HeadWay takes you behind the scenes at Head-Royce School—an independent K-12 school founded in 1887 and located in Oakland, California—sharing what’s happening on campus, what’s driving our progress, and how our community is transforming. This season, we’ll dive into Pathways to Purpose, our new strategic direction, highlighting the ideas, initiatives, and people bringing it to life. Through conversations with school leaders, educators, students, and changemakers, we’ll explore how Head-Royce is shaping the future of education and community.
https://www.headroyce.org (https://www.headroyce.org/)
Episode 301: Building Community Through Theater with Andie Patterson and Andy Spear
In this episode of HeadWay, Interim Head of School Ricky Lapidus sits down with drama teachers Andie Patterson and Andy Spear for a behind-the-scenes look at the theater program at Head-Royce. They discuss how shows are selected, what goes into casting it, and why certain productions may never make the cut. They also reflect on the unexpected lessons of live performance (including one from a famously mischievous ghost!) the importance of collaboration, and what they hope students will carry with them long after the curtain closes.
6 May 2026
Episode 204: Community Engagement in Action with Nancy Feidelman
In this episode of HeadWay, Interim Head of School Ricky Lapidus sits down with Nancy Feidelman, Director of the Center for Community Engagement, for a thoughtful conversation about how students connect their learning to the world beyond campus. Together, they explore what community engagement looks like at Head-Royce, how it is built through meaningful relationships and real-world experiences, and how it continues to evolve in response to students' and the wider community's needs.
1 Apr 2026
Episode 203: Working the Room with Ricky Lapidus and Emmy Mitchell
In this episode, senior Emmy Mitchell sits down with Interim Head of School Ricky Lapidus for a candid and wide-ranging conversation about education, leadership, and the experiences that shape us. Ricky reflects on his journey as an educator, his years at Head-Royce, and the perspective he brings to leading a school community with both joy and authenticity. Their conversation touches on everything from the signature style of Ricky’s emails to his favorite books, his approach to leadership, and what he was like as a student before he was the one making the rules. Along the way, Emmy guides the discussion with humor and insight, drawing out stories that are thoughtful, self-aware, and occasionally unexpected. The result is a lively and heartfelt episode about being seen, growing up, and finding meaning in school and beyond.
1 Jan 2026
Episode 202: Creativity, Community, and the Future of Giving — with John Palfrey
John Palfrey discusses with Rachel E. Skiffer the convergence of education, technology, and philanthropy, highlighting equity and the impact of collective action in this interview.
1 Dec 2025
Episode Five: Reimagining College Admissions
Whitney Soule, Vice Provost, discusses the changing college admissions landscape with Rachel E. Skiffer, focusing on individuality, student agency, and the impact of AI, in this interview.
1 Jun 2025
Episode Four: Design Thinking in Education
David Clifford, Head-Royce's Director of Design and Making, explores design thinking's transformative power in education with Rachel E. Skiffer, emphasizing creativity, empathy, and real-world impact in this interview.
1 May 2025
Episode Three: Transforming K-8 Education at Head-Royce
In this episode, Head of School Rachel E. Skiffer speaks with Dr. Shavon Davis, Head-Royce School's upcoming Head of Lower and Middle Schools about the new K-8 structure. They discuss the importance of centering students in education, fostering continuity across lower and middle school years, and the critical roles of family and educator voices in supporting student growth. Dr. Davis emphasizes collaboration among leadership roles and the significance of academic preparation in nurturing confident, self-assured students. The conversation highlights a commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all students.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to HeadWay and New Leadership Structure
02:00 The Importance of K-8 Education
04:07 Opportunities and Challenges in Student Development
06:05 Fostering Continuity Across Age Groups
08:03 Centering Student Voices in Education
09:55 Collaboration with Families and Educators
12:09 The Role of Leadership in Student Experience
14:04 Academic Preparation and Student Confidence
16:08 Vision for Student Experience at Head-Royce
1 Apr 2025
Episode Two: Ensuring Academic Excellence While Prioritizing Well-Being
