Hills Review

School dances are not just about nights of fun – they also are about creating a dynamic school atmosphere. Sebastian Martinez explores how such events can allow students to be social, show school spirit, and unleash their creativity.

Sitcoms have long been a source of joy, nostalgia, and comfort for people of all ages, but what makes them so powerful? Olivia Chumsky looks at everything from the psychology of humor to the cultural impact of shows like Friends and The Office to explore why TV comedy holds such an important place in our lives.

Brandon Liao, Dennis Manfredi, and Luke Schimel get together to discuss the post-apocalyptic book "This World We Live In". Find out what happens to Earth when a meteor collides with the moon – and what these three students have to say about author Susan Beth Pfeffer's vision of such a world.

Have you ever wanted your voice to be heard by millions? When you're a P.A. announcer, that wish comes true every game day. Stella Kreitzman talks to Alex Anthony about what it's like to be the voice of the Mets, the Jets and presently, the New York Islanders.

It's Monday, November 3rd, 2025 and welcome to the Fall Edition of Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Here's a look at what's coming up this week. Have you ever wanted your voice to be heard by millions? When you're a P.A. announcer, that wish comes true every game day. This Tuesday, Stella Kreitzman talks to Alex Anthony about what it's like to be the voice of the Mets, the Jets and the Islanders. On Wednesday, Brandon Liao, Dennis Manfredi, and Luke Schimel get together to discuss the post-apocalyptic book "This World We Live In". Find out what happens to Earth when a meteor collides with the moon – and what these three students have to say about author Susan Beth Pfeffer's vision of such a world. Sitcoms have long been a source of joy, nostalgia, and comfort for people of all ages, but what makes them so powerful? On Thursday, Olivia Chumsky looks at everything from the psychology of humor to the cultural impact of shows like Friends and The Office to explore why TV comedy holds such an important place in our lives. School dances are not just about nights of fun – they also are about creating a dynamic school atmosphere. This Friday, Sebastian Martinez explores how such events can allow students to be social, show school spirit, and unleash their creativity. To wrap up today's podcast, here's Anuraag Anand's opinion piece on the morning shower – and why showers early in the day are better than those taken at night. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

AI in schools has sparked both excitement and concern, but can it truly transform the way students learn? Samarth Patel explains why AI is an important tool for improving learning experiences and why it should be embraced in the classroom.

Witnessing history is one thing. Living through it is another. Olivia Chumsky speaks with a witness to the tragedy of 9/11 about the impact that day had on his life and how those moments continue to shape him today.

The sneaker resale world is competitive, risky, and moves at a fast pace, but young sellers are finding ways to stand out. Anuraag Anand looks into the world of limited edition shoe reselling – and how a few teen entrepreneurs are turning a passion for sneakers into profit.

Have you ever been on a sports team or thought about being on one? Layla Marie Greaves explores both the physical and social benefits of sports – and how being on a team is an experience like no other.

It's Monday, September 8th, 2025 and welcome to the Back to School Edition of Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Several times during the school year, we release a collection of student opinion pieces, stories, documentaries, and interviews. Our podcast is produced by members of the Podcasting and Film club – and is available on Soundcloud, as well as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here's what's coming this week: Have you ever been on a sports team or thought about being on one? On Tuesday, Layla Marie Greaves explores both the physical and social benefits of sports – and how being on a team is an experience like no other. The sneaker resale world is competitive, risky, and moves at a fast pace, but young sellers are finding ways to stand out. This Wednesday, Anuraag Anand looks into the world of limited edition shoe reselling – and how a few teen entrepreneurs are turning a passion for sneakers into profit. Witnessing history is one thing. Living through it is another. On Thursday, Olivia Chumsky speaks with a witness to the tragedy of 9/11 about the impact that day had on his life and how those moments continue to shape him today. AI in schools has sparked both excitement and concern, but can it truly transform the way students learn? On Friday, Samarth Patel explains why AI is an important tool for improving learning experiences and why it should be embraced in the classroom. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in joining the club, or becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. We conclude today's podcast with an encore presentation of our back to school advice episode – words of wisdom for new members of High School East from a few recent graduates. Welcome back to school everyone – and have a great year.

