The Vocal Lab Collective

We made it to 100 episodes!!! This week we celebrate 100 episodes of the vocal lab podcast! We reminisce of some of our favorite moments and also dream towards the next 100 episodes! Thank you for all your support!

Will Ai replace us? The team at the Vocal Lab open up again this can of worms. Is AI getting too good? Can it analyze voices or is it just a positive feedback loop that could lead a singer to damage their voices? Is a human touch invaluable? Find out!

This week we are joined by a very special guest on the Vocal Lab Podcast: Shelby's daughter, Isla! What's it like having Shelby as a mom and vocal coach, trends for teens in 2026, favorite music and what happens when all the kids drive Shelby up a wall!

On this week, Jason and Shelby return to Coachella. From $3,000 resale tickets, $17 dollar coffees, to Caviar and nuggets, the gang discusses the cultural phenomenon that it has become. All of this culminating at one of the most polarizing performances of the night: Justin Bieber. Was it a lazy attempt at a performance or genius in disguise. Tune in to find out!

This week Jason and Shelby continue to "collect" the Glindas! Allie Trimm; the most recent incarnation of Wicked's Glinda joins the Vocal Lab studio during a short stop in Nashville. She shares of her early start in 13: The Musical, her catapult into early adulthood as a teen in the Big Apple, all the way to finding success as one of Broadways great voices. Tune in to find out what her next steps...

In this weeks episode of the Vocal Lab Podcast we talk... music... and feelings... When's the last time that music moved you so deeply you cried? Is it Shelby's "thumpers" playlist or Jason's love for Bad Bunny? Tune in to find out why waxing eloquent about music is both a noun and a verb!

This week co-host Shelby Rollins from Master Vocal Studios peels back the curtain and gives us an exclusive exposé at what it's like being a vocal coach for American Idol. Is it real? Fake? Tune in to hear what actually happened and how a rogue boom mic could've gotten her fired.

This week's episode features Bret Green, AKA Dad Got Bars. From his early days in his high school cafeteria making beats on a table, to being nominated for an Emmy for his work in "The Inspectors," Bret has found a way to connect his passion for storytelling and music as a rapper to be a an honest voice sharing the real experiences women face in their everyday lives.

In this episode of  The Vocal Lab , Jason and Shelby dive into the storm surrounding Timothée Chalamet’s recent town hall with Matthew McConaughey. Did the  Marty Supreme  star cross the line when he claimed "no one cares" about opera and ballet anymore, or was he just voicing a harsh reality about the struggle for cultural relevance? We’re breaking down whether this was a case of H...

We’re bringing this fan-favorite back to the front of the feed! In this special  RE-RELEASE  of  The Vocal Lab Podcast , hosts Shelby Rollins and Jason Catron sit down with hit songwriter Derrick Southerland to celebrate their milestone 50th episode. From his humble beginnings "scrubbing toilets" as a studio intern to opening the door for legends like John Legend and Ryan Tedder whi...

In this episode of The Vocal Lab, Jason and Shelby tackle the inevitable—the  aging voice . They break down the science of how your instrument changes over time and share must-know longevity tips for young artists who think they’re invincible. But the real star of the show is a piece of "transcendent" wisdom from producer Carlos, who graced the booth with the accidental comedy gold:  "Wh...

In this episode of The Vocal Lab Podcast , Jason and Shelby are joined by Nashville’s own Sooner Routhier , a visionary production and lighting designer whose work has defined the visual identity of modern live music. As the CEO of The Playground , Sooner has earned prestigious accolades including multiple Parnelli Awards and the Live Design Achievement Award . She is the creative force behind som...

Get ready for a masterclass in independent artistry! This week, Jason and Shelby are joined by the powerhouse herself, Jenny Teator . Known for her soulful, "St. Louis-meets-Nashville" sound, Jenny dives deep into the creative journey behind her latest album release. But the conversation doesn’t stop at the studio—we’re exploring how her viral hit, "Rhinestone Rock," became a certified elite line...

