The Quarterdeck: A Camp Sea Gull Podcast

Kurt Newman, MD

Dr. Kurt Newman, longtime Camp Volunteer Doctor, talks with Bear from his home in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Newman is a recognized leader in pediatrics, having served as a surgeon and later Surgeon-in-Chief at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. Dr. Newman was the CEO of Children’s from 2011-2025 and is the author of Healing Children: A Surgeon’s Stories from the Frontiers of Pediatric Medicine. He and his family started an endowment at Sea Gull and Seafarer, creating the Newman Scholarship to provide mentorship and experience for counselors interested in the healthcare field.

Captain Grant Thomas: U.S. Coast Guard

Captain Grant Thomas, former camper, counselor and Head Counselor of the Camp III Firemen, talks with Bear from his home in Anchorage, Alaska. Grant commanded a number of ships for the U.S. Coast Guard and served as the U.S. Coast Guard Chair at the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies in Anchorage when this was recorded. He is now The Coast Guard Liason at Alaska Command.

James M. Scott: NYT Best Selling Author

James M. Scott, former camper and Aquatics Counselor, sits down with Bear in Charleston, S.C. The NY Times Best Selling Author and Pulitzer Finalist talks about his books, lectures and battlefield tours, and how Sea Gull prepared him for his career in American Military History.

Aaron Harrington: NYC-Based Actor, Singer and Producer

Aaron Harrington, former camper, Durham Nativity School graduate, counselor, Assistant Head and Camper Services, talks with Bear about his roles in Rent and Little Shop of Horrors and how Camp propelled him toward his career in New York and international theater.

Ed Roberson: Colorado-Based Conservationist and Creator/Host of Podcast, “Mountain and Prairie"

Ed Roberson, former camper, counselor and Powerboating UA, talks with Bear about his time at Sea Gull and how the leadership experience and community are foundational to who he is today.