Best Colquhoun Podcasts (2026)

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Ep 89: review of 2025 27:27

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3d ago27:27

27:27

Chris and Rifa look back over their year in arts and culture. Thank you for listening and supporting the show in 2025, we've had a blast, you've made it all feel worthwhile.

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Episode 272: In Service of a Singing Culture with Tori Longdon

4d ago

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Sometimes as performing artists, we are hyper focused on “the polished finished product.” Tori Longdon creates stunning finished products, but along the way, she is letting people in to see how the sausage is made in warm ups. And people LOVE it. Maybe there is something important there. An insight brought about by the social media algorithms. In t…

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How to have “The Perfect Choir”and 2025 Top 10!

10d ago

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Don’t you love it when everything about a performance, and it’s preparation is completely perfect?! Well, it must be nice for you… I am pretty sure this does not exist. But, we can pretend with this new epic poem, “The Perfect Choir.” Top 10 and the Perfect Choir! In this episode, we reflect on the year 2025 and its most critical conversations. The…

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Why Clean Water Matters in Oyster Farming | Fallen Pine Oyster Farm | Dan Worrell 1:03:38

13d ago1:03:38

1:03:38

In this episode, I sit down with Dan Worrell of Fallen Pine Oyster Farm to talk about what it really takes to grow Maryland's saltiest oyster—and why clean, healthy water is the ultimate brag. We dig into what makes an oyster salty, how salinity, location, and water quality shape flavor, and why oysters are one of the clearest indicators of a healt…

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Ep 88: Turner, Constable and Lee Miller 20:42

18d ago20:42

20:42

Chris and Rifa do their final art trip of the year, to Tate Britain for the Turner and Constable exhibition and the Lee Miller show. Rifa is reading Baldwin's The Fire Next Time and Chris is reading a book-length essay called Pirate Care from the Vagabonds series of small radical books, published by Pluto Press. Thanks for listening. Find us on Ins…

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Episode 271: Responding to the Challenge in Education with Clelyn Chapin

18d ago

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“Education’s Race to the Bottom of the Brainstem,” episode 264 generated a lot of discussion. But, none more productive than this one. This week’s guest did it right. She listened, and let me know that more needs to be said on this. “Can I chime in?” Enter, Dr. Clelyn Chapin Dr. Chapin, a professor at University of Northern Colorado and I discuss t…

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Episode 270: Balancing Tradition with Innovation with Jocelyn Hagen and Timothy C. Takach

25d ago

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The Choral Music Art form, AND the economics of the art form are changing. That makes some people uncomfortable. But, others, like Jocelyn and Tim are driving their fair share of that innovation. Jocelyn Hagan and Tim Takach, co-owners of Graphite Publishing, discuss their journey in the choral music industry, the evolution of their publishing comp…

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Episode 269: “Classical” Music: An Endangered Species

1M ago

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Possibly the most important philosophical divide in music education, and we rarely discuss it outside of echo chambers. A deep dive into the claim that Classical Music is “hegemonic” or dominant. Ep 265 Some music academics operate as if “classical music” sits at the center of cultural power, imposing itself on everyone else in an oppressive way th…

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Ep 87: My Bloody Valentine and The Legends Of Them 22:14

1M ago22:14

22:14

Chris and Rifa's adventures in culture and the arts. We scooted up to Wembley to see the seminal cult shoegaze / noise-rock band My Bloody Valentine on their arena tour, before checking out former reggae singer-turned-stage actor Lorna Gee's powerful one-woman (autobiographical) music theatre show The Legends Of Them on tour at Brighton Dome Corn E…

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Episode 268: More Music for More Students with Shane Colquhoun

1M ago

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There are some fascinating philosophical divides in Music Education. And we don’t discuss them enough. What does “inclusive” music education really look like? Shane Colqohoun is an instrumental music educator who possesses a rare super power. He can recognize areas where he both agrees AND disagrees with the philosophies of others, and is not scare…

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Episode 267: The Choir Teacher that Sucks with Mitch Al-Ubaidi

2M ago

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Young teachers bailing from the classroom within the first 5 years is an epidemic. Many things contribute to this, but one factor is the expectations young teachers bring in. Are they always realistic? Mitch is a young conductor and teacher who believes, in his own words, “that he sucks dog-water” at teaching. So, two years into a new career as a m…

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Episode 266: Leading with Intention with Dr. Justin Baeder

2M ago

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“We need to go beyond compliance in evaluations.” How many teachers experience administration in their classroom for the purpose of understanding their day to day, rather than to check a box? Justin Baeder advocates a different approach. “Tradition often hinders innovation in education.” Teacher evaluations not only create unproductive incentives, …

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Ep 86: The Haunted Moustache, Celebrity Traitors and George Houston 23:37

2M ago23:37

23:37

Rifa and Chris watch the premier of Dr David Bramwell's film The Haunted Moustache at the Duke Of York's Cinema, fail to resist watching The Celebrity Traitors and check out young Irish singer-songwriter George Houston on his first UK tour. Chris is reading a book about pop music and Rifa is reading a book about art. Thanks for listening. Find us o…

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Episode 265: What’s Next for the Most Dangerous Choir Podcast?

