Shows
Behind the BatonSunday Spark - October 26, 2025If you leave your growth to randomness, you’ll always live in the land of mediocrity.
~Brendon Burchard
2025-10-2603 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - October 19, 2025Good decision-making comes down to two things:
1. Knowing how to get what you want
2. Knowing what’s worth wanting
~Shane Parrish in “Clear Thinking”
2025-10-1903 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - October 12, 2025If you have a “to-do” list, do you also have a “stop doing” list? ~ Jim Collins in “Good to Great”
2025-10-1204 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - October 5, 2025We waste time and energy stewing and stressing over the past instead of moving forward in hope. ~Ryan Leak
2025-10-0503 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - September 21, 2025People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. ~Frederick M. Alexander
2025-09-2103 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - September 14, 2025Bigger isn’t better. Better is better. ~Mike Goldman
2025-09-1405 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - September 1, 2025Don't match the energy. Set the standard. ~Ryan Leak
Check out Ryan's podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ryan-leak-podcast/id1523090326?i=1000704276203
2025-09-0204 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - August 24, 20251. Show up on time.
2. Know the music.
3. Have an idea to share.
~adapted from Tom Hanks
2025-08-2404 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - August 17, 2025The way we do one thing is how we do everything. ~Dr. Tim Laurzenhiser
2025-08-1803 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton - Dr. Brad PersingerDr. Brad Persinger is the Director of Bands for the Decatur Community Schools in Oberlin, Kansas. He has taught in Kansas, Colorado, and Montana and in the fall of 2025 he will begin his 32nd year of teaching.
In 2012, Brad was recognized as the Montana VFW Teacher of the Year and also received the Montana VFW Citizenship Education Award. In 2013, he was recognized as the VFW District 5 Teacher of the Year.
Connect with Dr. Persinger
Email
bpersinger@usd294.org
2025-08-1231 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - August 10, 2025"Excellence is the culmination of thousands of details executed perfectly.” ~Will Guidara
2025-08-1004 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton - Ethan WagonerEthan Wagoner just completed his 10th year of teaching and serves as the Director of Bands at Derby Middle School, as well as an assistant band director at Derby High School in Derby, Kansas.
In 2023, Ethan was selected as the Derby Public Schools secondary nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year. He also was nominated and featured in School Band and Orchestra + Magazine as the Kansas representative for 50 Music Teachers who Make a Difference.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Wagoner is an active composer and performer. Ethan is commissioned each year to compose and arrange w...
2025-08-0532 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - August 3, 2025The success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest that I reap. ~John C. Maxwell
2025-08-0303 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Jordan NorthernsJordan Northerns is the Director of Bands at Circle Middle School and Circle High School in Towanda, Kansas. He just completed his 19th year in education and was recently recognized as Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Circle Public Schools.
Connect with Jordan Northerns
Email
jnortherns@usd375.org
2025-06-2738 min2025-04-1402 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - March 9, 2025The ones doing the thinking are the ones doing the learning. ~Annika Stucky
2025-03-1003 min2025-02-2404 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - Februrary 9, 2025The success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest that I reap. ~ John C. Maxwell
2025-02-0903 min2025-02-0303 minBehind the BatonSunday Spark - January 19, 2025When you make a mistake, it doesn’t make you a mistake.
2025-01-2004 min
Behind the BatonSunday Spark - January 12, 2025Sunday Spark: Inspiring Insights for a Bright Week Ahead
"Our success is connected. Your success is our success."
2025-01-1304 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Annie AdamsAnnie Adams is in her sixth year K-12 vocal and instrumental for Thunder Ridge Schools in Kensington and Agra, Kansas. She earned her bachelor’s in music education at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS and her master’s in clarinet performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
Annie taught band for two years in Oklahoma before moving to North Carolina. After graduate school, Annie worked in Scotland and then taught private lessons on clarinet, fiddle and guitar in North Carolina for 12 years. In 2018, Annie returned to Kansas with her family to teach for Thunder Ridge.
Ann...
2024-05-2137 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Northwest Kansas Music EducatorsI had the privilege of leading a professional development workshop for music educators in the Northwest part of Kansas. In attendance were band, choir and orchestra directors as well as general music teachers at the elementary level; all are from predominantly small and rural schools. And...some teach K-12 Music - wow!
During our time together I asked the participants three questions:
What does success look like in small and/or rural schools?
What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?
How will you define success for your program? It’s May, school is over…"we we...
2024-03-0148 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Brandon LesandoBrandon J. Lesando is the Director of Bands at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, Chair of East Central Kansas Music Educators Association HS honor bands, and the President-Elect of the the Kansas Bandmasters Association. While at Blue Valley Southwest, Lesando has presented clinics on program and project management, brass pedagogy, band travel and planning, and ensemble sound concepts, and has commissioned three new works for the wind band medium. Under his direction, the Blue Valley Southwest Band program has flourished into performing on regional and national stages as a 2-time Bands of America Regional Finalist...
