Want to know where the art is going?
Listen to the artists.
Without physical platforms on which to perform during the pandemic, artists have created their own online - ones that may steer Opera into its greatest chapter yet.
Written by Gwendolyn Kuhlmann, host of Makin’ It in Opera.
For Garrett McQueen, it was the way we rope off “classical” music from the rest of the culture. For Daniel Gundlach, it was a sincere love for the communication that is only possible through excellent singing. For Charlotte Jackson and Perri di Christina, it was being fed up with the way young artists are treated in our industry. For Shirley Wang, it was a stifling boredom from canceled tours and a wish to lift up her fellow artists’ work.
Minka Wiltz wanted us to start seeing artists as cultural workers - people who need to organize.
Ema Katrovas found the future of our art in the creation of indie work and wanted to examine the process.
Dalanie Harris and Katie Brown wanted to “show Black musicians that, even in an industry that so clearly lacks diversity, they are visible, and their voices matter.”
And me? I was so tired of discussions about building a “successful” singing career centering around one path that the least of us take.
So we each made a podcast.
Along with many other artists.
Podcasting as a medium saw an explosion over the pandemic - as an industry, it grew 17% over the year, with listenership in the US finally diversifying to reflect the population. The amount of active podcasts have grown from 500,000 in 2020, to 850,000 in 2021. And as Ros and Adele of the podcast Fach My Life point out: Opera is a microcosm of the larger world.
Podcasts create this feeling of conversation, not just between the hosts and the guests, but between the listeners and the podcast itself. For artists listening and suddenly confined at home, absent the normal backstage banter, they’ve been a way not only to feel less alone, but to remain part of the conversation.
For creators, the seed of a podcast idea comes from a sense that there’s a discussion to be had - one that you’re not quite hearing in the larger discourse. They provide this ability to create a quiet corner of the internet - one where you can shape the discourse as you wish to see it. Be it as simple as the desire to lift up your friends, as intricate as connecting a community, or as complex as deconstructing a narrative, it’s this sense that there’s something we can illuminate through conversation.
And you can do all this for the price of a pair of headphones and an internet connection. The barrier to entry for podcasting has sunken low, and for Opera, that’s good news.
Never before have we had such a chance as a culture, and as the workers of an industry, to have a conversation on such a massive scale. To allow ourselves to be heard - to even be the ones to shape a conversation about what our art should look like, who it should be for, and what stories and values it should prioritize.
But where do you find them?
While I was creating my podcast last year, I realized how one of the strengths of podcasting - its relative seclusion from the noise of social media - was also its weakness. I didn’t have one place to go to find all the other podcasts covering this industry.
What is everyone else talking about? What are the parts of the conversation am I missing? What can I contribute?
And who else is looking for these conversations? Do they need a place to go to find them?
Podcasts, especially in a niche industry like opera, are a testament to the enduring power of word-of-mouth and the occasional top 20 list. But I wasn’t satisfied with that. At a time when conversations are creating our art form, we need to make a real effort to hear each other.
A New Resource
So I reached out to 360° of Opera to see if I could compile a list of artist-led podcasts - a sort of resource of the conversations the artists in and around classical music are having. I’ve collected 24 podcasts I could find in a timeline according to when the podcast began because you begin to see an evolution within these conversations in 2020 after the beginning of the pandemic, and especially after the Black Lives Matter Movement began to finally move conversations of equity in opera into the light of urgent public discourse.
All of these podcasts were begun by artists as a way to serve their art and their fellow artists - by questioning the disempowering narratives in our industry, by amplifying each other’s voices, and by building community. Some were begun to shake up the very idea of what our art means and what our place is in it. Some were born to serve the art by making its stories and its history more accessible. Almost all of them are served up with an irreverent tone towards the art’s industry and its history - the kind of tone reserved for people who truly love the art and are willing to strip back every artifice surrounding it and keeping it from realizing its full potential.
In the end, all are taking their own angle to examine our art and where it needs to be going in a time when artists, administrators, and audiences are asking themselves these questions in earnest. We can look at these podcasts, taken together with the many Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram conversations being run by artists (another research project for another day), as if we were trying to reverse engineer the rainbow a prism makes - by looking in detail at each color, you might be able to put them all together and light the way forward.
This list is not exhaustive. I simply reached out to the hosts I could find who had begun a podcast of their own accord - indie podcasts that started out as part of an artist’s imagination. That opening they saw in the dialogue. They all continue to be run by that artist (or artists), even if they may now have outside funding and support. I decided to leave out podcasts that were conceived as part of the branding of a company or organization - not that these conversations aren’t also valuable; they simply tend to be easier to find by other means.
What are they listening to?
While I was reaching out, I decided to go one step further, because artists create not just from inside the cloistered walls of the concert hall or the opera house. We take input from our world, and we apply it to our art. So I asked each of the hosts to provide a list of 3-4 podcasts that are influencing them as artists. You’ll find that hardly any of their recommended podcasts are from the classical music industry - a fact I find heartening: in a time when we’re all looking to find how opera will serve the world, we’re actually looking into the world to find the answers.
Some of the podcasts on this list are very well-known, some not as much. All provide a different perspective, a slightly different angle, and all are worth a listen. If you have or know of a podcast I’ve missed, please reach out - I’d love to add it to this resource so we can always have an updated list for people to find.
