Center of the Circle

What can 20,000 drum circles teach you about connection?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

This month on Center of the Circle, Chris Jane, Cindy Jones, and Diana Wallace welcome facilitator, educator, author, and all-around delightful human Lucas Coffey of Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm.

Lucas has spent years bringing improvised rhythm experiences into schools and communities. His Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm program has reached more than 100,000 students across Alberta and North America, and his book, Chaos to Connection: Four Principles of Drum Circles for Youth, turns lessons learned from thousands of circles into practical tools for educators and facilitators. Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm

In this conversation, we dig into what all that experience has taught him.

How do you create an environment where kids actually feel safe enough to be creative? What do you do when a group is difficult? Should you walk into every circle with a plan? How can teachers become better facilitators of creativity? And after leading an astonishing number of circles week after week, how does Lucas keep the work—and himself—healthy?

We also talk about Lucas's unusual introduction to hand drumming, discovering music as a language, working with challenging groups, the future of Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm, and an exciting project that will put more drums into Canadian classrooms.

Whether you're a drum circle facilitator, teacher, musician, therapist, youth worker, parent, community leader, or simply someone interested in what transforms a collection of individuals into a connected group, there's a lot to take away from this conversation.

Welcome to the Center of the Circle. 🥁

0:00 Welcome to Center of the Circle
3:50 Meet Lucas Coffey of Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm
5:30 Lucas's surprising introduction to hand drumming
8:16 His first drum circle — discovering music as a language
12:45 What does 40 drum circles a week look like?
18:15 How did Lucas get so good at working with kids?
21:40 What do you do when facilitation gets difficult?
27:40 How can teachers better facilitate creativity?
32:20 Should you have a plan before every drum circle?
37:00 Chaos to Connection: Four Principles of Drum Circles for Youth
45:00 Working with the most difficult groups
51:00 Diana puts Lucas through the Lightning Round!
54:00 What's next for Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm?
57:00 Putting 120 drums into classrooms across Canada
1:01:00 Protecting your hands when you're drumming all day

Lucas Coffey, Chaos to Connection, Rhythm Rhythm Rhythm, drum circles for youth, drum circle facilitation, group drumming, classroom drumming, music education, creative teaching, youth music, community drumming, drum circle facilitator, rhythm facilitation, teaching creativity, music improvisation, classroom percussion, Village Music Circles, DCFG, Drum Circle Facilitators Guild, community building through music, social emotional learning, music and connection

#CenterOfTheCircle #LucasCoffey #ChaosToConnection #DrumCircle #GroupDrumming #MusicEducation #RhythmFacilitation #CommunityDrumming #DCFG

Can rhythm actually change the way we relate to one another?

This month on Center of the Circle, Chris Jane, Cindy Jones, and Diana Wallace welcome internationally recognized drum circle facilitator, author, educator, and Remo HealthRhythms co-founder Christine Stevens for a conversation about the extraordinary places a life in rhythm can lead.

From her early work alongside Remo Belli and Dr. Barry Bittman to bringing drums into actual war zones—Christine has spent decades exploring what happens when we stop simply playing for people and start playing with them.

We talk about the science behind group drumming, the growth of women in the drumming community, social prescribing, Christine's Global Rhythm Sangha, the role of rhythm during life's biggest transitions, and what new facilitators need to know as they begin their own journeys.

And underneath it all is a beautifully simple idea:

We are wired to connect.

Christine describes the progression as entrainment → transmission → transformation. Rhythm gives us a way to meet one another beyond words, titles, backgrounds, and differences.

Whether you're a drum circle facilitator, musician, therapist, educator, healthcare professional, community leader, or simply someone searching for meaningful human connection, we think you'll find something here worth carrying with you.

Welcome to the center of the circle.

1...2...Back to the Groove! 🥁

0:00 Welcome to Center of the Circle

1:28 Meet Christine Stevens — facilitator, educator & HealthRhythms co-founder

3:15 The hosts reflect on an inspiring conversation

6:00 The incredible guests joining our journey

7:10 Welcome, Christine Stevens!

8:00 Research, Remo Belli & becoming Director of Music Therapy and Wellness

10:00 Taking the drum circle message on the road

13:00 The Tipping Point and believing the world would catch up

15:00 The war-zone experience that affirmed Christine's life's work

19:30 How Christine discovered hand drumming — and Babatunde Olatunji

22:15 How did Christine's first drum circle begin?

