The West End House Camp Podcast

In this episode, Ryan interviews Tim Delling, the New England Regional Director for WOLFoods, our new food service provider.

First they talk about WOLFoods, their amazing scratch cooking and how they find talented chefs.

Then they dive into the actual meals that we plan on serving for the 1st week of camp.

Next they talk about Tim’s biggest passion, Food Allergens, in which he talks about how other food service providers come to him for best practices.

Then they get a little off track, talking about the times when Tim cooked for Oprah, the Clintons, and President Joe Biden, including a claim that President Biden has the muscles of a UFC fighter.

Finally, Tim tells Ryan his worst restaurant customer story and his feelings on the controversial practice of having Happy Birthday Congo lines.

Ryan interviews former camper/counselor and current actor Rickey Taylor.  Rickey recalls his unique story as to how he ended up at camp.  Then he discusses how West End gave him leadership opportunities as a league and Intercamp coach.  Then we discuss his incredible recent acting opportunities, as an extra, in both the hit Netflix show Cobra Kai and the acclaimed film “Till” about the Emmit Till story, which many believe sparked the Civil Rights movement.  

After this podcast, I did end up taking the entire Junior class of Foxborough High School to see Till and the students thought it was a powerful and outstanding film.  Rickey was thrilled and thankful that I made it a priority.  

And finally, we discuss how his West End connections helped him in business and in life.  

This first episode of season 4, we are going to interview camper, Nathan Riesenburger.  As a camp veteran, Nathan joined the 5 year club this summer.  He was a Color War captain for the Blue Journey and won the top camper award, the James J. Storrow Award this summer.  Nathan is not only a star at camp, but also at being a student at Newton North High School, where he is heavily involved in the school’s Business Club.  Nathan and I do get into a slight debate on the meaning of being on time.  

This 2nd episode of season 3, we wanted to focus on the Friends of West End Network, an internship program available to counselors at West End through our alumni network. 

For 1st activity period, we will hear from Sam Eggert about his internship he had with Steve Dancey at Cool Tropics. 

For 2nd activity period (start 24:00), we will hear from Matt Connelly about his internships he had at Privy with Josh Mendelsohn and at Phantom Gourmet with Dan Andelman which led to a full-time job. 

For elective time (1:01:41), we will hear from Board of Directors member, Andrew Chaban, who is the CEO of Princeton Properties and how impressed he was with 2 of our current counselors who did an internship with his company over the winter break.

This 1st episode of season 3, we wanted to start off with a fun interview with former camper/counselor and actor, Brion Rock, from NYC. 

1st Activity Period: We will hear how Brion came to West End, get an update on the theater scene and learn about his Words with Friends matches with Steve Lepler. 

2nd Activity Period: (Start 14:25) Brion will give us his 1st and 2nd Hot Takes about Delux Deli Buffet and the best benches in camp. 

Elective Time: (Start 26:05) Brion will give us his controversial take on Tubing and his dismissal of the famous Bourbon Meatball dinner.

Ryan gives out the Westy Podcast Awards to the top 20 comments of 2020.  

This 1st episode of Season 2, we will be focusing on new campers and parents, but with relevant information for our entire camp community.

1st Activity Period: Ryan answers fan mail from Meredith Boericke (mother of new camper Eli) and Caroline Taitelbaum (mother of new camper Adam).

2nd Activity Period: Ryan speaks to another new Parent, Ariel Bernstein (mother of Eli) who came to visit camp for the first time for the Open House on Columbus Day weekend.  See if she passes the quiz Ryan gives her about her recent trip to Parsonsfield, Maine.  (Start 8:38)

Elective Time:  Ryan interviews our newest hire, Brock Major II, who will be our 2nd nurse, supporting Nurse Practitioner Natasha Williamson.  He will also be working in the Margolin Center periodically using his Maine Guide - Wilderness expertise.  Find out an incredible fact about Brock being a male elementary school nurse in the state of Maine.  (Start 26:12)

1st Activity Period: Ryan answers some fan mail from Executive Director Bill Margolin and Houston Barenholtz.

2nd Activity Period:  Ryan speaks with 2 time World Cup champ and 2 time Golden Ball winner, Jackson Magee, on leading England to two World Cup titles in 3 years as a Junior and Intermediate.

Elective Time: Ryan interviews Mitchell Lesser on being the first coach to win World Cup on the team he played on as a camper, Team Ireland.  Mitchell talks about his victory for Ireland and his strong agreement with the Hot City phenomenon.

1st Activity Period: Ryan answers some fan mail from Matt Bloch and Ron Cochran.

2nd Activity Period: Ryan and his brother Eric delve deeply into a ridiculous exercise.  How would you fill out your Apache Relay roster if you could only use TV and Movie Characters?  Does Teen Wolf take your free throws?  Does Walter White and Gus Fring do the corner kick?  Does Tyrion Lannister take your Mystery Question?  Or Dwight Shrute carry your eggs?  Find out who each picked, including Eric's horrible decision on who he chose to hit the wiffleball.

1st Activity Period:  Ryan answers questions from David Gorin and Brandon Avergon.

2nd Activity Period: Ryan interviews Brady Bloch about making the Triple crown plaque and what it's like being a fan at the House game. (Start 5:39)

Elective Time:  Ryan talks with Gui Stampur about the importance of being a well-rounded athlete over specialization.  He also discusses his theory about how Mike Stawowy's calves won the high senior tug of war in 1995.  (Start 18:45)