Captain Grant Thomas, former camper, counselor and Head Counselor of the Camp III Firemen, talks with Bear from his home in Anchorage, Alaska. Grant commanded a number of ships for the U.S. Coast Guard and served as the U.S. Coast Guard Chair at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Anchorage when this was recorded. He is now The Coast Guard Liason at Alaska Command.

    37 min

  3. 12/02/2025

    James M. Scott: NYT Best Selling Author

    James M. Scott, former camper and Aquatics Counselor, sits down with Bear in Charleston, S.C. The NY Times Best Selling Author and Pulitzer Finalist talks about his books, lectures and battlefield tours, and how Sea Gull prepared him for his career in American Military History.

    36 min

  4. 10/31/2025

    Aaron Harrington: NYC-Based Actor, Singer and Producer

    Aaron Harrington, former camper, Durham Nativity School graduate, counselor, Assistant Head and Camper Services, talks with Bear about his roles in Rent and Little Shop of Horrors and how Camp propelled him toward his career in New York and international theater.

    42 min

  5. 09/30/2025

    Ed Roberson: Colorado-Based Conservationist and Creator/Host of Podcast, “Mountain and Prairie"

    Ed Roberson, former camper, counselor and Powerboating UA, talks with Bear about his time at Sea Gull and how the leadership experience and community are foundational to who he is today.

    41 min

  6. 08/26/2025

    Stuart Ginn, MD: Airline Pilot, Head and Neck Surgeon, Medical Director for WakeMed Innovations

    Stu Ginn, a former Cabin Counselor and Lightning Trainer, talks with Bear about his Sea Gull experience and how it prepared him for his professional career as both an aviator and a surgeon.

    47 min
  • 6 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Ever wonder why so many Camp Sea Gull counselors become successful, and why they’re so devoted to Camp and their fellow counselors? Set sail with Staffing Director, Bear Bashford, as he catches up with former Camp Sea Gull counselors making waves in a wide variety of careers. Counselor Alumni will share inspiring perspectives on their careers and reveal the hidden connections between becoming a Camp Counselor at Sea Gull and a lifetime of personal - and professional - success.

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