In this episode, Head of School Rachel E. Skiffer chats with Dr. Denise Pope, a senior lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Education, about how schools can balance academic excellence with student well-being. Their conversation touches on a range of topics—from how academic rigor and well-being can go hand in hand, to rethinking homework and assessments so they better reflect real learning. Dr. Pope also shares her thoughts on the impact of AI in the classroom, the importance of thoughtful school schedules, and why centering student voice and strong relationships matters more than ever.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Academic Excellence and Well-Being
02:57 The Interplay of Rigor and Well-Being
05:54 Rethinking Homework Policies
08:51 Supporting Students Without Pressure
11:48 Assessing the State of Student Stress
14:59 The Role of AI in Education
18:11 The Importance of School Schedules
20:52 Challenging the Notion of Success
23:46 Student Voice in Education
27:04 Building Relationships for Better Learning
https://www.headroyce.org (https://www.headroyce.org)
1 Mar 2025
Episode One: Introducing Our New Strategic Direction
In this episode, Head of School Rachel E. Skiffer and Assistant Head Joel Sohn discuss Head-Royce School’s new strategic direction, shaped by community feedback. They explore the re-articulated mission, vision, and core values, highlighting their connection to the school’s focus on character, intellect, and creativity. They also outline key priorities and initiatives designed to enhance student learning and well-being. The conversation underscores the school’s commitment to continuous improvement and the vital role of community engagement in bringing these initiatives to life.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to HeadWay
02:08 Developing a New Strategic Direction
06:11 Misson, Vision, and Values
11:55 Key Priorities and Initiatives
18:04 Implementation and Measuring Success
27:56 Looking Ahead
https://www.headroyce.org (https://www.headroyce.org/)
15 Mar 2024
19th Nia Speaker of Color Series featuring Kendra Andrews '15, ESPN Journalist
Enjoy this recording of the 19th Installment of the Nia Speaker of Color Series where special guest and alumna Kendra Andrews '15, broadcast journalist for ESPN, sits down in conversation with Kathrina Weekes, Head Royce's Director of Enrollment Management, her former teacher, Nancy Feidelman, and aspiring student journalist Sienna H. '25 about her time at Head-Royce and her career covering the NBA.
15 May 2023
A Young Alumni POV: Going With The Flow...Again with Chris Ajose-Nixon '21 and Brandon Byrd '21
Ever wonder what it's like being a part of the younger generation these days? Listen to Episode 5 of the Head-Royce Voices Alumni Podcast as Brandon Byrd '21 and Chris Ajose-Nixon '21 revive their HRS Expos podcast, 'Go With The Flow', for one reunion episode as they talk about all things pop culture, school and athletics.
26 Feb 2023
Kate Marchant '13 - Writing my debut novel ‘Float’
In this episode, Andy Spear, Upper School Drama and English Teacher, is joined by Kate Marchant '13 to talk about her debut novel, 'Float' which she started writing as a student at Head-Royce and has now been adapted into a movie.
14 Dec 2022
Alumni Panel - Diversity and Representation in Hollywood
This episode of Head-Royce Voices is a recording of an alumni webinar panel discussion on the topic of 'Diversity and Representation in Hollywood'. This candid conversation is moderated by Andy Spear (Head-Royce Upper School Drama & English Teacher) and Olivia Truffaut-Wong '09 (freelance entertainment editor and writer). They welcome on to the panel Daniel Wu '92 (award-winning actor & producer of over 70 TV and film productions including HBO's Westworld), Cameron Johnson '03 (writer, director, producer who co-created and executive produced the Nancy Drew spin off Tom Swift for The CW) and also Krista Marie Yu '06 (actress currently playing the role of Elaine Kim on Hulu's hit show Reboot).
6 Nov 2022
Rachel E. Skiffer - The First 125 Days: A Conversation With The New Head of School
Camden Louie '08, Alumni Council President, interviews new Head of School, Rachel E. Skiffer. Rachel shares how the first 125 days since she joined Head-Royce have progressed as well as insights from her career experience in business and education.
23 Sept 2022
Coach Mike Talps - A lifetime of educating and sporting excellence
The opening episode of Head-Royce Voices is hosted by Brendan Blakeley '88, Director of Athletics and Stephen Flynn '02, Assistant Director of Athletics. They are joined in conversation by one of the all-time legends of the school, recently retired sports coach, Mike Talps. Mike completed an incredible 42 years of service with Head-Royce School, and he recounts his story of pursuing a career in sports education and athletic coaching. Coach Talps takes us down memory lane with stories and insights from over four decades of service.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,200
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
32
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