Shows
Things Musicians Don't Talk About100. We listened to our old episodes… and immediately regretted itWe have reached episode 100 and so decided, as a celebration, we'd take a wee look back... we might now regret it! Listen as we react to the first episode we made together, now over four years ago! Becca also tests Hattie on five years of hot takes – who said what and when?Things Musicians Don't Talk About is supported by the Royal Society of Musicians! Follow RSM on Instagram, X and Facebook.-------------------------------------------------------------Support TMDTAWant to support us on a regular basis? Consider joining our Patreon from £1 a month: https://w...2025-07-3051 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About99. Lauren McQuistin: eating disorders in classical music (live)*Trigger warning: discussion of eating disorders, alcoholism, addiction*From our live event at the Royal Society of Musicians on 22nd May 2025Lauren McQuistin has been running the Instagram account @brutalrecovery for years now. Her advocacy for honest recovery discourse has resonated with many alcoholics, particularly with her with her trademark eloquence and dry humour. Lauren now shares her experience of eating disorders - anorexia and bulimia in particular - and how this was especially shaped by her time as a classically-trained soprano. We asked her about her journey through her musical training and...2025-07-1658 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About98. Performative workaholism, surviving criticism and intuitive eatingHattie and Becca discuss the need for many creatives to prove themselves to others online, often sharing data about their work. Do we need a structure and numeric guide for practice or can it be intuitive? And how does this link to intuitive eating? They also go on to discuss the complexities of dealing with criticism, where that sensitivity comes from and how Hattie copes with empathy for performers whilst writing reviews02:51 Workaholics and their quirks16:20 Intuitive eating vs intuitive practice23:55 Hattie receives criticism at work26:15 Confidence, criticism and power...2025-07-0240 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About97. Jamie Barton: embodying prideMezzo-soprano Jamie Barton has been fighting the corner of the marginalised in classical music now for over 10 years. From a marriage breakdown to a queer awakening and struggles with learning repertoire, Jamie joins Hattie and Becca to discuss her experiences as a queer woman in America and her journey to discovering her ADHD. She also shares powerful insights into body positivity, her approach to music and the importance of using her platform to support marginalised communitiesJamie Barton is at London Classical Pride on 4 July. Tickets here!Thank you to forScore for advertising...2025-06-181h 05
Things Musicians Don't Talk About96. Back again, but differentEntering our YouTube era...! And we're talking about returning to things we didn't expect to: Hattie to America and Becca to the harp. We also have a good ol' think about child prodigies, faith and praying, and Becca obsesses further about JULY. We've got some absolutely stellar interviews lined up for release, so stay tuned.Thank you to forScore for advertising with us and to the Royal Society of Musicians for their ongoing support 🙏 forScore: https://forscore.coThings Musicians Don't Talk About is sup...2025-06-0434 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About91. I wasn’t as good at the cello as I thought I was'On returning from America, I listened back to lots of my old recordings and discovered a paradox: I had no confidence but also thought I deserved more – thought I was better than I really was'. Hattie sits down to share reflections from her trip to America from health anxiety and Curtis, to self-love and deleting dating apps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-04-2422 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About90. Lucy Humphris: embracing othernessThis week we interview trumpet player Lucy Humphris about her journey through music college and the contemporary music scene. We speak about the institutional barriers Lucy and others face as a female brass player with a non-traditional career trajectory, sharing her experiences of feeling "othered" and misunderstood. From battling expectations of orchestral conformity to navigating the complex landscape of contemporary music, Lucy reveals the personal and professional struggles of forging her own path. She explores themes of identity, resilience, and the often unspoken challenges musicians face when their artistic vision doesn't align with traditional institutional norms...2025-04-1548 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About89. Rigid control, guilt and returning to exerciseEating disorders and intense practice obsession have a lot in common. How do we move from an 'all or nothing' mindset to something structured and regular? Becca shares the start to her return to exercise following healing from an eating disorder and Hattie shares the parallels to the toxic relationship she has to the cello and hours of practice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2025-03-2631 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About88. Beyond the 'woman' conversation: Gillian Moore and CN Lester Live at RSMThere are statements made time and time again when you approach the topic of women in music: 'but historically music by men is just better', 'I'm sick of this wokeism in classical music' and 'people won't buy tickets to concerts of just women's music'. CN Lester and Gillian Moore join us live at the Royal Society of Musicians to unpack these statements and uncover the truth to performance, programming and pessimism around classical women composers.Things Musicians Don't Talk About is supported by the Royal Society of Musicians! Follow RSM on Instagram, X and Facebook....2025-03-081h 03
