On A Water Break

Boston Crusaders & Carolina Crown check-in , Band Director Marching Band’s 2026 Rose Parade return , and Marc Whitlock’s decades of design wisdom . On this week’s On A Water Break, the summer season is officially underway! Host Nicole Younger is joined by Christopher Rutt , Jackson Goudreau , and Joey Montes for five packed segments covering drum corps updates, marching band nostalgia, and pro...

This week, your sideline squad Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Nicole Younger (@o2binpjs), Stephen McCarrick (@stephen.mccarrick), Christine from Guard Closet (@guardcloset), Jeremy from Drum Corps Today, Cynthia Bernard (@cynthiabern), and guest Dylan Watson (@that_dude_dylan18) are bringing the energy and insight you’ve been waiting for. We’re back with fresh takes and fire updates: Dylan share...

Bonus Episode • Equipment Scams • Buyer & Seller Best Practices Ever encounter a “too-good-to-be-true” listing for marching band gear online? In this bonus episode, host Nicole Younger sits down with band educators Christine Ream (@guardcloset), Erica Owens (@urkuh_spins), and Rose Crow (@r0secr0w) to unpack firsthand accounts of attempted equipment fraud. They discuss the red-flag warning sig...

This week on On a Water Break , Nicole Younger is back hosting a twirl-tastic episode packed with passion, performance, and positivity! She’s joined by Ashlee Amos and Ohio State’s own Jacob Cline (@jacob.cline.161), and they’re diving into everything from the pipeline between twirling and color guard to the world of college twirling auditions and what it's like being a male twirler building a pla...

Welcome back to On A Water Break , the podcast where we talk about everything you're talking about on the sideline during a water break. This week, we're welcoming a brand-new crew — our 2025 DCI Correspondents — who'll be reporting all summer long from the road! 🫡 Hosted by Jackie Brown with Jeremy (Drum Corps Today) and Omari Holaki (Crown), this episode introduces our dynamic correspondent lin...

This week on On A Water Break Weekly , we’re twirling into something special! Author and longtime color guard veteran Jase Peoples joins us to talk about Twirl —his new YA novel that centers queer identity, color guard culture, and the power of found family. We get into his 32 Count Life Story, talk representation in marching arts literature, and how Twirl is already resonating with performers acr...

This week On A Water Break , we’re spinning into pageant season, breaking down the cost of drum corps, and celebrating some throwback Aussie hat glory. Hosts Nicole , Woody , and Jeremy from Drum Corps Today are joined by color guard director and pageant competitor AK Hazel for an episode packed with marching arts news, real talk, and lots of love for performers pushing boundaries. 🎵 In this epis...

CROWN BRASS • COACHELLA ENERGY • DCI LEGEND From Star of Indiana rookie to the face of Carolina Crown’s famous brass line, educator MATT HARLOFF just checked off an unexpected bucket-list item: conducting a 60-piece ensemble for Travis Scott at Coachella. Hosts NICOLE YOUNGER and JOSÉ “JOEY” MONTES III dig into the email that started it all, the three-week scramble, and why saying “YES” to wild op...

This week On A Water Break , we’re bringing you our monthly live-recorded episode , now debuting on the podcast feed! Hosts Jackie , Nicole , and Stephen are joined by special guest Taylor Poole , Percussion Caption Head for The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps — and the team goes in on everything from wrist technique to DCI performance order to how a snail and roller derby made it into a 32 Count L...

This week, we’re taking a break with two powerhouse performers who are redefining what it means to be visible — both on the floor and online. Hosts Jackie Brown and Nicole Younger sit down with Piper Click (University of Alabama, Alta Marea, Blue Devils) and Max Marr (Fantasia, Blue Devils) to talk about performing at the highest level while managing a growing social media presence during the comp...

On this episode of On A Water Break we tackle a powerful and often unspoken issue in the activity: body shaming. Host Nicole Younger (@o2binpjs) is joined by co-hosts Alicia Sharp (@aliciaoninsta2) and Whitney Stone (@dancerwhit), alongside guest clinicians Carlos Herrera (@hellocarlosxd) and Erik Longey (@itsspelledwithak), for an emotional and honest discussion on body image, staff expectations,...

We’re back and LIVE again on YouTube with hosts Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002), Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Jose Montes III (@marchingbymontes), and Joey Montes — joined this week by winter guard judge and educator Ashley D’Amore and our favorite sideline perspective, Sharon Boyd (@therealbandmom). SEGMENT 1: THE SIDELINES & BONUS EPISODE PREVIEWS We kick things off with a quick welcome an...

This week, Nicole (@o2bnpjs) is joined by Whitney (@dancerwhit) and Alicia (@aliciaoninsta2) for an episode packed with big announcements, fresh perspectives, and two exciting new voices joining the sidelines! We’re thrilled to welcome guest clinicians Carlos Herrera (@hellocarlosxd) and Erik Longey (@itsspelledwithak) to the podcast! They each share their 32 Count Life Stories — from band kid beg...