2023-12-1552 min
The Missoula PodcastEpisode 8 - Missoula Mayor CandidatesWe had the opportunity to talk with all 5 Missoula mayoral candidates. We are not endorsing any candidate and we didn't want to get into politics because there's enough of that out there so we asked them all the same questions to get to know the person BEHIND the campaign. Check it out then VOTE!
For more information on the Candidates
Shawn Knopp - https://www.shawnknoppformayor.com/
Mike Nugent - https://www.nugentformissoula.com/
Andrea Davis - https://andreaformissoula.com/
Jordan Hess - https://www.jordanhess...
2023-09-051h 13Behind the BatonBehind the Baton with Dr. Melody Causby & Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster of the Rural Band Director AllianceDr. Melody Causby is Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to coming to The University of Southern Mississippi, Causby was on the faculty at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina for three years, first as the Assistant Director of Bands, then as the Interim Director of Bands. During her eleven years of public school teaching, the programs she ran grew in size and quality, and she served her district and state band organizations in several leadership capacities.
Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice of Music Education...
2023-08-0749 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Dr. Bill ThomasDr. Bill Thomas is the Director of Bands at Shawnee Mission West High School and the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Shawnee Mission Public Schools.
Connect with Bill
Email:
billthomas@smsd.org
2023-07-2147 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Brandi & Clayton KausBrandi & Clayton Kaus teach 6-8 band and choir at Augusta Middle School in Augusta, KS. Brandi and Clayton have a combined 43 years in education.
Connect with Brandi & Clayton
Email:
bkaus@usd402.com
ckaus@usd402.com
2023-04-2536 min
Let's Grow Pulling PodcastLet's Grow Pulling Live Monday, April 24th with Shawn KnoppLet's Grow Pulling Live Monday, April 24th with Shawn Knopp
2023-04-252h 51Behind the BatonBehind the Baton with Chris HarrisChris Harris is the Director of Bands at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. With 31 years in education and 19 of those in the Owasso program, Chris has had multiple bands invited to perform at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Convention and his groups have earned 25 Sweepstakes Awards from the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association Music Contests.
Connect with Chris Harris
Email: chris.harris@owassops.org
Website: https://www.owassobands.com/
2023-01-2835 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Kristi VetterKristi Vetter is the Director of Bands at Beloit Junior/Senior High School in Beloit, KS and has been in music education for 30 years. Kristi is the recipient of teaching awards from the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Kansas State Department of Education.
Connect with Kristi Vetter
Email: kvetter@usd273.org
2023-01-1135 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Kyle HopkinsKyle Hopkins is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at McPherson College in McPherson, KS. Kyle has been in education for 24 years and has taught beginning band through college.
Connect with Kyle Hopkins
Email: hopkinsk@mcpherson.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.hopkins.1804
2023-01-0442 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Victoria GriffittVictoria Griffitt is the Director of Bands at Derby North Middle School in Derby, KS. Victoria has been in education for 20 years and has taught beginning band through high school.
Connect with Victoria Griffitt
Email: vgriffitt@usd260.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoria.griffitt
2022-12-2835 minBehind the BatonBehind the Baton with Jennifer AntonettiJennifer Antonetti is the Director of Bands a at Topeka High School in Topeka, KS. Jennifer has been in education for 15 years and has taught elementary general music and band for grades Pre-K through college. Jennifer is also co-founder of BatonSync, an intuitive management app for music teachers.
Connect with Jennifer Antonetti
Email: jantonetti@tps501.org
BatonSync: https://www.batonsync.com/
2022-12-2041 minBehind the BatonPodcast Launch with Shawn KnoppAs I have traveled around the midwest conducting honor bands, adjudicating festivals, and providing clinics for bands, I have had the good fortune to meet many amazing band directors and music educators.
These directors have inspired and encouraged me to be a better person, and because of that, I want you to hear their stories as well!
Connect with Shawn:
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @shawnknopp
2022-12-0609 min
Books Closed: Tattoos and the Internet Collide, Hosted by Andrew Stortz021: Shawn Barber, Matthew Knopp, Beau Brady, Robert RyanThis episode features a group panel of tattooers Shawn Barber, Matthew Knopp, Beau Brady and Robert Ryan discussing, tattoo TV shows, internet fundraisers, maintaining positive outlooks, and more!
BOOKS CLOSED is hosted by Andrew Stortz (@andrewstortz)
All music by SAKURA @sakura.beatz
Books Closed Voicemail Line: (857)444-0662
www.booksclosedpodcast.com
The full VIDEO version of this episode can be viewed on YOUTUBE
THIS EPISODE'S SPONSORS:
TATTOO SMART
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2019-03-041h 22