Things Musicians Don't Talk About87. Emily White on grief, teaching and the joy of letting go10 years ago trombonist Emily White lost her husband after a prolonged period of illness. She was thrown into the worlds of death admin and loneliness, but out of it discovered a perspective on what was important as a musician. She shares with Hattie and Becca an insight into her grief journey, as well as her infectious joy of teaching and hatred of the word 'should'. Emily also takes them through her interest in research about practice and performance optimisation and how much joy is able to impact us positively as musicians.Learn more about Emily here!2025-02-211h 09
Things Musicians Don't Talk About86. Book Club: anti-psychiatry and doublingsIs capitalism to blame for the mental health crisis? Should we separate the art from the artist? Rebecca and Hattie have been reading non-fiction. And they are sharing two of the books with each other. Naomi Klein's Doppelganger won the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction in 2024 and has had a strong impact since it hit the bookshelves. The pressure for us to 'perform' online is overwhelming, and Becca brings a musician's perspective to Klein's reflections. Then to what appeared to be anti-psychiatry in James Davies's book Sedated. He blames much of our negative mental health experiences on toxic work culture...2025-02-051h 09
Things Musicians Don't Talk About85. Mark Brierley on being seen, classical music marketing and the origins of RSMMark Brierley came to the world of classical music via journalism and without any prior knowledge of the industry. Now, as Head of Membership and Communications at the Royal Society of Musicians, he spends every day hearing from musicians about the reality of their lives. He speaks with Hattie at the RSM headquarters about the origins of the 'Fund for Decay'd Musicians', his perspectives on the industry as an 'outsider' and how he's developed a love for it. They also discuss marketing and communications for musicians, how to be heard and the impact of membership at the RSM.2025-01-1038 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About84. Musical theatre and emotional regulationIt's Becca's turn to sit down for a solo check in with the help of some listener questions. The grief journey continues, as does the freelancing, and Becca reflects on emotional regulation, balancing her various jobs, and processing the death of an abuser.Things Musicians Don't Talk About is now supported by the Royal Society of Musicians! Follow RSM on Instagram, X and Facebook.-------------------------------------------------------------Support TMDTAWant to support us on a regular basis? Consider joining our Patreon from £1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/tmdtaFeeling generou...2024-12-2635 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About83. The ambition trap and entering into stagnationHattie sits down for a late night chat about everything on her mind this Christmas. New Year's resolutions, jealousy, musician guilt, ambition and the illusion of festivity are chaotically unpacked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-12-2332 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About82. Linton Stephens on living authentically with a public platformWe asked Linton Stephens to come and speak about authenticity for our first live show at the Royal Society of Musicians. A musician and broadcaster who has been naturally unapologetic about his identity in all corners of his career, living authentically is just part of Linton's everyday. But classical music's fragility means that this type of openness can be hard to find. We discuss Linton's early life, campaigning for women's music, the power of mentioning his boyfriend on the radio, the importance of representation and his views on tokenism. We also open questions up to the audience who come...2024-11-221h 09
Things Musicians Don't Talk About81. Jalayne Mitchell: Classical WellnessBack in February we talked with the legend, Jalayne Mitchell. It was such a special episode that we had to keep it brewing for many, many months. Jalayne has since taken a break from Classical Wellness but her message is still so vital and timely.We talk about starting an instrument 'late' and playing catch up, starting a bold project outside the norm, the paralysis of performance anxiety and culture of silence at music college, amongst other things that just aren't cute at all.Thank you Jalayne, not just for the work you've...2024-11-161h 09