26:00 Women and the growth of the group-drumming movement

29:20 "My Dharma is to bring other women to the drum"

31:00 Drumming through life's transitions — from birth to burial

33:45 Global Rhythm Sangha and teaching music online

37:15 Are socially prescribed drum circles coming?

40:00 What's next for Christine's research?

44:00 Playing WITH people vs. playing FOR people

52:00 Why ocean drums belong in a facilitator's toolkit

53:30 What Christine hopes her students take with them

56:00 Entrainment → transmission → transformation

1:00:00 Christine's advice for new drum circle facilitators

1:04:50 Have drum circles finally reached the tipping point?

1:06:30 Thank you, Christine Stevens

1:10:48 1...2...Back to the Groove!

Christine Stevens, drum circle facilitation, group drumming, drum circles, HealthRhythms, Remo HealthRhythms, Remo Belli, Barry Bittman, Babatunde Olatunji, Global Rhythm Sangha, social prescribing, therapeutic drumming, rhythm and wellness, music and healing, women drummers, community drumming, drum circle facilitator, rhythm facilitation, entrainment, music therapy, Drum Circle Facilitators Guild, DCFG, healing through music, community building

#CenterOfTheCircle #ChristineStevens #DrumCircle #GroupDrumming #RhythmFacilitation #HealthRhythms #DCFG #CommunityDrumming #MusicAndWellness

What happens when a neurologist decides to study the power of group drumming?

This month on Center of the Circle, we're honored to welcome Dr. Barry Bittman—neurologist, researcher, author, and co-founder of Remo HealthRhythms.

For more than three decades, Dr. Bittman has been at the forefront of research exploring how group drumming affects the brain, immune system, stress, relationships, and overall well-being. Working alongside legendary drum maker Remo Belli, he helped pioneer one of the world's first evidence-based group drumming programs.

In this fascinating conversation, we discuss:

🥁 The surprising results of the earliest drum circle research

🧠 How group drumming changes the brain differently than drumming alone

❤️ Why connection—not musical ability—is the real goal

📊 How scientific research can influence healthcare policy

🌎 What makes some drum circles thrive while others disappear

🎵 The future of HealthRhythms and the next frontier of rhythm research

Whether you're a facilitator, musician, educator, therapist, healthcare professional, researcher, or simply curious about why rhythm brings people together, this episode is filled with practical wisdom, inspiring stories, and decades of scientific insight.

🔗 Links & Resources

🌐 Drum Circle Facilitators Guild

https://dcfg.net

🥁 Remo HealthRhythms

https://remo.com/healthrhythms/

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AqVCTKbwylQ

📱 Follow Center of the Circle on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerofthecirclepodcast

🧠 Topics Covered (SEO)

Group Drumming • Drum Circles • HealthRhythms • Barry Bittman • Neuroscience • Neurology • Music Therapy • Rhythm Research • Integrative Medicine • Stress Reduction • Immune System • Community Health • Facilitated Drum Circles • Wellness • Drum Circle Facilitators Guild • Remo • Evidence-Based Wellness • Social Connection

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 Intro and welcome

1:20 Meet Dr. Barry Bittman—neurologist, researcher, and co-founder of Remo HealthRhythms

4:00 New studio upgrades and improved production quality

5:40 Welcoming Dr. Bittman

6:18 His introduction to group drumming

8:05 Watching 1,000 healthcare professionals drum together

8:50 When drumming became personal

13:00 Meeting Remo Belli and beginning a lifelong research partnership

14:35 The first research studies

16:00 When the research initially found...nothing

19:30 Why killer cells are actually a good thing

20:00 Can rhythm communicate beyond language?

24:00 How facilitators can help advance research and public policy

26:00 Why some drum circles flourish while others fade away

29:50 Dr. Bittman's keys to building successful drum circles

31:50 Why HealthRhythms is different

33:05 Designing the HealthRhythms drum kits

35:12 What happened after publishing the research

38:00 How long does transformation really take?

43:15 Supporting participants through crisis

47:30 Why people matter more than the protocol

56:45 Reading a room and discovering transformational potential

57:45 What's next for HealthRhythms—and what facilitators should know

1:05:50 Drumming alone vs. drumming together: what changes in the brain?

