That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

#190: Johanna Yarbrough - From Orchestral Challenges to Teaching with Impact


Listen Later

In this episode, I’m joined by Johanna Yarbrough, who recently transitioned from her role as second horn with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to become the Professor of French Horn at Louisiana State University. What begins as a conversation about career trajectory quickly unfolds into a vulnerable and deeply insightful look at the realities of orchestral life—and what it means to grow beyond it.

Johanna shares her early path through public school band, studying abroad in Norway with Frøydis Ree Wekre, and winning the DSO job straight out of Colburn. But we go far beyond the résumé. We dig into:

The hidden toll of orchestral pressure on mental health
How her identity became entangled with achievement
Learning to separate musical excellence from personal worth
The challenges of orchestra culture, groupthink, and navigating difficult personalities
What she now sees as her mission: helping students become not just better players, but better people

From beta blockers and burnout to purpose and pedagogy, this episode explores the messy, human side of a music career. Whether you’re an aspiring orchestral musician, a college student, or a seasoned player wondering “what’s next,” Johanna’s story will hit home.Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts!

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!By Ryan Beach

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

117 ratings


More shows like That's Not Spit, It's Condensation!

View all
StarTalk Radio by Neil deGrasse Tyson

StarTalk Radio

14,157 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,925 Listeners

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast by Bob Reeves Brass Mouthpieces

The Other Side Of The Bell - A Trumpet Podcast

192 Listeners

The Brass Junkies by Pedal Note Media

The Brass Junkies

278 Listeners

The Bill Simmons Podcast by The Ringer

The Bill Simmons Podcast

30,136 Listeners

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast by Joshua Weilerstein

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

2,112 Listeners

The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny by ESPN, Omaha Productions, Mina Kimes

The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny

6,679 Listeners

Strong Songs by Kirk Hamilton

Strong Songs

1,970 Listeners

The Bulwark Podcast by The Bulwark

The Bulwark Podcast

11,826 Listeners

Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast by Vox Media Podcast Network

Waveform: The MKBHD Podcast

5,926 Listeners

The Trombone Corner by The Brass Ark & Bob Reeves Brass

The Trombone Corner

27 Listeners

The Open Bell by Bryan Appleby-Wineberg, William Stowman, Joey Tartell

The Open Bell

53 Listeners

Anthony Plog on Music by Anthony Plog (host), Eddie Ludema (Producer)

Anthony Plog on Music

24 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,494 Listeners

The Zach Lowe Show by The Ringer

The Zach Lowe Show

2,002 Listeners