Things Musicians Don't Talk About80. Grief, talent and ethical dilemmasCW: death; brief mention of disordered eatingWhat happens when someone dies? How do you talk to someone who's lost a parent? What's wrong with the word 'talent'? Do you take on work that makes you uncomfortable? Why are we so scared of Freshers Week? We answer all these questions with absolute authority this week on Things Musicians Don't Talk About!Grab a cuppa, walk the dog/child, endure the commute, or simply rawdog this episode. We have a chinwag, a catchup and put the world to rights as per usual.2024-11-1045 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About79. The unedit: my 2017 nervous breakdownThe start of an unedited series of podcasts.TW: mental illnessHattie shares the story of her 2017 nervous breakdown and reads a blog she wrote about it back in August. She also answers questions about breakdowns and whether she worries about them returning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2024-10-3123 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About78. Matthew Barley on psychosis and healing through ayahuascaWhen cellist Matthew Barley was 16 he tried to take his own life following a drug-induced psychotic episode. He then went on to channel everything into music until in 2019 the trauma of the event resurfaced.We speak to Matthew about his experience of psychosis, looking back on his experiences and the process of trauma therapy and the impact of ayahuasca. He takes us through writing music for his new album based on the events and discusses the way the classical music world views mental health conditionsmatthewbarley.com-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Things...2024-09-2752 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About77. London Podcast Festival with Ayanna Witter-JohnsonThis was a big one for Things Musicians Don't Talk About: our first live show!!!! We are so grateful to the London Podcast Festival for inviting us to take the stage with the exceptional Ayanna Witter-Johnson.Hattie and Becca talked a little bit about the conception of the podcast and their own mental health journeys, and then chatted with Ayanna about her background and career in music. Ayanna talks brilliantly about the intricacies of making her own unique career despite not fitting into a traditional classical music pathway, and elaborates on feeling like an outsider, failures...2024-09-111h 12
Things Musicians Don't Talk About76. Laure Chan: bridging cultures and breaking normsWe're back with our first interview after the summer! The brilliant Laure Chan speaks with Hattie and Becca about her cross-cultural, genre-bending creative endeavours and her journey to musical authenticity.How did Laure get into composing whilst already being an established violinist? How does she explore her own identity through the medium of music? How did her shoulder injury affect her outlook on making music? Find out by listening to Things Musicians Don’t Talk About.Follow Laure on Instagram TikTok Youtube Spotify or visit her website...2024-09-0953 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About75. Blog Special | What if I continue putting on weight forever?Trigger warning: eating disorders, weight (no specific numbers)A different format of episode this week! Becca reads out her latest blog on her body, her identity and her fears about the possibility of a life of ‘sizing-up’.She answers some questions afterwards about the blog, talking about the male gaze, the concept of numbers in recovery and the physicality of trumpet playing.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Things Musicians Don't Talk About is now supported by the Royal Society of Musicians! Follow them on Instagram, X and Facebook.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Supp...2024-09-0519 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About74. Returning to places of traumaReflecting on recent trips back to our former music schools and colleges, we chat about the complex emotions that arise when revisiting places of past trauma. We discuss the challenges of addressing mental health in educational settings, wondering if our message is relevant to current students, and the lasting impact of architecture and locations on our wellbeing. We also explore the nuances of loneliness, and share our personal journeys of making peace with specific London locations. Link to the book recommended by Becca: https://www.olivialaing.com/lonely-city------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Things Musicians...2024-07-1538 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About73. Ruth Philips: non-violence and the art of restWhen cellist Ruth Philips was 29 and studying in America, she left her room as she wanted it to be found after her death. So certain was she that the performance approaching her would be the end of her life.Now, Ruth is sought after for her whole, integrative approach as a cello teacher, mindfulness practitioner and performance coach. She speaks to us about her journey towards discovering mindfulness, reframing the word 'practice' and encouraging others to consider the violent language we frequently use as musicians and music teachers. We explore how kindness and self-love can be...2024-07-0256 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About72. Q&A: TMDTA origins, music schools & workplace politicsWe thought we'd celebrate hitting 3,000 Instagram followers as some sort of milestone in this crazy journey to cultivate much-needed honesty in the music industry! Every follower, every listener we connect with feels like a little headway in making change in the culture. In this episode, we take some time to look back on our podcast journey so far, reminiscing about how we became a duo and how TMDTA has grown over the past 4 years. Thanks to questions from our listeners, we also reflect on our personal experiences with mental health, music schools, and our hopes about...2024-04-2645 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About71. Chloé van Soeterstède: conducting through pregnancy & motherhood In this episode of Things Musicians Don't Talk About, Becca sits down with Chloé van Soeterstède in her dressing room at the Royal College of