1:10:00 A lesson learned from selling pianos

1:14:00 The future of rhythm research

1:23:12 How the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild can partner in future research

1:29:45 Would you like another conversation with Dr. Bittman?

1:31:00 "Intention is everything."

1:34:00 Call to Groove

Leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about having the courage to keep learning.

This month on Center of the Circle, we're joined by facilitator, leadership coach, mentor, and author Jim Boneau, whose book, The Rumble Zone, explores what it takes to lead through uncertainty, growth, and change.

Jim shares the remarkable journey that took him from aspiring band director to leadership coach, how discovering hand drumming at age 34 changed the trajectory of his life, and why every great facilitator needs mentors, coaches, and trusted advocates.

Together, we explore leadership, vulnerability, facilitation, music as medicine, finding your niche, and building authentic relationships that strengthen both your circles and your life.

Whether you're a facilitator, musician, educator, therapist, coach, nonprofit leader, or simply someone striving to become a better leader, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and heartfelt encouragement.

Subscribe and join us each month as we explore stories of leadership, connection, and personal growth through the gift of group drumming.

🌐 Drum Circle Facilitators Guild: https://dcfg.net

📖 The Rumble Zone: Leadership Strategies in the Rough & Tumble of Change by Jim Boneau

🎧 Listen on Spotify: [Insert Link]

📺 Watch on YouTube: [Insert Link]

📱 Follow Center of the Circle on Facebook: [Insert Link]

Leadership • Facilitation • Drum Circle Facilitation • Group Drumming • Coaching • Mentorship • Personal Growth • Vulnerability • Community Leadership • Music Therapy • Drum Circle Facilitators Guild • Village Music Circles • Relationship Building • Change Management

0:00 Intro and Welcome — You are loved!

1:15 Meet this month's guest: facilitator, coach, mentor, and author Jim Boneau

2:30 Chris shares the story of meeting Jim for the first time

5:45 Welcome to the Center of the Circle

7:05 Why write The Rumble Zone? Even coaches need coaches.

9:15 The importance of remaining coachable

10:20 Learning to accept accountability and invite coaching

12:00 Diana shares why she intentionally seeks mentors

13:05 Cindy reflects on supportive teams and lifelong curiosity

14:25 Everyone has blind spots—who is your advocate?

16:55 Jim's first hand drumming experience

22:15 Discovering drumming at age 34 and embracing major life changes

25:15 Leadership lessons that apply both inside and outside the circle

29:30 Leading when you're not at your best

33:45 Music and art as healthcare: where is this movement headed?

38:30 Finding a facilitation niche

45:00 Advice for newer facilitators

52:00 It's all about relationships

59:00 Village Music Circles training in Hawaii

1:04:00 Growing our audience and reaching more people

1:10:00 Thank you, Jim Boneau

1:11:00 Will The Rumble Zone become an audiobook?

1:12:43 Outro

What was your biggest takeaway from Jim's conversation?

Who has been one of the most influential mentors or coaches in your life?

Share your thoughts in the comments—we'd love to continue the conversation.

If you're enjoying Center of the Circle, please Like, Subscribe, Follow, and Share. Every share helps introduce more people to the incredible world of rhythm, leadership, and human connection.

