Looking Back: The @Percussion Podcast

I moved to Hong Kong in 2018, right after finishing every graduate degree I could earn. Hong Kong was absolutely beautiful, but relocating 12 time zones away wasn’t easy—especially because I moved away from the friendships, deep connections, and inspiring conversations I had had with my friends at the Frost School of Music. Those people made me a better person and a better artist; I had no idea how devastating the lack of their daily presence would be. I knew I'd miss it, but I had no idea just HOW MUCH I'd miss the intensity and daily contact with our art form. (Spoiler alert — I did make friends in HK, but that didn't happen overnight. This is the story of how I pushed through in the interim.)

Whenever I needed to feel surrounded by driven percussionists and wanted to learn, I'd turn to this podcast. It was my EVERYTHING. After work, I’d go to the gym, get on the treadmill, and play an episode. Then I'd do the same tomorrow, the day after, and the day after.

Then, a year later, I was invited to be on the podcast (gasp!), and Casey Cangelosi, the founder, called to ask if I’d like to become a co-host. That was the best news for me (this was the Hollywood of podcasts)—I was already spending time with the podcast every week as a fan. Becoming a co-host meant I got to see it from the inside and contribute to curating the voices we highlighted. From 2019 to 2022, I served as a co-host and co-producer of the @Percussion Podcast, a weekly show dedicated to exploring the academic, creative, and philosophical sides of life as a percussionist. Throughout the podcast, I met over a hundred people who care about and contribute to our art form.

Originally launched in 2015, the podcast ran for over 300 episodes and became a rich, free resource for anyone looking to learn from the stories and insights of some of the most inspiring figures in our field. It was always our goal to build an archive that could educate, inspire, and spark conversation.

I’m deeply grateful to have been part of an amazing team on this project alongside Casey Cangelosi, Ben Charles, Karli Viña, and Caleb Pickering.

As a small tribute, I’ve put together a playlist of some of my favorite episodes during my time on the show. Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to the archive, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates. @Percussion Podcast