High School Matters

Randy Appell
High School Matters

How much did High School shape your life? High School Matters is a podcast dedicated to conversations I have with my former High School students where I set out to find out how High School mattered to them both then and now. What I uncover in these conversations is that the persona that these kids created in High School is not exactly what was beneath the surface.

  1. JUN 25

    The Guy Who Never Forgot High School

    In high school, Jon Shatzkamer (Shatz) was the all-American kid—well-liked, good-looking, kind, and seemingly coasting through life with ease. But years later, everything changed when Jon suffered a brain aneurysm that left him in a coma for weeks. His recovery was nothing short of a miracle. While he now faces some challenges with short-term memory, Jon holds onto incredibly vivid and detailed memories from his past—especially from high school. In this heartfelt episode, we talk about the journey he’s been on, the struggles he’s faced, and the surprising ways his past continues to stay present in his life.

    39 min

  2. JUN 20

    The Teacher Who Busted Out

    Mr. Dubin was one of my favorite teachers in high school, not because he stuck to any script, but because he had his own style. He was quirky, unpredictable, and full of spirit. His class felt fun, personal, and the kind of experience that stays with you for life. In this episode, we look back on what made him so memorable, like the way he connected with students, his creative traditions, and his legendary “bust outs”. The most surprising part? He somehow remembered stories about me from over 30 years ago — in crazy detail! I never set out to copy him, but my classrooms today are like his used to be. The tone, the energy, and the way I try to make things feel fun and real for my students are all a result of his influence.

    33 min

  3. JUN 11

    The Comedian Who Thinks I'm Funny

    What happens when your oldest friend is also the funniest person you’ve ever met? You laugh… a lot. And maybe grow up a little along the way. In this episode, I sit down with Dave Siegel—stand-up comedian, news writer, and my best friend since the first grade. Dave’s performed on America’s Got Talent, killed on Comedy Central, and toured with comedy legends—but the real gold? That’s always been in our conversations. We talk about how we survived high school by making each other—and everyone else—laugh, the teachers we tortured, the people we made fun of (sorry, kind of), and how our friendship quietly shaped the men we became. This one’s hilarious, a little nostalgic, and unexpectedly honest. If you’ve ever had a friend who knew you better than you knew yourself—don’t miss this episode.

    1h 8m

  4. MAY 29

    The Guy with the Blue Goatee

    In a refreshing twist from my usual conversations with former students, this episode features one of my closest friends from high school, Kenny Eisenstein. Back in 1994, Kenny’s dry, understated humor kept me laughing—and it still does. Like many of us, Kenny looks back on high school with a mix of nostalgia and a few regrets. But overall, he remembers it as one of the best times of his life. What’s especially fascinating is hearing which parts of that teenage world he still wishes he could carry into adulthood. Kenny has always been a thinker with a deep love for the arts, particularly music. He’s the one who first introduced me to my favorite band, Pearl Jam—a moment that shaped much of our early friendship. Now a film professor at Bucknell University, Kenny reflects on whether adulthood has lived up to those high school years. Did he peak in high school? What lessons from that time still guide him today?

    47 min

  5. 12/16/2024

    The Camp Owner

    Richie Kamen’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Richie went from a poor, insecure, bedwetting kid to the unlikely owner of Camps Equinunk and Blue Ridge, which he somehow purchased with no money and zero entrepreneurial experience.  But owning the camps was only the beginning. Richie faced fierce protests and resistance while working to modernize the camps, tackle long-standing challenges, and improve a shocking culture of bad behavior. Against “one-in-a-million odds,” Richie transformed these camps into two of the most beloved sleep-away destinations in America, creating a nurturing environment for young campers while finding fulfillment beyond his wildest dreams—both financially and spiritually. Don’t miss this inspiring tale of Richie Kamen.

    1h 5m

  6. 05/29/2024

    The Dedicated Hero

    Aaron Bours, the student who dropped out of college to become a soldier in the Israeli Defense Force, has returned to speak with me again. This time he is a wounded hero at the center of the world's most divisive war between Israel and Hamas. Hear about the conflict as he experienced it firsthand, how that experience changed him forever, and how he barely made it back alive!

    1h 25m

  7. 10/17/2023

    The Dedicated Officer

    Aaron Bours thrived in high school and got the most out of each day there. After graduating, he wanted to be more than just a college student, so he dropped out of college to join the Israeli Defense Force. This experience changed his life. After settling into a successful and stable career, he decided to come out of the reserves to return to the IDF to fight for his country. This conversation felt fun and lighthearted back when we had it, but has become ever relevant today.

    59 min

  8. 06/25/2022

    The Kid Who Got Expelled

    After recording this emotional and revealing conversation, my guest asked me to protect his identity so his name will not be used.  My guest entered Great Neck North High School as a 10th grader after being kicked out of a Yeshiva. His risky behavior got him kicked out of GNNHS also, this time for punching another student and sending him to the hospital. He’d always seemed like a nice kid to me, but after hearing stories about him from different people, this conversation was my mission to truly learn about him. We talk about the punch that got him expelled, his home life, taking accountability for his choices, his feelings about education, the cycle of influential behavior and so much more. This conversation is particularly enlightening because it gives insight into a truly unique person and how people develop into themselves.

    1h 18m
See All (28)

4.9
out of 5
185 Ratings

About

How much did High School shape your life? High School Matters is a podcast dedicated to conversations I have with my former High School students where I set out to find out how High School mattered to them both then and now. What I uncover in these conversations is that the persona that these kids created in High School is not exactly what was beneath the surface.

Information

  • Creator
    Randy Appell
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    28
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © High School Matters
  • Show Website
    High School Matters

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