Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta
Roosevelt Elementary sixth-grade students, from left, Raelynn Ray, Ayla Evinsky and Addison Gordon interview guest Naval Academy football coach Brian Newberry, on screen in front of desk, as other students work behind the scenes on “The Devil’s in the Detail” podcast.

In the three months leading up to 2025, nearly 488,000 new podcasts were launched globally, totaling more than 4.5 million programs. Students at Roosevelt Elementary added to that growing number with “The Devil’s in the Detail.” It’s available on YouTube at Devil’s in the Detail Podcast channel and through the McDonald Local Schools website, https://www.mcdonald.k12.oh.us/.

Started in the spring of 2024 by fifth graders Sasha Carayol and Serafina Gallo as the “S&S Podcast,” they interviewed students, teachers, administrators and local residents. They continued the podcast while in sixth grade during the 2024-25 school year.

“We initially filmed the guests live in-person during the start of the podcast but then began zoom calling them as most of the guests now are not local and cannot come to the building,” said technology teacher Lance Ronghi, who oversees the production. “The first zoom call was NFL 1st round draft pick / Ohio State All-American Billy Price.

“Last fall I met with State Rep. Nick Santucci, R- Niles, about school safety and asked if he would also be willing to get interviewed by the girls, After that, I just started reaching out to guests like Maryann Graff (radio host of Cumulus Media’s K105 country station), Price and boxing champions Ray ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini and Kelly ‘The Ghost’ Pavlik.”

Not only did they appear on the podcast. but so did 2012 Major League Baseball Manager of the Year Clint Hurdle (Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies), Cleveland Guardians pitcher Joey Cantillo and ESPN College Game Day basketball analyst Seth Greenberg.

“These people that we have coming on are really good with the kids. They’re excited to meet with these kids,” Ronghi said. “It’s good to see people care about kids and help them try to grow as people.”

Last school year, Sasha and Serafina were joined by five others who worked behind-the-scenes, including filming and editing.

“Kids being into technology at a young age has its pros and cons. It’s important to learn how to be safe online. I also want them to see all the opportunities it provides for them. I tell the kids to be creative and use technology to their advantage. This has helped them with speaking and listening, research, problem solving and many other skills,” Ronghi said. “I also want my students to have something they look forward to on a weekly basis whether they are taking part in the podcast or just watching.”

Ronghi acknowledges that the experience from the 2024-25 school year enabled him to better prepare the students when the podcast returned in September.

“Each week, I meet with the kids to see how their research is going and then review their questions. I then help prepare them for what the guests’ answers might be and how to ask follow-up questions,” he said. “The behind-the-scenes boys and girls are learning to use Zoom, OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) and video editing software.”

With a change of podcasting participants — 10 current sixth graders plus Sasha and Serefina, who are now in seventh grade — Ronghi encouraged them to come up with a new name that correlated to the school. Its mascot is known as the Blue Devils.

“This is typically done during our lunch time or at the end of the day. It is popular with the kids. Sasha and Serafina were like celebrities in the school last year. The kids love getting to meet the different guests, but also love research and time at lunch when we prepare for the interviews.

Sixth grader Vince Altobelli said, “It’s fun to learn about these people and get to meet them.”

Addison Gordon also views the podcast as an educational experience. “My favorite reason to interview is because you get to learn more about people, and they give you really valuable lessons to take into the future.”

After last year’s lineup, Ronghi and the students have kept up a busy schedule during this school year.

“I honestly have not had too hard of a time getting guests. I do put out a lot of messages and that is time consuming at times, but I would say 90% of the people that have read my emails or messages have either been interviewed or are going to be interviewed.

The biggest ‘Oh wow!’ turning point was when Seth Greenberg (an ESPN commentator) said he would be on the podcast last year. This year, it was when I opened up my email from Gov. (Mike) DeWine’s office that he would be on, and (Lt. Gov. and) Coach Jim Tressel walking onto the zoom call with him was pretty cool.”

Greenberg gave Ronghi a contact number in order to come on the podcast a second time, which he did on Oct. 20.

The Roosevelt students also have interviewed two-time Olympian Elise Cranny, ESPN Sportscenter co-anchor Randy Scott, WWW Smackdown general manager Nick Aldis, Naval Academy football coach Brian Newberry, Youngstown State University women’s basketball coach Melissa Jackson, actor / host Richard Karn (“Home Improvement,” “Family Feud”), 2012 Olympic silver medalist Leo Manzano, 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer Dara Torres, The Ohio State University assistant basketball coach Terrance Dials, OSU linebacker and first-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys Bobby Carpenter and State Rep. David Thomas (R-Jefferson).

Sixth grader Michael Green’s favorite guest has been Newberry while his classmate Ayla Evinsky picked Cranny.

Asked how he’d describe the podcast’s overall theme Ronghi said, “learning from leaders.”

“My goal for this is to get guests in front of the kids who have found a lot of success in careers that students may want to reach when they get older. I want them to be able to see that the path to success really is the same for most of these people and if the kids learn those skills and work habits, they will be successful in whatever they do.”