2M ago

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Hey I didn’t say it… But some think it. We are Better Conversation Activists here. And this episode is a CALL TO ACTION! I want to hear from you about what topics you want next in year 7! Ep 265 In this episode, we call for YOU to be more vocal in the platform’s discussion, and discuss the concept of conversation activism, emphasizing its importanc…

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Episode 264: Education’s Race to the Bottom of the Brain Stem

2M ago

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I did not coin this phrase. I borrowed from former Google Exec Tristan Harris. Social media companies are trying to outcompete the others for attention by appealing to ever more primal drives, dragging human cognition “down the brain stem” instead of cultivating critical thought. Is Education falling into the same trap? On Facebook, X and Substack …

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Brothers in Brine: PEI Edition 37:35

2M ago37:35

37:35

The Oyster Ninja and the Shuck Squad hit Prince Edward Island for one of the world's most iconic oyster festivals. From cold waters to fast hands, this episode dives into competition life, oyster culture, and the bond between shuckers who travel coast to coast to share their craft.By gardner douglas

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Ep 85: One Battle After Another & Long Story Short 24:01

2M ago24:01

24:01

Chris and Rifa watch the new PT Andersen film One Battle After Another and Netflix animated series Long Story Short, from the team behind Bojack Horseman. Rifa is re-reading Iain Banks' classic thriller Complicity, while Chris is reading Beans On Toast's collection Wild Folk People. Thanks for listening. Find us on Insta @RefigureUK…

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#7 - Martyn Dade-Robertson - "Growing Buildings & Designing with Life" 1:18:52

2M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

🥼🧪Martyn Dade-Robertson is an architect specializing in design computation and synthetic biology, and Professor of Emerging Technologies at Northumbria University. 🏠Martyn is the co-founder of the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE), a pioneering research centre exploring how living systems and biotechnologies can transform the wa…

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Episode 263: Parents As Key Players in Music Education with Marianne Forman

2M ago

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‘If we see that this is a beneficial thing for our kids, then that’s my burden of responsibility as a parent to make sure that my kids are doing that regardless of the amount of whining or complaining to the contrary.” In this conversation, Marianne Forman shares her journey as a composer and musician, discussing her early musical experiences, the …

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#6 - Mattie Colquhoun (xenogothic) - From Capitalist Realism to Acid Communism & Solarpunk 1:38:48

3M ago1:38:48

1:38:48

Mattie Colquhoun (pronounced kuh-hoon), known online as Xenogothic, is a writer and photographer from Hull, UK. They are best known for continuing the intellectual and cultural legacy of the late Mark Fisher, one of the most influential contemporary cultural theorists and political philosophers, and Mattie’s former teacher at Goldsmiths London in 2…

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Episode 262: How to Avoid Making Our Singers Worse

3M ago

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Group vocal tips, and singing instructions can be a mine field. Every voice in the room is different. It really is possible to say things in a choir rehearsal that helps one singer gets better, while making ten worse. Let’s be careful! Part 5 This episode is sourced from a recent professional development I gave for Wentzville, MO school district. T…

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Episode 261: The Art of Programming with Jo-Michael Scheibe

3M ago

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The name “Jo Michael Scheibe” has been known to many in the world of choral music for decades for more than just the sound of his choirs. The Jo-Michael Scheibe Choral Series is one of the richest and most thorough curations of the art form available. Choosing repertoire can often be a “needle in a haystack” type of process. But Dr. Scheibe has it …

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Ep 84: Lost Evenings VIII and Brighton Cocktail Festival 18:34

3M ago18:34

18:34

A shorter than usual episode. Chris and Rifa chat about their last couple of weeks, which were partly spent separately, as Chris drove up to Scotland for Frank Turner's Lost Evenings, on the way catching the William Kentridge exhibition at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, while Rifa went out for a cocktail pub crawl, though they both went to SeptemberSong…

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Episode 260: The World is Your Chorister with Jonas Rasmussen

3M ago

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Many choir directors share warm ups and other activities in the form of video clips. But few have gained as much traction as Jonas Rasmussen. Tune in to find out why, and to go behind the scenes and in depth on these awesome exercises! You may know him as The “Choir Conductor” on Instagram. In this episode, Jonas Rasmussen, a choral director from D…

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Episode 259: But You Don’t LOOK Like a Conductor with Dr. Nicole Mattfeld