What if one person helped spark a global movement through rhythm?In this episode, we sit down with Arthur Hull—the pioneer who helped bring drum circles to the world.Welcome back to Center of the Circle — where rhythm meets leadership, connection, and community.In this episode, we sit down with the legendary Arthur Hull — widely known as the father of the modern drum circle and founder of Village Music Circles.Arthur shares unforgettable stories from his life journey — from early musical influences and unexpected gigs to his time with Babatunde Olatunji and the explosion of rhythm culture across the United States.You’ll hear:How drum circles evolved into a global movementThe origins of facilitation as we know it todayThe intersection of music, therapy, and educationReal-world lessons on adaptability, leadership, and communityWhat Arthur would do differently if starting todayWhether you're a facilitator, musician, therapist, or simply someone drawn to rhythm, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and inspiration.👉 Subscribe, follow, and share to help grow the global rhythm community.🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Drum Circle Facilitators Guild: 🌍 Village Music Circles: 🎧 Listen on Spotify: [INSERT LINK]📺 Watch on YouTube: [INSERT LINK]📱 Follow on Facebook: [INSERT LINK]🧠 Topics Covered Arthur Hull, drum circles, group drumming, rhythm facilitation, music therapy, community drumming, Village Music Circles, Drum Circle Facilitators Guild, Babatunde Olatunji, Drums of Passion, rhythm leadership, facilitation techniques, hand drumming, drum circle history⏱️ Timestamps0:00 Intro and welcome1:22 Hosts reflect on their wide-ranging conversation4:00 Introducing Arthur Hull5:00 Gratitude for the journey5:45 First time playing a drum7:57 A surprising first music teacher9:30 Early group music experiences (Rainbow Gatherings)12:00 First real drum experiences on the beach12:55 Musical roots beyond drum circles19:09 First gig — Hell’s Angels and a rabbit23:35 Meeting Babatunde Olatunji25:25 Drums of Passion and a turning point29:13 “The Mallet”… Boom31:11 Re-release of Drum Circle Spirit34:05 Founding Village Music Circles37:55 What Arthur still wants to learn42:00 Rebuilding a drum kit from scratch (feat. Remo)51:35 Gratitude to listeners and Arthur52:20 Arthur’s closing encouragement53:15 Call to Groove54:40 Outro💬 What was your biggest takeaway from Arthur Hull’s story?🤷‍♂️ Who would you like to see on the show next?🎧 Be sure to follow, like, and subscribe so you never miss an episode of Center of the Circle.

Welcome to the pilot episode of Center of the Circle — a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of leadership, connection, and personal growth through group drumming and rhythm facilitation.

In this episode, hosts Chris, Cindy, and Diana dive into their first experiences with drumming, the journeys that brought them to this work, and the powerful role rhythm plays in building community and healing.

You’ll hear stories of:

• First drum circle experiences (including a chance meeting with Babatunde Olatunji)
• Finding your “tribe” through rhythm and community
• Using drumming in therapy, education, and everyday life
• Why accessibility matters more than musical ability
• The mission behind this podcast and what’s ahead

We also welcome special guest Josh Dunigan, president of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild, to share his journey, insights, and hopes for the future of rhythm facilitation.

🎬 Plus: A powerful documentary feature, Rhythms of Healing, created by Aayas D. Joshi and Xiomara Euceda Gomez.

• 🌐 Drum Circle Facilitators Guild: https://dcfg.net
• 🎧 Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/033g2PaVV0xj0djjkUAFRm
• 📺 YouTube: http://youtube.com/@centerofthecircle
• 📱 Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583559118406

Drum circles, group drumming, rhythm facilitation, music therapy, community healing, leadership through rhythm, DCFG, drum circle facilitator training, hand drumming, rhythm and wellness, Arthur Hull, community building through music

0:00 Intro and Welcome
3:06 Diana’s first memory of group drumming
4:30 Cindy’s transformative drum circle journey
5:25 Chris discovers the djembe — “it just made sense”
6:45 First facilitated experiences + meeting Babatunde Olatunji
8:00 Community over chops — the lesson that changed everything
9:00 Finding your tribe through rhythm
12:10 Music vs. health — how people come to drumming
13:05 Discovering the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild
14:37 Drumming as a therapeutic tool
15:30 Meet the hosts: backgrounds and perspectives
17:30 What this team brings to the table
19:50 Why we’re doing this podcast
22:55 Raising awareness for accessible music-making
24:20 Unity through rhythm
26:00 Upcoming guest: Arthur Hull
27:45 Join us on the journey — follow the show
29:45 Cindy’s powerful story of loss and healing
31:27 Rhythms of Healing documentary feature
37:45 Welcome Josh Dunigan
40:00 First drumming memories
41:30 Growing up with rhythm
42:35 First drum circle experience
46:10 Bridging tradition and improvisation
47:35 What facilitation looks like today
50:00 Avoiding burnout and staying present
51:10 Finding the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild
53:40 Join the Guild + annual conference
54:30 Vision for the future of the show
57:20 The value of long-form conversation
59:30 Closing + gratitude — “1…2…Let’s All Play!”

💬 What questions do you have for Arthur Hull? Drop them in the comments—we may include them in the episode!

🎧 Follow Center of the Circle and join a growing global community built around rhythm, connection, and shared human experience.