From surviving the freeze to the fallout of "Music’s Biggest Night," this week on  The Vocal Lab , Jason and Shelby are diving deep into a Nashville ice storm that changed everything. While Shelby took advantage of the power outage to crush  six books in a single week , Jason was busy hunkering down at a friend’s house, watching the city turn into a literal ice rink. But the real storm?...

In this soul-stirring episode of  The Vocal Lab , hosts  Jason Catron  and  Shelby Rollins  sit down with the legendary  Rita Springer . A pioneer in Christian music, Rita opens up about her humble beginnings and the unwavering conviction to keep her craft "not for sale." She dives deep into the delicate tension between navigating a professional music career and the v...

Is your vocal coach a mentor or just a fan?  Choosing a vocal coach is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your career, yet most singers go in blind. This week on  The Vocal Lab , Jason and Shelby pull back the curtain on the hiring process. They’re sharing the exact 5-question litmus test you should use to separate the world-class mentors from the weekend hobbyists.

Tera Lynne joins  The Vocal Lab Podcast  to share her raw and honest journey as an artist navigating the path to self-discovery.  In this episode, she discusses the internal work required to break through personal barriers and how her creative process serves as a tool for authentic expression. By exploring the intersection of her artistry and her voice, Tera offers a powerful look a...

Ring in the New Year with  The Vocal Lab Podcast  as Jason and Shelby recap their NYE adventures, set bold goals, and dream up what’s next. From big aspirations to unexpected hobbies, anything’s possible in 2026. But the real question is—will Shelby take up pickleball, and is Jason actually fencing?

The Vocal Lab Podcast  pulls back the curtain on life as a vocal coach. Jason, Shelby, and Carlos get real about the intangibles, the instincts, psychology, and emotional work that never make it into a lesson plan, along with the quirks, habits, and surprises that come with coaching real clients. Honest, funny, and deeply relatable, it’s a candid look at the voices behind the voices.

This week on  The Vocal Lab Podcast , Jason and Shelby trade vocal warm-ups for wild holiday facts as they dive into the  strangest Christmas traditions around the world . 🎄 From Austria’s horned nightmare  Krampus , to Spain’s infamous  poop log , and other festive customs that make caroling seem tame nothing is off-limits. It’s funny, slightly unhinged, and the perfect remin...

This week on  The Vocal Lab , Jason and Shelby are joined by the always-inspiring  Melinda Doolittle . She chats about her early start singing BGVs for CeCe Winans, reflects on her unforgettable  American Idol  journey, and shares the excitement behind her newest project—her debut novel,  Tinsel Trouble . It’s a joyful, uplifting conversation with plenty of heart. Tune in!

On this Thanksgiving episode of The Vocal Lab Podcast, Jason, Shelby, and Carlos gather around the mics to reflect on the year, share what they’re most thankful for, and look ahead with hope and excitement. And yes, Carlos is extra thankful this week after accidentally uploading the wrong episode last time (we forgive him… mostly). From personal milestones to musical breakthroughs, they open up ab...

On this episode of  The Vocal Lab Podcast , Jason and Shelby are joined by the hilarious and brilliant  Sophie Steele (@iambigsoph) , someone who loves people deeply and loves making the numbers work for them. They dive into who you are at your core, the power of genuine human connection, and why Sophie believes work and play should be woven together instead of kept apart. Her quick wit...

This week on  The Vocal Lab Podcast , Jason and Shelby sit down with  Ben Rodgers of Pivotol  for a conversation that blends identity, creativity, and the unexpected. From the  shrimp boat–style lunch  where Ben and Jason first connected to the deeper questions behind the real X-factor—do we truly know ourselves?—Ben explores why the  Relational Economy  may matt...

This week on The Vocal Lab , Jason and Shelby are joined by Nashville-based makeup artist and creative force  Charlie Boehm . Charlie shares how his journey surprisingly began in music, a path that shaped his eye for performance, presence, and storytelling long before he ever held a makeup brush. He opens up about the pivotal moment when legendary artist  Billy B  stepped into his l...