2015
with George Cederquist, Oliver Camacho, Matt Cummings, Weston Williams, Ashlee Hardgrave, and Norm Woodel
Produced by stage director George Cederquist, Opera Box Score takes the idea of the sports radio talk show and adds opera to it, billing itself as America’s Talk Radio Show about Opera. A team of hosts, all of them artists, discusses sports and news from the opera world, offering insight and switching between the two with a graceful fluidity. If you love sports and you love opera, and you’ve always wished they could be in one place, this is your podcast. If you’re not a sports fan, but you would love to hear about opera in a context you’ve probably never heard it, this will get you listening in a new way.
Opera Box Score has been releasing episodes consistently for seven years, now in collaboration with the Dallas Opera Network and on the actual radio in Chicago - WNUR 89.3, Monday nights at 9pm Central US.
George:
There is literally no better pair of writers out there talking about how to write dramas, and about the ins and outs of showbiz
Not really a podcast (more YouTube / TV), but he is the absolute best in the business in giving opinionated, factual hot takes on sports
This is the podcast from the only magazine I subscribe to. Having grown up in England, this gives me all the news, investigative journalism and gossip I need from the motherland!
2016
with Tracy Friedlander and Jannet Ingle
Crushing Classical asks questions of artists who have redefined what a thriving classical music career looks like, helping listeners see themselves in that sort of reinvention. This podcast inspired the making of some of the other podcasts on this list. Tracy Friedlander, a hornist, created and hosted the show for 5 years, and she is now handing the reins to oboist Jannet Ingle this March.
Friedlander is moving on to host her new podcast, Profitably Human, and has built a business around consulting other artists as they build their online platforms - and her central advice? Start a podcast:
“Building a platform for yourself and your art through conversation (and an interview podcast is a great way to do this) is a great way to not only promote your own work, but explore your philosophy and discover your voice using the medium of conversation. So much is possible for you as an artist (and as a human!) through this art form. You become a better listener and a more strategic interviewer, thus becoming a better marketer at the same time - which we all need to be if we want people to pay attention to our art.”
Jannet:
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert
“Taught me that there was a way of talking about creativity and inviting it in that was inclusive, welcoming, and loving.”
Smart Passive Income, with Pat Flynn
“Taught me that business was also creative. Sparked me with ideas for my fledgling projects. Helped me to take my little side business more seriously, and turn it into something really substantial that nurtures my own creativity and also supports me!
The Long and the Short of It, with Peter Shepherd and Jen Waldman
“Exposed me to smart people having smart, focused conversations about thinking and doing that I absolutely loved.”
Crushing Classical, the podcast that is now mine but that used to be Tracy Friedlander’s
“Opened my eyes to some of the mindset issues classical musicians face - issues I would not have noticed because I too was buried within them.”
2018
[ APRIL, 2018 ]
with Michael Pegher and Jared Ice
This podcast is a window into the lives and thoughts of two artist friends, Jared Ice and Michael Pegher - two American singers living in Germany, sitting over beers and talking about all aspects of life as an opera singer. Through their irreverent, direct conversation about the industry and the art of opera, they hope to strip back the veneer of sophistication opera has created for itself and reach new audiences with true authenticity.
They speak openly about navigating careers that straddle two continents, balancing fatherhood and a singing career, as well as discussing the plots, themes, and productions of operas. On their social media, they meme-ify life as an opera singer in a way that tends to catch fire and circulate. They also compose and produce their own mini-operas - providing an example and inspiration to all of us of how we can turn this sort of commentary back into art.
Mike:
Neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author Sam Harris explores important and controversial questions about the human mind, society, and current events.
A narrative retelling of German history from the coronation of Henry the Fowler in 919 AD to German Reunification in 1990.
A weekday sports talk show featuring McAfee’s take on sports news and news makers.
Jared:
Conversations with film and TV editors.
From the creators of the hit film SCORE: A FILM MUSIC DOCUMENTARY comes this award-nominated podcast inviting you into the studios of Hollywood's most brilliant, beloved and imaginative musical storytellers. Hosted by Robert Kraft and Kenny Holmes
Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast
Bill Burr rants about relationship advice, sports and the Illuminati.
[ NOVEMBER, 2018 ]
with Dalanie Harris and Katie Brown
Brown, a violist, and Harris, a double bassist, give an unapologetic view of the life and perspective of two Black women in the classical music industry. Often a joyful, funny look at a relationship between two friends as they navigate their careers, we get their perspectives on pop culture and news from around the classical music industry, sometimes voicing their frustrations with the way our industry is run, pointing to the destructive, racist ways of thinking behind it. Their mission is to show Black classical musicians that they are seen and that their voices matter.
While Classically Black is made as a space for Black musicians to speak openly and see themselves in the industry, it is a great place for all of us to listen, learn and begin catching up on the conversations that are driving the change the classical music industry needs.
Dalanie:
“LTAR is a podcast that explores the relationship between hip hop and mass incarceration. This show inspires me as an artist, scholar, and activist because it perfectly melds all three. A lot of people tend to take music (especially hip hop) at face value, which is sometimes fine, but it's great to hear the hosts connect the music to the real life issues that Black people are facing in America. The team on this show is incredibly thorough, and the result is an impeccable storytelling experience about Blackness and music.”
“Although 1619 is a limited series, its message has been long lasting for me. I love learning about history, so hearing how so many common industries like music, farming, and healthcare relate to the history of enslaved Black Americans was really enlightening.”
“This podcast broaches topics that we often shy away from. I think the tact and openness in these conversations are something that everyone navigating activism work can take away from this show. Oftentimes when someone is sharing their experience with us, we have the immediate urge to offer a response, which is not always helpful. This podcast is great practice for learning how to listen with the intent to understand rather than respond.”
