ECS Equip

A weekly podcast for K-12 Christian educators and parents about thinking and teaching in the light of a Christian worldview.

198: ECS Dad & Alumnus: MLB All-Star Brent Rooker 02/12/2026

198: ECS Dad & Alumnus: MLB All-Star Brent Rooker Class of 2013’s Brent Rooker has some special titles: two-time MLB All-Star, MLB Silver Slugger Award, National and SEC Baseball Player of the Year (2017), etc. However, Christ-follower, husband and father are titles he cherishes the most. In this episode, he recaps what he shared with students in chapel about being a gospel-driven man and how that guides him in leading his family well. He also shares how his faith helped him persevere through challenges to ascend to the high level he is performing at today. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/40021780

197: SOARing with Streets Ministries 01/15/2026

197: SOARing with Streets Ministries Executive Director of Streets Ministries Eric Ballentine was a special guest on campus recently to share with students how Jesus changed him from living a life of recklessness to pursuing a life of righteousness. He also shared how Streets Ministries demonstrates love to underserved youth throughout Memphis and how ECS students can empower their mission during our SOAR Day of Service, February 4, 2026. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/39731260

196: Miracle on the Hudson Survivor Vallie Collins 12/04/2025

196: Miracle on the Hudson Survivor Vallie Collins Vallie Collins was one of 155 passengers on U.S. Airways flight 1549, which made an emergency landing on the Hudson River in 2009. Everyone survived. In addition to our podcast, Collins recently spoke to ECS students and women in our community about what God has revealed to her about how to live following the event that brought her so close to death. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/39082905

195: They shall RUN and Not Be Weary (Isaiah 40:31 ESV) 11/20/2025

195: They shall RUN and Not Be Weary (Isaiah 40:31 ESV) ECS cross country runners join the Equip Podcast for a victory lap celebrating their recent boys and girls region championship triumphs this fall season. Seniors Chase Ellingsworth and Griggs Robinson, 8th grader Anderson Cummins (individual Girls Region Champion), and coach David Boyd share what made this team so special. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/39109570

194: Mr. & Mrs. V: Conversation with the Vander Zwaags 11/06/2025

194: Mr. & Mrs. V: Conversation with the Vander Zwaags As we celebrate 60 years in 2025 we have highlighted people in our community who are the essence of ECS. Paul and Nicole Vander Zwaag are some of those people. Paul as an alumnus (class of 1988), and both as teachers and parents of two alumni, hear about their special journey and how God has used and blessed them. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38810255

193: Reimagining Memphis with ECS Alum Stuart Harris and Coleman Armes 10/30/2025

193: Reimagining Memphis with ECS Alum Stuart Harris and Coleman Armes Two developers with a heart for revitalizing Memphis, especially downtown, recently spoke to ECS seniors to share about their careers. Current ECS dad and class of 1995 alumnus Stuart Harris and Downtown Memphis Commission’s Coleman Armes also made time for the Equip podcast to discuss how our city’s youth and future leaders can start playing a role in reimagining Memphis. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38757985

192: ECS Lower School TA Debuts Gospel Coloring Book 10/23/2025

192: ECS Lower School TA Debuts Gospel Coloring Book ECS senior kindergarten teacher assistant Rachel Powell shares what inspired her to create a coloring book that helps children understand the Good News of Jesus, from Creation to Christ’s return! Celebrate Rachel’s work by ordering some copies today at this link - /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38651470

191: The Ideal King: Jesus in Light of the Mosaic Ideal 10/16/2025

191: The Ideal King: Jesus in Light of the Mosaic Ideal ECS senior Bible teacher and Director of Curriculum Alignment and Worldview John Grant joins the podcast to discuss his new book, The Ideal King: Jesus in Light of the Mosaic Ideal. Pick up a copy today on Amazon - /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38594795

190: Inspiring Encouragement and Service with ECS Senior Addison Abney 10/09/2025

190: Inspiring Encouragement and Service with ECS Senior Addison Abney ECS Senior Addison Abney, class of 2026, has started a movement aimed at encouraging her peers through small acts and messages of kindness. She also shares with us how she has embraced student leadership roles that have allowed her to serve ECS and her community. See what Addison is up to by visiting these links - & /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38439350