Music. Chloé shares her personal experiences of working as a musician alongside pregnancy and then motherhood. She walks us through her journey - from figuring out with her manager when might be the best time to get pregnant, to performing while visibly pregnant and giving birth naturally with the aid of mental preparation. Chloé also opens up about challenges like pumping breastmilk between rehearsals on tour and traveling internationally with a newborn, and maki...2024-04-0548 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About70. Queerness and power abuse in classical music: Tár & MaestroAnother chatty episode for you lovely lot! This was recorded for our last Voices radio slot in February 2023. Hattie and Becca chat about queerness in classical music, exploring our opinions on the films Tár and Maestro, and how we feel power dynamics and hero-worship were portrayed in them. As we've seen over the past few decade or so, teacher-student relationships can be such a dangerous environment if those positions of authority are abused, and so we take a further look into what exactly it is about them that musicians don't talk about and why.We a...2024-03-0728 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About69. Zygmund de Somogyi: burnout, belonging, and community in compositionThis week we come to you (unintentionally) from the Royal Opera House! We speak with composer, theatre-maker, and journalist Zygmund de Somogyi about growing up with Autism Spectrum Disorder, not fitting in to the classical music world, discovering the world of composing, their experiences of imposter syndrome and feeling disconnected from the world around them. Zyggy is now studying opera composition and discusses how they fell into opera and what it's like to work as an opera composer in the current climate. Thank you to Zyggy for their brilliant honesty and commitment to talk about the things musicians don't...2024-03-0449 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About68. Callas, fatphobia and surviving sexual assaultTW: sexual assault we do discuss an experience of sexual assault/harassment about halfway through the episode so feel free to skip through / give this one a miss 2024-02-1455 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About67. James Partridge: childhood nostalgiaA very Happy New Year from us at TMDTA! To kick off 2024, we have an episode recorded waaaaay back last year with the joyous James Partridge. We speak to him about his very unique career, bringing 'primary school bangers' to the masses and what life is like as a social media sensation. Why do these primary school hymns unlock 100% FEELS in us and what does James think about music education? Find out here on Things Musicians Don't Talk About.Follow James on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamesbpartridge/TikTok: https://www.tiktok...2024-01-0257 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About66. Jess Hands: when music soothesOn our Voices Radio slot this month, Becca interviewed DJ Jess Hands about her experiences with mental illness and how making music has been a healing distraction from her struggles. We hear her honest account of what it's like to go through mental health crises, bipolar disorder and to get to grips with simultaneously working as a DJ. Jessica's bio:"My name is Jessica Hands, DJ name Jess Hands, a lover for all things bass and wonky sounds. I have bi polar type 1 and BPD, I am here to share my experience to help...2023-11-2159 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About64. Gavin Higgins: Tourettes, OCD and surviving operaComposer Gavin Higgins found that music was the only thing calmed his severe facial tics as a young kid. After an assessment at the Maudsley Hospital, Gavin was diagnosed with Tourettes and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. He was put on Prozac and told to snap a rubber band on his wrist to take away his intrusive thoughts.A lot has changed in the treatment of mental illnesses, but what's the reality behind living with two severe conditions as an award-winning composer? And why is Gavin so determined to raise awareness? Hattie and Gavin chat in this episode...2023-10-191h 00
Things Musicians Don't Talk About*Patreon Preview* Spooky Scary FeedbackIt's our first sneaky peaky Patreon preview! Welcome through this little creaky door in the paywall to hear 5 minutes of exclusive content that we recorded last Halloween!In this episode, Hattie, Katy and Becca scare the living daylights outta themselves by reading feedback ranging from grade 8 to graduate scheme rejections. We also have a little rant about assessing music as a subjective art form, and Hattie shares a story with us that we had to bleep out because it was too gross. If you fancy accessing the *whole* episode and much more, head t...2023-10-0206 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About62. If Lewis Capaldi was a classical musicianFor TMDTA's July Voices Radio appearance, Hattie and Becca discuss Lewis Capaldi's Glastonbury set and how this might translate in the classical music world. They also chat about their experiences of saying no as employees and as freelancers, Hattie's new adventures on bass guitar and Becca's new therapist. In the original show, the first half of Paul Denegri's episode played after their discussion, but now you can go and listen to the whole thing wherever you're listening to this episode.Thank you as ever to Voices Radio for this platform, and thank you to you listeners...2023-09-1335 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About60. Paul