It's Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 and welcome back to the graduation edition of Hills Review. We begin today's final episode with Tyler Giambrone, who shares his appreciation for the help he received from the ladies in the testing room. Mikhail O'Garro recalls sophomore year and a snow-filled, team building workout during winter track practice. Next, Mark Kamel explains how dissecting a pickle and a pig in anatomy class provided one of the most memorable experiences he had at High School East. We conclude this series with Arden Sarner's account of how winning student of the month during her sophomore year helped pave the way to future success. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you're interested in contributing – and aren't graduating – see Mr. Beatty in room 216 in the fall. Thank you for listening – have a great summer – and best of luck to the Class of 2025! Congratulations Seniors!

It's Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 and welcome back to the graduation edition of Hills Review. In the days leading up to commencement, we're hearing reflections from this year's graduates. First, we hear from Harris Brown – and how he learned the value of a positive attitude after taking a music class that he was sure he'd hate. Kerry Yeung shares a story from sophomore year about how a regular fencing practice turned into an unexpected memorable moment. Next, Tristan Dicks recalls the challenges – and rewards – of high school chemistry. Finally, Jake Kugler talks about how fulfilling the challenge of AP Research turned out to be. Join us again tomorrow, as we hear more from this year's graduating seniors.

It's Monday, June 23rd, 2025 and welcome to the graduation edition of Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. With commencement coming this week, we will hear from several members of the Class of 2025 as they look back on memorable moments from their time at High School East. We begin with Arbin Chowdhury and his story about AP Environmental class and the teamwork associated with the famous bubble lesson. Next, Ava Gugin, a member of Future Teachers of America, describes what it was like returning to her old elementary schools to teach. Up next, High School East football player Noah Chlap re-lives the moment when he ran back an interception in a playoff game that helped secure the Suffolk County Championship for the Red Hawks. Finally, Malakye Moss tells a whimsical tale of wearing several wigs to hide a rather extreme haircut he received freshman year. Join us again tomorrow, as we hear more from this year's graduating seniors.

Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Do you like cartoons? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, you're in luck. Minnah Ahmad tells us why watching cartoons can be a pathway to language learning.

The physical and mental demands of orthopedic surgery make it one of the most difficult professions in all of medicine. Kaeri Mukora explores the profession – and the long, academically demanding path that one must take to reach this goal.

Dancing is a much loved form of expression, so it makes sense that many would want to pursue it as a career. However, with thousands of people auditioning for the same jobs, rejection is more common than success. Joshua Pollack talks to several dancers – from those just starting out to Radio City Rockettes – about the ups and downs of this profession.

The development of self-driving cars has advanced tremendously in the past few years, but is this a good thing? Sitabjo Bhowmick explores the negative aspects of this technology and explains why he thinks self-driving cars should be banned.

It's Monday, April 7th, 2025 and welcome to the spring edition of Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. The development of self-driving cars has advanced tremendously in the past few years, but is this a good thing? On Tuesday, Sitabjo Bhowmick explores the negative aspects of this technology and explains why he thinks self-driving cars should be banned. Dancing is a much loved form of expression, so it makes sense that many would want to pursue it as a career. However, with thousands of people auditioning for the same jobs, rejection is more common than success. On Wednesday, Joshua Pollack talks to several dancers – from those just starting out to Radio City Rockettes – about the ups and downs of this profession. The physical and mental demands of orthopedic surgery make it one of the most difficult professions in all of medicine. On Thursday, Kaeri Mukora explores the long, academically demanding path that one must take to reach this goal. Have you ever wanted to learn a new language? Do you like cartoons? If the answer to both of these questions is yes, you're in luck. On Friday, Minnah Ahmad tells us why watching cartoons can be a pathway to language learning. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

Extra credit can motivate students to go above and beyond – both in and out of the classroom. Extra credit can help students improve their mental health if they struggle with stress about grades. Given these facts, why isn't there more of it? April Stewart makes a case for more extra credit.