Katie:
“This is my top, favorite, never-miss-an-episode podcast. They were the first podcast I ever listened to and were catalytic in both me finding other podcasts and wanting to create my own. I love their views on trending and important issues, how they balance mess and seriousness, and how Crissle and KidFury make you feel like you’re on the phone with friends.”
“It is so well-rounded that every episode makes you feel like you’re getting a little bit of everything. Their main topic can be literally anything (it’s amazing how they do that) but every episode includes some degree of wellness, the latest music, and TV reviews. In the same vein as “The Read,” Fran, Asante, and Dustin never leave the listener behind and make it easy and refreshing to listen to.”
“I was following Jemele on Twitter for a while but when I found out she had a podcast, I quickly clicked over. I respect her as a journalist, and honestly speaking, she’s very smart. Her weekly interviews are always dynamic, well done, and include the most fascinating people.”
2019
[ MAY, 2019 ]
with Garrett McQueen and Scott Blankenship
While a broadcaster with Minnesota Public Radio, bassoonist Garrett McQueen partnered with actor and playwright Scott Blankenship to develop the podcast Trilloquy in 2019. Built on the idea that for more people, particularly people of color, to exist within and take ownership of “classical” music, we must deconstruct our thinking; we must question the very way we define the field.
I reached out to McQueen about how the podcast grew over the course of 2020, because, as a fan myself, it felt like Trilloquy was ready with the conversation we were all finally ready to have. His insight is a true example of how the power of podcasting as a tool for change lies in the ability to create a conversation for a niche audience, rather than having to cater to a larger broadcast audience. This ability opens the door for a sort of frank and open discussion about what is and isn’t working in our industry.
Even with their respectable number of listeners from the beginning, McQueen explained to me, “my team at MPR was always concerned with growing the numbers and reaching the broadest audience possible, but real change-making work/discourse is intrinsically "niche". As creators, we have to understand that activist work and progressive thought, over the course of history, has never been popular. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s approval rating during his life, for example, was about 30%.”
Trilloquy has since parted ways with both MPR and American Public Media for this reason. McQueen went on to tell me, “I want to make sure that your audience understands that building an audience has always been secondary to maintaining honest, unapologetic commentary on the ‘classical’ industry. We don't measure success by our numbers - we measure it by the level of ‘raw dialogue’ that we bring to the ecosystem that other institutions cannot.”
While McQueen’s career as an instrumentalist centered in the orchestral world, he has now taken on a role in the Black Opera Alliance Leadership Council to help move opera forward. This weekend (Feb 24-26), he will be conducting the world premiere of the opera I Can't Breathe at Marble City Opera in Knoxville, TN.
Garrett:
“This is the show that inspired TRILLOQUY. While it's a very man-centric hip hop podcast, its free form, unscripted, conversational spirit has proven to engage audiences of all types and maintains a vital position in Black communities.”
“Katie Brown and Dalanie Harris bring a Black-centric perspective on western classical music and its adjacent institutions; the two are unapologetically dedicated to creating equity for Black musicians and I'm proud to consider them not only music and podcast colleagues, but personal friends and co-conspirators in the fight for Black liberation.”
“I believe that all podcasters have a responsibility to keep up with "pop" culture, and this podcast provides that and more for me every week. Considering the other man-centered podcasts I enjoy, it's a good balance for me to engage conversations from a Black queer perspective. This show is also a masterclass in speaking openly and directly, and alongside the Joe Budden Podcast, this show was also a direct inspiration for TRILLOQUY.”
Scott:
“An unfiltered look at up-to-the-minute political news with former Obama aides. They use everyday language like you and I do, and the interviews with journalists, activists, and politicians makes you feel like you're peeking behind the curtain.”
“This is the pod I've listened to the longest. It's been years and I still log on to hear Chris Gethard take a call from an anonymous listener. There is no plan, the 60 minute countdown clock starts and the two could end up talking about anything. You hear amazing stories that for whatever reason don't get heard on more mainstream media.”
“This exists on radio formats as well, and for me its the show that helps me feel human. There's always stories that make you laugh, some help you feel a little less alone, all of them make you think.”
[ JULY, 2019 ]
with Elise Mark and Marcelle McGuirk
Sopranos Marcelle McGuirk and Elise Mark began My So-Called Opera Life as a way to inform, inspire, and empower other opera artists and help them navigate all stages of their opera career.
But the conversation, McGuirk told me, has evolved from its original form: “... the pandemic definitely changed the tone and content of the podcast for us.
“Our first season was a lot of conversation about how to survive the best you could in a system that we definitely named as broken. However, with the pandemic and the prevalence of artists at all levels getting burned by force majeure clauses, everyone became a lot more willing to really open up about the ways in which our industry is not only broken, but also harmful.
”That shift helped us to find the guests who were imagining and acting towards making a more equitable industry going forward. That kind of advocacy has always been a part of our mission, and it's been incredible to highlight and speak openly with the people who are working hard for it.”
Elise:
“This is a new one a friend recently recommended for me and I am loving it so far. The episodes discuss topics related to manifesting and standing in your own power, something I think is necessary as both a singer and entrepreneur (and for just humaning too)!”
“Tracy was one of my first inspirations for creating a podcast. Her episodes interview really cool musicians who are out creating and living their dream! She has some excellent people on, and they aren’t all singers, there are lots of instrumentalists, which really opened my mind to different musical experiences outside of singing.”
“Andrew’s podcast is really well put together, and he has A TON of content. I love that some of the episodes are long, and some are shorter. He gives tangible tools for creating opportunity and presenting yourself in the best light as a professional musician.”
