On A Water Break

Winter guard takes center stage as Becca Anderson and Stephanie Furniss of Juxtaposition join Jackie Brown , Nicole Younger , and Joey Montes to explore how great design meets athlete care. From musical hooks and color theory to safety, mentorship, and inclusion, this conversation celebrates the art and heart of the activity. ✨ OAWB Journey to WGI 2026: Follow our exclusive coverage of Juxtaposit...

The Peters Family brings the phrase “family tradition” to the marching arts. Hosts José “Joey” Montes III and Trish O’Shea talk with Craig, Melissa, Lindsay & Ashley Peters about their viral rifle-feature video that united four generations of color-guard experience. From Cavaliers and Guardsmen roots to Colts, Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, Pride of Cincinnati & Allegiance, this family shows...

Before the world knew Latrice Royale from RuPaul’s Drag Race , she was spinning with Alliance of Miami Winter Guard , performing in the legendary Hotel California show and learning what it means to put her heart on the floor. In this special edition of On A Water Break With… , Latrice sits down with Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and Jeremy Williams to share how her marching-arts roots shaped everything...

This week, Stephen McCarrick is joined by Neil , Art Grossman , and guest Megan Cooney , Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands at Rowan University , to talk about the rapid rise of the Pride of the Profs Marching Band and the realities of surviving Bandtober . 🎺 Discover how Rowan’s program expanded from 130 to 180 members in just three years, what it takes to build a colle...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts! This week, Whitney Stone, José “Joey” Montes III, Alicia Sharp, and first-time guest Amari Lewis dive into the chaos of Bandtober —from Texas showdowns and rehearsal rules to accountability and drill cleaning that actually works. 🎺 In Joey’s 60-Second Tech Block, he explains how to clean drill like a scientist —fix the source, not the symptom. Then the t...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. This week, journalist and award-winning author Sam Quinones (Dreamland, The Least of Us, The Perfect Tuba) joins the OAWB team to explore how the tuba—and the marching band itself—can teach us everything we need to know about purpose, community, and fulfillment. Host Christopher Rutt leads the conversation alongside Nicole Younger and Trish O’Shea, diving...

This week we head to the Collegiate Marching Band Festival 2025 in Allentown, PA — where more than 3,000 performers from 20 college and university marching bands brought their traditions, styles, and energy to J. Birney Crum Stadium. Nicole Younger and Bill “Woody” Woodward sit down with Kelly Gumble of Vivace Productions, who shares her 32 Count Life Story and takes us behind the scenes of how Co...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. This week’s panel brings together Jackie Brown, Grantis Peranda, Trish O’Shea, Emily Nee, and special guest Liam Reynolds (@bucketdip on TikTok | @liam.r.reynolds on IG). From cymbal line culture to uniform fabrics and color wheel chaos, we cover everything making waves in fall marching band design — plus the latest BOA and DCI headlines you need to know....

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. We head to Knoxville with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band (UTK) . Director Dr. Michael Stewart breaks down the Black Suits leadership model, keeping the iconic Circle Drill fresh, audition growth and yearly re-auditions, tuning for power (why “in tune” = “sounds bigger”), and the eternal Rocky Top “Woo” debate. UT students Madelyn Bowman (guard)...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. Host Ricardo Robinson‑Shinall (IG @ricardorrobinson ) sits down with leaders from WGASC, NTCA, Pacific Performing Arts, MWCGC, and MAIN to unpack takeaways from the WGI Circuit Symposium : judge recruiting & pipelines, safety (PPP), the strengths of boutique circuits, facility-access myths, and growing the next generation of educators. Panel Ricardo R...

This week on On A Water Break , we honor the extraordinary life and legacy of WGI Hall of Fame member Eileen Cunningham — the powerhouse behind St. Anne’s Neponset and a beloved mentor across the New England color guard community. Jeremy Denzer (@jeremydenzer) joins us to share personal stories about Eileen’s unmatched impact, from leading St. Anne’s to five world championships to shaping generati...

We’re back with a Quick Sip from the 2025 WGI Circuit Symposium! Ricardo Robinson-Shinall chats with WGI’s Director of Operations, Bart Woodley, about circuit safety, leadership, and how WGI is uniting the marching arts in 2025 and beyond. 🧠 Episode Summary We’re on the ground at the WGI Circuit Symposium, and Ricardo is bringing you a no-chairs-needed Quick Sip with the one and only Bart Woodley...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts—On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes. Drum Corps International 2025 is in the books — and our correspondents are back to break it all down. From Boston Crusaders to Bluecoats to Carolina Crown, this bonus OAWB episode dives into finals week highs, Allentown ovations, Rose Bowl hype, and the tour stori...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. This week, we’re bringing the joy, the inspiration, and the sparkle 💫 We meet Finley — a 4-year-old obsessed with the Ohio State University Marching Band — whose “drum major energy” is already making waves. Then, author and LGBTQ+ advocate Jase Peeples joins the pod to talk about his children’s book Twirl — a heartwarming story about embracing your spark...

