Up the Creek with Booth Kyle

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Indian Creek Head of School Booth Kyle guides listeners through an inside view of “what’s up” at ICS. This informal glimpse into the heart of ICS will highlight what makes our school exceptional – its people. “Creekers” young and old cover a range of topics and perspectives via their shared dedication to the ICS community. Join Mr. Kyle - and his line-up of guest hosts - as they take a deep dive into the Creek.

Episodes

  1. 10/28/2025

    Season 2, Episode 3: Conflict, Connection, Creativity - Alumnus James Kriz ’08 on Storytelling That Matters

    ICS alum James Kriz ’08 believes in the power of story to transcend politics and connect people. In this episode of UP THE CREEK, he shares how Indian Creek shaped his creative discipline, how he found his voice as a writer, and why storytelling still matters. In this inspiring conversation, ICS Director of Alumni Affairs Matt McCormick welcomes back an alum from Creek's first graduating Class and author, screenwriter, comedian, and educator. James’s journey is as eclectic as it is grounded. He holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Oberlin and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch, and has honed his craft through training in improv and sketch comedy at Second City, UCB, and The PIT. James has written and adapted fiction for the Hooked platform, where his work reached 6.7 million reads, and built short films that racked up over 132 million views. His screenplays have earned recognition in elite circles — AXIS was “reader certified” on the Black List and he’s earned placement in contests like Script Pipeline and ScreenCraft. One of the most compelling threads of this episode is James’s commitment to telling stories that rise above political noise. Through his co-written work "Disease Knows No Politics", he explores bridging divides when it comes to health, identity, and shared humanity. He speaks candidly about how writing can shift culture, how to foster empathy, and why sometimes the most radical thing is to tell the truth. James offers advice for emerging writers at Indian Creek School: Don’t wait for permission, embrace failure, stay curious, and lean into stories that matter. He credits Creek’s formative community and faculty for helping him trust his own voice.

    Season 2, Episode 3: Conflict, Connection, Creativity - Alumnus James Kriz ’08 on Storytelling That Matters

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Indian Creek Head of School Booth Kyle guides listeners through an inside view of “what’s up” at ICS. This informal glimpse into the heart of ICS will highlight what makes our school exceptional – its people. “Creekers” young and old cover a range of topics and perspectives via their shared dedication to the ICS community. Join Mr. Kyle - and his line-up of guest hosts - as they take a deep dive into the Creek.