“I started listening to this podcast when I was almost 30 myself, right at the beginning of the hosts’ journey into podcasting as well. These woman discuss all the things I want in my own life and am still exploring—health, wellness, spirituality, career growth—and even more topics that I didn’t even think about until listening!”
Marcelle:
Crushing Classical with Tracy Friedlander
“I love all the interviews with classical musicians who are figuring out how to build a career that works for *them*. Crushing Classical was a big inspiration for our podcast!”
Opera biz Podcast with Daniel Welch
“Daniel’s interviews with working singers are fantastic. You really get an inside view of how our business works right now.”
On Being with Krista Tippett
“I’m a bit of a philosopher at heart and this podcast just opens my heart and mind to questions and experiences I haven’t before considered. It really helps to feed my artistic self, especially because it gives me new ways to consider my life and my art.”
“I feel like every episode is a masterclass in compelling storytelling. I learn so much about narrative and learn about so many interesting people/events. It’s definitely inspired themes for programming!”
“This podcast is all about women navigating the world. I’ve learned so much about business, culture, relationships… it’s a practical listen that is also so fun!”
[ SEPTEMBER, 2019 ]
With Ashleigh Charlton and Avi Green
Soprano Ashleigh Charlton and Mezzo Avi Green began the podcast as newcomers to London, finding their way in a new city as they found their footing at the Royal Academy of Music. The two friends began AA Opera as a place to discuss and discover for themselves the many facets and complexities of making a career as an opera artist. They now have their fingers on the pulse of the industry, interviewing some of today’s foremost opera singers and industry leaders about their paths to success in the industry, and they do it all while maintaining a homey atmosphere of discussing “opera over a cuppa” - tea or wine? You take your pick.
[ SEPTEMBER, 2019 ]
with Daniel Gundlach
Countertenor, coach, and writer, Daniel Gundlach takes each episode to dive deep into the work of a specific singer. His focus is on great singers and great singing, primarily opera and classical singers of past generations, though he will occasionally go into singers of all genres in the present day.
Each episode dissects their work with the enthusiasm and sincerity of a person who is genuinely discussing his passion - music and its interpretation. He puts a particular focus on singers of color, partly because Leontyne Price was his “gateway voice” into opera, and partly because he wants to make sure these artists are recognized for their excellent work, and that we discuss and learn from it.
In his words, “I’m most interested in singers who are dedicated to the subtle art of communication, who bring meaning to their audience through the marriage of words and music.”
“This is one opera podcast I listen to regularly, and I often (but not always) find the extra-musical discussions both interesting and challenging. I’m remembering in particular the episodes on “Un bel dì” with Ana Maria Martinez and “O patria mia” with Latonia Moore that really had something interesting to say.”
“Not only does he have fascinating guests, but he has this amazing ability to cut right to the heart of the matter with all of his interviewees. Honestly, I have never heard a bad episode (and that’s saying something!) At the beginning of the week that I had chosen Buffy Sainte-Marie as my subject, Sam happened to do a (deeply satisfying) interview with her that reached both far and deep.”
The Europeans hosted by journalist Katy Lee (who lives in Paris) and opera singer Dominic Kraemer (who lives in the Netherlands)
“A wonderful weekly podcast that covers a fascinating range of topics and always includes an interview. They have wonderful rapport and, with their succinct format, they always cut right to the chase. I started listening after we heard Dominic in a standout performance here in Berlin and I became an immediate fan.”
The Bowery Boys with Greg Young and Tom Meyers,
“A history podcast which has been around since 2007, exploring fascinating nooks and crannies of New York City history. It’s always fun and engaging and it’s a nice way of revisiting the place that was my home for many, many years. When I first encountered it a few years ago it actually got me seriously thinking about creating my own.
They just recently spun off a new podcast called The Gilded Gentleman hosted by Carl Raymond, who, as a former singer, has a particular interest in opera. So far, it’s also great fun and highly informative.”
Making Gay History with Eric Marcus.
“I just can’t say enough about it, the combination of vital strands of our history, along with personal reminiscences and fascinating interviews makes for a dynamic and compelling listen.”
2020
[ MARCH, 2020 ]
with Michelle Lauren and Jessie Ragsdale
When sopranos Michelle Lauren and Jessie Ragsdale left their Master’s degrees in singing and went about the work of starting careers, they saw some gaping holes. The first was in education, recognizing that the way singers are prepared for the industry is not reflective of what they actually need to know in today’s world. The second was how the industry represents itself to the world online in a way that puts the work on display, rather than engages an audience.
Their cross-platform community includes a blog, a youtube channel, a shop, and a podcast, all with the mission of answering those two questions they kept asking themselves: “Wait, why the heck didn’t I learn this earlier?”, and “Seriously, where on earth is all the fun content for classical musicians?”
Their mission is to empower other classical musicians to take control of their education and careers with an eye towards promoting inclusivity throughout the industry, covering topics like auditions, fitness, and finances, and interviewing innovators within the industry.
Recommendations from both Michelle and Jessie:
“A couple podcasts that we love are Conversations with Tona Brown and Classically Black Podcast, both of which are having really important conversations in our industry. For a bit of music history, we're also big fans of Aria Code, and Decomposed with Jade Simmons!”
[ MAY, 2020 ]
With Minka Wiltz
For singer and writer Minka Wiltz, the idea came to her as a way to open our eyes as a society to the integral part artists play in the way our world runs - and what sort of repercussions that could have on a wider scale if we were all to see that truth.
