Kids Gone Global - The International School of Hamburg Podcast

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, host Sarah Reich discusses the ongoing challenges of modern masculinity with five educators from the International School of Hamburg. Panelists include Assistant Principal Andre Berry, teacher Josh Arnold, German teacher and sports coach Nils Hahnheiser, career counselor and life skills teacher André-Karl Belair, and scout leader and parent Seth Gannon.

They explore how boys often disengage academically and emotionally, and the crucial role schools can play in providing structure, mentorship, and belonging. Highlighting the need for boys to feel needed, connected, and accountable, the discussion emphasizes the importance of real-life interactions and leadership development in and around school life to help boys grow into balanced and compassionate young men.

Creators and Guests

Host
Sarah Reich
Sarah Reich, your host, serves as the Director of Community Relations at the International School of Hamburg. With a career in European government relations and public affairs, Sarah has worked within EU institutions, the consular corps, and leading international companies. Her academic and professional interests have always centred on governance and citizenship, making the mission of the International School of Hamburg—to prepare students as tomorrow’s global citizens—a perfect fit. In 2022, upon joining the International School of Hamburg, Sarah launched the Kids Gone Global podcast. This initiative aims to provide a platform for sharing the insights of experts and students in the dynamic field of international education. Through the podcast, she engages parents and the broader community in discussions about modern educational approaches and how international schools are addressing contemporary challenges in learning and growing up in a global environment.
Guest
Andre Berry
Vice Principal, International School of Hamburg: Andre Berry is Vice Principal of the Secondary School at the International School of Hamburg and a globally experienced educational leader committed to equity, accountability, and character development. Born and raised in Philadelphia, his calling to teach began early — during the 1982 teachers’ strike, he helped neighborhood children with math while his mother taught reading and writing. That formative experience shaped a lifelong commitment to education and mentorship. Andre holds a BA in Elementary Education from Saint Augustine’s University and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. He has also completed professional training at Harvard University, Relay Graduate School of Education, and the International Baccalaureate. Throughout his career, he has taught and led in diverse school communities across the United States, the Middle East, and China, working within multiple curricula, including the IB framework. As a university student, Andre founded the Genesis Tutorial Program, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to mentoring students who struggle academically — a commitment he continues today as an educational consultant supporting schools in building inclusive, high-performing systems. At ISH, Andre is focused on strengthening communication, raising academic outcomes, and cultivating environments where boys feel both challenged and supported. He is currently launching the IMPACT initiative (Inspiring Men to Pursue Accountable Citizenship and Tomorrow’s Leadership), a structured leadership program designed to guide boys in Grades 6 and 7 toward accountability, purpose, and positive citizenship. He is also leading professional development efforts to help teachers and the wider school community better understand how to communicate intentionally and effectively with teenage boys. Andre’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: when schools build systems of trust, structure, and high expectations, boys rise to meet them. This is the message he wants to bring to this podcast episode.
Guest
Andre-Karl Belair
Career Counselor & Life Skills Teacher, International School of Hamburg: Andre-Karl Belair is a Career Counselor and Life Skills Teacher at the International School of Hamburg, where he supports students as they navigate adolescence, identity, and future pathways. With more than a decade of experience in international education and a background in psychology and counseling, Karl brings both structure and empathy to his work with middle and secondary school students. In his role, he helps students develop self-awareness, emotional literacy, and practical life skills that support both academic and personal growth. He has been co-designing and delivering Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming aligned with IB frameworks, and works collaboratively with colleagues to create environments and opportunities where students can grow and develop to their full potential. Karl’s approach is grounded in growth mindset principles and solution-focused strategies, concretely teaching all students, and boys, how to find their voice, set goals and build confidence to act - during the often turbulent middle school years.
Guest
Josh Arnold
DP Biology & MYP Sciences Teacher, International School of Hamburg: Josh Arnold is a science and mathematics educator with over two decades of experience teaching across international and U.S. school systems. Currently a DP Biology and MYP Sciences teacher at the International School of Hamburg, Josh has worked in diverse educational settings including Hong Kong, Latvia, and the United States, teaching both Diploma Programme and Middle Years Programme students. Throughout his career, Josh has specialized in building dynamic, differentiated classrooms that foster inquiry, engagement, and student agency. His experience includes working in highly diverse communities and designing integrated math and science programs that support students across varying learning profiles. Beyond the classroom, Josh has coached American football, wrestling, basketball, and middle school boys’ teams— experiences that deeply inform his perspective on how boys build confidence, identity, and belonging through structured challenge and mentorship. He has also founded student clubs and served in leadership roles within science departments. Josh brings to this episode a relationship-first approach grounded in respect, clarity, and high expectations — and a belief that boys thrive when adults combine consistency with genuine investment.
Guest
Nils Hahnheiser
Teacher & Sports Coach, International School of Hamburg: Nils Hahnheiser is a German educator and sports coach at the International School of Hamburg. Working both in the classroom and on the sports field, he brings a holistic approach to the development of young men — one that integrates discipline, teamwork, resilience, and physical well-being. Through coaching and teaching, Nils emphasizes structure, responsibility, and collective effort. He sees sport not simply as competition, but as a powerful arena for character formation, leadership, and belonging. His work reflects a belief that boys thrive when expectations are clear, effort is recognized, and accountability is paired with encouragement.
Guest
Seth Cannon
Instructor, Mentor & Founder of Cub Scouts 808: Seth Cannon is an educator, mentor, and parent in the International School of Hamburg community. With years of experience teaching and mentoring young adults in structured leadership environments, Seth has worked as an instructor at a U.S. service academy, guiding cadets through academic study, character development, and the transition into responsible leadership roles. His teaching philosophy emphasizes presence, accountability, and personal investment — building trust with young men by creating space for real conversations about identity, purpose, relationships, and responsibility. He believes that discipline is most effective when paired with connection, and that young men rise to high expectations when they feel known and respected. In Hamburg, Seth founded Cub Scouts 808, creating a community-based program where boys are given meaningful responsibility, learn practical skills, and experience teamwork through shared challenge. Through scouting and mentorship, he focuses on helping boys feel needed, trusted, and capable — key ingredients, in his view, for developing confident and compassionate young men.

What is Kids Gone Global - The International School of Hamburg Podcast?

In the new podcast series "Kids Gone Global" we embark on a journey to understand how the International School of Hamburg, Germany’s pioneering institution in international education, shapes its students into global citizens.

By delving into these topics, be prepared to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences and perspectives of international education experts and how they prepare students to thrive in a globalized world.

Join Sarah Reich, Director of Community Relations at the International School of Hamburg, as she leads us on this journey. Through discussions with students and experts in education, we learn about the school's approach to helping students hone their skills to be ready for the future workplace and confident to engage actively in an increasingly interconnected world.

There is a reading list available for this series on our website. Please visit - https://info.ishamburg.org/podcast