Interacting with others, joining new clubs, and encountering different situations can have an effect on an individual's experience in high school. But are these the only influences? Sanaii Clyburn, Mercy Jean-Baptiste, and Adonis Tyrell ask students and staff at High School East whether or not they think parents have an effect on their children's high school experience.

The value of participation trophies has been questioned ever since the first one was handed out. Stella Kreitzman explains why these trophies do more harm than good and why they should not be awarded to kids.

While many actions have been taken by big business to combat climate change, some may question whether the efforts go far enough. Akash Shah looks at the challenges businesses face – and at proactive steps some companies are taking to address climate change.

It's Monday, March 3rd, 2025 and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. While many actions have been taken by big business to combat climate change, some may question whether the efforts go far enough. On Tuesday, Akash Shah looks at the challenges businesses face – and at proactive steps some companies are taking to address climate change. The value of participation trophies has been questioned ever since the first one was handed out. On Wednesday, Stella Kreitzman explains why these trophies do more harm than good and why they should not be awarded to kids. Interacting with others, joining new clubs, and encountering different situations can have an effect on an individual's experience in high school. But are these the only influences? On Thursday, Sanaii Clyburn, Mercy Jean-Baptiste, and Adonis Tyrell ask students and staff at High School East whether or not they think parents have an effect on their children's high school experience. Extra credit can motivate students to go above and beyond – both in and out of the classroom. Extra credit can help students improve their mental health if they struggle with stress about grades. Given these facts, why isn't there more of it? On Friday, April Stewart makes a case for more extra credit. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

If you're like most people, you love gathering with friends and family to watch the Super Bowl, but hate waking up early the next day. Dennis Manfredi makes the case that Super Bowl Monday should be declared a national holiday.

By studying, people give themselves the most likely chance of success. But what does it mean to study and what is the best method? Jordan Cador looks closely at a variety of evidence to figure out the most effective ways to study.

Many companies around the world test chemicals on innocent animals, often causing long-term harm or death. Darren Figueroa examines the many reasons why animal testing should be stopped.

Students face many challenges over the course of a day. But what is the biggest? Stella Kreitzman, Cody Peltzman, April Stewart, and Aviva Kramer ask the students and faculty of High School East to disclose what they think are the biggest challenges facing students.

It's Monday, February 3rd, 2025 and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Students face many challenges over the course of a day. But what is the biggest? On Tuesday, Stella Kreitzman, Cody Peltzman, April Stewart, and Aviva Kramer ask the students and faculty of High School East to disclose what they think are the biggest challenges facing students. Many companies around the world test chemicals on innocent animals, often causing long-term harm or death. On Wednesday, Darren Figueroa examines the many reasons why animal testing should be stopped. By studying, people give themselves the most likely chance of success. But what does it mean to study and what is the best method? On Thursday, Jordan Cador looks closely at a variety of evidence to figure out the most effective ways to study. If you're like most people, you love gathering with friends and family to watch the Super Bowl, but hate waking up early the next day. On Friday, Dennis Manfredi makes the case that Super Bowl Monday should be declared a national holiday. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

Some people believe that NIL (name, image, likeness) payments to college athletes are a good thing for the sport, while many others feel as though it has ruined amateur college athletics. With the college football playoffs currently taking place, Luke Schimel explains why he thinks the NIL should be banned.

Can posting content, watching short films, and interacting with others really be so harmful? With a potential banishment from US markets looming, Sanaii Clyburn takes time to explain why she doesn't think TikTok should be banned.

Creating a small business is more difficult than you think. Many different aspects that go into making a successful small business–and these often come with hardships. Julia Tilleli talks with small business owners to get a first-hand account of the steps necessary to becoming a business owner.