She told me, “The Cultural Workers Podcast came to me as a place to talk to everyone about how art is injected into our lives on the daily. There is no life without art and there is no art without life; they are symbiotic and I wish more Americans would realize that and restructure the government and corporations within that framework.”
Through interviews with fellow artists on her YouTube channel and podcast feed, she guides the discussion around what it means to be a cultural worker, centering the Black experience in this space. While her first season focused on opera, she plans to expand the discussion to a cross-genre of artists in the future.
10,000 NOs with Matthew Del Negro
“This dude is an actor but he is also a philosopher and lover of not just studying human nature but also elevating human nature THROUGH the rejections, "failures", and uncertainty. He interviews some hard hitting bad asses and they hold nothing back. It has been a constant companion on some long road trips through less than melanated nation drives.”
Think Bigger Actors Podcast with DaJuan Johnson
“Similar to 10,000 NOs, this podcast calls on the listener to ask themselves some questions that may go deeper than just "why am I not booking". DaJuan calls on people specifically from the film/tv industry: actors, casting directors, producers, showrunners. Each of his guests are transparent about what it takes to stay on the path of great artistry but also know what it means to be a savvy business entity. This podcast, like 10K NOs merges spiritual "woo-woo" at times but always acknowledges that it is just another suggestion, and everyone has their own unique path/truth.”
Off Camera with Sam Jones
“I have listened to over 50 episodes of this man's podcasts because I love his interview style. He has all types of artists on his show and, honestly, I would love my show to gain some sort of traction as his but with more BIPOC folks. His B&W videostyle that accompanies each interview along with the photoshoot he has with each guest and then turns into a coffee table book...WHAAAA? The only reason I have put this podcast at the end is because I haven't been listening to it that much over the past few months because...I got tired of listening to Whyte folx talk to each other about each other and about the woes of being in the industry, so I’ve begun to feel like his conversation points are less than relevant to my points of interest.”
[ MAY, 2020 ]
with Rachelle Moss and Mike Heitmann
Contralto and musicologist Rachelle Moss and singer, producer and librettist Mike Heitmann pull back the curtain on the art and business of opera in a way that invites people outside the industry to understand and join the conversation. They break down large debates within the industry - like “Opera is Dying” - dispel myths people outside the industry hold - like the “Glamorous Life” of the Opera Singer - and explain concepts people outside opera often aren’t aware of - like “The Science of Unamplified Singing.”
A podcast and YouTube channel both for opera singers and for the people who love them and want to understand them better, their mission is to break down the barriers between the singers and the audience.
Combined list from Rachelle and Mike:
School of Greatness - “great overall information and easy to listen to.”
Podcasting Smarter - “podcast specific info”
U Up? - “hilarious and very natural convos about modern dating.”
Hidden Brain from NPR
[ JUNE, 2020 ]
With Nico de Viliers
Pianist Nico de Viliers speaks with artists who have taken what they’ve learned as musicians and built careers in other fields that parallel their artistry. The conversations lead us all to think outside the box and consider what reinvention could mean for us as artists in an era when the performing arts is reinventing itself.
The Fiction Podcast from The New Yorker
A monthly reading and conversation with the New Yorker Fiction editor Deborah Treisman.
The Teacher As… with Melissa Milner
A podcast is to help you explore your passions and learn from others in education and beyond to better your teaching. The Teacher As... highlights innovative practices and uncommon parallels in education.
Stuck at home, Louis is using the lockdown to track down some high-profile people he's been longing to talk to - from all walks of life and on both sides of the Atlantic.
[ JULY, 2020 ]
With Gina Morgano
Soprano and teacher Gina Morgano’s podcast is centered on the process of art making - the often unglamourous task of turning the work into a practice one returns to again and again. The kind of work that reshapes who we are and helps us to reach true mastery.
Some episodes are motivational talks and tips from Morgano on creating that process for yourself, while others are in-depth interviews with artists on a specific practice they have cultivated within their lives, how they have maintained that consistency, and what it has done for them as people and artists.
The Long and the Short of It with Jen Waldman and Peter Shepherd
“Jen and Pete are coaches of mine and audacious leaders of change in the seemingly disparate fields of theatre and business. Each short episode unpacks a topic that is guaranteed to make you walk through life with newfound perspective and agency.”
A Balancing Act with Analisa Leaming
“Analisa is a Broadway veteran and friend of mine who leads the way in soul-inspired work. Her podcast has been instrumental in shifting my mindset on how to sustain a purposeful, aligned life in the arts.”
“Gretchen Rubin’s work completely changed my life when I was at my lowest point, and her podcast is full of ideas and inspiration for adding greater happiness to your every day. “
The Dream Planning Podcast with Polly Payne
“Polly is a friend of mine and the founder of Horacio Printing, a Christian planner company rooted in the belief that your life is your greatest work of art. If you are looking to take action on your God-sized dreams, then Polly will show you how.”
[ JULY, 2020 ]
with Charlotte Jackson and Perri di Christina
Perri di Christina and Charlotte Jackson of Thrilled to Announce began their podcast in part as a way to find their power amidst the exploitation they saw in the young artist industry. They began discussing the principles of worker’s rights and equity as they apply to the young artist programs whose businesses, they recognized, depend on a sort of multi-level-marketing scheme model of pay-for-play.
In talking about the rage that fueled the beginning of their podcast, Charlotte told me, “I actually think anger is one of the most important tools that women have, and finding my rage about how f*cked up this is, is what pushed me to be like, ‘I DO want to be public about this. I want to say these things. I want to show my teeth. And not just to watch the world burn, but to speak these truths.”