From honoring a legend to surviving burnout in the band room — this week’s On A Water Break is a heart-forward deep dive into the realities of teaching, grieving, and slaying the glam game. 🎙 Hosted by Nicole Younger, with guests Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Whitney Stone, Trish O’Shea, and doctoral candidate Ryan Bronner, this episode brings equal parts sparkle and soul. 💔 We begin with a tribute t...

This week on On A Water Break , it’s all about nerves, leadership, representation, and celebrating unforgettable wins in the marching arts. Host Josh Smith is joined by new panelists Dalton Stout, Clara Bagwell, and Eric Levy — all making their podcast debut! The team kicks things off with their 32 Count Life Stories and a fun icebreaker: “What part of the marching band are you?” Clara relives her...

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. This week on On A Water Break , Alicia Sharp (@aliciaoninsta2), Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs), and special guests Angela & Adam Miller from Meridian Independent Winter Guard take us from the earliest days of cadet guard training to the thrill of performing at WGI World Championships. We talk about how they’ve built a program where members start in 3rd gra...

– First-ever female Penn State drum major , Brass Band tribute at Ozzy Osbourne’s celebration , and DCA/DCI crossover in Williamsport . On this week’s episode of On A Water Break , we’re gearing up for DCI Championships in Indianapolis, August 8–9, 2025 ! Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick) is joined by Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs), Chris Green (@virtualassistantdirector), and Lori Winschel (@lori....

** Legacy Drum Corps launch , Cadets heritage preserved , and Chuck Mangione tribute .** On this week’s episode of On A Water Break , the summer season ramps up! Host Trish O’Shea is joined by Sadie Wallace , Justin Siegmund , Tommy Maiello , and Eric Sabach for five packed segments filled with marching arts history, breaking news, and tech tips. 🎺 32 Count Life Stories & Interviews: Sadie Wa...

Drum Corps History, Shower Anthems & Duct‑Tape Marching Tux Triumph Your All‑Access Pass to the Marching Arts. A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts—On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes. This week hosts Nicole Younger , Jackie Brown , and Trish O’Shea welcome Tai Nelson from Ty Talks DCI (@taitalksdci) to dive into the deeper story behind drum corps—from academic roots to Inst...

Welcome to On A Water Break — your all-access pass to the marching arts! This week, Stephen is joined by Jackie Brown, Woody Woodward, and two special guests: legendary Chuck Henson (@chuckhenson1) of Bands of America and broadcaster, and Joe Brown , the powerhouse educator behind Elizabeth HS, NJ. In this episode: 32 Count Life Stories from Chuck (“the big voice in the big stadium at the big band...

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall (@ricardorrobinson) • Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick) Co-host: Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002) Guest Hosts: Michelle Adcock (@michelleainpa) of the Hawthorne Caballeros ( https://hawthornecaballeros.org ) • Nick Coppock (@cantstopcop) of the Bushwackers ( https://www.bushwackers.org ) Episode Summary: We kick off the inaugural DCI All-Age season with your full panel: n...

Welcome to On A Water Break —your sideline pass to the world of drum corps, marching band, color guard, and the marching arts! In this bonus “With” episode, host Stephen McCarrick sits down with Neal Bright , drummer for the Savannah Bananas Pep Band, to unpack six seasons of stunt drumming, pre-game pageantry, viral social-media fame—and the reality of balancing it all around a school-day teachin...

This week, your hosts— Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick), Ricardo Robinson-Shinall (@RicardoRRobinson) and Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002)—sit down with: Brent Becker (uniform designer extraordinaire; IG: @bbecker_designs) Nicholas Moore (Duck Brand “Stuck at Prom” finalist; IG: @BrasstapeBandKid, TikTok: @BrassTape) Brandon Worf of Drum Corps AF Podcast (IG: @dr...

🎙️ Welcome to On A Water Break — your sideline pass to the world of drum corps, marching band, color guard, and the marching arts! This week, we’re turning the spotlight on LGBTQIA+ performers, educators, and community leaders who are making Pride not just a celebration—but a statement. 🫶 Host Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and co-host Whitney Stone are joined by an all-star panel: Cameron Elliott , fo...