Denegri: multi-faceted by accidentBecca catches up with her former teacher, Paul Denegri, from his stay in an old farmhouse. The humblest of the humble, Paul takes us through his journey to where he is now: revisiting his unexpected appointment as Head of Brass at Wells Cathedral School; his feelings of imposter syndrome and disillusionment with the freelance musician lifestyle; and staying true to his identity. Paul's trademark openness and warmth is so refreshing in the world of classical music and music education, where prestige and resilience is so often touted as the pinnacle of success.Thank you Paul for...2023-07-1158 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About59. Post-nap epiphaniesThings Musicians Don't Talk About is now generously supported by the Royal Society of Musicians!The Royal Society of Musicians is Britain’s oldest music charity and our aims remain as relevant today as they were in the earliest years – to provide vital financial assistance, advice and guidance to those professionally active in the world of music but who are unable to work due to accident, illness, stress or anxiety. Being a charity run by musicians for musicians, we are uniquely placed to fully understand the challenges faced within the profession.Episode notes:2023-07-021h 00
Things Musicians Don't Talk About58. Gosia Garstka: the stigma of suicideTw: Mentions of suicide and it’s preventionIn a society opening up conversations around mental health, suicide is still severely stigmatised and misunderstood. Today we meet pianist Gosia Garska who volunteers at the Listening Place - a charity set up to hold space for people struggling with suicidal thoughts and ideation.We discuss common myths around suicide, as well as how the Listening Place supports those with ongoing struggles. We also hear from Gosia about how work at the Listening Place has changed her life, both as a musician and personally and en...2023-06-0851 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About57. a May Q&A: behind the scenes of the podcastWE PASSED OUR VOICES RADIO TRIAL! Here's our most recent episode-show where we answer beautiful questions from our Insta followers (thanks you guys!). We chit-chat about our favourite and least favourite memories of TMDTA, Father Christmas and Wendy Christmas, a slightly different origin story of the podcast, the power of sharing our stories on social media, balancing pod commitments, Becca's wet cat and not treating the pod as a job. Thanks again to Voices Radio for giving us another platform to continue breaking down the barriers and talking about the things musicians don't talk about.If...2023-05-1834 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About55. Kathryn Williams: the flautist on life as a single parent & discrimination at workOn this episode, Hattie speaks with flautist Kathryn Williams, co-author of the Independent Society of Musicians's (ISM) Dignity at Work 2 study, which looked into the experiences of discrimination among those working in the music sector. They also speak about Kathryn's experiences as a single parent 11 years ago, navigating studying at the Royal Northern College of Music whilst being the sole carer for a 1-year-old.Follow Kathryn on Instagram: @kathrynwilliamsflutesDiscover the ISM hereParents in Performing Arts (PiPA) CampaignClick here for transcriptIf you've...2023-04-2543 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About54. Back by Popular Demand: arts cuts, audition burnout and performance anxietyIn this episode of Things Musicians Don't Talk About, Hattie and Becca chat from the cosiness of Hattie's new-ish house and perfect podcasting room. We have a candid conversation about the recent arts cuts and the precarity of freelancing, plus Becca's recent feelings of audition burnout, and how we've both experienced and dealt with (or not dealt with...) performance anxiety in the past.Join us as we break down the barriers and continue to talk about the things musicians don't talk about.(originally recorded for Voices Radio) Click here for...2023-04-1233 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About52. Ingela Onstad: on being more than 'just' a singer Today we are coming with a fascinating episode with Ingela Onstad, who is a psychotherapist and performance coach, as well as a professional soprano.Both Rebecca and I have been interested in getting to know a musician who is also trained as a psychotherapist and were curious to understand how she deals with boundaries in her job. We explore all of this, asking for Ingela’s insight into diversifying her musician life, becoming more than ‘just’ a singer and helping people through a therapeutic lens.Fiind Ingela on Instagram @courageousartistryHer we...2023-02-0258 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About51. Kate Kennedy: the biographer on how playing injury can lead to eating disorders***This episode deals covers topics including eating disorders, mental illness and the Holocaust. Kate talks about them incredibly respectfully and not in graphic details, but for listeners that would rather sit this one out, we understand***It's our last episode of 2022 and this time, we're speaking to the exceptional Dr. Kate Kennedy, broadcaster, academic, cellist and writer, who specialises in combining biography, words and music. She is also the Co-Director of the Oxford Centre for Life-writing and a research fellow at the University of Oxford.We talk to her from the crypt of S...2022-12-301h 11