If you’re a young artist, you’ve probably seen their memes and affirmations circling the internet, all served with a wink and a smile. Their tote bags, meant to hold your audition music, are pieces of protest in themselves, reading, “Opera's Greatest Donors are Young Artists”. They see their podcast not only as a place of protest, but of community. A place to dream about how we could create a better industry and a better art.
Charlotte:
“Co-hosted by one of my favorite thinkers, @sighswoon, this podcast describes itself as "Two LA-raised spiritualists candidly observing passing phenomena, with meditation breaks in between." I love watching Gabi develop her relationship with "the invisible" as she calls it. Her casual and lighthearted relationship to that which is intangible is an attitude I love to bring to my art. Focusing on the ever-evolving/mystical/ephemeral nature of the work of singing and making art is a breath of fresh air after a decade of schooling that felt so tied to metrics and curricula.“
“This pod describes itself as "A podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made." This feels like an obvious one, but I love to hear the compositional breakdown of non-classical music created in a studio layer by layer. They interview singers like Moses Sumney, Robyn, HAIM, Lucy Dacus, Jewel, Common, and Panda Bear to name some fun ones. I love the inside scoop on this process and I love to hear artists talk about their music in such a specific way. Oh to hear a casual convo between the host and Puccini about an aria in Boheme, but alas, I think I can definitely settle with having a Bjork interview.”
“I love a good story! Is it so dorky to choose this one? Hearing the storytellers, who are not at all performers or used to being in the public eye, have these very human instincts on stage of pausing, laughing, holding back tears, etc. feels very raw and real. I feel like I'm in a live audience with them. It's nice to feel connected to a practice of storytelling with a live audience in a time with less in person events <3”
Perri
“It’s loosely about ‘crime’ but it’s not ’true crime’, if you know what I mean. It's more so about storytelling and relationships within the context of crimes. Many of the episodes center around incarcerated people, their experiences, and the injustices they face. They describe the show as ‘about people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle”. One of my favorite recent episodes is Sister Helen, an interview with Sister Helen Prejean (the nun who inspired the book and opera Dead Man Walking). She works as a spiritual guide for people on death row. It’s a beautiful listen.”
A Woman’s Smile with Patti Harrison and Lorelei Ramirez.
“I have never, in my life, experienced anything like this podcast. It’s impossible to describe and it changed my life when I discovered it. It’s indecipherable, a perfect parody of every podcast ever made, strange, confusing, meandering. This podcast makes no sense.”
“This podcast started as an analysis of the Jeffrey Epstein case and has grown into a gigantic powerhouse that discusses conspiracies across the globe. Most recently, they covered the Ghislane Maxwell trial day by day. It’s one of a kind.”
[ AUGUST, 2020 ]
with Cara Ellman and Emma Steiner
To make opera more accessible, singers and musicologists Cara Ellman and Emma Steiner’s opera synopsis bring a modern point of view to each opera. In each episode, they take an opera and give us the plot, contextualize it in history, and sometimes question the problematic bits, all while using language that is fun and understandable.
If you’re a singer, it’s the podcast you wish you had for your undergrad opera rep course.
Cara
“I love how the hosts bring new perspectives to dark stories, much like we as artists have to do.”
“I like that it informs me about the culture and history of other countries.”
Emma
Meditation Minis with Chel Hamilton
“It helps me ground in the present in a calm attentive way which is a skill I'm working at cultivating for performing.”
Self Care is Sexy with Kris Woods and The Self Love Fix with Beatrice Kamau
“These are both podcasts I use to help promote self-growth and exploration. Since we are our instrument, falling in love with yourself and learning to appreciate yourself and your journey is paramount to becoming your best advocate within this industry.”
[ OCTOBER, 2020 ]
with Ros and Adele
For the artists using their real names and identities in these conversations, there is a gratitude amongst artists who are at a level in the industry where they do not feel safe to speak out and say these difficult truths. They are in the dm’s, appreciating that someone is saying it.
Fach My Life podcast has found a balance by using an alias. “Ros” and “Adele” wanted to be able to speak openly and frankly about the parts of our industry that need attention, and the way they connect to the news of the wider world - one of them being that there is no real HR department that a singer, particularly a freelance soloist, can turn to when facing harassment or discrimination. They spend a good amount of time in the podcast sharing resources and information to help empower and organize artists around these causes of worker’s rights.
[ OCTOBER, 2020 ]
Where’s My Freaking Dressing Room?
with Helen Daniels and Alexander Simpson
The central thesis behind mezzo soprano and scholar Helen Daniels and countertenor and life coach Alexander Simpson’s podcast is a metaphor: that classical music is like a swan, seemingly gliding over the surface of the water, but underneath, those legs are pedaling so hard. They want to provide a look for people outside the industry at what it really takes to make this art form, as well as a reminder to others within the industry that they are not alone.
Over the pandemic, they began to recognize this pretense of ease as a source of much of what is holding the classical music industry back - from resources, from funding, and from relevance. There is an excellent examination of the wider discussions across the industry in the UK in their Season 1, Episode 18. In it, Helen discusses her academic research in speaking with artists around the UK about the combined effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement, with a panel of artists and industry insiders.
“We’re both huge food fans and we love hearing the different ways James and Ed interact with such a huge variety of guests. It’s incredible how one meal can tell you so much about a person and their life.”
“We love the weird and curious people and stories she tells every episode. Sometimes that can feel like uncovering and getting obsessed with new repertoire!”
“We both love to laugh and this podcast is so addictive because of the humour. They sound like they have so much fun making this podcast, that’s something we really try and bring to our episodes too.”