This week, On A Water Break: Around the World takes us to the Philippines, where host Grantis Peranda sits down with percussionist, educator, and visionary leader Patricia Real Barairo, founder of the Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines (CGAP). Patricia shares her journey from her early days in Quezon City’s drum & lyre scene to building a nationwide network of performers, directors, and c...

🎙️ ON A WATER BREAK WITH... BRANDY KEETON Hosted by Jackie Brown and Stephanie Click This week, we’re heading to Tuscaloosa for a bonus episode featuring the powerhouse behind the University of Alabama Color Guard and Alta Marea— Brandy Keeton ! From her early days as a shy baton twirler in Athens, Alabama, to leading one of the most visible and successful collegiate color guard programs in the co...

On this jam-packed On A Water Break episode, host Stephen McCarrick is joined live by Matt Walters (@surfingdrums) , Austin Hall (@austin_hall10) , Woody Woodward (@remoking100) , Joey Montes (@marchingbymontes) , and first-time guest Daniel Balls (@balls_boy) to break down all the action from WGI Championships 2025. 💥 From record-breaking scores to viral horse props, this live panel covers it al...

🎙️ QUICK SIP: A WGI Love Story — The Tampa Independent Proposal 💍 We’re kicking off our Quick Sip bonus series with a love story straight from retreat! Ricardo sits down with Tampa Independent ’s very own Madison Nelson (@maddylynn22) and John Shirella (@drummerboymercy), whose surprise proposal at WGI Finals had the crowd (and their teammates) cheering and crying all at once. 💍💙 From their 32...

We’re wrapping up the WGI 2025 Color Guard season with three incredible returning guests who just took the floor by storm in Dayton: 🌟 Jacob Allison – performer with crowd-favorite AMP Winter Guard , who brought the club vibes all season long and left their mark as one of the most entertaining fan-favorite shows of the year. 🌟 Colby Tapp – from Etude Winter Guard , sharing insight into their emo...

🔥 This week on On A Water Break , we’re LIVE from the 2025 WGI World Championships floor with your recap dream team: Ricardo, Trish, Whitney, Dylan Watson, and Bryan Ayala! 💬 Segment 1: We break down the highlights from an unforgettable WGI weekend — rain, props, floor drama, tears, and triumphs! From scheduling madness to weather woes, we cover the real behind-the-scenes of Dayton. Plus, we cel...

This week’s On A Water Break is coming to you LIVE for the first time ever! 🎉 Hosted by Jackie, Steven, and Nicole, this episode is packed with spontaneous moments, major marching arts news, heartfelt reflections, and all the chaos you expect from a live stream. 💬 What’s Inside: Nicole takes over the 60-Second Tech Block with a passionate pitch on Why You Should Go to The Cookout – a must-attend...

In this special bonus episode, Stephen McCarrick and Anne Turner sit down with Julie Davila, renowned percussion educator, composer, adjudicator, and newly appointed Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International (DCI). Julie shares her remarkable journey through the marching arts, from her early passion for percussion and transformative years at the University of North Texas to her extensive ad...

Join us this week on On A Water Break as we wrap up Women's History Month with an incredible panel of talented women from the marching arts! Hosts Stephen McCarrick, Trish O'Shea, Cynthia Bernard, Beth Beccone, and Anne Turner lead a dynamic conversation filled with insightful tips, exciting news, and passionate discussions. Episode Highlights: Beth Beccone from Peak Group Travel announces an exci...

In this powerful bonus episode, On A Water Break tackles an emotional and timely subject: how the marching arts community responds in moments of crisis. In light of the recent Texas drumline tragedy and the devastating California wildfires , we explore the systems, support networks, and people who rise up when everything is on the line. Alicia is joined by rotating hosts Ricardo and Nicole along w...

This week, we're highlighting more powerhouse women in the marching arts as part of our Women’s History Month series. This episode features hosts:🎤 Nicole Younger 🎤 Whitney Stone 🎤 Kim Webb 🎤 Haley Harrington 🎤 Roxy Lazar WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: 💬 Candid sideline chats, from surprise slaps in rehearsal to spring break shenanigans. 🌟 Guest introductions and our signature “32 Count Li...

🎧 BONUS EPISODE: On A Water Break with Gonzako 🥁✨ Dive into this special bonus edition of "On A Water Break" as host Stephen McCarrick chats with dynamic bass drum duo Adrian Gonzalez ("Gonzo") and Mako, known together as Gonzako . From their early days marching with RCC, Pacific Crest, Blue Stars, Blue Devils, and Mandarins, to their current creative adventures, this episode offers a vibrant g...