Things Musicians Don't Talk About48. Betty Makharinsky: on life as a singer and organising the Vache Baroque Festival‘It’s easy to slip into a mode of being where you think your life is happening to you and you’re stuck…you think you have to carry on xyz trajectory because that’s how it’s been for so long…’ This week’s guest is the soprano Betty Makharinsky who spoke to me (Hattie) during a day of rehearsals for the charity and organisation she co-founded, Vache Baroque Festival ✨Betty and I spoke about her difficulties with the music college system after leaving Oxford and how going too soon affected...2022-09-3051 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About46. Guy Withers: behind the scenes of Waterperry Opera FestivalThis week on TMDTA, Becca and Hattie chat with Guy Withers, Artistic Director, founder and CEO of Waterperry Opera Festival, about this year's upcoming festival which will celebrate it's fifth anniversary with an innovative eight-day open-air collection of eight productions in Waterperry, Oxfordshire. As usual, Becca and Hattie want to know more about what's going on behind the shiny facade of such a successful festival and they chat with Guy about not only the festival's journey to fruition but also his personal experiences and how they have informed his current role. Guy shares with us the some of the...2022-06-2258 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About45. Cliodhna Ryan: panic attacks on stageHattie and Rebecca are joined this week by violinist and podcaster Cliodhna Ryan. Delving into the years Cliodhna spent in the busyness of London, Cliodhna talks about her move back to Ireland and the creative projects that sprung from the move. Violinist in the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Cliodhna speaks about the realities of freelance life, as well as her experiences living with panic disorder and injury.Cliodhna has her own podcast, Bittersweet Symphony, in which she speaks with fellow musicians about their lives during the desolation of the pandemic. The podcast asks what musicians experienced in t...2022-06-081h 17
Things Musicians Don't Talk About44. Olivia Da Costa: the musicians' photographerWelcome back! A while back, we talked with photographer Olivia Da Costa (after our #gifted photoshoot) about her new career as a photographer specialising in musicians' portraits and what's led her to this point. Olivia shares with us her journey through music school and college, through a complex relationship with the cello and music, and into the pandemic when she founded her photography business. It's not often that we see a musician change career paths and still stay firmly rooted in the same circle of colleagues, so Olivia's story is particularly interesting! Thank you Olivia for your frankness and...2022-05-1842 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About42. Rosie Bennet - Part 2 surviving anorexiaTrigger warning: eating disorders and mental illnessPart 2: We return to Rosie's story to hear about both the rock bottom and how she moved onwards and upwards past it. We would recommend listening to part 1 if you haven't already (released only a couple of days ago!) as this'll make a lot more sense with the rest of Rosie's story. We feel so incredibly honoured and grateful to Rosie for her time and vulnerability with us, and are so excited to see where Rosie goes in life with her brilliant self-awareness, musicality and strength....2022-05-1339 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About41. Rosie Bennet - Part 1 surviving anorexiaTrigger warning: eating disorders and mental illnessPart 1: We are extremely grateful to guitarist Rosie Bennet for letting us into the nooks and crannies of her life story. We talk about Rosie's musical training and her travels all over the world, and the subsequent dark periods in her life that culminated in a breakdown during her years at music college. The way in which Rosie speaks about her life and her music is so poetic and an absolute joy to listen to, despite the depth and heaviness of her journey.Transcript of this e...2022-05-1140 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About40. 10k Q&AWe reached 10,000 downloads which we think sounds a lot so we did a celebratory Q&A episode! Admittedly we didn't get as many questions as we'd expected (for some reason we thought number of downloads = number of questions with no effort required ) but we still had a nice chat and an orange san pell on Hattie's bed. Thanks as ever for your support and for your continued listenership, and here's to the next 10k!!Transcript for this episodeFollow us on InstagramAnd Twitter...2022-04-2048 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About39. Vic Isfryn: pregnancy discriminationOh hey there again and thanks for joining us for episode 39!I could listen to Vic talk all day, honestly. Today, we present to you our chat about life as a freelance musician parent and Vic's experiences of pregnancy discrimination - a very real but seldom talked about topic. Vic herself is an amazing trumpet player who frequently appears on TV as well as performing to a live audience. She's performed at the BBC Music Awards, Strictly Come Dancing, Britains Got Talent and This Morning, as well as performing with artists such as Rod Stewart, Charlotte...2022-04-1349 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About38. Rakhi Singh: a new pathToday we are thrilled to release our conversation with violinist and co-founder of the Manchester Collective, Rakhi Singh.Speaking with Rakhi was so joyful and restorative. We discuss her life within the Manchester Collective, how they continue to push boundaries and what ‘daring collaborations’ mean. We go on to talk about chamber music and the ways in which we can feel restricted in the definition we have created within classical music.Rakhi suggests a more integrative and whole approach to music education, asking why playing pieces that we actually enjoy can so often not be our...2022-04-071h 04