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
“In this day and age we think it’s so important to have this kind of podcast, talking about people’s imperfections alongside their achievements. We need to remind ourselves every once in a while that we are human! Her episode with Clemency Burton-Hill we thought was incredible.”
[ NOVEMBER, 2021 ]
with Cathy Young, Eimear Collins and Niamh Collins
In my humble opinion, this is possibly the funniest podcast on this list. The hosts, each of them singers, have truly created their own podcast genre, standing at the intersection of comedy, history, and true crime…about opera. In lighthearted conversations between the three hosts that draw you into their lives, friendship, and perspective on modern culture and politics, they delve into the behind-the-scenes intrigue of operas and their productions throughout history - leaving out none of the salacious details.
2021
[ JANUARY, 2021 ]
With Ema Katrovas
Artists on the Verge is part of a sort of three-pronged platform called On the Verge Trilogy, created by writer and soprano Ema Katrovas. The other parts of the trilogy are a blog, Soprano on the Verge, where she writes essays about opera and her experience as a soprano navigating an operatic career, and a YouTube channel, Opera on the Verge, where she creates videos covering and commenting on the art and industry of opera.
Artists on the Verge is “an interview portrait of an artist”, released once a month: a labor of love that documents the work and path of one independent artist. For her, the podcast has morphed into something more, and perhaps the most important thing she is doing right now as an artist. As she writes in her blog about the podcast,
“It feels like I am making some kind of testament, a record of a time, and of a certain kind of person within that time. It is a time marked by seismic shifts: the first decades of ubiquitous internet use, the beginning of social media and other algorithmic sites' control over human behavior, a pandemic which has shifted what it means for people to gather the way art requires them to. It is a time when artists have instant access to the means of promoting and distributing their work, direct contact with audiences all over the world, yet have fewer opportunities to be backed by institutions, who would do that crucial work for them, than in past generations.”
Resonant Bodies Podcast moderated by Resonant Bodies festival founder Lucy Dhegrae.
“In the 58 episodes recorded so far (I imagine new episodes will appear when the Resonant Bodies festival resumes after the pandemic) Lucy Dhegrae interviews vocalists connected to the Resonant Bodies festival, a New York-based annual event dedicated to contemporary vocal music. If you want to hear some in-vogue, forward-thinking singers talking candidly about the voice, the vocal music/opera industry, and the realities of being a singer, this is a podcast for you.”
L’Experimentale hosted by the GRM (Groupe de Recherches Musicales)
“This podcast is, admittedly, in French but the point of my recommending it is more to draw your attention to a type of podcast, one that curates a wide-ranging listening experience of contemporary music. When you turn on a podcast like L’Experimentale, you might find yourself listening to a door creaking for five minutes or you might groove to something that sounds like it might be playing at a hipster coffee shop during off hours. I strongly believe that it’s important for musicians to both roam outside their listening bubbles and have a sense of the music of their time and listening to a podcast like this can help us do that, which is particularly helpful in the time of YouTube and Spotify, when we are all too often the sole curators of our listening experience or offered music through algorithms designed to match our tastes.”
“This is the “left field” podcast of this selection, because it isn’t about art or artmaking but mostly about European Medieval history, with excursions to the Medieval period in other parts of the world. It takes the form of a conversation with the hip Medievalist Dr. Eleanor Janega, who has a knack for presenting fairly distant history in ways that makes you realize humans have always been as weird as they are today (hence the title “We’re Not So Different”) while making you laugh quite a bit in the process. Embracing the weirdness of humans is part of being an artist, and this podcast can be a bit of inspiration in that direction. (Janega also has a blog called Going Medieval, which I also highly recommend.)“
[ MARCH, 2021 ]
with Suzanne Lis
Soprano Suzanne Lis examines the voice-body connection through the experience of the opera singers she interviews - people whose bodies and instruments are one and the same.
Conversations go far beyond vocal technique and into the realms of injury, hormonal change, performance anxiety, bodywork, addiction, and trauma. In deep and empathetic conversations, she allows singers to delve into the depths of their experience inside the bodies they have, and how that has affected their art. The ultimate goal of the podcast is to illuminate our shared experience, creating an environment of understanding and mutual support in our culture.
“Fresh Air got me through some boring temp work after I graduated from college, and it's been formative for me as a person. Every interview is conducted with curiosity, respect for the human, and compassion for their experience. I particularly like Terry Gross; her vulnerability, bravery, and kindness seems to know no bounds, and hearing people respond to those qualities is moving to me. But even the "drier" interviews about politics or a news item leave me feeling inspired! They also have a very clever way of pairing content; I was particularly tickled by an episode where they interviewed someone about the global supply chain, and then played an archive interview of an ant scientist. Touché, NPR!”
“I discovered this podcast when I became briefly obsessed with Céline Sciamma after seeing Portrait d'une femme en feu in 2019. I literally searched her name in my podcast app, this podcast came up, and I was sucked into what felt like the greatest 2-hour dinner party I've ever been to. The format is that a main guest is invited to bring whoever they want (usually 4-5 people), and Vincent Josse, the host, leads a loose discussion, interspersed with songs, poetry readings, etc. The result is intimate, probing, wide-ranging (in terms of scope), and really remarkable. If you speak French, I highly recommend it!”
“Rachel Beetz, a wonderful flutist and composer, started this podcast after longing for the deep listening experiences she had experienced in Joshua Tree. Frustrated by the usual meditation music on offer, she started recording natural sounds, which she calls “music that lives somewhere between ambiance and white noise, that moves enough to cover my world, but static enough to help me find stillness.” Each episode begins with a bit of information about the plant/tree/shrub being recorded. I find the music challenging in the best way. Deeply listening, accepting the sounds as they are, finding moments of beauty, hearing polyrhythms…I’m continually surprised by my experience.”