189: Inspiring Teens to Seek Biblical Wisdom 10/02/2025

189: Inspiring Teens to Seek Biblical Wisdom First Evangelical Church Senior Pastor Pace McKee visited our student chapel recently to inspire students to seek biblical wisdom. Drawing on his former experience as a youth pastor, he explores how today’s culture challenges young people in discerning moral good. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38341420

188: Hauss Call: Updates and Insights from Head of School 09/25/2025

188: Hauss Call: Updates and Insights from Head of School Head of School Scott Hauss joins the podcast for the first time this school year to provide insight and updates on what has been new in 2025-2026. He shares how students are responding to being cell-phone free during the school day. He also highlights how he hopes our theme for the year, SERVE, will inspire students to love our neighbors and seek his kingdom. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38267540

187: ECS Alumna in the Mission Field 09/18/2025

187: ECS Alumna in the Mission Field We welcome ECS alumna Katie Short Saunders, class of 2008, to share about her mission work with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF) in Tokyo, Japan. Katie and her husband are a part of RUF, providing gospel-centered campus ministry to one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38182280

186: Celebrating 60 Years of ECS with Mickey Bowdon 09/11/2025

186: Celebrating 60 Years of ECS with Mickey Bowdon Former ECS headmaster/president Mickey Bowdon (1975-1992) joins the podcast to share how he witnessed God move in mighty ways to sustain ECS in our early years. In addition to the history lesson, he also provides insight on the origins of Christian education and why it’s more important than ever, right now. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/38167360

185: We’re Getting the Band Back Together at ECS 08/28/2025

185: We’re Getting the Band Back Together at ECS We welcome new instrumental music teacher Conner Byrd to ECS as he joins the podcast to discuss exciting opportunities for students in our music program. Conner shares about the active roles students now have in our weekly chapel worship gatherings, as well as launching the drumline to elevate school events. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/37982175

184: Shepherding Students with Social Media and Smart Devices 08/21/2025

184: Shepherding Students with Social Media and Smart Devices As ECS students go cell phone free this school year we welcome back Ben Tracy, who goes across the country advocating for online safety for children. He shares some troubling trends teens and adolescents are experiencing while using smart devices and social media. He offers approaches parents and educators can use to shepherd students through the potential hazards. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/37911375

183: “Serve”: Capturing this Kingdom Concept through Art 08/14/2025

183: “Serve”: Capturing this Kingdom Concept through Art ECS Visual Arts dept. chair and art teacher David Butler shares about his creative process in capturing the concept of this year’s theme through art. Find out the special symbols and tributes on display as we celebrate our theme for 2025-2026: Serve /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/37758935

182: ECS Varsity Girls Lacrosse - Celebrating Excellence 05/22/2025

182: ECS Varsity Girls Lacrosse - Celebrating Excellence Fresh off their state title triumph, Coach MeriTaylor Pickle, junior Kate Spiegelman, and freshman Casey Vargo join the podcast. They share about the team’s transformation, establishing the Eagles as the best team in their division. The achievement puts ECS in the record books as the first girls lacrosse team to claim a TSSAA DII-A championship. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/36678835

181: ECS Time Capsule: Reflecting with Lisa Field 05/08/2025

181: ECS Time Capsule: Reflecting with Lisa Field As long-time art and yearbook teacher Lisa Field anticipates retirement, she walks us through the special people and memories who shaped her journey as a student (class of 1978), parent of graduates and faculty member. We cherished this time with her to hear great stories and wish her well in whatever God is preparing for her to do next. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/36458255

180: Overcoming Dyslexia with Dr. T. Durant Fleming 04/24/2025

180: Overcoming Dyslexia with Dr. T. Durant Fleming Author and educator Dr. T. Durant Fleming knows well the obstacle dyslexia is to children. As he has overcome dyslexia he has made it his mission to equip teachers and parents with awareness and tools to help them come alongside students who may be struggling with this disorder affecting their ability to spell, write and read. He recently visited with our faculty to discuss innovative approaches to combating dyslexia. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/36283605

179: Connecting through Choir 04/17/2025

179: Connecting through Choir High School and Middle School Choir Director Emily Hale joins juniors Niya Johnson, Brokke Scott, and Melody Loftis and sophomore Ellie Jones to share about the special connection they have performing with the ECS Concert Choir and our a cappella group, Flight. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/36208485