Things Musicians Don't Talk About37. Cara Houghton, CUKSN and BurnoutHattie and Rebecca are joined by the chair of the Conservatoires UK Student Network, Cara Houghton to speak about their Burnout Campaign in collaboration with Healthy Conservatoires, starting this week from 21-26 March. Rebecca and Hattie go on to discuss their own experiences of burnout, the difference between mental illness and burnout and Hattie’s experience living in a convent to get away from musical life! They also go on to speak about Rebecca’s experience with running and leaving running behind as the next step in her recovery from eating disorders and exercise addiction. 2022-03-2156 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About36. Jocelyn Lightfoot: identity and griefWow, what a conversation we had with Jocelyn. We discuss the London Chamber Orchestra's recent-ish decision to drop their dress code, but before we get into that we talk about her life before being appointed the Managing Director of LCO, and now the CEO of Three Worlds Group. Freelance life is a struggle at the best of times, and we are so so grateful to Jocelyn for speaking so powerfully about her experiences and thoughts on the subject. This felt like such an important and energising conversation, particularly as our first in-person interview (all the way...2022-03-181h 18
Things Musicians Don't Talk About35. The One Where They Actually Record Everyone in the Same RoomThis episode, Hattie and Becca are joined by BOP* Stuart Beard. They chat (unsurprisingly) about life as a freelance musician, Hattie’s big move to London, the Sunk Cost Fallacy, turning opportunities down and general other chatty topics.Listen wherever you usually get your podcasts, and if you can, please leave us a review and subscribe!*(Boyfriend of the Pod)Transcript of this episodeFollow us on Instagram!And TwitterOur websiteBuy our stickers (What Would Yuja Wear)...2022-02-2345 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About34. Frances Wilson, The Cross-Eyed PianistFrances Wilson, publicist and writer/blogger extraordinaire talks to Hattie and Rebecca about her blog and other work, her love of live music, lack of creative motivation in lockdown, and what it's like to get to know the artists behind the music. She is most famed for her wonderful blog, The Cross-Eyed Pianist, and her popular series of written interviews, Meet the Artist, that is about to turn 10 years old! We are incredibly grateful to Frances for her time and her wisdom.p.s apologies for the questionable audio quality - Hattie and...2022-02-111h 03
Things Musicians Don't Talk About33. Ollie West: depression, anxiety and suicidal ideationOllie West is an incredibly talented singer-songwriter, as well as being an avid appreciator of classical music. We speak about his experience with anxiety surrounding traditional music education and about the differences between studying within popular music and classical music.Ollie shares his experiences with anxiety, depression and binge eating disorder. During the pandemic, Ollie's mental health reached crisis point as he began to deal with panic attacks and suicidal thoughts. It can feel easy to declare yourself 'unworthy' of the suffering you experience, especially, as Ollie puts it, if you are someone...2022-01-1852 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About32. December chats - medication, rejections and whether art is a way of lifeTMDTA hosts Rebecca Toal and Hattie Butterworth discuss their experiences taking psychiatric medication following Dr Alex George's PostYourPill campaign. They talk about the stigma and image around being someone with a mental illness within the classical music world and how important campaigns like this are for normalising people's experiences.They also talk over the Royal Opera House's recent merchandise, featuring Margot Fonteyn's statement of the all-consuming nature of art as a way of life. We discuss whether or not we agree and also move onto talk about rejection, Rebecca's recent auditions and how traumatising rejection from...2021-12-1648 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About31. Anil Umer, live at the Royal Academy of MusicDuring our Musicians' Injury Awareness Week, we interviewed Soft Tissue Therapist and Injury Rehabilitation specialist, Anil Umer about his experience of injury, as someone who has both suffered from one personally and treated others. We thank Anil for his openness and his wisdom!Anil is a freelance cellist, Injury Rehabilitation Specialist and Soft Tissue Therapist. He works both privately and in clinic, and has treated professional musicians, dancers and Olympic athletes. Having had to temporarily quit performing due to a shoulder injury, he has a passionate interest in helping people overcome chronic musculoskeletal issues. Anil Studied...2021-12-0841 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk About30. Bob Hughes (in full)Last week was our Musicians' Injury Awareness Week and we were absolutely blown away by all the support and love we received before, during and after it. Included in the week was Becca's interview with the lovely Bob Hughes about his journey will Focal Dystonia. Bob said so many