[ MAY, 2021 ]
with Ulrike Malotta and Sarah Funk
Singers Ulrike Malotta and Sarah Funk, also a self-love coach, discuss misogynist and fatphobic hierarchical structures within the classical music industry and how to change them. This one is in German, and a welcome breath of fresh air to anyone who has worked in Germany and recognized the often blatant and unapologetic fatphobia that goes on there in opera at every level.
Their podcast is in German, and their recommendations are given here in German, since all podcasts they have recommended are also in German.
Fette Gedanken von Charlotte Kuhrt
“Der Podcast thematisiert das Leben von dick_fetten Menschen. Aber auch für schlanke Menschen ist es interessant, um zu wissen, wie sie mit Fettfeimdlichkeit umgehen können.”
“Stellt viele interessante Künstlerpersönlichkeiten und deren Lebensgeschichte vor.”
“Ein Podcast von Yvonne Prentki, Sie ist Opernsängerin und Coach und gibt dort viele gute Tipps, wie auch interessante Interviews mit anderen KünstlerInnen.”
[ MAY, 2021 ]
with Shirley Wang
With all tours and productions canceled during the pandemic, soprano, author, conductor and pianist Shirley Wang was bored. So she started reaching out to her friends from past productions to catch up and see how they were doing - and she pressed record. The resulting YouTube and Facebook videos were so popular, she decided to turn it into a podcast.
She’s discovered in this whole process of interviewing her friends - artists she says “might not be household names, but they’re world-class” - how much she loves sharing them with an audience that is so curious to know more about classical music and the process of making art.
“Because the host Zsolt Bognar truly gets in depth with some legendary artists on their journeys and processes.”
“They inspire me because they’re bringing classical music back to vogue woohoo! It’s a great balance between fun and serious musical chat.”
“Who doesn’t want to be entertained? It’s also inspiring to see how knowledgeable they are. They’re like the car version of TwoSet!”
[ OCTOBER, 2021 ]
with Gwendolyn Kuhlmann
I started this podcast because artists, particularly singing artists, are fascinating. We run businesses, we start blogs that turn into media outlets (hi, 360), we start our own fashion labels, we write books, we start our own schools, become activists, produce our own shows, learn multiple art forms and languages…
And yet most of us come up through a system of education that trains us to be a part of a machine, rather than how to take it apart and create it new. One that largely tells its young singers that exploring their whole selves is not only irrelevant to their artistry; it is a distraction. That tells us there is only one way to make it - where the best success we can hope for is being allowed to do what we’re told.
These conversations are with people who have gone in all directions with their art and their lives, and they are meant to change the way we think about success in opera and heal the harm that rigidity has caused our artists and our art form.
I release the podcasts in seasons, with the second season releasing at the end of February focusing on what it takes to heal and recalibrate after you’ve decided that you are no longer going to measure your life and your art against anyone else’s standards but your own.
The Memory Palace with Nate Dimeo
Teaches me how to tell a story with intricate beauty.
Unf*ck your Brain with Kara Loewentheil.
Teaches me how my brain functions and how to get the patriarchy out of it. Her recent episode with DEI coach Trudi Lebron has a special relevance to our industry.
TRILLOQUY with Garrett McQueen and Scott Blankenship
Teaches me to think outside the box I’ve been handed as a “classical” music artist.
Death Sex and Money with Anna Sale
Teaches me how to listen.
Coming Soon
with Tona Brown
Violinist, mezzo-soprano, entrepreneur, and trans activist Tona Brown holds in-depth interviews every week with celebrity artists, authors, politicians and more to inspire us to make our dreams a reality and live lives we can be proud of. Currently a series on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, she is planning to put the audio into your podcast feed soon, so keep an eye out!
Lightning in a Bottle
As I have been researching these podcasts, I wonder if this kind of content creation is one we can sustain as the stages are opening back up. Will we ever again see a time when the discussion was so intense? Have we learned everything we could from listening?
As the mother of a toddler balancing a multi-faceted artistic career, Minka Wiltz has had to put her episodes of The Cultural Worker’s Podcast on hold as opportunities open back up after the pandemic. As she considers returning to the project, she is also rethinking the format.
Meanwhile, Ros and Adele of Fach My Life have decided to put their show on an extended, if not permanent, hiatus, feeling that they said what they came to say. Now the work is to implement the ideas they formulated in the podcast about how young artists can move forward and create the industry they want to see.
At the same time, many of these podcasts are here to stay, churning out content at a (in my eyes as a fellow creator) enviable rate of consistency. For others, life and work make the seasons or the episodes drop as they may.
And that’s okay. The point is that we’ve gotten to be part of the conversation, even to shape it, at one of the most uncertain and exciting times our industry has ever seen.
As Elise Mark of My So-Called Opera Life put it, “I can feel an energy shift in our industry—our world, really—and I’m excited to see it.”
is a writer, producer, activist, and mezzo-soprano based in Atlanta, Georgia. You can listen to her podcast Makin’ It in Opera wherever you get podcasts. On Instagram, you can follow her writing @wonderlanddispatches and the podcast @makinit.opera
Please share this resource on social media and tag @360ofOpera to let us know your thoughts! Stay tuned for more from Gwendolyn Kuhlmann on 360° of Opera, as she continues exploring this series on our blog in the future!