178: Class of 2025 Top Scholars 04/10/2025

178: Class of 2025 Top Scholars Our tradition unlike any other - we sit down with the top scholars from the year’s graduating class. Class of 2025 valedictorian Campbell Pallera, Salutatorian Sam Scull, and Meredith Porter join the podcast to share about what drives them to excel academically and what made their experiences at ECS so special. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/36085245

177: Serving Others. Advancing Responsibility (S.O.A.R.) 03/28/2025

177: Serving Others. Advancing Responsibility (S.O.A.R.) Students and Discipleship Group leaders join host Brandon Artiles to relive and recap ECS’ inaugural student service day: S.O.A.R. (Serving Others. Advancing Responsibility). They share how they served with various ministry and community partners. They also discuss how they recognized ways we can continue to love our neighbors well and be the hands and feet of Jesus. Thank you to My Town Miracles executive director Whitney Williams for joining the podcast and helping this vision for student service to become a reality. Featured guests: Whitney Williams (My Town Miracles), Head of School Scott Hauss, Suzanne Acuff, coach Kyle Story, senior Ashlee Adams, and freshman Blake South. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35579025

176: Social Media Safety with Ben Tracy 03/20/2025

176: Social Media Safety with Ben Tracy Nationally known speaker Ben Tracy has taken his personal experience of a costly mistake on social media to educate youth on ways to protect themselves online and how to use smart phones responsibly. Tracy also shares how kids are specifically being targeted online by bullies, drug dealers, and child predators on Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35732845

175: New Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach MeriTaylor Pickle 03/06/2025

175: New Varsity Girls Lacrosse Coach MeriTaylor Pickle Regular season games for ECS spring sports started up this week including our up-and-coming girls lacrosse team. We welcome new head coach MeriTaylor Pickle to ECS and the podcast to see how she is getting her squad physically and mentally prepared to compete. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35528615

174: Stewarding the Souls of our Students 02/20/2025

174: Stewarding the Souls of our Students Mission Church Lead Pastor and ECS dad Wil Franco was on campus recently to give our faculty encouragement about their special assignment to steward the souls of their students. Pastor Franco joined the podcast as well to share more about that concept, plus he digs into what God’s Word has to say about the relationship between our head, heart and hands. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35338345

173: Embracing the Opportunity to Lead 02/13/2025

173: Embracing the Opportunity to Lead Well-known podcaster and speaker Sophie Hudson, aka Boo Mama, was a special guest on campus this week visiting with students and ECS moms to share about the importance of embracing opportunities to lead. As a part of stepping into daily leadership roles, she encourages students to use their spiritual eyes to “see” the needs of others and respond. Special thanks to ECS mom Shannon Clinton for joining the conversation and adding her insight. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35225440

172: Learning Specialists: Empowering Students, Supporting Teachers, and Partnering with Parents 02/06/2025

172: Learning Specialists: Empowering Students, Supporting Teachers, and Partnering with Parents ECS Lower School Learning Specialists Cassie Ring and Susan House join the podcast to share their passion for fostering a love of learning in students challenged by a diagnosis (ADHD, dyslexia, etc.), and how they challenge higher-performing students to meet their full potential. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/35176850

171: Loving Our Neighbors and Providing Hope 01/23/2025

171: Loving Our Neighbors and Providing Hope Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC) CEO Ephie Johnson was a special guest on campus to share with our students a Kingdom vision of how we can love and serve our neighbors well, as Christ has called us to do. Johnson continued the conversation on the podcast, as ECS prepares for our inaugural student day of service, SOAR (Serving Others, Advancing Responsibility). NCC will be one of the many ministry partners our students will serve on February 5. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/34959975

170: Kingdom Advancement Through Athletics 01/16/2025

170: Kingdom Advancement Through Athletics Local Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) director Jeremy Wilbur visited ECS to share with our High School and Middle School students about living by faith instead of living by fear, which we discussed on the podcast. He also spoke about how God is using FCA to provide young people direction to where true identity can be found. /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/34868955

169: “Hadestown” Cast 01/09/2025

169: “Hadestown” Cast Seniors Lily Higginbotham, Drew Shelton, Meredith Rowland and Whit Dean join the show to talk about their upcoming production, “Hadestown”, which opens January 16. Director of Performing Arts Lynden Jones and Middle School Drama Director Abby Rooks, also sits in to share what makes this performance unique, challenging and rewarding for student-performers. For information on showtimes and tickets click this link - /episode/index/show/ecsequip/id/34786780

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