3M ago

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Much is said about gender disparity and imbalance in the Arts and Education. But, this week, our guest gets personal by sharing some specifics. The microagressions of a male-dominated profession. In this conversation, Dr. Nicole Mattfeld discusses her experiences as a female choral conductor, highlighting the challenges of gender bias, societal exp…

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Ep 83: The Pitt, Wallis Island & Paul Foot 27:12

4M ago27:12

27:12

A packed episode of Chris and Rifa's bitesize arts review show, we watched US emergency room drama series The Pitt, saw Tim Key's comedy film The Ballad Of Wallis Island and checked out Paul Foot's transformative new stand-up show Dissolve. Chris is reading Ta-Nehisi Coates' The Message and Rifa is reading John Higgs' book about the KLF. Thanks for…

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The First Days of Choir Part 6: Installing a Personhood Curriculum

4M ago

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What is the POINT of a solid, well installed, Choral/Vocal Pedagogy for young people? Why does it matter? Just to make good performers? Or is it something deeper… Part6 The episode is the sixth part of a series titled “The First Days of Choir,” inspired by Harry Wong’s educational text “The First Days of School.” In this episode, we engage in a tho…

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Ep 82: The Thursday Murder Club takedown 26:36

4M ago26:36

26:36

Chris and Rifa's bitesize adventures in arts and culture get messy as the plucky pair regret watching The Thursday Murder Club on Netflix, so then watch the most different film possible, Hot Milk on MUBI. Chris is reading Emily Herring's biography of Henri Bergson, Herald Of A Restless World, while Rifa is reading Ursula Le Guin's 1971 scifi classi…

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Episode 258: Crafting Identity Through Music with Shruthi Rajasekar

4M ago

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“Everything in my music journey was my own drive… I actually love this.” Shruthi’s story of “falling in love at first sight” will inspire you. In this edition of the Oxford Series we explore the vibrant fusion of Carnatic and Western classical music through the eyes of a composer who crafts her identity into every note. Shruthi Rajasekar shares her…

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The First Days of Choir Part 5: Voicing, Reflecting and Redirecting

4M ago

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Even when all the plans are best laid, we sometimes miss. How do we reflect and redirect before we lose the whole school year? Part 5 The episode is the FIFTH part of a series titled “The First Days of Choir,” inspired by Harry Wong’s educational text “The First Days of School.” This particular episode, part five, shifts focus from Wong’s general e…

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Ep 81: Amanda Knox & Emily Kam Kngwarray 24:35

4M ago24:35

24:35

Bitesize adventures in arts and culture with Rifa and Chris. We watched the opening few episodes of The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on Disney+ and went to Tate Modern to see the major retrospective of Australian artist Emily Kam Kngwarray. Rifa is reading another bell hooks book, this time on art, while Chris has just started Ian Leslie's John & Pa…

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Episode 257: Music is My Language with Ananya Venkateswaran

5M ago

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Ananya has made music in many places around the world, and she believes that “choir is everywhere” and for everyone. This week, I am discussing music with a unique guest for this show! Ananya Venkateswaran, is a 17-year-old choral High School Student in Abu Dhabi, UAE. She shares her unique experiences as a “third culture kid” and her journey in mu…

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Episode 256: Teaching Expression from Day One with Craig Hurley and Rebecca Atkins

5M ago

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A an honorary addition to the “First Days of Choir Series” could not have been more serendipitous. In this episode, the two researchers and I delve into effective strategies for teaching musical expression with experts Craig Hurley and Rebecca Atkins. We explore how integrating expression from the start can transform choir performances, and learn a…

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The First Days of Choir Part 4: Repertoire with Intent

5M ago

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“In an effective classroom, students should not only know what they are doing, they should also know why and how.”- Harry Wong. Part 4 In this episode, we delve into the critical role of repertoire selection in shaping music education. Discuss with me how the right choice of music can inspire, challenge, and elevate both students and the educators.…

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The First Days of Choir Part 3: The Feedback Cyle

5M ago

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“Assessment continues learning,” -Harry Wong. When we are making decisions about what gets “graded” it is important first to decide, “what is crucial?” This list might be different for all of us. But if it isn’t crucial, don’t grade it. Audience members Bruce Rockwell, Chy Billings and Laura Huizinga feature some of their “First Days” go to tips! P…

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Episode 255: Uncovering the Overlooked with Hilary Apfelstadt and Alan Davis

6M ago

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We often say we value diverse voices in the choral world, but programming habits don’t always reflect that. What are the biggest structural or cultural barriers still keeping women composers under-programmed? We say we want a more inclusive choral canon—but for too long, women composers have been treated like a sidebar or a “special item to seek ou…

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#5 - Rachel Rose O’Leary - “Lunarpunk, Encryption as Infrastructure for Liberation” 1:54:05