The use of the diabetes drug Ozempic weight-loss has proven to be quite controversial. Olivia Chumsky argues that its sole purpose should be for treating diabetes and that restricting Ozempic to diabetic patients is important for both health and ethical reasons.

It's Monday, January 6th, 2025. Happy New Year! and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. The use of the diabetes drug Ozempic weight-loss has proven to be quite controversial. On Tuesday, Olivia Chumsky argues that its sole purpose should be for treating diabetes and that restricting Ozempic to diabetic patients is important for both health and ethical reasons. Many different aspects that go into making a successful small business–and these often come with hardships. On Wednesday, Julia Tilleli talks with small business owners to get a first-hand account of the steps necessary to becoming a business owner. Can posting content, watching short films, and interacting with others really be so harmful? With a potential banishment from US markets looming, Sanaii Clyburn takes time this Thursday to explain why she doesn't think TikTok should be banned. Some people believe that NIL (name, image, likeness) payments to college athletes are a good thing for the sport, while many others feel as though it has ruined amateur college athletics. With the college football playoffs currently taking place, Luke Schimel explains this Friday why he thinks the NIL should be banned. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

David Benioff's novel City of Thieves is a 2008 coming of age historical fiction novel set in Russia during World War II. Join Joseph Masalin and Darren Figueroa for this book talk.

Concussions are a brain injury that results from serious head trauma, leaving the brain in a state of shock. Remi Asghar goes beyond clinical analysis to look at the personal impact this injury has on the lives of high school athletes.

There are over 3 million registered artists on Spotify and everyone has their favorite. Joshua Pollack and Ambika Mathura travel the halls of High School East to find out which artists are the most popular.

Group work is a collaborative effort where individuals come together to achieve common goals. Jordan Cador talks about the positive impact group work can have when it comes to teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication.

It's Monday, December 2nd, 2024 and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Group work is a collaborative effort where individuals come together to achieve common goals. On Tuesday, Jordan Cador talks about the positive impact group work can have when it comes to teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication. There are over 3 million registered artists on Spotify and everyone has their favorite. Joshua Pollack and Ambika Mathura travel the halls of High School East this Wednesday to find out which artists are the most popular. Concussions are a brain injury that results from serious head trauma, leaving the brain in a state of shock. On Thursday, Remi Asghar goes beyond clinical analysis to look at the personal impact this injury has on the lives of high school athletes. David Benioff's novel City of Thieves is a 2008 coming of age historical fiction novel set in Russia during World War II. Join Joseph Masalin and Darren Figueroa on Friday for our final book talk of the year. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. If you like this podcast – please tell one friend about it. Word of mouth is the best way to get more people listening to our show. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

It's no secret that phone use in school is a controversial topic. Should they be allowed or should they be banned? Ally Fass, Sloane Meyers, Emily Heller, and Jenna Dankner ask members of the High School East community their thoughts on phone jail.

In a society where communication is key, children growing up with non-english speaking parents face incredible challenges. Jeremiah Cesaire takes a close look at the impact having such responsibility can have on kids.

"Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive." These are just a few words that have been used to discuss Robert Greene's best-selling book: The 48 Laws of Power. Jayden Muniz and Akash Shah discuss the book's most interesting ideas and try to determine just how seriously one should take these laws.

Each year, the beauty industry generates over five-hundred billion dollars worth of revenue. Its impact is widespread, however, the influence it has isn't always a positive one. Ambika Mathura explores the negative effects the beauty industry has on women.

