S01 E01: The State of the Golden Bears

Release Date: January 2026

Duration: ~33 minutes

In our inaugural episode, Superintendent Mark Rairigh joins host Chris Malanga to pull back the curtain on the Bryan City School District. We kick things off by defining what it truly means to be #BryanBuilt—focusing on the grit and service that define our students and staff.

This episode covers:

• District Deep Dive: An inside look at the 2026 construction projects, including the new Career Tech Center, the Junior High Gym, and the "Art Connects Us" auditorium renovations.

• The News Feed: A celebration of Nora Kunsman’s record-breaking swim season and an update on how our students are leading the way with the state's new cell phone policies.

• Community Mailbag: We tackle your questions regarding the new state-mandated Kindergarten age requirements and share the "why" behind starting this podcast.

• The Fun Segment: Mark and Chris face off in a rapid-fire round of "This or That"—from snow day preferences to the great "Dum Dums vs. Bit O’Honey" debate.

We wrap up the show by honoring our first Golden Bear Standout, custodian Rob Goodlive, for his years of dedication to our schools.