6M ago1:54:05

1:54:05

Rachel Rose O’Leary is a revolutionary programmer, poet, and co-founder of DarkFi, a decentralized anonymous infrastructure for building sovereign digital communities. She is one of the leading voices behind the Lunarpunk movement 🌚: a darker, more militant sister of Solarpunk that defends the right to resist, hide, and build worlds away from the s…

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Ep 80: Ithell Colquhoun & Akila Richards 19:33

6M ago19:33

19:33

Chris and Rifa's bitesize adventures in arts and culture. We went to Tate Britain for the retrospective of 20th century British surrealist Ithell Colquhoun, and taped that segment in the café. Then Rifa reports back from poet Akila Richards' performance piece Mango Ritual at Brighton Dome. Rifa is reading Poor Artists by Zarina Muhammed & Gabrielle…

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The First Days of Choir Part 2: The Power of Infrastructure

6M ago

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“It could be dangerous to teach the way you were taught.”-Harry Wong. Research is not something only scientists do. Businesspeople do research; so do baseball players, chefs, plumbers, lawyers, dentists, artists, and actors. Students, when they write term papers, do research. To search and search and search, over and over again. That is why it is c…

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The First Days of Choir Part 1: Introduction and Day 1

6M ago

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“You will be able to be successful, because what we do here works.” Day 1 is when the indoctrination begins. You heard it here. We ARE indoctrinating students… into believing that they can sing and be GOOD at it. This begins on the first day of school. Harry and Rosemary Wong literally “wrote the book” on this. It was formative for me, so I decided…

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Refigure Ep 79: Primavera Sound & Glastonbury 24:33

6M ago24:33

24:33

Chris and Rifa chat festivals Primavera Sound in Barcelona and Glastonbury in Somerset. Thanks for listening.

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Episode 254: Finding Passion in EVERY Note with Elena Sharkova

6M ago

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Elena Sharkova is a an artistic leader and pioneer in American Choral Music. But, her roots are Russian. This shared identity has its complexities now of course. You won’t want to miss her thoughts on this. This week I had the pleasure of speaking with a true leader in the choral art, Elena Sharkova. who shares her extensive journey in choral music…

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Episode 253: Car Thoughts with Chris Maunu

7M ago

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A Choralosophy first. A podcast, with a guest, recorded in my car. Chris Maunu and I riding to the airport, discussing how our roles change, or don’t… when leading classroom ensembles verses community based ensembles of young people. To what degree does our role as an “educator” shift? In this engaging conversation, Chrises Munce and Maunu explore …

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Refigure Ep 78: Miro Foundation & Taskmaster 20:32

7M ago20:32

20:32

Chris and Rifa are back for series #8 of Refigure, our bitesize arts and culture podcast. This is episode #78 and we chat about Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona and the 19th season of Taskmaster on Channel 4. Thanks for listening. We are @refigureUK on Insta.

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Episode 252: Literacy is Agency with Kareem Weaver

7M ago

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The American Education System(s) are facing a crisis that too few within these systems are wanting to name or face. It is a Literacy crisis. As educators of any subject, this is a call to action. In this enlightening conversation, Kareem J Weaver discusses the critical importance of literacy in education, emphasizing its role in unlocking students’…

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Refigure Season 8 trailer 0:58

7M ago0:58

0:58

Season 8 of Refigure is (finally) coming!

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The mind behind "Finding Edna Lewis": Deb Freeman 31:50

7M ago31:50

31:50

In this compelling episode, I sit down with podcaster and writer Deb Freeman to explore the vibrant history and ongoing evolution of Black foodways in America. Together, we dive into stories of pioneering figures like Lena Richard — the first Black woman to host a cooking show in 1949 New Orleans — and Thomas Downing, the "New York Oyster King," wh…

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Episode 251: Audience Mailbag

7M ago

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A special episode where I read audience questions, comments, raised points for the benefit of all listeners. I have also updated the form on the main page to collect ideas for future shows and your questions or comments. This episode turns the focus out toward you. The listener. I have been collecting feedback since the beginning in a variety of wa…

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Episode 250: Accessible IS Beautiful with Edryn J. Coleman

7M ago

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For those of us who have been in the classroom since 2019, we KNOW things of changed. Programs are shrinking and kids are coming to us with lost years of experience and the skills that go with it. So, what do we do about it? Visit Oxford’s Expansive Choral Catalogue! Welcome to the return after almost a whole year of the Oxford Choral Series on the…

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Episode 249: The 10,000 Foot View of Choral Repertoire with Dennis Shrock

7M ago

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How do we decide what is and what isn’t a “Great work of choral repertoire?” Dennis Shrock says, “Time.” Let a few hundred years pass and see if people still perform that music. This show is proud to collaborate with authors and composers from GIA/Walton and Oxford Press. Dennis has many titles available on both! This conversation explores the intr…