It's Monday, November 4th, 2024 and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Each year, the beauty industry generates over five-hundred billion dollars worth of revenue. Its impact is widespread, however, the influence it has isn't always a positive one. This Tuesday, Ambika Mathura explores the negative effects the beauty industry has on women. "Amoral, cunning, ruthless, and instructive." These are just a few words that have been used to discuss Robert Greene's best-selling book: The 48 Laws of Power. On Wednesday, Jayden Muniz and Akash Shah discuss the book's most interesting ideas and try to determine just how seriously one should take these laws. In a society where communication is key, children growing up with non-english speaking parents face incredible challenges. This Thursday, Jeremiah Cesaire takes a close look at the impact having such responsibility can have on kids. It's no secret that phone use in school is a controversial topic. Should they be allowed or should they be banned? This Friday, Ally Fass, Sloane Meyers, Emily Heller, and Jenna Dankner ask members of the High School East community their thoughts on phone jail. We conclude this week's podcast with exciting news. Naomi Myers, a 2024 graduate of High School East, and a contributor to Hills Review, had her podcast, entitled: End Hair Discrimination, place in two national podcasting competitions. Naomi was one of ten finalists in the National Public Radio Student Podcast Challenge and was a runner-up in the New York Times Student Podcast Competition. Keep listening for an encore presentation of the podcast. Congratulations Naomi! Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

Artificial intelligence has gained much popularity in recent years. With this increased attention, there has been debate regarding the positive and negative effects of AI. Oddly, it seems that these debates rarely involve the wisdom of tech professionals. Joseph Masalin examines AI with the help of members of the IT community.

Derived from the classic tale of Alice and Wonderland, Heartless tells the story of how a normal kid was transformed into the notorious Queen of Hearts. This Thursday, Eden Banks and Sloane Meyers discuss Marissa Meyer's #1 New York Times bestseller.

College, although a choice, is important in order to achieve well paying jobs and opportunities. However, the price of tuition for college is a factor that limits many. Julia Tilleli looks at why colleges should lower their costs.

Emmy award winning producer Beth Pearlman has spent her life overseeing a variety of projects for a variety of networks, including: CBS, The Food Network, Discovery and The Hallmark Channel. Joshua Pollack talks to Pearlman about her experiences in TV and maintaining a work-life balance.

It's Monday, October 7th, 2024 and welcome to Hills Review -- the High School East Student Podcast. Emmy award winning producer Beth Pearlman has spent her life overseeing a variety of projects for a variety of networks, including: CBS, The Food Network, Discovery and The Hallmark Channel. On Tuesday, Joshua Pollack talks to Pearlman about her experiences in TV and maintaining a work-life balance. College, although a choice, is important in order to achieve well paying jobs and opportunities. However, the price of tuition for college is a factor that limits many. On Wednesday, Julia Tilleli looks at why colleges should lower their costs. Derived from the classic tale of Alice and Wonderland, Heartless tells the story of how a normal kid was transformed into the notorious Queen of Hearts. This Thursday, Eden Banks and Sloane Meyers discuss Marissa Meyer's #1 New York Times bestseller. Artificial intelligence has gained much popularity in recent years. With this increased attention, there has been debate regarding the positive and negative effects of AI. Oddly, it seems that these debates rarely involve the wisdom of tech professionals. On Friday, Joseph Masalin examines AI with the help of members of the IT community. Hills Review is produced by members of the Podcasting and Filmmaking Club. If you are interested in becoming a contributor, see Mr. Beatty in room 216. If you like this podcast – please tell a friend about it. Word of mouth is the best way to get more people listening to our show. Thanks for listening and have a great week.

While it might seem like your time in high school will last forever, it will, one day, come to an end. On Friday, Remi Asghar recalls how early in his athletic career his coach shared some advice that has helped put his time at High School East into perspective.

Joshua Pollack, a board member of the Amnesty Club at High School East, takes time on Thursday to talk about a trip he took with the club to raise money in the Students Rebuild Challenge. During the trip, circumstances required Joshua to adapt to his surroundings and to change plans to produce the results he'd hoped for.

Eventually, we all come across difficult tasks and challenging obstacles. On Wednesday, Ari Abelard, a member of the High School East track team, talks about what it was like facing a serious opponent for the first time--and what it took to succeed.