amazing things that couldn't be squeezed into just a 20 minute mini-episode, so we're releasing the whole interview today! Thank you Bob!Born in Wales, Bob studied the Bass trombone from 1976 at the RAM with Harold Nash and was the winner of the Sydney Langston Brass Prize. Bob’s...2021-11-2754 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Angela McCuistonWelcome to the final episode in the Musicians' Injury Awareness Week monologue series! It's been the most amazing week of discussion, connection and creativity. We are excited to commit to supporting musicians suffering with injury far beyond this week.Flutist and musicians personal trainer Angela McCuiston speaks to us about her journey with an injury, leading her to further research, study and to launching her business, Music Strong, supporting musicians with rehabilitation and prevention through strength training.Click here for transcriptFollow Angela on Instagram hereFollow...2021-11-2117 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Murphy RobertsonIt's the inaugural Musicians' Injury Awareness Week, and today's injury story comes from Murphy Robertson. Murphy was studying saxophone at Guildhall School of Music and Drama when she started experiencing chronic pain in her jaw. She talks to us about what happened, and where she went from there.Share your injury stories using the hashtag #MIAW2021 and tag us! The more discussion, the merrier. Follow Murphy on: https://www.instagram.com/rc_alice_/ (@rcalice)Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmdtapodcast/ (@tmdtapodcast)Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.co...2021-11-2013 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Songeun ChoiSongeun Choi talks about her experience with injury from her time at school onwards and how it's affected her ability to play, practise and fulfil commitments. Thank you for your openness and honesty Songeun!Songeun Choi is a soloist and enthusiastic chamber musician. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, she studied with William Fong and Diana Ketler. During her studies ,she was supported by scholarships and was awarded DipRAM and the Dorothy Bryant Award. She has performed in venues including Steinway Hall, Fazioli Concert Hall, Barbican, Wigmore Hall, King's Place, Klassische Klavier Festival in...2021-11-1919 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Bob HughesIt's the inaugural Musicians' Injury Awareness Week, and today's injury story comes from Bob Hughes. A sufferer of focal dystonia, Bob shares with us what it was like to go through such an experience whilst still working and teaching. He talks about the difficulty in trying to find out what exactly was wrong, his trips to see various dystonia specialists, and the support he received from those around him. Born in Wales, Bob studied the Bass trombone from 1976 at the RAM with Harold Nash and was the winner of the Sydney Langston Brass Prize. Bob’s first job...2021-11-1820 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Sophia KannathasanToday Sophia Kannathasan tells us about her playing injury, which was diagnosed as golfers elbow. She takes us through the process of grieving playing violin, readjusting her priorities and healing with time, increasing playing incrementally. She also speaks about the rewards of mental practice and score study, both of which still form a part of her violin work.Adamant about giving an honest account of being an up-and-coming musician, Sophia has reached people all over the world through her Instagram account. Sophia has performed as part of chamber groups, o...2021-11-1711 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Peter ReganDay 2 of the first Musicians' Injury Awareness Week brings us Peter Regan's story. Peter recently graduated from the Royal College of Music and this summer founded Fulham Fest with two friends. In his last year of study, he developed an injury in his hands, affecting not only his playing but also his mental well-being. Luckily, the pandemic seemed to come at just the right time for Peter as it meant that he could take things a little easier and pace his practice to suit him and his injury. Like many of us, he started doing some a...2021-11-1618 min
Things Musicians Don't Talk AboutMIAW 2021 - Francesca LeoFlutist Francesca Leo takes us through her journey of long-term injury, somatic education practices and the process of setting up Playing Without PainAs both flutist and entrepreneur, Francesca has used her own injury experience to connect injured musicians to resources and advice they may need.Share your injury stories using the hashtag #MIAW2021 and tag us! The more discussion, the merrier. Click here for transcript Follow Francesca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playingwithoutpain/Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tmdtapodcast/ (@tm...2021-11-1519 minThings Musicians Don't Talk About29. Clare Hammond: the terror of post-natal depressionWelcome back! Today Hattie and Rebecca speak with concert pianist Clare Hammond about her experience with generalised anxiety disorder, post-natal depression and how these experiences have lead Clare to performances in schools and prisons. They speak about managing a mental illness as a musician, how it might feel to inhabit a prolonged period of darkness, how and whether to communicate struggle with audiences and Clare's work within prisons. Find Clare's article for Classical Music UK about music in prisons hereFind Changing Tunes for music in prisons hereClare's websiteFollow...2021-10-1852 min